DE Matt Shaughnessy and G Jordan Walsh. | Forum

Durham 180 for 5 (Stoneman 61, Richardson 37, Jennings 36) beat Gloucestershire 161 (J Taylor 80) by 19 runs ScorecardA fresh England fast bowler, snorting with ambition and with only 32 overs on the clock for his county all season, is a wonderful attribute for a side seeking to reach NatWest Blast Finals Day. Cheap Nike Tanjun Online . Durham had that player in Mark Wood, whose England career has been disrupted by injury, but who took out his frustrations on Gloucestershire in Bristol to clinch a place at Edgbaston.Gloucestershire, met by Durhams 180 for 5, needed the second highest T20 total ever achieved at Bristol to progress, but within Woods hostile first two overs, with his pace around 90mph, that target had receded into the distance. Hamish Marshall, cramped on an attempted pull, spliced to Jennings at square leg and Ian Cockbain, with 499 runs to his name in the group stages, fell for nought as he uncomfortably fended another short ball to the same fielder.They succumbed for 161, getting closer than they ever imagined in a wonderful tie because of a truculent half-century from Jack Taylor, who stared down Gloucestershire disarray at 61 for 6 in the 11th and tore into the legspin of Scott Borthwick and malfunctioning medium pace of Paul Collingwood in turn, Collingwood forced out of the attack because of two full tosses above waist high: add three legitimate balls and he spilled 22 runs. He was probably relieved to have to call it a day. Taylor, who finished with 80 from 41 balls, had taken Gloucestershire to within 27 from the last 12 when Wood returned for his last over. Wood had damaged Gloucestershire but not quite killed them. Ludicrously, Andrew Tye was run out risking an unlikely second to Usman Arshad at fine leg when it would have been wiser to give Taylor the strike. Even more galling for Taylor was the finale when he ended up at the same end as his brother, Matt, and was run out with an over remaining. Brotherly telepathy can never be guaranteed.Wood played the last of his eight Tests against Pakistan in Dubai in October, since when he has endured operations on the front and back of his ankle in turn. Four matches across all three competitions for Durham have been the sum of a lost season - well, almost lost because on the evidence of this 19-run victory, his zest is unimpaired and he now has a Finals Day to plan for. If his ankle proves resilient enough, and it cannot be guaranteed, a rewarding England career can still lie ahead. England might be tempted to give him an outing in the ODI series against Pakistan.This tie was not all about Wood, far from it. Chris Rushworth, probing intelligently around off stump, was an ideal foil, and he removed Michael Klinger, Gloucestershires rock, with one that leapt off a length and drew surely one of the great wicketkeeping catches of this or any other season, from Michael Richardson, standing up. It helped to win him the Man-of-the-Match award.Mark Stoneman is on his way to Surrey at the end of the season and Durham, deep in the financial mire, fear that others might follow, Wood and Scott Borthwick among them. But Stoneman also did his utmost to provide a parting gift of a NatWest Blast trophy as he struck 61 from 41 balls to ensure a formidable total.Gloucestershire had dominated the South Group while Durham squeezed into the last eight on the final night of the group stages in the North, but for the third successive night a North Group county progressed with Yorkshire - a weakened Yorkshire, it has to be said - hoping to complete the set against Glamorgan in Cardiff on Thursday.Bristol rarely produces such inviting batting surfaces. Gloucestershires masters of disguise, the expert Australian Tye and his homegrown apprentice Benny Howell, went for almost 10 an over. Howell, the leading wicket-taker in the Blast this season, had conceded under seven an over throughout the group stage, and by the time he silenced Stoneman at long-on, the opening stand had reached dangerous proportions.Stoneman had also been instrumental in Durham reaching the last eight, sharing a record Twenty20 stand for Durham of 141 with Calum McLeod to see off Derbyshire. This time his opening stand of 96 with his fellow left-hander, Keaton Jennings, took Durham deep into the 11th over. It was only the second time they had passed 50 all season. Jennings is one Durham player who has confirmed he will remain in the north eastDurham have fought well in adversity all season, not just in the Blast but the Championship, too, and Stoneman quickened their resolve, gaining momentum with hits over the top and delicate glides.Gloucestershire lacked their wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, loaned Phil Mustard from Durham for the rest of the season then by cruel quirk of fate were drawn against them in the quarter-final and understandably were refused permission to play him.That brought a first game under floodlights for Pat Grieshaber, a 19-year-old from Bath who Jack Russell, the most treasured Gloucestershire wicketkeeper of all, rates highly, but Stoneman might have been run out on 45 by a wicketkeeper more adept at saving half a second by fielding the ball in front of the stumps. Such enhancements take time. He also drew his own fan club, a group of mates stripped to the waist with his name emblazoned in black across their chests.Jennings fell swinging at Tye for 36, Jack Burnham could not take advantage of a let-off when the umpire failed to adjudge him caught at the wicket - Tom Smith finding marked turn - and Gordon Muchall pottered to an unbeaten 15 to no real purpose, but Richardson also found inspiration. He had only ever struck one T20 six (in his defence, the Chester-le-Street boundaries are extensive) but he produced three in his 37 off 21 balls.Write Durham off at your peril. We keep writing it, but we never learn. Cheap Nike Tanjun Wholesale . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. Discount Nike Tanjun .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. http://www.niketanjuncheap.com/ . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas is technically an unproven rookie with hardly a week of training camp under his belt.Could have fooled his teammates, and even coach Sean Payton.You wouldnt know he was a first-year player if you just came to practice, Payton said. You would just think hes one of the receivers out here making a lot of plays.Payton used the word amazing, to describe one play made by his sure-handed, second-round pick. And that was only the first of two one-handed catches, in tight coverage, of long touchdown passes down the left sideline.To make both plays, Thomas had to extend and contort his body to the point of crashing to the turf. Yet he found a way to corral the ball each time, drawing roars of approval from not just spectators, but other players on the field.When Thomas has been able to stay on his feet after a catch, he has demonstrated the ability to pick up considerable yards after the catch, once using a sudden jump-step to avoid a defender before sprinting toward the sideline and turning the corner.He has been encouraging when you see him in traffic. Hes got really good hands away from his body. So, hes not someone that lets the ball get in on his chest, Payton said. That will give him a chance to have a little bit more run-after-the-catch ability.Thomas made yet another tough grab during Wednesdays 11-on-11 drills, when he reached up to snag a slant pass that second-string quarterback Luke McCown zipped between quickly closing defensive backs Keenan Lewis and Jamal Golden.Both defenders met Thomas as the pass arrived, trying to rip the ball away as they made the tackle. They were unable to dislodge the ball from Thomas grip.I love that kid. He has a nose for the football, said McCown, a 13th-year veteran who has lined up with Thomas several times in the first handful of camp practices.Hes got this kind of -- golly -- just this want to get the ball no matter where its at, McCown said.Thats what you want in a receiver -- a guy that just wants the ball to be in his ZIP code, and hes going to find a way to come down with it, whether theres somebody hanging on him or not.The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Thomas was drafted 47th overall. He had solid, but not necessarily extraordinary statistics at Ohio State last season, catching 56 passes for 781 yards and nine touchdowns.But the Saints were less concerned with Thomas stats than his particular skills.At the very least, his height and sure hands made him a good candidate to help fill the void ccreated by the departure of Saints all-time leading receiver Marques Colston, who was released last winter, following his 10th season. Outlet Nike Tanjun. Already, Thomas is getting a number of snaps with starting quarterback Drew Brees, who hasnt hesitated to throw the rookies way and has praised how quickly he learns.Thomas also has a former star NFL receiver in the family -- his uncle, Keyshawn Johnson. Thomas is not as flamboyant as his uncle. He is more soft-spoken and emphasizes humility, even as he projects confidence.After a recent practice, Thomas could be seen doing extra sprints; he was punishing himself for a false start in full team drills.That was my idea. I let the team down, I feel like, by moving too early, Thomas said. I can cost the team by doing that, so do something to correct it. Stay humble.Still, Thomas said he and his uncle talk, all the time, and that Johnson has been an important resource, teaching him how to hone his receiving skills and develop into an all-around pro.Thomas eagerness to explore ways to improve led him to strengthen his hands with yoga-type exercises.Brandin Cooks, who was New Orleans leading receiver last season, said he recalled hearing about Thomas affinity for hand yoga in the offseason, but forgot all about that until he saw the first of Thomas spectacular one-handed catches in training camp.Im like, `Maybe theres something to it, Cooks said. He has great hands.Whether Thomas turns out to be as productive as his famous uncle remains to be seen, but his acrobatic catches in camp have heightened expectations.Theyre probably going to expect that from me, so Im probably going to get another opportunity to make that (type of) play, so be ready when it presents itself, Thomas said. Its a momentum game. So if I can start that fire (with a big play), Id like to be that person.Game notes CB Keenan Lewis, who began training camp on the Saints physically-unable-to-perform list, took part in his first practice on Wednesday. ... DT Nick Fairley and S Erik Harris, who both left practice with undisclosed injuries on Saturday, returned on Wednesday. ... Payton said the Saints have signed S Jamal Golden, DE Matt Shaughnessy and G Jordan Walsh. ... 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