Neal Maupay trolled Scott McTominay and quipped the Manchester United man was a fan "desperate for his shirt" after clashing with the Brentford ace.
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Aston Villa have made an exciting start to the Premier League campaign under Unai Emery; however, Sky Sports expert Kieran Maguire has been reacting to recent news behind the scenes at Villa Park.
Aston Villa off-field developments…
Despite taking 22 points from their first ten fixtures in the English top flight, Aston Villa have had to tread carefully regarding some off-field developments at the club that have come to light in recent weeks.
An update from the Villans' official website last month revealed that summer signing Nicolo Zaniolo had been assisting the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) with their enquiries into an investigation into alleged illegal betting activity in the country, alongside meeting with senior club officials.
Zaniolo, who has attracted attention from media circles due to his implication in the alleged scandal, was dropped from the Italy squad last month alongside Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali for their double-header against Malta and England while football authorities in Italy tried to establish the nature of their proposed involvement in any illegal betting activity.
Nevertheless, reports indicate that Zaniolo is unlikely to face disciplinary action for any football-related offences and will instead incur a small fine for using online sites to play poker and blackjack, which he has admitted doing despite stringent regulations surrounding football and gambling.
The Italy international has been a key part of the Villans' consistent start to the season and could start away to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday as Emery's men aim to break into the top four of the Premier League.
Nicolo Zaniolo's statistics for Aston Villa in 2023/24 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)
Appearances
13
Goals
0
Assists
0
Nicolo Zaniolo key statistics – Premier League (WhoScored)
Shots per game
1.9
Successful dribbles per game
1
Key passes per game
0.8
Kieran Maguire drops Nicolo Zaniolo verdict
Speaking to Football Insider, Sky Sports expert Maguire has indicated that 'hard to feel sympathy' towards Aston Villa over Zaniolo's recent difficulties in light of the Villans' controversial agreement with front-of-shirt sponsor BK8, an online gambling enterprise that has caused controversy in the past, with Norwich City cutting ties with the brand back in 2021.
Delving into the relationship between football and gambling, Maguire stated: "It’s exactly the same risk as signing a player who has suffered a serious injury such as an ACL. So it’s part of the business. I think it’s a much broader issue in terms of this ongoing relationship between the betting industry and young footballers who have significant amounts of cash.
"They have a competitive nature. They are attractive VIP customers to the betting industry who don’t seem to make a huge effort to screen things. It was an illegal gambling operation that he’s alleged to have been involved with and there will always be those. But it’s hypocritical to feel a lot of sympathy for Villa considering they recently decided to partner with a rather tawdry gambling organisation themselves. So it is hard to feel sympathy for them."
Undoubtedly, the intertwining nature between football and gambling will continue to be a complicated one as more instances of activity relating to the two become apparent across Europe.
As a footballing institution, Tottenham Hotspur is thriving right now. The first team's surge to table-topping Premier League status has been emphatic and the youth fold are in tandem, among the finest English football has to offer.
How generous Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou is in handing out opportunities for his teenage prospects remains to be seen, but with so many exciting talents, there is sure to be a debut or two across the campaign.
The offensive line, in particular, has seen a rich profusion of precocity come into blossom of late, but despite the sale of world-class talisman Harry Kane in August, newly-appointed captain Heung-min Son is excelling as the focal frontman.
How is Heung-min Son performing?
Son was very much at the epicentre of Tottenham's strife last season, failing to produce the same virtue of his "special" past performances, as was claimed by former boss Jose Mourinho.
Indeed, despite scoring 14 times from 47 appearances throughout the 2022/23 campaign, the South Korean captain was not at the races and toiled as the Lilyewhites slumped to an eighth-placed league finish.
This season, the 31-year-old is very much reinvigorated, posting six goals from his past five appearances in the Premier League, all in the centre-forward position.
He has been excellent, with Postecoglou effusive in his admiration for the forward, saying: "He's been outstanding as a leader and as a player. I've put him in that nine position now and he just works so hard."
Losing Kane was always going to be a bitter pill to swallow, but Tottenham have swiftly wiped the past malaise away and now chart a course for success of a new distinction, and while an established, first-class striker was not signed, Son is proving to be a worthy successor.
The natural left flanker is thriving, yes, but he needs support up front and while the likes of Richarlison and £13m summer signing Alejo Veliz, aged 20, are alternatives, there may come a point where another dimension is needed, and teenage prospect Will Lankshear could be the man for the job.
Who is Will Lankshear?
Lankshear has been at Tottenham since joining from Sheffield United in a deal believed to be worth £2m in 2022, beating Brentford to the exciting talent's signature.
A knee injury suffered last February hampered an exciting first season in London, having posted five goals and two assists across 13 outings and earned praise for his “phenomenal” start to life at the club by Spurs expert John Wenham.
And indeed, since the turn of the summer Lankshear, still only 18, has plundered four goals and an assist from five matches across the Premier League 2 and ERL Trophy.
Given that he has been described by Wenham as a new version of Harry Kane and that he once played for Arsenal's youth side, like the England captain, there's a good chance that he is set up for success under Postecoglou's management.
A natural finisher with a range of skills, he could even be an even better fit than Jamie Donley, with the Spurs youngster touted for big things and dubbed the 'new Harry Kane' himself by the Belfast Telegraph.
Donley, who often plays just behind the centre-forward in a more creative berth, has scored five goals and supplied seven assists from six matches this season, boasting a versatility in his production that very much mirrors Kane.
However, while Donley will undoubtedly get his break this season after earning a place on the bench against Liverpool last month, what Postecoglou needs to complement Son is an out-and-out scorer, and Lankshear, who has been said to be "among the best – if not the best – striker for his age group" by Sky Sports' Lyall Thomas, fits the bill.
Manchester United have announced the appointment of an "expert task force" to explore regenerating Old Trafford.
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Man Utd appoint task forceWant to develop "world-class stadium""Local leaders" to work with expertsWHAT HAPPENED?
United announced on Friday the formation of a task force to explore options for regenerating Old Trafford. The club said in a statement that a "world-class football stadium" will be "at the heart of the project" as they aim to transform both Old Trafford and the surrounding area.
Lord Sebastian Coe will chair the task force and it will also include Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and former player Gary Neville. "The feasibility of a new stadium" will be explored, with the club aiming to construct a ground that is capable of hosting both club and international fixtures.
AdvertisementWHAT UNITED SAID
United issued a statement featuring a variety of quotes, from Neville, Burnham and new United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Neville said: âIâm incredibly fortunate to have had the privilege of playing hundreds of games at Old Trafford, and no one can take away those amazing memories. But Old Trafford has evolved throughout its history and itâs clear we are at a point where it has to change again to ensure that Manchester United has a world-class stadium befitting the worldâs greatest club. While I want the best for Manchester United, I also want the same for the surrounding community. Old Trafford should be a stadium that the whole of Greater Manchester can take pride in, and be a catalyst for sustainable, cohesive growth in an area of the city that has been neglected for too long.â
Burnham added: âThe development of one of the most iconic stadiums in world football will help attract investment, create jobs, and lead to new opportunities that will not just benefit Trafford but communities across our city-region and beyond. Greater Manchester has been a hive of innovation and creativity for centuries, and sport has played a huge role in shaping our past and present. This bold and exciting vision for the future of Old Trafford and the surrounding area can become another success story for our city-region.â
And Ratcliffe concluded: âThis can be a major regeneration project for an area of Greater Manchester which has played such a key role in British industrial history, but which today requires new investment to thrive again. The north-west of England has a greater concentration of major football clubs than anywhere else in the world, yet we donât have a stadium on the scale of Wembley, the Nou Camp or BernabĂŠu. We will not be able to change that on our own, which is why this task force is so important to help us seize this once-in-a-century opportunity.â
Getty THE BIGGER PICTURE
Old Trafford has not undergone any update since 2006, and the stadium has essentially been allowed to fall into disrepair under the ruinous ownership of the Glazer family. However, Ratcliffe and INEOS appear to be spearheading a drive to bring United's facilities back in line with the top clubs across the continent; it remains to be seen, of course, if the club will have to move elsewhere for a season or two, as Tottenham Hotspur did when they relocated to Wembley while they were constructing their new stadium.
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
United have matters to attend to on the pitch as well as off it. They face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, knowing they need to win if they are to cling onto any hope of a top-four finish; they are currently 11 points behind Aston Villa, who play fifth-placed Spurs on Sunday.
Glasgow Rangers got back to winning ways following the international break, as a 2-0 win over St Johnstone marginally eased the pressure on Michael Beale.
The 43-year-old isn’t out of the woods just yet, especially with a tricky tie ahead this week against Real Betis. That said, home advantage should give the Gers a major boost, considering how boisterous Ibrox gets during European ties.
Beale will have to negotiate that tie without Danilo, who suffered a fractured cheekbone in the win against the Saints with the manager providing an update after the match.
What's the latest on Danilo's injury?
Beale said: "It was desperately disappointing to lose Danilo because he has been looking sharp in training over the last two weeks and before that he had had one or two issues.
"It looks like it is a fractured cheekbone and we are going to miss him for a while after he scored an excellent goal.”
It isn’t just the Brazilian who will be absent against the Spanish side, as Todd Cantwell is also unavailable.
How long is Todd Cantwell out injured for?
The former Norwich City starlet was seen in a knee brace following the 1-0 defeat to Celtic before the international break and although it initially looked like it was just a precaution, the prognosis isn’t ideal.
Indeed, the manager gave the press an update on his situation prior to the weekends match, saying:
"Unfortunately, Todd Cantwell will miss the next 3 or 4 games, and Dowell will also miss out.
"Todd (Cantwell) was an issue with his knee in a challenge towards the end of the game. He should be returning in 3/4 weeks.”
Who could replace Todd Cantwell?
The Englishman has operated in a few different roles this term depending on what system Beale has deployed, and his presence will be missed.
The Light Blues have an ideal replacement in the form of Sam Lammers however, as the 6 foot 3 gem is also extremely flexible.
This season, the “perfectly two-footed” Dutchman – as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has featured as a centre-forward, attacking midfielder and even on the right wing, suggesting he could slot into a variety of positions and take over the mantle from Cantwell.
Across ten games so far this term, Lammers has scored once and registered an assist while averaging three shots per game and succeeding with 50% of his attempted dribbles per match in the Premiership.
Across the whole Rangers squad in the league, he ranks first for total shots per game, suggesting that he is incredibly positive in the final third.
It was his Champions League performances which were most impressive however, as he ranked fourth in the squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.05) along with ranking first for big chances created (one) and fifth for successful dribbles per game (0.5), proving he could shine at the highest level in Europe.
Losing Cantwell is a significant blow to Beale, yet in Lammers, he has a player who is as tactically versatile as the 25-year-old and if deployed in the correct position, could star against Betis on Thursday evening.
Celtic could be set to lose one of their integral senior players in January, and a fresh report has revealed which club are trying to tempt him into leaving the Scottish Premiership.
What's the latest transfer news at Celtic?
Over the summer, Brendan Rodgers had a busy window, bringing in a total of ten fresh faces which included the likes of Luis Palma, Tomoki Iwata and Nathaniel Phillips, but whilst the boss was busy getting players into the building, he was equally working on some of them leaving.
In terms of outgoings, Jota was the biggest name to depart having joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, alongside Carl Starfelt and Albian Ajeti who also completed exits just to name a few, as per Transfermarkt, and even though the window has now closed, all eyes are focused on January.
At Parkhead, Daizen Maeda only arrived permanently last summer following a previous successful loan from Yokohama F. Marinos, and despite still having another four years remaining on his contract, he's already been linked with a move elsewhere this year.
The Japan international emerged as a serious target for Premier League side Southampton at the start of the year, and even though a deal failed to come to fruition after the 25-year-old admitted that he was firmly focused on the job at hand, there’s a possibility that he could have his head turned by a bigger club in the future.
Is Daizen Maeda leaving Celtic?
According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham Hotspur are "keeping close tabs" on Maeda, where Ange Postecoglou is plotting a reunion with his former attacker. The Celtic star is a player being "looked at" by the club's ex-boss as he looks to bolster his options out wide in N17.
The Lilywhites are in the process of "conducting their due diligence" on the left-winger, with his versatility to operate on both flanks making him an "attractive" prospect.
Spurs are "exploring the conditions" of a swoop, and it's claimed that the outfit north of the border would be looking to receive £25m to sanction his sale, the same fee that saw them let go of Jota.
How many goals has Daizen Maeda scored for Celtic?
Since first putting pen to paper at Celtic, Maeda has posted 32 contributions (19 goals and 13 assists) in 76 appearances (prior to today's game vs Dundee) which shows how prolific he can be in the final third, but it’s not just the impact he makes when hitting the back of the net that he brings to the side.
The JEB Entertainment client has been deployed in six different positions since the start of his career, including everywhere across the frontline and even two roles in the midfield, so despite his versatility being attractive to other clubs, it makes him a great option to have in the building.
Furthermore, Maeda has helped Rodgers’ side to secure four trophies following his arrival, including the Scottish Premiership and the League Cup, and the “dangerous” threat that he provides, as described by journalist Josh Bunting, will only help to increase that number moving forward.
Tottenham Hotspur will make the short four-mile trip across North London on Sunday to face bitter rivals Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in what is the most anticipated North London Derby in years.
As one of the biggest fixtures in the season, it's a game that doesn't need anything more to make it a spectacle, but the brilliance of both teams this season suggests that this encounter could be fiery.
One of the men who'll undoubtedly be at the centre of everything Tottenham do is Son Heung-min. The South Korean captain is now the Lilywhites' new captain following the departure of Harry Kane in the summer and has since upped his game and taken more responsibility in the team.
A move to centre-forward has reinvigorated his game after a somewhat disappointing season last year, and under new boss Ange Postecoglou, he looks ready to take charge of Sunday's game.
With that in mind, we here at Football FanCast have taken a look into the stats to see how he usually performs against the Gunners and just what the Spurs faithful can expect from their new captain this weekend.
What is Son Heung-min's goal record against Arsenal?
Son has faced off against Arsenal 18 times in his career thus far, with 16 of those encounters coming in the Premier League and the other two in the League Cup. His first game against the Gunners came in a league game in November 2015, when he came off the bench in the 75th minute, and given that it was such a short cameo, he was unable to register a goal or an assist.
His first start in the derby would come a year later in his third appearance against the club; he would last 89 minutes and help the team to a 1-1 draw away from home but again fail to score or assist a goal.
Finally, at the ninth time of asking, Son scored a goal in a game away to Arsenal, helping the Lilywhites to a rare win away to the Gunners. That goal must've given him a confidence boost, as in the nine games that have followed that one, he has scored another four goals against the club, becoming a real thorn in their side ever since.
Games
18
Goals
5
What is Son Heung-min's assist record against Arsenal?
As if five goals for a winger wasn't already good enough, the South Korean international has been able to provide just as many assists.
Similarly to his first goal against Arsenal, his first assist against the Gunners came quite late into his Spurs career. The assist itself is an odd one, as it wasn't a live pass or anything like that; instead, Son was fouled in the box by Rob Holding, and Harry Kane buried the resulting penalty. That said, it's registered as an assist, and that is what really matters.
While his first assist was ultimately in vain as Arsenal came from behind to win, every assist he has provided since has either come in a draw or a Spurs win – a lucky omen, perhaps?
Games
18
Assists
5
What is Son Heung-min's head-to-head record with Arsenal?
Son has been instrumental to Tottenham's recent era of relative success, success that has seen them regularly competing in the Champions League – even making the final – and so it probably shouldn't come as a big surprise to read that his record against the Gunners is reasonably impressive.
Granted, he has lost more games against Arsenal than he has won, but only by one game and given that the Gunners have tended to win more than they lose in this fixture, that's pretty good going.
The 31-year-old has been a vital member of a team that has turned these games into genuine competitions and regularly beaten their neighbours, all while finishing ahead of them more often than not over the last six years.
What's more is that he has directly contributed with a goal or assist – or both – in four of the team's last six wins against Arsenal.
Wins
6
Draws
5
Losses
7
How many goals and assists does Son Heung-min have at the Emirates?
If there is one place that Spurs do not enjoy travelling to, regardless of the form they're in, is the Emirates. It doesn't matter if Arsenal are in a bad spot of their own or not; N7 has not been a happy hunting ground for the Lilywhites.
Unfortunately for Son, this is no different for him. He has played at the Emirates nine times in his career, won just once, drawn three times, and lost the other five.
That said, his personal record of goals and assists is quite good, all things considered, as two of each gives him a goal involvement every 2.25 games, which is an impressive statistic away to your biggest rival.
Games
9
Goals
2
Assists
2
How many goals and assists does Son Heung-min have at home?
Playing Arsenal at home has been an excellent fixture for Son and Spurs since he arrived in N17 eight years ago.
The former Bayer Leverkusen star has won five of the nine games he has played against the Gunners at home, and from 2019 onwards, he has been a consistent producer of goals and assists in these fixtures.
His best performance came in May 2022, in a game many saw as essentially a playoff for fourth place. Arsenal went into the game in good form, but that didn't last as Son tore them apart, winning his team a penalty and scoring a goal of his own to wrap up Spurs' 3-0 win.
Fans will be hoping that he can reproduce a performance like that away from home come Sunday.
Games
9
Goals
3
Assists
3
Who has Son Heung-min scored against the most?
Stepping away from the North London Derby now, who else has Son terrorised in the Premier League over the years?
Well, there is one team that have suffered from Son's excellence more than anyone else, and it's not even close: Southampton.
Yes, in the 17 games the dynamic Spurs star has played against the Saints, he has scored a frankly ridiculous 12 goals, and if that wasn't enough for whatever reason, he has also provided seven assists against the side – equal to his seven assists against West Ham United.
In all, Son has managed 19 goal involvements in just 17 appearances against the side, which translates to 1.1 every game. We reckon Southampton will be secretly quite pleased about not facing him again this season.
How many goals and assists does Son Heung-min have in the Premier League?
Son has now played 273 Premier League games and is fast approaching 300, which is a remarkable achievement in its own right and shows how good he has been since moving from the Bundesliga eight years ago.
That longevity is no accident, though; he has lasted so long at the top due to his unbelievable performances and output over that period. In all, he has scored 106 goals and produced 52 assists thus far, which means he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.7 games in the toughest league in world football.
He doesn't hide away in the big games either, as his tally of 52 assists means that just under 10% of them have come in North London derbies, which has to bode well for the weekend, right?
With Postecoglou at the helm and Son's new position up top, we wouldn't be surprised to see his numbers get even better by the time he reaches that 300th appearance.
Games
273
Goals
106
Assists
52
How has Son Heung-min done this season?
In the absence of Kane, Son has been made Tottenham captain, and to say that they have got off to a fantastic start under his captaincy and Postecoglou's guidance would be a huge understatement.
There is no doubt that, as things stand, Spurs are one of the form teams in the country- if not the continent – and Son is a massive part of that.
He has started all five of the team's league games, and in the first game he played up top against Burnley, he scored a hat-trick which is incredibly encouraging after a slight down year last season.
His underlying numbers, per FBref, are also excellent, with the rapid forward producing 3.73 shot-creating actions and 0.21 expected assists per 90.
Granted, the real challenge will be whether he can continue this form for most of the season, but so far, we haven't seen any reason to doubt him.
When is Arsenal vs Spurs?
Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, September 24th, at 2pm British Summer Time. As we mentioned earlier, this is already one of the biggest games in the English footballing calendar, and so the form and ambitions of both sides going into the game only amplify that more.
The hosts will want to use this game as a potential statement to the rest of the league that, after some early season hiccups, they are well and truly back as a genuine force in the title race this year. Plus, losing at home to Spurs is a surefire way to squash any morale picked up from their midweek win.
For Spurs, this game is the perfect opportunity to announce themselves as a serious team in the league after several miserable years under defensive managers. The game has also come at the ideal time for them as they are flying in the league, and morale among players and fans alike couldn't be higher – unless they beat the Gunners, that is.
It's going to be a cracking game; make sure you don't miss it.
The ICC has laid out three charges against Rajan Nayar, including offering a player cash to improperly influence play in an international match
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-2018Rajan Nayar, a Zimbabwe domestic cricket official, has been charged with breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code on three counts, including offering a player cash to improperly influence an international match. Nayar is the treasurer and marketing director of the Harare Metropolitan Cricket Association (HMCA), the association that runs league cricket in Harare and oversees domestic franchise the Mashonaland Eagles.He has been charged with breaching Article 2.1.1 of the ICC’s code (being party to an effort to fix or contrive or otherwise influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or other aspects of an international match or matches) and offering a player US$30,000 for the same. Subsequently, he has been provisionally suspended with immediate effect from his roles at the HMCA.ESPNcricinfo understands that Nayar was the man who had approached Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer in October last year with an offer to engage in corrupt activities. When the Cremer news was reported, an ICC spokesperson had confirmed that an Anti-Corruption Unit investigation was “ongoing in Zimbabwe”.At the time, the Cremer incident was the second time in two months that news had emerged of a corrupt approach made to an international captain. Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, also reported an allegedly corrupt approach in October. Also, days later, senior Indian curator Pandurang Salgaoncar was dismissed by the BCCI for “malpractice” after a sting operation by a TV channel produced footage of him talking to reporters allegedly posing as bookies about the Pune pitch ahead of an ODI between India and New Zealand.Nayar is an official who is well known to players, a number of whom have expressed surprise that he has been implicated in such an investigation. He has 14 days, starting from 16 January, to respond to the charges.
Burnley are reportedly preparing a move to sign Queens Park Rangers midfielder Sam Field and have made contact ahead of a potential transfer.
Vincent Kompany is currently preparing for the Premier League opener on Friday against treble winners Manchester City, but it looks as if work is still going on behind the scenes when it comes to further additions.
The Clarets have already nine signings, with Zeki Amdouni, James Trafford, Jordan Beyer, Dara O'Shea, Michael Obafemi, Luca Koleosho, Nathan Redmond, Lawrence Vigouroux and Jacob Bruun Larsen all sealing deals ranging from permanent moves, free transfers and loans.
One player who appears to be close to joining Kompany’s side is Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge. Talks have taken place over a potential move and Fabrizio Romano has said a deal is close with a verbal agreement with the Blades almost completed.
Alongside Berge, though, it looks as if Burnley could look to sign another midfielder in Field.
Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke shared an update regarding Field on Tuesday, claiming both Burnley and Rangers are big admirers of the player.
It is believed that sides have made contact over a deal by registering their interest and are plotting offers. Field is into the final 12 months of his Loftus Road contract, and it looks as if a move to either Turf Moor or Ibrox could be on the cards.
Field progressed through the academy at West Brom and went on to make 45 senior appearances for the Baggies – 22 of which came in the Premier League.
Primarily a holding midfielder who can also play further forward if needed, the 25-year-old spent time out on loan with Charlton Athletic and Queens Park Rangers before joining the latter on a permanent basis back in 2021.
Since then, the player has gone from strength to strength and won three awards at QPR last season, including Supporters’ Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year.
He appears to be in his prime with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation of €3m and has turned out on 97 occasions for The R’s, scoring four times, one of which came against the Clarets last season.
Field didn’t miss one Championship fixture last season as the club narrowly avoided relegation, and he has been hailed by one of his former coaches, Gary Megson, who said that Field is “big” and “one of the best two-footed players” he’s seen.
"If he can just grow into himself in terms of confidence and get that little bit of belief in himself it wouldn't surprise me if he goes on to have a real top-class career.
"He's big, he can run and he's got a great left foot. He's one of the best two-footed players I've seen and he's got a great amount going for him."
Therefore, it looks as if a move to Turf Moor could be one to keep an eye on in the final weeks of the window, however, Kompany’s side may need to beat Rangers in the race for Field's services, with the Scottish side able to offer European football at Ibrox.
Tamil Nadu power ahead against Odisha while current group toppers Andhra ride on DB Prasanth’s century versus Tripura
ESPNcricinfo staff09-Nov-2017M Vijay’s 21st first-class ton and his century-stands with N Jagadeesan and Baba Indrajith took Tamil Nadu to 292 for 3 against Odisha on the opening day in Cuttack.Having elected to bat first, Tamil Nadu lost opener Abhinav Mukund early to a run out. Vijay battled through to add 145 for the second wicket with Jagadeesan, who contributed 88, before Govinda Poddar sent back the wicketkeeper. Tamil Nadu didn’t let the momentum slip as Vijay then found an ally in Indrajith. Vijay was set on 140 before being caught and bowled by fast bowler Suryakant Pradhan late in the day. Indrajith (41*) and Vijay Shankar (8*) were set to resume batting on the second day.DB Prasanth’s unbeaten 120 lifted Andhra, the current group toppers, to 252 for 2 at stumps as the visitors started strongly against Tripura in Agartala. Andhra, put in to bat first, lost opener KS Bharat early for 18. This brought Prasanth together with Hanuma Vihari (62*) as the pair put on 108 for the second-wicket. Vihari, the captain, was dismissed post lunch, following which Prashant put up a century-stand with Ricky Bhui (49*).