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Despite Yasir Shah bowling a career-high 57 overs in Abu Dhabi’s heat and humidity, Pakistan do not regret going into the first Test with only one specialist spinner

Osman Samiuddin in Abu Dhabi29-Sep-2017After more than 150 overs and two days in extreme heat and humidity, Pakistan do not regret going into the first Test against Sri Lanka with just the solitary specialist spinner. Choosing three fast bowlers and just Yasir Shah was a significant break from the policy under Misbah-ul-Haq who played, as much as possible, two specialist spinners in UAE Tests.Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas and Hasan Ali took five wickets between them – Amir was wicketless – as Pakistan struggled to bowl Sri Lanka out for 419. In itself that was a recovery as Sri Lanka were 387 for 5 at one stage, but the burden fell, inevitably, on Yasir. The legspinner bowled a career-high 57 overs, and given that the part-timer Haris Sohail bowled 13 overs, the question is obvious: should they have picked another spinner?Mickey Arthur was confident after the first day that they needn’t have done, though he did express disappointment at a little more grass being cut off than he thought should have been.On Friday, their bowling coach Azhar Mahmood echoed the sentiment. “The challenge in a Test is to take 20 wickets and win it. The best thing is that we bowled well. There was a lot of talk that the pitch has grass or we should have played with three spinners but we went on our strength. We played Test matches in the West Indies with three seamers.”Instead, as Arthur had also pointed out, what Pakistan didn’t do was bowl well enough with the new ball each time.”The main thing is that we didn’t bowl well with the new ball, the first six overs I mean,” Azhar said. “So we need to learn how to take wickets with the new ball because if you get wickets at the top it helps Yasir to attack. But we gave 419 runs in 5 sessions which is okay.”The only point at which Pakistan’s fast bowling looked a threat was during the late-innings collapse, when Abbas found enough reverse-swing to pick up three quick wickets. He wouldn’t have bowled in this kind of heat before, though he is probably used to the lack of life in the surface – the surfaces in the West Indies where he made his Test debut earlier this year were not that much quicker.”The coach had tasked me with getting wickets with the new ball,” Abbas said. “I wasn’t successful in doing that. Our plan on the day, if we don’t get any wickets, was to bowl a tight line and length, and contain runs. We were, to an extent, successful in doing that. And at the end, I got an opportunity to take wickets.”

Everton wouldn't have 'wanted' to part ways with Ellis Simms this summer if they didn't 'need the money' at Goodison Park, according to journalist Paul Brown.

Why did Everton sell Ellis Simms?

As per The Sun, Everton sold Simms to Coventry City for an initial fee of £3.5 million that could rise to £5 million with add-ons depending on appearances and goals, while that figure could move to £8 million in the event the Sky Blues achieve promotion to the Premier League.

On Coventry City's official website, Simms spoke out about his move and how his new boss Mark Robins made it come about, stating: “The conversation I had with the manager. He showed great belief in me and the Club as a whole are on the way up and it seems like it will be a big season or us. He has done his research on me, and he likes the way I play, he thinks I will be a good addition to the team.

In his time at Everton, the 22-year-old amassed just 12 appearances at senior level, scoring once against Chelsea and also embarked on loan spells at Blackpool, Sunderland and Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian, as per Transfermarkt.

Everton need to recoup financial gain due to being in special measures with the Premier League authorities due to posting losses exceeding £370 million over the last three years, as per The Daily Mail.

Football Insider detail that the Toffees will operate a sell-to-buy policy at Goodison Park and will need to offload valuable assets in order to strengthen their squad.

Free agents and loan deals will likely supplement Dyche's squad as Everton aim to 'drastically cut costs' over the coming months.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown has intimated that he thinks Everton would've liked to see Simms stay on at the club in an 'ideal' scenario.

Brown told FFC: "I'm a bit worried about what Everton's squad will look like come the start of the season. I don't think in an ideal world they would have wanted to sell Ellis Simms. You can argue all you like about whether the fee they got for him was enough. I think it really was between £6-8 million. In this market, considering that Everton really need the money, it's probably not bad business for a guy that you've brought through, but I think ideally, Everton would not have wanted to sell Ellis Simms if they'd been a bit more financially secure, so it's a little disappointing from that perspective that he's had to go."

Who could Everton look to bring in this summer?

Working on a smaller budget than in previous years, Everton boss Dyche may need to identify some bargain buys this window as he looks to ensure the Toffees avoid another relegation battle in 2023/24.

Experienced free agent Ashley Young looks primed to be his first signing since taking over at Goodison Park and will undergo a medical 'with a view' to joining the club following his release from Aston Villa, as per The Guardian.

BBC Sport report that Young had held talks with Luton Town and also had interest from Saudi Arabia before deciding to head to Merseyside.

Sport Italia via The Sun claim that Leeds United star Wilfried Gnonto is 'very close' to completing a move to Everton in a move that would cost around £19 million; nevertheless, we will see what transpires in the next few weeks amid the Toffees' financial restrictions.

Norwich City look to be on the verge of yet another signing this summer, with Derbund, via Pink Un reporting that Christian Fassnacht is in talks with the club.

Who is Christian Fassnacht?

The 29-year-old has spent the entirety of his career in his native Switzerland, having come up through the divisions and landed with Young Boys in the Swiss Super League.

He's been a success there too, with his side claiming the league title in 2022/23. The midfielder played 29 times during that campaign, 26 of which were starts, and produced eight goals with six assists. It meant that his goal contribution tally hit double-digits for the third consecutive season – only in one league campaign has he ever hit less than ten goals + assists.

He's been with his current side since the 2017/18 season and has gone on to rack up nearly 200 league outings for the club during his time there (182 to be exact). That has led to a return of 68 goals and 33 assists – impressive when you consider he plays almost exclusively out wide.

It means that he has a total rate of 0.58 goals or assists per 90 over the entirety of his time with Young Boys – meaning he guarantees one or the other in every second game he features in, extremely good numbers over such an extended period of time.

He was equally as impressive for Thun before that, with ten goals during his lone season with them.

The wide man's showings in his native country have also led to appearances for his national side. He has 19 caps to his name as things stand, with four goals, and remains involved in and around the squad on a consistent basis under Murat Yakin.

Are Norwich signing Christian Fassnacht?

Now, according to a report from Derbund, via Pink Un, the midfielder may finally be about to leave Switzerland and head to England. Championship side Norwich City are in discussions over a potential move for the Young Boys star and the report states that he has already got a medical lined up with the Canaries.

It means that once negotiations are sorted out and a medical is passed, he will almost definitely become a Norwich player – although it is unclear yet just how much he is going to set the second tier side back in terms of a transfer fee.

If Norwich do manage to get a transfer sorted though, his record makes him look like a promising signing for the club. His goal and assist record is exciting, with the midfielder regularly standing out and hitting double-digit tallies in Switzerland. There will likely be some adapting to a different country and league but the 29-year-old has also played for his country, which will be valuable experience that not every member of the Canaries squad will have.

Fassnacht then could be a deal that goes under the radar but ends up being a very good addition if Norwich complete a deal.

أثار الدولي المصري محمد صلاح، لاعب ونجم فريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي ليفربول، الجدل أثناء وصوله مقر تدريبات الفريق، ببدلة رسمية صباح اليوم الأربعاء.

النجم المصري يستعد لخوض مباراته القادمة مع ليفربول أمام شيفيلد يونايتد مساء الغد الخميس، في تمام الثامنة والنصف بتوقيت القاهرة، على ملعب انفيلد رود.

طالع أيضًا.. ماذا قال كلوب عن إهدار محمد صلاح للعديد من الفرص أمام برايتون؟

صباح اليوم الأربعاء، حضر محمد صلاح إلى مركز تدريب أكسا، استعدادًا لمواجهة شيفيلد، وهو يرتدي بدلة رسمية، مما أثار الجدل بين المشجعين على موقع التوصل الاجتماعي.

صحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية، نشرت تغريدات المشجعين حول ذلك الأمر، ومنهم من يمزح بأن تلك البدلة علامة على أنه يتقدم لفرصة العمل كمدير فني لخلافة يورجن كلوب، حيث لا يزال ليفربول يبحث عن بديل الألماني.

يورجن كلوب أعلن رحيله بنهاية الموسم عن ليفربول، ويبحت النادي الإنجليزي عن خليفته من خلال التواصل مع عدد من المدربين، أبرزهم تشابي ألونسو المدير الفني لـ باير ليفركوزن.

ونشر الحساب الرسمي لنادي ليفربول عبر “تويتر”، صورة محمد صلاح بالبدلة الرسمية مع تعليق: “مو رجل في مهمة اليوم”.

ولم يكشف متصدر الدوري الإنجليزي عن السبب وراء اختيار محمد صلاح للبدلة من أجل الحضور بها لمركز التدريبات، لكن المشجعين أطلقوا التكهنات حول ذلك.

صاحب الـ31 عامًا، سجل 22 هدفًا في 33 مباراة لفريق ليفربول هذا الموسم بمختلف المسابقات، ويريد تحقيق لقبي الدوري الإنجليزي والأوروبي، بعدما قاد الريدز للقب كأس رابطة المحترفين.

ومن المقرر أن يدخل محمد صلاح العام لأخير من عقده في الصيف المقبل، وقد خمن بعض المشجعين أنه ربما اختار ارتداء بدلة رسمية، للإعلان عن تجديد عقده مع ليفربول.

أحدهم وصف محمد صلاح بـ جيمس بوند الشخصية المشهورة في أفلام الأكشن الأمريكية، بينما سخر آخر بأن ارتداء محمد صلاح هذه الملابس لحضور جنازة شيفيلد يونايتد، حيث أن مو سيواجه متذيل ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي غدًا على ملعب أنفيلد.

ESPNcricinfo’s wrap of the fourth day’s play between New South Wales and South Australia in Sydney

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Mar-2017
ScorecardIn his first Sheffield Shield game for nearly six years, Pat Cummins finished with match figures of 8 for 104•Getty ImagesNew South Wales cruised to an eight-wicket win on the fourth day of their Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia at the SCG, where they were set a modest target of 100 for victory. The Blues reached their goal with only two wickets down, with Ed Cowan striking a brisk unbeaten 48 to add to his 125 from the first innings, while Kurtis Patterson finished on 33 not out.The chase had started badly for the Blues when Daniel Hughes was bowled by Daniel Worrall from the first ball of the innings, but the Redbacks managed only one further wicket when Nic Maddinson fell for 18 off the bowling of Adam Zampa. South Australia needed more runs on the final morning to set a tougher target, but having resumed on 5 for 228 lost their last five wickets for 82.The key moment was when Tom Cooper, the last of the specialist batsmen, fell in unusual circumstances when he was stumped off the bowling of Trent Copeland. Batting out of his crease, Cooper shouldered arms to a delivery which was pouched by Peter Nevill, standing back; Nevill then threw the ball at the stumps from a distance and Cooper dropped his bat while casually walking back towards his ground.Copeland picked up two wickets on the fourth day, while Pat Cummins also claimed two to finish with innings figures of 4 for 47 and a match analysis of 8 for 104 in his first Sheffield Shield game for nearly six years. English legspinner Mason Crane, playing for New South Wales for the first time, collected 3 for 66 in the second innings to end up with match figures of 5 for 116.

كشفت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الكتالونية أن نادي ليفربول متفوق في سباقه مع برشلونة على أحد المواهب الهجومية الجديدة في قارة أوروبا.

ودخل ناديا ليفربول وبرشلونة بجانب مانشستر سيتي وبايرن ميونخ بسباق قوي وشرس من أجل ضم صانع ألعاب نادي شاختار دونتسيك، جورجي سوداكوف.

ويبلغ سوداكوف من العمر 21 عامًا فقط، لكن أداءه مع النادي الأوكراني قد لفت الأنظار إليه، بالإضافة إلى رغبة اللاعب في الرحيل خاصة إلى الدوري الإسباني أو الإنجليزي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ليفاندوفسكي يتغنى بلاعب برشلونة: مر وقت طويل لأرى هذه الشجاعة

ولعب سوداكوف مع شاختار دونتسيك هذا الموسم في 23 مباراة وسجل 4 أهداف وصنع هدفين آخرين، ويعتبر من أفضل المواهب في أوكرانيا وظهر مستواه أمام برشلونة في مجموعات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

لكن رغم كثرة الأندية المهتمة بضم سوداكوف إلا أن بحسب التقرير أن ليفربول هو المفضل، لأنه قادر على دفع قيمة انتقال اللاعب.

يمتلك سوداكوف في عقده مع شاختار شرطًا جزائيًا قدره 150 مليون يورو، ولكن النادي الأوكراني قد يوافق على رحيل اللاعب مقابل 50 مليون يورو فقط وهو مبلغ أيضًا صعب على برشلونة.

ويجيد سوداكوف بجانب مركز صانع الألعاب أن يتواجد في مراكز أخرى مثل الظهير الأيسر ولاعب الوسط الحر.

The summer transfer window officially opened for business earlier this month and Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has added to his side with one signing to date.

Youri Tielemans is set to arrive on a free transfer at the start of July, after his contract with Leicester expires, and the club have now appointed Monchi as their president of football operations to bolster their efforts to improve the squad.

One player who has been linked with a possible move to the club this summer is Leeds United forward Crysencio Summerville, who has been valued at around €12m (£10m) by the relegated team.

Where would Crysencio Summerville fit in at Aston Villa?

The Netherlands U21 international has played the majority of his career to date as a right winger but he is also capable of lining up on the left and through the middle, which means that Emery could deploy him in a multitude of ways.

Villa's head coach could, however, use the 21-year-old in his favoured role on the right and brutally ditch current attacker Leon Bailey in the process.

Last month, journalist Dean Jones claimed that he would be "surprised" if the Jamaica international is still at the club come the start of the 2023/24 campaign, as there could be a market for teams interested in his services.

This suggests that the Villans could cash in on the 25-year-old winger this summer and bringing Summerville in as his replacement could be a shrewd move by Emery and Monchi.

The Leeds wizard, who was once hailed as a speed merchant whilst playing for the club's U21 side, produced four goals and two assists in 12 Premier League starts during the 2022/23 campaign and completed 52% of his attempted dribbles.

Bailey, meanwhile, scored four and assisted four in his 26 starts for Villa throughout the season and was stopped in 57% of his dribbles, suggesting that Summerville is more effective at committing and beating opposition defenders to drive forward with the ball.

The Dutch wizard has averaged more non-penalty goals (0.25) and shot-creating actions (3.09) per 90 over the last 365 days than Bailey (0.18 and 2.84) has for the Villans, indicating that the talented youngster could provide more quality in the final third, both in terms of scoring goals and creating opportunities for others.

Summerville, who was once dubbed "unplayable" by journalist Beren Cross, is also four years younger than the ex-Bayer Leverkusen dynamo, meaning that he has more long-term potential to develop and improve, whilst already having the quality to offer more on the pitch in the immediate term.

Therefore, Emery could ruthlessly ditch Bailey and cash in on the dud this summer by signing the Whites magician as his replacement.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their search for a new head coach ahead of the 2023/24 campaign…

What's the latest on Andoni Iraola to Celtic?

According to the Daily Mail, former Rayo Vallecano manager Andoni Iraola is preparing to throw his hat in the ring in the hope of being in contention for the job.

The club are in the market for a new boss after Ange Postecoglou left Parkhead to put pen to paper on a deal with Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Iraola is currently a free agent after opting against a contract extension with Vallecano having kept them in LaLiga for a second straight season.

Would Andoni Iraola be a success at Celtic?

The Hoops could strike gold with the young tactician as he is an up-and-coming coach who has shown great promise in his short career so far.

Former Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch is another name to have been linked with the job but Iraola would be a far better option than the American boss, whose poor form at Elland Road raised red flags to those at Parkhead.

The 49-year-old barely avoided relegation from the Premier League in the 2021/22 campaign as he lost five of his 12 matches with the Whites and finished 17th in the table.

He then lost ten and won four of the 20 matches he managed in the division the following campaign, and that led to him being relieved of his duties by the English side with a points per game rate of just 0.9.

That spell in England came after the American lost six of his 14 Bundesliga games with RB Leipzig in Germany, which included five wins that left them underperforming in 11th in the table. They went on to finish fourth in the table, with 17 wins to ten losses, suggesting that he was holding them back.

Iraola, however, won 22 of his 46 matches in LaLiga 2, including the play-offs, to win promotion to the top flight in the 2020/21 campaign and was then able to establish Vallecano in the Spanish top division.

The 40-year-old tactician, who typically plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, finished 12th in both 2021/22 and 2022/23 and this shows that the Spaniard was able to successfully lead a club through a transitional period.

They finished outside of the play-offs in the second tier in the season before he joined, 2019/20, and was able to turn them into an established top-flight club within three years before his departure this summer.

Therefore, Iraola, whose work with Vallecano was hailed as "insane" by scout Jacek Kulig, is a manager on the up who has proven himself capable of uplifting a team above their means.

On the flip side, Marsch has failed in his last two jobs and has been a disappointment in England and Germany, which suggests that the Spaniard would be a far better option for Celtic at this moment in time.

Arsenal have reportedly already made an offer to secure a new defender, who could finally give Ben White some much-needed competition in his role.

What's the latest on Ivan Fresneda to Arsenal?

That's according to German outlet BILD, who despite focusing on Borussia Dortmund's transfer activity, suggest that they must remain wary of the Gunners.

Especially in their pursuit of Spanish youngster Ivan Fresneda, who these two clubs are set to battle over this summer.

Whilst huge investment will likely be gained from the impending sale of Jude Bellingham, the fact that Edu has already tabled a 'lucrative offer' to the player will worry the German outfit, who likely see the defender as part of their rebuild to finally topple Bayern Munich.

It was noted in early May that the north London club were plotting a £20m bid for the 18-year-old, and this could now be confirmation of a progressing deal.

Who is Ivan Fresneda?

To already be a starter in one of Europe's top five leagues marks a massive success for the teenage sensation, and denotes a glittering future.

With 24 appearances across all competitions, it has admittedly been a tumultuous year for the Spanish side, who face a must-win clash on Sunday to secure their place in the top flight.

In keeping solid at the back but equally potent in attack, Fresneda will surely be imperative despite what his 6.67 average rating might suggest. He has averaged 0.8 key passes, 2.2 tackles and two clearances per game in purple and white, via Sofascore, yet due to his youth is often caught defensively unaware.

Therefore, to bring him under the tutelage of his compatriot Mikel Arteta, he could continue his rapid growth as a fine backup for White, who has shone himself as a makeshift full-back in a title-challenging side.

His average rating of 6.91 sees the two share key attributes, as his 0.7 key passes give way to 1.6 tackles and two clearances per game, also via Sofascore. In taking up a place as his understudy, Fresneda would be able to learn from the England international whilst being moulded in the image of his new boss.

There is precedent to suggest he could soon be challenging the 25-year-old too, as Matt Clark of La Liga Lowdown remarked:

"Iván Fresneda has been one of the revelations of the season so far in LaLiga, standing out for newly-promoted Real Valladolid. He is a remarkably complete right-back despite his young age, balancing his defensive duties with the odd attack too.

"He has that coveted combination of physicality and technical ability. Tall but agile, quick and athletic, he is also strong in the tackle and reads the game very well for someone so green when it comes to first-team football."

Journalist David Cartlidge sought to support this, by suggesting the youngster also boasts the requisite skillset and knowledge to emulate Oleksandr Zinchenko in his inverted role.

He claimed: "Fresneda [is] a very special talent and any club will be lucky to sign him. He's like a CM dropped in at full-back. Just over 6ft, athletic but above all excellent with the ball at his feet."

With Cedric Soares having struggled for game time out on loan at Fulham whilst entering his twilight years in England, Fresneda would offer a young, hungry and exciting alternative to White who could see his potential capitalised upon by Arteta.

ScorecardGareth Batty produced a matchwinning return•PA Photos

It is hard to remember a Championship win that asked more of a bowling side. The pitch, for much of this game, looked like it would take the points and a few bowlers with it. Most of the Ageas Bowl pitches have. But with great focus and effort, and the sort of performance from Gareth Batty that will be remembered well beyond his career, Surrey sent Hampshire down for an innings and 13 runs.Batty was not so much leading from the front as picking up those around him, yapping under the helmet and then getting the job done himself. A century in the first innings began his work before two for 78 in the Hampshire reply was bested by a sensational six for 51 in the follow-on. Throw in Stuart Meaker’s reverse swing addled 18 overs of four for 40, and you wonder where the doubt in obtaining a result came from.But with 10 overs left in the day, hope had all-but gone. At the end of Batty’s 24th over (56th of the match) he walked duck-footed to mid off, shoulders slunk, cap in hand, dreading what might be. Of all long-form cricket’s gut punches, the handshakes after a drawn fixture take the most out of a skipper who has spent the last few hours on top. And Batty’s side had been ahead for the last three days.Summoning one last push, Batty returned to take two in his next over. Lewis McManus, having started the day with bat in hand, looked like he would finish it, too. But, after six hours and 21 minutes of crease time across both innings, he was finally dismissed to a fast arm ball. Three balls later, Andrew’s outside edge was found with a perfect off spinner. It was left to Meaker to finish things off. Late movement into the right hander did for Gareth Berg, before Mason Crane was the recipient of a bouncer that would haunt the most weathered opening batsmen, let alone a 19-year-old number 10.Surrey currently sit outside the relegation zone, 10 points away from Nottinghamshire, who have replaced them in the bottom two. Even if Hampshire were to win their game in hand with full bonus points, they would only go one ahead of Surrey. It bears reiterating: rarely will you see a side work so hard to achieve a four day win of this magnitude.On the evening of day two, Surrey’s players went to bed preparing themselves for what they knew would be six of the toughest sessions of cricket many of them will have experienced in their lives. So, too, did Hampshire. But Surrey, staying at the Ageas’ Bowl own hotel, will have drawn their curtains looking out onto the very field that would ask for as much energy and sweat as they could give and not necessarily provide anything in return.They needed 18 wickets to win the match: at least 18 chances to be created, certainly 18 to be taken to ensure that they are in control of their own destiny with five matches left to play. And while their own first innings of 637 for 7 taunted Hampshire throughout this match, it sent Surrey to sleep that night with a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of this road. The skip was taken out of Crane’s step after 51 overs of toil.Even Surrey’s captain Gareth Batty was concerned, believing he was “thrown under the car” by Will Smith and Hampshire’s senior bowlers – Gareth Berg had the next greatest workload with 30 overs. “That wouldn’t be happening under my watch.”That part of Batty’s mantra as captain is to look at what is best for the individuals has, at times, seen him make calls that, from afar, confuse a touch. But given the task at hand, across two of the hottest days of the year, it was this sensitivity that ultimately saw Surrey triumph in extraordinary fashion.With 11 wickets to get on day four, the first ball to do something off the straight was the run out of Brad Wheal. Lewis McManus, who finished the first innings unbeaten on 133, was desperate to retain the strike when Aaron Finch, prowling the off side outfield, hurled down the stumps at the nonstriker’s end from all of 50 yards. Theirs was the longest partnership of the innings, clocking in at 37.1 overs. Surrey now needed 10 more wickets in the next 84 overs, having just taken the same amount from 133 overs.The first two to fall took 19 overs with them: Jimmy Adams tempted into one that left him late from Meaker, Tom Alsop edging Batty to first slip. For a while, that was their lot. The bowlers were cycled through, each getting a burst: an over or two at first to state their case. As “overs remaining” ticked to 44, Mark Footitt was removed from the Pavilion End after a spell of four that seemed to settle Smith and Ryan McLaren. The all rounder looked totally at ease while Smith, 18 from 112 balls at this point, was putting the finishing touches on a fort he had no intention of relinquishing.Batty brought himself on to bowl and, with various changes of pace, found a sliver of light shining through a gap in the closed drawbridge. Somehow a fizzed delivery snuck off Smith’s bat and between his legs to bump into his leg stump. Surrey were in. Adam Wheater, tea interval on the mind, left a reverse swinging delivery from Meaker that almost sent his off stump back to the pavilion with him.After tea, Batty came into his own. It was not so much the spin, but the changes in pace: the appreciation that keeping the interest of those around the bat – there were up to six for Batty – required enough fluctuations in delivery to put a batsman’s timing out of sync. Sean Ervine was hurried into guiding a ball to Aaron Finch at leg slip. Ryan McLaren pressing forward early and popping a catch up to Dominic Sibley at bat-pad.But so the overs ticked on, with four wickets still to get. But so Batty ticked on and these four wickets were claimed.He was naturally punchy in victory, using the opportunity to not only champion his young team, having grumbled away the opportunity to talk about his own century and eight wickets in the game, but to stick up for his coach, Michael Di Venuto, who has spent the aftermath of many a four day game fighting fires on Twitter.To Di Venuto’s credit, he looks to interact and appease each tweet sent his way, countering calls for change with the insistence that the hard work behind the scenes will soon be evident on the field. Most of the comments to Di Venuto comes from an honest place: fans worried about the plight of their club and wondering, out loud, what could be done differently. A handful have question Di Venuto’s merits as a coach. One or two have made their attacks personal.”I think it’s disrespectful. Unjust. The two run outs [Burns to remove Ervine and Finch to remove Wheal] – that’s from him working on us hitting the stumps. He takes all credit there. Nobody else. We’ve been very close in a couple of games and not got over the line. I think it’s very unjust for the man’s record, both as a player and a coach.”In victory, Surrey are bullish and you get a sense, from the way they have acquitted themselves throughout this match, that whatever they have left to give will be left on field before the season is up.”There have been a lot of people lobbing knives at us but we have pulled a few out of our back,” said Batty. “I say to them,- I hope you are enjoying the win tonight.”