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Life at Manchester United does not seem to be getting any easier for former skipper, Harry Maguire, with the struggling Englishman seemingly in need of a fresh start amid his mounting woes at Old Trafford.

Having recently been stripped of the captaincy by manager Erik ten Hag, the 30-year-old – who started just eight Premier League games last season – was also on the receiving end of a visible rant from new signing Andre Onana during the recent 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in pre-season.

It would appear that the former Leicester City man – who has been the subject of a £20m offer from West Ham United – has fallen way down the defensive pecking order of late, with rumours rife that he could be on his way before the September deadline.

Read the latest Manchester United transfer news HERE…

If the £80m signing is to find a new home over the coming weeks, Ten Hag will likely be keen to find a suitable replacement to help bolster his centre-back options ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Who could replace Maguire at Man United?

The Red Devils had been heavily linked with a move for Monaco star, Axel Disasi, in recent months, although as journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed, despite showing an "interest" in the Frenchman, it would appear that he is on his way to rivals Chelsea on a €45m (£38m) deal.

Amid that potential setback, reports in Spain have indicated in recent days that United are among the clubs to have made an offer for RB Leipzig sensation, Josko Gvardiol, with both Manchester City and Liverpool also keen on signing the exciting 21-year-old.

Although valued at a rather steep €100m (£86m), as per the report, the signing of the Croatian international could allow the Old Trafford outfit to forget all about the Stamford Bridge-bound, Disasi.

Should Man United sign Josko Gvardiol?

A player currently "at the beginning of something very special" in his career – according to talent scout Jacek Kulig – Gvardiol could prove to be a dream fit for Ten Hag due to his ability to feature as a natural, left-sided defender, unlike Disasi, with the former Ajax boss having previously outlined his preference to have a left-footer in that role.

With Lisandro Martinez currently the only other left-footed option at the heart of the defence – excluding usual full-back Luke Shaw – it would make sense to bring Gvardiol into the fold to provide further competition and cover, with Victor Lindelof and Raphael Varane to be deployed on the opposite side.

The Leipzig rock's quality on the ball would make him a particularly astute option for United as the youngster regularly looks to play out from the back, notably ranking in the top 1% among his European peers for attempted passes, as well as in the top 4% for successful take-ons.

Disasi, by contrast, ranks in just the top 46% and the top 7% for those same two metrics, respectively, thus indicating that Gvardiol would be a worthy alternative in the search to find a replacement for Maguire.

Also able to offer the benefit of his ability to feature at left-back, the versatile, Zagreb native also showcased his defensive class in the Bundesliga last term after averaging 1.9 tackles and interceptions per game, with Disasi only just ahead after averaging 2.3 in that regard in Ligue 1 – as both men performed better than Maguire (1.3 tackles and interceptions per game in 2022/23).

Those similarities between the pair with regard to their ball-playing and ball-winning quality would suggest that even if United are forced to watch Disasi head to west London, they could forget all about the former Reims ace by snapping up a younger option, like Gvardiol, instead.

علق الدولي الفرنسي جوليس كوندي لاعب فريق برشلونة، على مواجهة ريال مدريد غدًا الأحد في كلاسيكو الدوري الإسباني.

ريال مدريد يستضيف برشلونة على ملعب سانتياجو بيرنابيو غدًا الأحد، ضمن منافسات الجولة 32 من بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

وفي تصريحات لوسائل إعلام برشلونة، قال كوندي: “الكلاسكيو بالنسبة لنا بمثابة النهائي، سنقاتل من أجل الفوز، هذا ما سنسعى من أجله”.

وأضاف: “واجهنا ريال مدريد كثيرًا، نعرف بعضنا البعض، فيما يخص نقاط القوة والضعف، من المهم أن نتملك الكرة أمامهم، ونعلم أن أهم ما يميزهم التحولات والهجمات المرتدة”.

طالع أيضًا.. ليفاندوفسكي يتحدى ريال مدريد قبل الكلاسيكو ويؤكد: سيقارونني باللاعبين الآخرين لمدة عامين

وواصل: “لم أرفض أبدًا اللعب في أي مركز كما يقول البعض، مركزي الطبيعي هو قلب دفاع، ولكنني أنفذ كل ما يريده المدرب، أما اللعب كظهير يجعلك تواجه نوعيات مختلفة من اللاعبين بمهارات مختلفة، وهذا يجعلني أكثر تكاملًا من حيث السرعة والارتداد من الدفاع للهجوم”.

وعن مواجهة فينيسيوس، اختتم: “أعتقد أنه أحد أفضل الأجنحة في العالم، لذا مواجهته ستكون صعبة، ولاعبين مثله أو مبابي، وغيرهم من أصحاب السرعة والمهارة، لن تتمكن من إيقافهم بمفردك، يجب أن ندافع بشكل جماعي وألا نترك لهم المساحة”.

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho has been left out of the Reds' pre-season squad travelling to Germany, according to reliable journalist Melissa Reddy.

Is Fabinho leaving Liverpool?

The 29-year-old has been a fantastic player for the Reds over the years, arriving from Monaco back in 2018 and becoming arguably the club's best defensive midfielder of the Premier League era.

Fabinho has won everything possible for Liverpool in his first years at Anfield, including the Champions League in 2019 and the league 12 months later, and teammate Thiago has described him as "world-class", further outlining what a fantastic player he has been.

The Brazilian was way below his best last season, however, proving to be part of a midfield that struggled hugely, and he has been strongly linked with a surprise move to Saudi Arabia in recent days.

A £40m bid has been received from Al Ittihad, and it is now a case of all parties agreeing a deal, bringing an end to Fabinho's time as a Liverpool player in the process.

What's the latest on Fabinho's Liverpool future?

Taking to Twitter on Saturday morning, Sky Sports reporter Reddy provided a key update regarding Fabinho's future, confirming that he isn't travelling to Germany, therefore paving the way for his exit:

"Liverpool have received a £40 million offer from Al Ittihad for Fabinho, who will not be travelling with the club for their training camp in Germany as he ties up his future. Jordan Henderson is part of the travelling squad."

It is staggering the manner in which Fabinho's Liverpool career has nosedived in no time at all, having been such an indispensable figure this time last year, with few players in Europe better in his position. His decline in 2022/23 has been truly drastic, however, and while it would still possibly be better for the Reds to retain his services as a squad player, moving him on for £40m could ultimately prove to be excellent business.

Should Fabinho be sold, as looks to be almost certain now, it is absolutely essential that a tailor-made replacement comes in – someone who is ready to hit the ground running in the No 6 role immediately, which 19-year-old Southampton target Romeo Lavia arguably wouldn't be able to promise.

Someone like Borussia Monchengladbach's Manu Kone could be ideal, for example, with the 22-year-old linked with a move to Liverpool numerous times this summer, having made 30 Bundesliga starts last season and being three years older than Lavia, therefore proving to be significantly more experienced.

Fabinho has to be remembered as a true modern great for the Reds, even if his time on Merseyside has ended up petering out, with his intelligence and quality in front of the defence playing a massive role in their success down the years, having lacked a genuinely elite No 6 for so long.

With Jordan Henderson potentially joining him out of the exit door and off to Saudi Arabia, and with Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all leaving this summer as well, this really does represent an enormous summer of change in Liverpool's midfield.

Reliable Tottenham Hotspur journalist Alasdair Gold has shared an update on the club's potential re-signing of defender Clement Lenglet.

Who are Spurs signing this summer?

New manager Ange Postecoglou has been backed in the transfer market thus far, with Spurs completing deals for Dejan Kulusevski, Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison.

Kulusevski has signed on a permanent deal from Juventus, coming after an 18-month loan spell with the club, while both Vicario and Maddison have joined from Empoli and Leicester City respectively.

Vicario comes in as a potential replacement for long-serving number one Hugo Lloris, who has admitted he could leave north London this summer, with Maddison ending Tottenham's long-search for a creative playmaker in the mould of Christian Eriksen.

Manor Solomon, who thrived on a loan spell at Fulham last season, is also set to undergo a medical with Tottenham today. A deal is done for the Israeli international who will add a different option for Postecoglou in the attacking areas.

Following these additions, it is widely believed Tottenham are chasing a new centre-back or two, with the north Londoners enduring a woeful 22/23 season in terms of goals conceded. No side above Bournemouth in 15th leaked more at the back, so Postecoglou will be looking to address that glaring issue post haste.

Micky van de Ven of Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba and Lenglet are some of the most high profile defender names most heavily linked with a move to N17.

On the latter player, Barcelona chief Joan Laporta recently admitted to the media that he expects to reach an agreement with Tottenham over Lenglet.

However, according to an update from Gold for football.london, the ball is firmly in Tottenham's court. Spurs, for their part, are undecided over whether to re-sign the Frenchman on a permanent deal.

"Tottenham's aim is to bring in at least two new centre-backs this summer to reinforce Postecoglou's options," wrote Gold.

"Barcelona president Joan Laporta said this week that he expects to reach an agreement with Tottenham for Clement Lenglet to join permanently.

"It is still undecided from Spurs' end at this point as to whether they will decide to bring back the Frenchman, although it clearly is an option, if the price remains low, that he could cover one of those centre-back slots as Lenglet is respected within the north London club as a steady performer and a model professional behind the scenes."

What's been said about Clement Lenglet?

The 28-year-old made 26 league appearances for Spurs last season, featuring regularly as part of a back three under Antonio Conte.

Lloris, speaking to the media upon Lenglet's temporary signing last summer, endorsed his compatriot – calling him a "high level player".

"He's a modern defender," said Lloris.

"Comfortable to be able to play from the back. He has a great left foot and can be very strong in one v one and he's strong in the air.

"Even if it's never easy when you arrive in the Premier League and he will have to adapt to the intensity of the games but he is a high level player, with experience."

Lions leapfrogged Warriors at the foot of the table after winning a tight game at Buffalo Park by 14 runs. Set 258 to win on the last day after an overnight declaration by Lions, Warriors slipped to 44 for 2 before staging a series of fightbacks. First came a 112-run fifth-wicket partnership between Colin Ingram (46) and Lesiba Ngoepe (77 off 104 balls, 9×4), before both fell in the space of 16 balls. It was 183 for 8 following two more quick wickets, and Warriors seemed on the brink of a comfortable win, when Simon Harmer (45) and Anrich Nortje (26 off 24 balls) jolted them with a 54-run ninth-wicket stand. It wasn’t quite enough, though, as Warriors dismissed both of them in the space of nine balls. Beuran Hendricks, Ayavuya Myoli and Bjorn Fortuin took three wickets each.Only 30.3 overs were possible on the first day’s play after Warriors chose to bowl first. Starting day two on 107 for 3, Lions were bowled out for 307. Opener Stephen Cook (50) and No. 5 Rassie van der Dussen (82 off 175 balls, 10×4) were their top scorers while the fast bowler Nortje picked up four wickets.Then, with both teams looking to make up for time lost on day one, came a pair of declarations. Warriors were 104 behind when they closed their first innings, after an unbroken 80-run seventh-wicket stand between Somila Seyibokwe (52*) and Harmer (31*) had rescued them from 123 for 6. Then Lions lost two early wickets to Basheeru-Dean Walters before Dominic Hendricks (76*) and Temba Bavuma (52*) added a brisk, unbroken 113 to set up a second-innings declaration at 153 for 2.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has emphasised the need for his batsmen to give his bowlers a chance on the tour of South Africa by getting runs in tough conditions. Mathews said the team had been batting on granite to try and get used to extra bounce ahead of the three-Test series beginning on December 26.”With Dushmantha Chameera coming back into the team and young Vikum Sanjaya earning his spot, we have got a fairly decent pace attack which can put them under pressure, but we need to score runs as a batting unit,” Mathews said ahead of the team’s departure for South Africa. “It’s going to be our main challenge; the boys have worked extremely hard in the past few weeks.”Part of that hard work was facing deliveries coming off granite surfaces to try and mimic the conditions in South Africa. “The pace the boys are used to, it’s just the the bounce and the conditions that we need to get used to,” Mathews said. “We used a lot of granite stuff, especially the batters. When you use a piece of granite, the ball is coming on to you quicker. The granite is laid down on the pitch and you can throw the ball on it so that it comes on quicker.”We’ve done everything possible to try and counterattack the South African fast bowlers and get used to their conditions. We have about 12 days before we play our first Test on Boxing Day. We’ll try and use those days to the maximum so that we get things right.”Mathews was aiming to break the predominant trend in modern-day cricket, where teams struggle to win away from home. Sri Lanka won a Test series 2-0 in Zimbabwe in October and November but South Africa, who won 2-1 in Australia recently, are significantly tougher opponents. When Sri Lanka last toured South Africa, in 2011-12, they lost the three-Test series 1-2.”Most of the teams do well and win at home but struggle overseas. It happens to any team but we want to try and achieve some wins overseas and turn the tables,” Mathews said. “I am confident that my team can do it. We got a good combination where we have five fast bowlers, two experienced spinners and a solid batting order.”Sri Lanka’s batting was boosted by the return of Mathews, who recovered from a leg injury, and Dinesh Chandimal, whose broken hand had healed. They will slot into the middle order along with Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva. Mathews hoped that his side would have stability, which he said was a reason for South Africa’s success.”Except for one or two changes, they are pretty much a settled team for the past four-five years,” Mathews said of South Africa. “They have been going with the same sort of players, maximum 20. They have managed a set combination and now the results are showing. The settled combination is the one that has led to their success today.”We are now doing the same, we talked about it a lot. The solution is not to chop and change but be patient with the players.”Sri Lanka have a three-day warm-up game in Potchefstroom before the first Test in Port Elizabeth from December 26. The second Test is in Cape Town from January 2 and the third in Johannesburg from January 12, after which the teams play three T20Is and five ODIs.

West Ham United's magical continental campaign, which culminated in Europa Conference League success last week, clouded what was a disappointing domestic season.

David Moyes was under huge pressure at one point with West Ham at serious risk of dropping out of the Premier League, but they ultimately finished six points above the relegation zone.

With a third successive season of European football to factor in next season – this time back in the Europa League – West Ham will know the importance of strengthening their squad to ensure they are not dragged into another relegation scrap.

With Declan Rice confirmed to be moving on if the right offer is tabled, just a year on from the retirement of Mark Noble – the man he succeeded as captain – the Hammers could equally do with finding a midfield general this summer.

In Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse, West Ham can tick both of those boxes with one fell swoop, even if the Saints are reportedly demanding £40m for their prized asset. That said, the Irons do currently lead the race for any potential signature.

Is Southampton's James Ward-Prowse a good fit for West Ham?

Despite Ward-Prowse's best efforts last season, it was not enough to keep Southampton in the Premier League, meaning the Saints will be plying their trade in the Championship in 2023-24.

With three years to run on his contract, the ball still remains in Southampton's court, even if they could do with bringing in some funds through the sale of long-serving Ward-Prowse.

West Ham may well be tempted to splash out a fairly sizable sum for a second-tier player, especially given his ability to lead a team – something United will lack if Rice gets his big-money move away in the coming weeks.

As pointed out by Southampton team-mate Kyle Walker-Peters, Ward-Prowse is a "leader" and someone who is not afraid to bark out instructions to others.

More than that, though, Ward-Prowse can provide goals and creativity from midfield – and that is not to mention his deadly ability from set pieces.

Indeed, that is an area West Ham struggled last season following the retirement of club legend Noble. In his final season at the London Stadium, Noble ranked highest for the number of passes played from free-kicks per 90 minutes for West Ham by an outfield player (2.70), as per FBref.

Noble was also assured on the ball, as reflected by his team-high 70.8 completed passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League. To put that in some perspective, Manuel Lanzini ranked highest for West Ham this past campaign in that same metric with a lowly 52.1.

In fact, Rice was the only other Hammer to manage over 50 passes per 90 minutes on average in the top flight (50.7), making that an area Moyes' side desperately need to improve.

Ward-Prowse has an eye for a pass, particularly from set-pieces, averaging 3.95 per 90 minutes from free-kicks last season, compared to 1.64 for Nayef Aguerd – West Ham's highest-ranked regular outfielder.

The 11-cap England international's ability from set plays is not just restricted to passes, either, with his 17 goals direct from free-kicks just one off equalling David Beckham (18) for the all-time Premier League record.

Ward-Prowse's consistent ability to beat goalkeepers from range has been described as "ridiculous" by Independent writer Benjy Nurick, with Beckham's record surely likely to fall should the midfielder remain in the Premier League.

If that was not enough, Ward-Prowse is also reliable from penalties, scoring 17 of them so far in senior competitions. With 40 successful spot-kicks to his name during his time at West Ham, the efficiency showed by Noble from 12 yards is just one more aspect Ward-Prowse can match.

For while he may not be the big-name signing some are hoping for in the summer if Rice departs, Ward-Prowse can be the man to not only fill that void but also the one left by Noble 12 months prior.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDevendra Bishoo collected career-best figures of 8 for 49•AFP

A 16-wicket day brought the Dubai day-night Test to life as Pakistan’s 400th Test swung one way and then the other. After Yasir Shah’s three wickets – which brought him a five-wicket haul and his 100th Test scalp – helped Pakistan secure a 222-run first-innings lead, Devendra Bishoo hit back with a career-best 8 for 49 to skittle Pakistan for 123 and leave West Indies with an outside chance of victory.West Indies lost Kraigg Brathwaite early in their chase of 346, before Leon Johnson and Darren Bravo shared a 60-run stand to lift the team. But Johnson’s late dismissal and Marlon Samuels’ early struggles against the legspin of Yasir served a reminder that West Indies still had an uphill task on the final day.Having declined to impose the follow-on, Pakistan chased quick runs and lost two early wickets before tea. Sami Aslam and Babar Azam added 57 off 70 balls after the interval to steady the innings and swiftly build the lead. But Bishoo then benefitted from some ambitious shots, and some good, spinning deliveries to rip through Pakistan, taking seven of the eight wickets that fell either side of the dinner break.With the score at 77 for 2 and the lead at 299, Azam played a loose cross-batted shot onto his stumps off Bishoo. Aslam played a late cut into the hands of Jermaine Blackwood at first slip and Misbah-ul-Haq was bowled after missing a slog sweep. The left-handed Mohammad Nawaz shouldered arms to his third ball, only to see a fizzing leg break cannon into his off stump. When Wahab Riaz miscued a slog sweep to Brathwaite at deep midwicket, Bishoo had his sixth of the innings. Jason Holder then had Yasir caught and bowled off the last ball before dinner.Bishoo wrapped up the innings within five balls of the resumption, getting Sarfraz Ahmed stumped, before hitting Mohammad Amir’s middle stump, his fourth bowled dismissal of the innings. That capped a collapse of eight wickets for 46 runs. Bishoo’s plunder and Pakistan’s slump still left West Indies with a daunting target, but they could hardly have dreamed of a better outcome at the start of the day.Day four had begun much as day three had done – with an early wicket for Yasir. A very full legbreak pitched just in line with the stumps and spun in before hitting the batsman’s pads. Dowrich had played across the line and missed.Bishoo and Holder then survived a stern short-ball examination from Amir and Wahab, putting on a 21-run stand that raised West Indies’ hopes of extending their resistance. That was not to be – Yasir got through Holder’s defences with a tossed-up googly and then bowled Miguel Cummins with a big-spinning leg break that evaded the batsman’s wild swipe. That was Yasir’s 100th Test wicket, in his 17th match, making him the joint-second fastest bowler to the mark. Nawaz finished the job in the next over. It had taken Pakistan just 14.5 overs to take the remaining four wickets, bowling West Indies out for 357.West Indies responded by making a couple of breakthroughs before tea. Shannon Gabriel trapped first-innings triple-centurion Azhar Ali in front for 2, a ball after Azhar had successfully reviewed a caught-behind decision. Then Asad Shafiq missed an attempted sweep off Bishoo and, while West Indies’ appeal for lbw was turned down, their review was successful.After tea, Gabriel and Cummins subjected Aslam and Azam to the type of short-ball barrage with which Pakistan had exposed the West Indies batsmen. While Aslam held his own, Azam struggled, showing a tendency to take his eyes off the ball. A Cummins bouncer hurried Azam into a top-edged hook that went high in the air between Gabriel at long leg and Brathwaite at deep-backward square. It was probably Brathwaite’s catch, but Gabriel went for it and could not hold on after a full-length dive.Cummins bounced Azam again in the next over and the batsman half-swayed and half-ducked while leaving his bat in the air. The ball brushed his glove on the way to the wicketkeeper, but Azam survived once again when replays revealed that the bowler had overstepped. Azam eventually got out to Bishoo, precipitating Pakistan’s collapse as the legspinner from Guyana went on the rampage. West Indies then moved to 95 for 2 by the close.While a wicket-filled day brought West Indies back into the match, they will require the balance to shift back in favour of the batsmen if they are to score the 251 more runs needed for victory on a fifth-day Dubai pitch.

Presenter Terry Flewers has said on The Football Terrace that Arsenal could land Mason Mount as their next Martin Odegaard even if he's not wanted by all supporters.

What's the latest on Arsenal and Mason Mount?

It appears the Gunners are in line for a busy summer with Bayer Leverkusen hoping to land Granit Xhaka while West Ham United captain Declan Rice could be signed for big money.

Another name to add to the mix is Chelsea midfielder Mount. Indeed, the player has rejected contract offers from the Blues and so could depart soon with Arsenal discussing the Englishman as a potential target.

As a player who stars for a rival London club – and even divides his own fans – many Gooners might not be keen on this deal for the £80k-p/w man.

Flewers seems to think that but he believes this could be a good deal to get done regardless of what the fanbase may feel.

He told The Football Terrace (1:14:06): “The way I'm seeing Gooners going "no" to Mason Mount, there's a part of me that just thinks will history repeat itself and him be like an Odegaard.

"He was someone that Gooners didn't want, as an example."

He continued: "In the summer, most Arsenal fans online picked Richarlison over Gabriel Jesus. Now I'm not saying you don't need more than Gabriel Jesus, but out of the two, one has been a resounding success – comparatively to a guy that's been booked more times for taking his shirt off than he's scored goals."

Did Arsenal fans slam the signing of Odegaard?

Flewers is certainly right in claiming that some Arsenal supporters haven't always been right with their opinions on new incomings.

For instance, there was a major backlash online when the club announced the signing of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, with the player saying: "I saw the backlash.

"That’s when I made the decision to turn comments off, notifications off for people I don’t follow on Instagram and Twitter."

But seeing as Odegaard, Jesus, and Ramsdale have all been regulars for Mikel Arteta this season as they pushed for a Premier League title, it's safe to say those deals have come good even if there may have been doubt regarding those deals initially in some sections of the fanbase.

With that in mind, if the club do decide to chase and sign the £80k-per-week Mount from Chelsea this summer, the fanbase certainly shouldn’t jump to any damning conclusions before at least seeing him turn up in an Arsenal shirt first.

Watch more of The Football Terrace on YouTube now!

Middlesex strengthened their hold at the top of Division One of the Specsavers Championship when John Simpson’s six gave them a two-wicket win with two balls to spare in a thrilling run chase at Taunton

ECB Reporters Network13-Jul-2016
ScorecardJohn Simpson celebrates his winning hit•Getty ImagesJohn Simpson celebrated his 28th birthday by blasting Middlesex to a sensational two-wicket Specsavers County Championship win against Somerset at Taunton after 96 runs had been needed off the final eight overs.An enthralling game seemed to be heading for a draw when Tim Groenewald took four wickets to help restrict the visitors to 185 for 5, chasing 302 to win.But Simpson, with 79 not out off 80 balls, including four sixes and five fours, and James Fuller produced a stand of 86 off less than eight overs. A Craig Overton over went for 23 and, although Fuller fell, Middlesex wrapped up victory with just two balls to spare.The winning hit was a six over fine leg by Simpson off Jim Allenby after eight had been needed from the final over. The Middlesex wicketkeeper, who had claimed nine catches in the match, threw both arms in the air in celebration.Nick Gubbins contributed 76 to the run chase and, although Groenewald finished with five for 90, Middlesex took 23 points to Somerset’s three after four exceptional days of Championship cricket.Simpson said: “I’m almost speechless. The feeling of elation when that ball went for six to win the game was unbelievable. Jim Allenby was swinging the ball into my pads, so I just went with the swing. At first I thought it was going to be a one bounce four, but the ball kept on travelling over deep backward-square.”Credit the whole team because we never gave up trying to win. After a period of consolidation, James Fuller’s innings provided a real lift and I was able to finish things off.”I’m not sure how I am going to celebrate my birthday. We are staying down for the T20 game on Friday night and there is talk of golf in the morning. By then I will either be hungover or very tired.”Set 302 to win from a minimum of 46 overs, the visitors made a promising start and were 108 for one in the 17th over when Overton took a stunning catch at third man to dismiss Dawid Malan.Gubbins and Malan had produced an array of attacking shots to add 76 for the second wicket. Then Malan got a top edge off Groenewald and Overton made 30 yards running to his left before diving full length to hold the ball two-handed inches off the ground.Gubbins had faced 70 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes, when he miscued a back-foot forcing shot off Groenewald to Allenby at deepish extra-cover.When George Bailey was bowled by a perfect Groenewald inswinger for four it was 155 for 4 and Middlesex had to think twice about chasing a target of around seven an over.Allenby cemented Groenewald’s good work with an economic spell from the River End, earning reward when pinning James Franklin lbw for 28.The departure of the skipper at 185 for 5 seemed to signal the end of Middlesex victory hopes. But Simpson and Fuller changed all that with an astonishing assault, Fuller hitting three sixes and two fours in his vital knock.Jack Leach struck twice in the closing overs to increase the tension, but it was Simpson’s day.Earlier, the hosts had extended their second innings score from an overnight 348 for 6 to 446 for 9 declared, Peter Trego making 138, three short of his best score on his 200th first class appearance.Groenewald and Leach shared an unbroken tenth-wicket stand of 42, using up valuable time, but it still seemed a generous declaration by Chris Rogers against his old county in excellent batting conditions.In fact, it produced a wonderful finish and Championship cricket at its best.Somerset director of cricket Matthew Maynard said: “I am proud of our players. It was a fantastic game of cricket and we have come up just a bit short. We took a gamble on using a green pitch, knowing we would be asked to bat first, and the lads gave everything. Losing Jamie Overton was a blow.”Overton pulled out of the game midway through an over on the second day and will miss the Lions series against Sri Lanka next week. Somerset will investigate his lower back injury over the next few days but are hopeful there is no stress fracture.