Long, unhurried days with a cooler: the cricket fans sticking with New Zealand’s forgotten format

In an age dominated by T20, New Zealand’s long-form Plunket Shield is a throwback to another time and retains a small group of committed fans

From the spot where Helen Julius spread her arms across the peeling, sun-flecked green paint of the pavilion’s bench seats, Eden Park’s Outer Oval in Auckland was almost picturesque.

There were the white-clad cricketers – Auckland batting, Canterbury in the field – and a bank of agapanthus just beginning to break out in flower beyond the sight-screen on the ground’s northern boundary. Sparrows, nesting in the pavilion roof, chattered incessantly.

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despite their heroic victory against Honduras, Les Bleuets are eliminated for a small goal

After a disastrous start to the competition marked by two defeats against South Korea (2-1) and Gambia (2-1), Les Bleuets faced Honduras. A decisive match for Landry Chauvin’s players who played their survival during this third and last day of the group stage of group F of the U20 World Cup which is currently taking place in Argentina. While the two teams went blow for blow with hot situations on both sides of the field, Ousmane Camara was sent off just before the end of the first quarter of an hour following a foul on Daniel Carter. The young French shoots were therefore already at ten after only 15 short minutes of play (13th). After this fault and the expulsion of the French defender, Honduras had a good free kick full axis near the French surface. What’s next after this ad Odin Ramos then sent a missile into the right corner of Thimothée Lo-Tutala, beaten (15th, 1-0). Les Bleuets took a real blow on the head with this opener and it was necessary to wait several minutes before...

‘History makers’: elated Elokobi says Maidstone deserve ‘every bit of glory’

Stones’ manager hails ‘historic’ FA Cup win over Ipswich ‘Absolutely amazing celebrations … The gods were with us’ George Elokobi urged his “history makers” to enjoy their extraordinary achievement after Maidstone United reached the FA Cup fifth round for the first time. The National League South club won their seventh match in this season’s competition to dump Ipswich out at Portman Road. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/hS4i0J8 via IFTTT

Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 723

Ukraine troops reinforce Avdiivka as some defenders withdraw to better positions; lack of US aid already affecting battlefield, says Nato chief See all our Ukraine war coverage US congressional delaying of fresh military aid for Ukraine is already having an impact on the battlefield, Nato’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, has warned at a defence ministers’ meeting. Jens Stoltenberg said he still believed Congress would eventually approve the stalled $60bn (£50bn) package. Ukraine has said its economy should be rebuilt using frozen Russian assets after a report showed the cost of reconstruction increasing to almost $500bn . An estimated $300bn of Russian assets have been frozen since the war started. The EU, US and western allies are debating how they can be used to benefit Ukraine. Ukraine is conducting a manoeuvre in Avdiivka to withdraw troops in some areas to “more advantageous positions”, a military spokesman said. At the same time, Ukraine has brought in reinforceme...

PSG: Mbappé at the heart of an improbable clash its heating up!

Graduated from the School of Journalism in Paris. Specialized in football, and more particularly on the transfer window. Fan of PSG and Stade Français. Very close to Achraf Hakimi for two years now at PSG, Kylian Mbappé has forged a very special bond with the Moroccan right side. However, the agent of the latter attacks in a rather virulent way the mother of Mbappé, triggering a clash of clans for the less unexpected at PSG. Recruited at a high price by the PSG during the transfer window summer 2021 from Inter-Milan (68M€), Ashraf Hakimi quickly befriended Kylian Mbappe , and the two men are very close. A relationship that reached its climax during the World Cup in Qatar last winter, on the occasion of the shock France-Morocco in the semi-finals, during which Mbappe And Hakimi had not concealed their emotion in the confrontation. But an earthquake may come to upset the relationship between the two stars of the PSG . Mbappé – PSG: It’s confirmed, Qatar wants to compl...

Ukraine war briefing: Bomb shatters historic landmark in Kharkiv

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Deadly cancer treatment delays now ‘routine’ in NHS, say damning reports

Studies sound alarm at state of cancer care with hundreds of thousands waiting months to start essential treatment Hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to wait months to start essential cancer treatment, with deadly delays now “routine” and even children struck by the disease denied vital support, according to a series of damning reports. Health chiefs, charities and doctors have sounded the alarm over the state of cancer care in the UK as three separate studies painted a shocking picture of long waits and NHS staff being severely hampered by a worsening workforce crisis and a chronic lack of equipment. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zjCTq1V via IFTTT

PSG wants Mbappé its confirmed

Learning that Kylian Mbappé did not want to extend to PSG made the Parisian leaders sweat. A player agent has just confirmed it. The showdown would therefore be very real between Kylian Mbappé and PSG. The leaders of the French champion club would have been surprised at the decision of their best player not to extend beyond June 30, 2024. ” I spoke with people close to the Qatari family who run the club and they told me they were very angry confided Marco Kirdemir to brand in comments reported by RMC Sports. They had confidence in the fact that he was going to extend. The emir is very upset . » Read also – PSG: Mbappé in Liverpool, the crazy offer at 300 million Two weeks ago, this players’ agent assured that Mbappé would wear the Real Madrid shirt next season. This same Marco Kirdemir conceded, still to brand that the Spanish club was not the only one in the ranks. The attitude of the Parisian leaders had already been reported by the French press two weeks ago, in the hour...

Neymar: He sends a punchline to the new PSG coach!

Graduated from the School of Journalism in Paris. Specialized in football, and more particularly on the transfer window. Fan of PSG and Stade Français. Expected by PSG, Luis Enrique is preparing to be appointed as coach in place of Christophe Galtier this summer. The Spanish coach has already convinced Neymar and Marco Verratti to stay at the Parc des Princes this summer, but Daniel Riolo wonders about it and issues a warning to PSG. It’s no longer a secret, Luis Enrique will be the next coach of the PSG and an agreement has been reached between the Spanish technician and the management of the capital club, which has already programmed the departure of Christopher Galtier . As L’EQUIPE revealed on Tuesday, Enrique would already have a strong impact on the transfer window of the PSG since Neymar And Marco Verratti who were initially announced on the departure, would have finally decided to stay at the Parc des Princes with this appointment of Luis Enrique who greatly ap...

Ukraine war briefing: Villages locked down in Putin’s Belgorod ‘sanitary zone’

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Should I validate my teen daughters’ concerns, or support their father as a co-parent? | Leading questions

This is a common parenting dilemma, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith . Find a way to hear your daughters without turning this into a proxy-fight Is it more important to validate and empathise with my teens about their difficult relationship with their dad, stepmum and stepbrother; or support him as a co-parent, even though I can see the damage it is doing? I have two teenage daughters, 14 and 16, who have a fractious relationship with their dad and his family. He approaches parenting in an authoritarian way and I can see the negative impact this has on our daughters’ self-esteem and self worth. They are delightful young people and I am very proud of how thoughtful, intelligent and individual they are – the horror stories of parenting teens are not something that I have to worry about and I have an open, respectful relationship with them. Because of this, they often come to me, together and separately, about the problems they have with their dad, stepmum and stepbrother. ...

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