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Crystal Palace still have time to complete some late signings in the summer transfer window and they are reportedly eyeing one audacious addition.

Will Crystal Palace make more signings?

The Eagles retained their Premier League status once again last season, with Roy Hodgson coming in and steadying the ship impressively, and the hope is that they are going to kick on again in 2023/24.

Palace have looked fairly good in the opening weeks of the campaign, winning 1-0 away to Sheffield United in their opening fixture, before losing 1-0 at home to Arsenal on Monday night ahead of Saturday's trip to Brentford.

Some new signings have come in to bolster the options at Hodgson's disposal, including Jefferson Lerma and Matheus Franca, while Michael Olise decided against a move to Chelsea at the eleventh hour, before deciding to sign a new long-term deal at Selhurst Park.

Will Crystal Palace sign Eden Hazard?

According to a key update from Football Transfers, Palace are now 'plotting a shock move' for former Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard this summer:

"Crystal Palace are plotting a shock move to save Eden Hazard from retirement, FootballTransfers understands. The Belgian is still a free agent after leaving Real Madrid earlier in the summer and there have been suggestions that Hazard could retire due to his persistent injury issues.

"At this stage in his career, this would not be a grand comeback to the Premier League, but more of a last hurrah. Hazard would be offered a simple one-year deal with a pay-as-you-play structure. In other words, he would receive an inexpensive base salary but with the ability to augment his income through appearance and performance bonuses."

This could be quite a signing by Palace, with Hazard someone who has arguably been one of the most exciting attacking players of his generation, scoring 110 goals in 352 appearances for Chelsea, at a time when he was described as "world-class" by Hakim Ziyech.

Since joining Real Madrid, there is no question that the Belgian's career has absolutely plummeted, however, with injuries holding him back hugely, and only seven goals coming his way in 76 matches.

For that reason, there would be a clear risk to Palace signing Hazard, who is unquestionably past his best as a player, but at 32, he may still have something to offer if he can remain fit, considering the likes of superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are comfortably older yet still playing on a regular basis.

It is one of those signings that could ultimately go either way, with the risk that it could backfire but a chance that the Nike-sponsored ace could also find his groove again back in the Premier League, improving the level of everyone around him and enjoying the autumn of his career. Whether it happens remains to be seen, but Palace may look to take a punt on a pay-as-you-play deal.

To say it's not been a great summer for Paris Saint-Germain would be an understatement. It began with the departure of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami, before Kylian Mbappe revealed that he's not planning to put pen to paper on a new deal, leading to his exile to train with the rest of the Ligue 1 side's unwanted players.

Now, as if things couldn't get any worse, Neymar has asked to leave the club, according to Sky Sports, with the Brazilian keen to rejoin Barcelona this summer, as per ESPN.

The winger's father has attempted to squash the rumours by telling PL Brasil, via Fabrizio Romano: “I can not confirm a news that did not happen."

Given that Manchester City are refusing to sell Barcelona target Bernardo Silva this summer, according to Romano, it wouldn't be unwise for the Spanish giants to turn their attention towards former star Neymar this summer, though.

With that said, we've taken a look at how Barcelona could line up with Neymar this season.

RB: Joao Cancelo

Joao Cancelo's Manchester City future still reportedly remains uncertain, after spending last season on loan at Bayern Munich. And this could open the door for a move back to La Liga and to Barcelona this summer.

According to Romano, the Portugal international has agreed personal terms with the La Liga champions, and both Manchester City and Barcelona are now working on a deal which will see Barcelona use part of the budget gained through the reportedly pending sale of Ousmane Dembele to PSG.

The winger looks set to join Goncalo Ramos on PSG's list of reinforcements this summer.

Cancelo's potential arrival could see Joules Kounde pushed back into central defence, with Andreas Christensen linked with a move away to Manchester United this summer to free up a position next to Ronald Araujo.

CM: Ilkay Gundogan

In arguably one of the smartest deals of the summer, Barcelona welcomed Ilkay Gundogan on a free deal, and have themselves one of the most technically advanced midfielders in Europe.

Potentially partnered with Pedri and Frenkie de Jong, the former Manchester City man should get off to a solid start at the Nou Camp, forming a trio capable of dictating games against the majority of the world's best sides.

It will certainly be an interesting watch this season.

LW: Neymar

When we think of dream combinations that we never thought we'd see, Neymar and Robert Lewandowski is undoubtedly an option that springs to mind. Yet, we could finally see it this season.

The Brazilian has had the privilege of playing with some of the best strikers of all time in Luis Suarez, and Mbappe – who will no doubt be among the greats in years to come.

Now, however, it could be the turn of Lewandowski to enjoy the creative genius of Neymar, who scored 105 goals, and assisted a further 76 in his first Barcelona spell, before making the move to PSG for a reported world-record £200m deal in 2017.

If the La Liga side can secure Neymar's return, then Xavi will have himself an incredible side for the forthcoming campaign.

With that said, here's how Barcelona could line up this season in full:

أعلن المدير الفني لفريق مانشستر سيتي، بيب جوارديولا، عن تشكيل اللاعبين الذين سيخوضون مباراة نوتينجهام فورست، في الجولة 35 من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتنطلق مباراة مانشستر سيتي ونوتينجهام فورست في تمام الساعة السادسة والنصف مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة” على ملعب “سيتي جراوند”.

اقرأ ايضاً.. ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي بعد تعادل ليفربول أمام وست هام يونايتد

ويحتل مانشستر سيتي المركز الثاني مؤقتاً في ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 76 نقطة، بينما يأتي نوتينجهام فورست في المركز السابع عشر برصيد 26 نقطة.

ويتواجد المهاجم النرويجي، إيرلينج هالاند، على مقاعد بدلاء مانشستر سيتي في مواجهة اليوم. تشكيل مانشستر سيتي ضد نوتينجهام فورست اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

حراسة المرمى: إيديرسون.

خط الدفاع: يوسكو جفارديول، مانويل أكانجي، ناثان أكي، كايل ووكر.

خط الوسط: كيفن دي بروين، رودري، برناردو سيلفا.

خط الهجوم: جاك جريليش، خوليان ألفاريز، جيريمي دوكو. بدلاء مانشستر سيتي ضد نوتينجهام فورست اليوم في الدوري الإنجليزي

أورتيجا، كارسون، جون ستونز، ريكو لويس، كوفاسيتش، سيرجيو جوميز، ماتيوس نونيز، أوسكار بوب، إيرلينج هالاند.

إليكم اختيارات بيب جوارديولا لمواجهة نوتنجهام فورست اليوم في الدوري الممتاز @PLinArabic 📝#السيتي pic.twitter.com/lsT83oQS8z — مانشستر سيتي (@Cityarabia) April 28, 2024

Nottinghamshire can travel to NatWest Blast Finals Day with a virtually impregnible lead at the top of Division Two after dominating Northants on the opening day

David Hopps at Trent Bridge28-Aug-2017Riki Wessels offered most resistance•Getty ImagesWhether that Nottinghamshire touch this summer will turn to gold will only become apparent this weekend at NatWest Blast Finals Day, but certainly they returned to Championship action after the mid-season break against Northants at Trent Bridge with their exuberance undimmed.A 50-point cushion over Northants, who lie third, with six matches remaining, promises immediate promotion from Division Two and most likely as champions – not that they would be so unprofessional as to admit it – and the Royal London One-Day Cup is already won. What chance three trophies in the venerable, chimney-potted pavilion come September to mark Peter Moores’ first season in charge?Nottinghamshire’s 213 was obviously a sturdy total on an extravagantly seaming pitch, but it looked gigantic once Northants took guard. Northants might be many neutrals’ favourite T20 side, a team of considerable heft, but the manner in which they capitulated to 141 all out – itself a recovery from 59 for 7 in 20 overs – suggested they do not remotely envisage grinding out a serious promotion challenge throughout September.As for Notts, assuming the pitch retains its character, they can anticipate the best part of two days off before heading to Edgbaston and switching their thoughts back to T20.For the first time this season a toss at Trent Bridge was contested: both counties eager to bat. The ground gleamed white under sunlit pale blue skies, the colour scheme of a coastal cottage, but a mottled brown pitch resembled the after-effects of an especially high tide. Even as Northants made inroads, they just seemed to be marking time before Notts got hold of the ball. Both attacks bowled splendidly.Azharullah bowled with commendable pep and skill for a season’s-best 5 for 63 for Northants and Richard Gleeson surfed some late waves for four wickets, but their efforts in bowling out Notts in two sessions were to no avail when Northants themselves fell in less than one.Notts’ innings was based around two half-centuries: another worthy affair at the top of the order from Steven Mullaney, fifth out for 58 when Rory Kleinveldt cut a ball back to bowl him, and 69 in 80 balls from Riki Wessels which was drawn increasingly from the limited-overs songbook.Mullaney coped with conditions as admirably as anybody, his streakiest moment coming with his ninth boundary which flashed through the slips to bring up his fifty. Wessels, a T20 opener given licence at No. 6 in the Championship, changed tack after Notts lost their sixth wicket, that of Chris Read, and took five boundaries off Kleinveldt’s next over before indulging in several unsuccessful ramp shots against the seaming ball. A last-wicket stand of 32 with Harry Gurney completed Notts’ escape before he skied Gleeson to be last out.If Cheteshwar Pujara, the Indian Test batsman, had returned to county cricket to extend his education in English conditions ahead of India’s tour next summer, the loss of his off-stump as he drove at Azharullah was a degree level question which he flunked by some distance. Samit Patel and Brett Hutton were bowled shouldering arms to Azharullah and the clamour for Alex Hales to be selected for England’s Ashes tour party as a middle-order batsman was briefly silenced when the same bowler dismissed him for 4, on the drive.The call for Hales carries some validity, but even allowing for bursts of brilliance in limited-overs cricket, he will need to add further substance in the Championship to the double century he made against Derbyshire three weeks ago.Northants can’t have been helped by Ben Duckett’s broken finger, nor by the late withdrawal of Max Holden, who had been secured from Middlesex for a second loan period only to be immediately summoned back to London by his director of cricket, Angus Fraser, because of injury concerns surrounding three senior batsmen, all of whom were ultimately passed fit.That entailed an unexpected call-up for David Murphy, a wicket-keeper batsman who has been laid low for much of the season with a back disc problem and who has already announced his intention to retire at the end of the season to take up a law post in London.Murphy and his fellow opener, Rob Newton, fell to catches at the wicket, Jake Ball yorked Alex Wakely, Luke Wood sent Richard Levi’s off stump many a mile and when Rob Keogh, Adam Rossington and Kleinveldt fell within nine balls, Northants were seven down and had still to avoid the follow-on. They did so with Josh Cobb to the fore in an unbeaten 46, but they have quite a task to turn this game on its head.

An update has emerged on Celtic and their plans to bolster the playing squad ahead of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership campaign…

What's the latest Celtic transfer news?

According to 90min, the Hoops are one of the clubs eyeing up a swoop to sign Manchester United central midfielder Donny van de Beek during the summer transfer window, with Brendan Rodgers keen on a deal for the Red Devils outcast.

His club have decided to sanction an exit after the Netherlands international made seven league appearances, including two starts, throughout the 2022/23 season.

The report claims that Premier League sides Wolves, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, along with Inter, Milan, and Roma in Italy, are also in the race to land his signature.

It states that Erik ten Hag's team would like to cash in by selling him over the coming weeks but that a loan is a more likely option at this moment in time – three years on from his £35m switch to England from Dutch giants Ajax in 2020.

How much is Donny van de Beek earning at Manchester United?

The 26-year-old dynamo is reportedly earning £140k-per-week with the Champions League side and this could make a deal difficult to complete for Celtic as their top earner is Callum McGregor on £32k-per-week.

Unless they are willing to smash their wage structure to pieces, the Hoops would need United to subsidise a large chunk of his salary in what would be an ambitious swoop for the midfielder.

It is a move worth pursuing for Rodgers, though, as the Netherlands maestro, who was once hailed as "unselfish" by ex-England international Owen Hargreaves, has the potential to be an exceptional addition to the squad to partner Matt O'Riley in the middle of the park.

Van de Beek should not be judged on his rather difficult spell in England as he has only started 11 Premier League matches in three years, which means that the 19-cap gem has not been given enough of a chance to prove himself with an extended run in the side.

However, his form at Ajax suggests that there is an excellent talent for Rodgers to unearth.

He averaged a sublime Sofascore rating of 7.32 across 23 Eredivisie starts in his final campaign with the Dutch giants, which was the 2019/20 season.

During that time, the Dutch dynamo scored eight goals and created 1.8 chances per game for his teammates, which came after the 6-foot technician plundered nine goals to go along with ten assists over the course of 28 league starts throughout the previous term.

No Celtic central midfielder managed more than six Premiership goals last season and O'Riley (2.1) was the only player in that position with an average of 1.5 key passes per match or higher.

The former MK Dons star also ranked second in the squad with his average Sofascore rating of 7.30 – only behind Jota's 7.45 – and this means that the Manchester United flop would have slotted between them based on his form at Ajax during the 2019/20 campaign.

Therefore, the potential is there for the talented Dutchman to be an exciting addition to Celtic's squad if Rodgers can get him back to the levels he displayed in his home country.

Van de Beek and O'Riley could be a nightmare for opposition midfielders to deal with next season as they are both capable of delivering consistently brilliant performances whilst also being able to offer excellent creativity, along with the former's goalscoring threat.

كشف مهاجم منتخب إنجلترا الأسبق، بيتر كراوتش، عن فريقه المرشح الأقرب للفوز بلقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز لهذا الموسم 2023/2024.

وتتنافس 3 أندية على اللقب أولها آرسنال المتصدر ثم ليفربول صاحب المركز الثاني ومانشستر سيتي في المركز الثالث، وفارق النقاط ضئيل للغاية.

اقرا أيضًا.. ليفربول يترقب فحوصات روبرتسون قبل مواجهة برايتون

وتحدث كراوتش عن مرشحه في حوار عبر شبكة “talkSPORT” البريطانية، وقال: “قلت إن ليفربول سيفوز باللقب في بداية الموسم، اعتقد أن الكثير من الناس سيقولون إن ذلك تحيزًا”.

وتابع: “ربما يكونون على حق بعض الشيء، لكن آرسنال عاد إلى المنافسة وبقوة من وجهة نظري”.

واستمر: “من الواضح أن مانشستر سيتي سيكون المرشح الأوفر حظًا نظرًا لخبرته في السنوات الماضية، يمكن القول إنه سباق بين حصانين، لكن آرسنال أعاد نفسه إلى المنافسة بالفعل”.

وأتم: “لكنني سأظل مع ليفربول، ما زلت أعتقد أنهم قادرون على القيام بذلك”.

Celtic have agreed a £2.1m transfer fee with Gangwon FC for forward Yang Hyun-jun, however, a move is proving complicated.

What’s the latest Celtic transfer news?

It has been a busy few weeks off the pitch at Parkhead, which began when Ange Postecoglou left the cub to join Tottenham. Since then, Brendan Rodgers has been brought in for a second stint in charge of the Hoops, and new signings have been made.

The first player to arrive was midfielder Odin Thiago Holm, who joined from Eliteserien club Valerenga and signed a five-year contract in Glasgow. As well as Holm, Australian winger Marco Tilio has also penned a five-year deal with the Hoops, joining from Melbourne City.

There has been a major departure, though, with star winger Jota joining Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £25m.

More attacking additions could be on the cards as a result, with Yang a player who has been linked with a move to Parkhead. Reports last month claimed that Celtic made a significant transfer offer for the K-League winger, with journalist Jason Lee saying:

“According to Korean media, Celtic have sent an official transfer offer to Gangwon FC for Yang Hyun-Jun. The offer is believed to be "significant and final" as Celtic await Gangwon's response. The player is eager to move to Celtic.”

There has now been a further update from Football Scotland, who say that Celtic and Gangwon have in fact agreed on a £2.1m deal which includes a 12% sell-on clause.

The player is keen to move to Scotland, however, Gangwon are now stalling over a deal as they believe Yang could help them avoid relegation. Gangwon want to keep their forward until January when their season finishes, but Yang is even willing to give up his salary to push through a move to join Rodgers’ side ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Who is Yang Hyun-jun?

Yang is primarily a right-winger who can also play on the left or through the middle, so would bring plenty of versatility to Rodgers’ attacking options and may rival current right-wingers James Forrest and Liel Abada, although the latter of the two has been linked with a move to Sporting Lisbon.

He was described as “excellent” and a “level above” in the media following a pre-season display against Tottenham last year and has contributed to 14 goals in 69 senior appearances for Gangwon.

The 21-year-old is under contract until the end of 2025 and has been described as an unpredictable and eye-catching player in the media, labelled as Gangwon’s up-and-coming star last year by the K League media.

Celtic have enjoyed plenty of success by bringing players in from the Asian market over recent years, and it looks as if Rodgers is keen to continue looking in that direction. Former manager Postecoglou signed the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Oh Hyeon-gyu from Japan and South Korea, and with a deal agreed for Yang, hopefully, he’ll be the next to arrive in Scotland.

A deadline has been set for the completion of Mason Mount's transfer to Manchester United from Chelsea.

Will Mount join Manchester United?

The Red Devils have already seen two bids rejected by Chelsea for Mount, the latter of which was worth somewhere between £50m-£55m when add-ons are taken into account. However, the Blues have stood firm and, while initially wanting £75m for the midfielder, would now accept a figure around the £60-65m mark.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, however, time could be running out for a move, with a short deadline set for the finalisation of the deal.

"The conversation between Man United and Chelsea for Mason Mount continues," stated the journalist. "Man United will bid again, as I told you. Mason Mount has an agreement with Man United, wants to go to Man United, but timing will be crucial."

"Sources believe that this deal has to be completed by the end of next week. So this is why for Chelsea this is another crucial point."

If Romano's sources are correct then a deal for Mount would need to be done by July 2nd, putting a potentially difficult deadline on an already tricky deal.

As Romano states, United are expected to bid again for the 24-year-old, who only managed 24 appearances in the Premier League last season for a chaotic Chelsea side who had three separate managers during the campaign.

New Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was reportedly eager to hold contract talks with Mason Mount as his current deal expires in the summer of 2024. However, his time at Chelsea seems all but over now, with the club not wanting to lose him for free.

For United, signing Mount from a rival would be an astute piece of business. The attacking midfielder managed a combined 70 goals and assists in 195 appearances for the Blues and has thoroughly impressed every manager he has played under.

Who else will Man United sign?

Naturally, Man United are not only interested in signing Mount and are expected to bring in several players during the transfer window. However, even Erik ten Hag himself has admitted to being unsure over available funds given the club's current ownership situation.

It appears United are interested in signing a central striker this summer, with Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Rasmus Hojlund all having been linked. It would take a whopping transfer fee to lure any of them to Old Trafford this summer and United have already pulled out of a potential deal for Kane as a result.

The Red Devils were strongly linked with Napoli sensation Kim Min-jae as a centre-back option considering his €50m release clause, but it seems Bayern Munich have jumped ahead of the English club in the queue.

Ten Hag may have to wait for clarification on the takeover process before being able to make significant moves into the transfer market this summer.

كشف مصدر بـ الجهاز الفني لمنتخب مصر الأول عن رد فعل الجهاز بشأن مواجهة نيوزيلندا في دورة الإمارات الودية المقبلة.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب مصر في أول المباريات مع نيوزيلندا يوم 22 مارس المقبل، وإذا حقق الفوز سيواجه الفائز من مباراة تونس مع كرواتيا.

وتعد مباراة نيوزيلندا هي التجربة الأولى للفراعنة تحت قيادة حسام حسن بعد توليه المسؤولية خلفًا لـ روى فيتوريا المدير الفني الأسبق.

وعلم بطولات، أن هناك حالة ارتياح داخل الجهاز الفني لمنتخب مصر لمواجهة نيوزيلندا في المباراة الأولى للفراعنة في دورة الإمارات الودية في مارس.

طالع | حلمي طولان: لا يوجد مدرب وطني يستحق تدريب المنتخب.. ولاعب الزمالك الأفضل في مصر

ويرى الجهاز الفني أن منتخب نيوزيلندا هو الأفضل لمصر من مواجهة تونس صاحبة الخبرات الأفريقية أو منتخب كرواتيا ثالث العالم.

ويجد الجهاز الفني بقيادة حسام حسن أن ملاقاة نيوزيلاندا، ستكون فرصة مصر الأقوى للعب المباراة النهائية.

India completed a 3-0 whitewash in devastating fashion as a seven-wicket haul from R Ashwin shot New Zealand out for 153 in their last innings of the series

The Report by Karthik Krishnaswamy11-Oct-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details5:56

Agarkar: If Ashwin stays fit, can’t see India in much trouble this home season

India completed a 3-0 whitewash in devastating fashion as a seven-wicket haul from R Ashwin shot New Zealand out for 153 in their last innings of the series. India declared just under an hour from tea, after Cheteshwar Pujara had completed his eighth Test hundred, to set New Zealand a target of 475 and give themselves a day and a half to take 10 wickets. They only needed 44.5 overs, as New Zealand lost nine wickets for 115 runs in the post-tea session.Ashwin’s figures of 7 for 59 were his best in Test cricket, as were his match figures of 13 for 140. He picked up his 21st five-wicket haul, his sixth ten-wicket match haul, his seventh Player of the Match award and seventh Player of the Series award – fourth in a row – as well. There probably isn’t a more influential cricketer anywhere in the world today. Certainly no one has played a bigger part in India securing the No. 1 Test ranking, a feat they got to celebrate when Virat Kohli was handed the ICC Test championship mace at the end of the match, in front of a capacity crowd in Indore.Set a similar task last year in another dead-rubber Test, on a similar slow turner at Feroz Shah Kotla, South Africa chose to block their way to a draw. They didn’t succeed, but they did make India toil for 143.1 overs. New Zealand, having until now given India a harder time on this tour than South Africa did in theirs, adopted an entirely different approach and collapsed spectacularly.Their two most accomplished batsmen, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, exemplified this approach. Both came out looking to attack Ashwin, their tormentor through the series, and ended up playing a part in their own undoing.Williamson hit Ashwin for three fours in his first two overs, either side of tea, but in that time also gave the bowler enough of a clue that he was looking to step across his stumps and play him with the turn as much as possible. He shuffled across again to the eleventh ball he faced from Ashwin, premeditatedly, and a flatter, quicker one turned in and trapped him in front. Like he had done to Kumar Sangakkara on the 2015 tour of Sri Lanka, Ashwin had dismissed Williamson four times in four innings.In his first over at the crease, Taylor jumped out and hit Ashwin over the top for a four and a six off successive balls. As Ashwin’s spell continued, he stepped out again to whip him over midwicket, and then drove him against the turn through the covers. Having gone to 32 off 24, though, he chanced a sweep off a ball that was too full for the shot. It sneaked under his bat and bowled him.Luke Ronchi, James Neesham and Martin Guptill all fell in the next seven overs, the latter two to Ravindra Jadeja, and it seemed almost certain that the match wouldn’t go into a fifth day. BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner hinted that it just might, while putting on 24 for the seventh wicket, but Ashwin came back to break their partnership, bowling over the wicket to the left-handed Santner and beating him with natural variation. Coming forward to defend, Santner inside-edged the ball into his pad and then onto the stumps.India didn’t have to wait too long for the eighth and ninth wickets, but Watling and Trent Boult briefly raised the possibility of their having to come back on Wednesday to take the tenth, by putting on the longest partnership of the innings. They stuck around for 10.1 overs, causing India a bit of frustration – Jadeja bowled a 45kph donkey drop to Boult, Ashwin dragged down a legbreak to Watling – and threatening to take the fourth day into an extra half-hour, before Boult came down the track to drive Ashwin and popped back a waist-high return catch.Cheteshwar Pujara finished with a century and three fifties in the series•BCCI

India declared halfway through the morning session, one ball after Pujara brought up his hundred by helping a short ball from James Neesham to the fine leg boundary. It was a fitting way to reach the landmark, given that the area behind the wicket had fetched him 57 of his runs and six of his nine fours, with the lap-sweep and late cut his go-to shots against the spinners. Having gone to lunch batting on 50 off 98 balls, he had sped away to score 51 off 50 in the second session. At the other end, Ajinkya Rahane helped an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 58 hurry along at 6.44 an over, stepping out to play his favourite chips down the ground and inside-out drives.Ahead by 276 overnight, India had only extended their lead by eight runs when M Vijay was run-out by a brilliant piece of fielding from Guptill in the eighth over of the morning. In walked Gautam Gambhir, who had retired hurt late on the third evening with a shoulder injury. His re-entry sparked an immediate upsurge in India’s run rate, as he took frequent singles against New Zealand’s one-day fields, and pounced on anything remotely loose, his standout shot a drive drilled past extra-cover off Boult.Gambhir’s urgency rubbed off on Pujara as well. He ran as fast as his troubled knees would take him, ending up with a dirt-streaked shirt from all the times he had to dive into the crease, and looked outside his usual repertoire of shots, even jumping out of his crease at one point to flat-bat Boult back over his head.The pair added 76 for the second wicket before Gambhir fell for 50 off 56 balls, chipping Jeetan Patel to short extra-cover. Kohli, the first-innings double-centurion, fell in the sixth over after lunch, given lbw looking to sweep Patel although replays suggested the ball may have struck his pad outside the line of off stump.With nine overs to bat out before tea, New Zealand lost one wicket, Umesh Yadav going around the wicket in his first over and attacking the stumps to get Tom Latham lbw playing around his front pad. New Zealand were 38 for 1 at tea. They probably wouldn’t have imagined that it would all be over after just one more session.