A round-up of the South Zone Inter-State T20 matches played on February 2, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Feb-2017

A half-century from Vijay Shankar and an all-round performance from R Sathish propelled Tamil Nadu to a 37-run win against Andhra at the MRF Pachayappas ground. Having chosen to bat, Tamil Nadu moved to 101 for 4 courtesy useful contributions from their top order before Shankar (69 off 49 balls) and Sathish (32 not out off 14) combined to add 76 in just 41 balls to power Tamil Nadu to a total of 179 for 5.Sathish then dismissed both Andhra openers over the course of a tight four-over quota in which he only conceded 18 runs. Hanuma Vihari (37 off 34) and Ricky Bhui (61 off 44) revived Andhra with a 75-run third-wicket stand, but the asking rate was climbing steadily, and they needed 79 off 32 balls when Vihari fell. Andhra couldn’t keep up, and eventually finished on 142 for 6, with two of their last three wickets falling to run-outs.A stifling bowling display helped Karnataka defend 148 and hand Hyderabad their first defeat of the tournament at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. A 66-run opening stand between Tanmay Agarwal (22) and Akshath Reddy (42 off 32 balls) gave Hyderabad an excellent start to their chase, but they struggled to keep up with the required rate thereafter as the left-arm seamer S Aravind (3 for 25) and left-arm spinner J Suchith (2 for 18) struck regular blows. S Badrinath remained unbeaten on 37, but wickets fell steadily around him and he himself only managed three fours in a 31-ball innings as Hyderabad finished on 134 for 6.After they chose to bat, Karnataka’s innings was built around two significant contributions. Opener Mayank Agarwal made 65 off 55 balls, while their No. 5 Pavan Deshpande scored 32 off 24. The two added 63 for the fourth wicket after Karnataka had slipped to 49 for 3, and eventually set them up for a total of 148 for 7. Left-arm spinner Mehdi Hasan was Hyderabad’s most successful bowler with figures of 3 for 16.A three-wicket haul from the medium-pacer Basil Thampi and two wickets each from Jalaj Saxena and Raiphi Gomez helped Kerala bowl Goa out for 86 and beat them by nine wickets. Choosing to bat, Goa’s innings never got going, with only Swapnil Asnodkar (23) and Keenan Vaz (22) getting past 20. Their innings lasted only 18.4 overs.Kerala’s chase was even shorter, lasting only 7.5 overs. Vishnu Vinod plundered 35 off 13 balls in a 40-run opening stand with Mohammed Azharudeen (22*), who then finished the match in the company of Rohan Prem (24*).

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIn a nutshellKarachi Kings dominated the final league game from the start to finish, completing a six-wicket win over Islamabad United that ensured they qualified for the playoffs. Rain had delayed the start by 90 minutes and considering the variables that rain brings – how the pitch will play with some moisture on it and the unpredictability of the Duckworth-Lewis Method – the toss became crucial. Karachi won it, chose to bowl and never looked back.The only phase which Karachi didn’t control was when the Islamabad openers made a steady start. Dwayne Smith and Ben Duckett added 37, but it took the majority of the Powerplay – 27 balls. Par scores in the tournament have been fluctuating as much as the games, but with not much spin on offer, Islamabad needed more than the 123 they mustered. None of Karachi’s bowlers were exceptional, but neither were they deplorable. Pace variations were used effectively, including a back-of-the-hand googly from seamer Sohail Khan that dismissed Shane Watson.Chris Gayle, dropped from the previous match, lit up Dubai in the chase. He didn’t take long to get going, striking five sixes in eight balls en route to his 17-ball 44. Not only did that blitz get him back in hitting form, it also put Karachi well ahead in the chase. It was a canter thereon. Even though the match went down to the penultimate ball, it wasn’t as close as the scoreline suggested.Where the match was wonA curtailed contest means an increased allocation of resources, but Islamabad were unable to use the depth in their batting line-up in the 15-over game – partly due to their own indecision of a par score but also because of the Karachi bowlers’ execution. Between overs 6 and 10, Islamabad scored just 27 runs and lost two wickets. Legspinner Usama Mir and left-arm spinner Imad Wasim bowled two overs each in that period and allowed just one boundary, using wily changes in length and pace.The men that won itKarachi’s playing XI. The whole team contributed at some stage. Five bowlers bowled their quota of three overs, and none conceded more than 30. The fielding remained tidy through the innings. With the bat, Gayle played the most significant hand, but the target may just have been insurmountable without the rest of the cameos.Moment of the matchKieron Pollard went 6, 6 off the final two balls to keep Karachi alive in the previous game. He almost matched those pyrotechnics in the field in the final league match. He took four catches, the last of which was possibly the moment of Karachi’s campaign. Smith, batting on 49, heaved an Usman Khan delivery towards wide long-on, where Pollard sprinted to his right. Using every bit of his athleticism, he stuck out his long right hand to pluck another grab for the Pollard scrapbook of implausible catches.Where they finishedKarachi was left with 111 to qualify for the playoffs and 124 to win. They ended up achieving both to finish third on the points table. Islamabad had already qualified for the playoffs, and finished fourth, but a win would have put them in first and given them two cracks at reaching the final by virtue of playing in the first qualifying final on February 28. Instead, Karachi and Islamabad will have a rematch in an elimination playoff on March 1. The result also meant that Lahore Qalandars were eliminated from the tournament.

Newcastle United reportedly see Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen as a more "realistic" option than teammate Marc Guehi this summer.

Are Newcastle eyeing centre-back signings?

The Magpies will be well aware that they need to enjoy a fruitful time of things in the transfer market, in order to kick on and seal back-to-back top-four finishes in the Premier League.

The likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea are likely to come back stronger in 2023/24 after below-par campaigns, and with the addition of Champions League football at St James' Park, more squad depth is required.

The defence could be an area of the pitch that needs strengthening, despite the performances of Sven Botman and Fabian Schar, especially with the latter now 31 years of age. It could be that Newcastle look to snap up a central defender from the Premier League, with the Magpies also in advanced talks with Southampton over a move for right-back Tino Livramento.

Could Newcastle swoop for Andersen this summer?

According to 90min journalist Graeme Bailey, the £75,000-a-week Dane is considered a cheaper, and therefore more "realistic", summer target than Guehi currently:

"In terms of centre-backs, 90min understands that Newcastle are looking closely at Crystal Palace pair Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen.

"England international Guehi has shone for Palace since joining from Chelsea, although an asking price of over £50m means a deal this summer for Newcastle looks tough given the number of positions they are looking to improve upon.

"Andersen’s price tag is more likely to be less than £30m and it is believed he is a more realistic target for Newcastle at this stage, although the Magpies are still looking at numerous options."

Andersen, who shares the same agency as Nick Pope, has the potential to be an excellent signing by Newcastle ahead of the new season, having proven himself and shone over a sustained period for Palace, whether it be his aerial presence or his all-round defensive ability.

The 27-year-old won an average of 3.3 aerial duels per game for Denmark at the 2022 World Cup, as well as 2.7 in the league last season, and a whopping 5.8 clearances per match in the latter.

Andersen was described as a "massively important" player for Palace by Patrick Vieira during his time as manager, while Robbie Earle once hailed him as "commanding" during his time at Lyon.

He could be a shrewd addition at the back, possibly partnering Botman moving forward as a long-term option, and he would surely jump at the chance to join a team that really feel like they are going places under Eddie Howe.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale appears to be building a team of players who could form the crux of the side over the next few years, with Jack Butland being his only signing over the age of 26.

This is an exciting thought for the Ibrox faithful, as over the previous few years, faith was trusted in players who had clearly moved on from their peak years, as the likes of Allan McGregor, Scott Arfield and Steven Davis were used on a regular basis.

Beale appears to be moving away from sentiment and building a team which could challenge Celtic for the Premiership title over the coming seasons and hopefully progressing in Europe.

With this new-found transfer policy in full swing, the Gers have been linked with a move for Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell and have even had a bid rejected by the Elland Road side.

Securing the centre-back could turn into a shrewd investment by the 42-year-old, especially as he could begin to forge what might turn out to be a future defensive pairing for the Gers in the future of Cresswell and Leon King.

Could Rangers sign Charlie Cresswell?

With one bid already rejected for the 20-year-old starlet, it remains to be seen whether Beale will go back in for him, but signing another young defender could be a stroke of genius.

King made his debut for the club aged just 16 back in 2020 under Steven Gerrard, and he has made rapid progress ever since. Promoted to the senior squad in 2022 having signed a new contract, the defender got his big break during the first half of the 2022/2023 season, featuring 26 times in all competitions, including six appearances in the Champions League and this experience will stand him good stood for the future.

He didn’t see much action under Beale during the second half of the season, yet it’s clear he is the future for the Ibrox side and will surely see more game time during 2023/2024.

Cresswell enjoyed a solid loan spell at Millwall last season, playing 28 Championship games for the club while underlining his importance by ranking second across the whole squad for overall Sofascore rating and clearances per game, while finishing in the top three for interceptions per game suggests he more than exceeded expectations.

The £2k-per-week gem could become a mainstay in the defence in the coming years should he move to Glasgow and with Gary Rowett claiming the player has “amazing attributes” a future duo of him and King could nullify opposition attackers in the Premiership within the next five years.

Ireland have selected a full-strength squad for their Intercontinental Cup fixture with Afghanistan in March, with legspinner Jacob Mulder in line for a first-class debut

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2017

Ireland have selected a full-strength squad for their Intercontinental Cup fixture with Afghanistan in March, with legspinner Jacob Mulder in line for a first-class debut. Ed Joyce, Niall O’Brien and Tim Murtagh are also included, having missed the Desert T20 – where Ireland lost to Afghanistan in the final – earlier this month.Ireland are currently top of the Intercontinental Cup table with four wins from four, leading Afghanistan by 19 points. The Intercontinental Cup is expected to provide a pathway into Test cricket, with the winner facing a play-off with the lowest-ranked Test nation in 2018.Ahead of the four-day match, Ireland and Afghanistan will play three T20s and five ODIs; all of the fixtures will take place in Greater Noida, India. Two ODIs have also been arranged against UAE on March 2 and 4 as part of Ireland’s training camp.”It’s great to have such a wealth of experience to choose from,” Ireland’s head coach, John Bracewell, said. “We had a full squad available which hasn’t been the case with injuries in recent times but it’s great to have everyone back with such a busy programme in March.”While we haven’t been at our best in limited-overs cricket in recent times we have a great record in the Intercontinental Cup where we’ve won all our four games taking full points.”The players are all fully focused on winning the competition for a fifth time, especially with the chance of playing Test cricket on offer. Ed Joyce has been in supreme form in the tournament with two double hundreds and he clearly looks like a man on a mission.”Young Jacob Mulder was the stand-out bowler in the T20 and the selectors felt he deserved his opportunity in the longer format. With the conditions in India likely to be spin-friendly his legspin gives us added variety which could be so important.”Boyd Rankin will be rested for the matches in the UAE, but will join up with Ireland during the 10-day training camp to prepare for the Afghanistan games.Australia-born batsman Nick Larkin, who played twice for Ireland in 2014, has however ruled himself out of involvement for the time being.”After a lengthy period of discussion between Cricket Ireland and Nick Larkin, the player has finally clarified that his focus right now is on advancing his career with the NSW Blues in Australia,” Cricket Ireland’s performance director, Richard Holdsworth, said. “He is contracted there until 2018 and is not therefore available for Ireland during that period.”Ireland Intercontinental Cup squad: William Porterfield, John Anderson, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Jacob Mulder, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Gary Wilson, Craig YoungIreland ODI squad v UAE: William Porterfield, Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Jacob Mulder, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig YoungIreland ODI squad v Afghanistan: William Porterfield, Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Jacob Mulder, Tim Murtagh, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.T20I squad v Afghanistan: William Porterfield, George Dockrell, Josh Little, Jacob Mulder, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, Kevin O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Greg Thompson, Stuart Thompson, Lorcan Tucker, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.

A round-up of the Group C matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy played on March 3, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Mar-2017Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran’s hundred helped Bengal cruise to their fourth consecutive win and consolidate their position at the top of the Group C points table. After Easwaran’s 127 lifted Bengal to 230, the bowlers shot out Mumbai for 134 in 36.2 overs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.Easwaran, who struck his third List A century, held firm even as wickets tumbled around him. Seamers Shardul Thakur and Abhishek Nayar did the bulk of the damage, claiming combined figures of 18.5-1-82-7. Easwaran, however, stitched fifty partnerships with Anustup Majumdar and Aamir Gani before he was the seventh Bengal batsman to be dismissed.Mumbai lost their openers within five overs and were seven down by the time they reached 100. Seamer Sayan Ghosh and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha ripped through the batting line-up with three wickets each. Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 34 and while Siddhesh Lad (23) and Aditya Tare (20) got starts, Mumbai’s chase never really took off.File Photo – Parthiv Patel scored his third List A century•ESPNcricinfo LtdAndhra suffered a batting collapse to fold for 106 as Gujarat thumped them by 182 runs in Chennai. Captain Parthiv Patel was Gujarat’s hero, hitting 104 off 123 balls, including 11 fours. Rohit Dahiya played the sidekick with an unbeaten 39-ball 53 as Gujarat put up 288 for 7. Jasprit Bumrah (4 for 29) and Rujul Bhatt (3 for 21) then wrecked Andhra’s chase and bundled them out in 31.5 overs.Dwaraka Ravi Teja, coming in at 39 for 5, provided the lone source of resistance with 44 off 64 balls. In fact, he was the only Andhra batsman to pass 10.Having been sent in, Gujarat lost Priyank Panchal early, but Parthiv shared useful stands with Samit Gohel and Bhargav Merai to set a solid platform. By the time Parthiv was dismissed, Gujarat had reached 200. Jesal Karia and Dahiya then struck late blows to take their team past 280.Madhya Pradesh needed only 38.1 overs to chase down 291 against Goa in Chennai. Captain Naman Ojha powered the chase with an unbeaten 87-ball 105. He was well supported by Rajat Patidar (64 off 53 balls) and Harpreet Singh (83 off 60 balls) as MP completed their chase with seven wickets in hand.Ojha and Rajat Patidar laid the foundation with a 92-run opening stand off 83 balls. Ojha and Harpreet then pressed on to add 116 in 15.1 overs. Ojha struck six sixes and six fours en route to his eighth List A century.Goa had rebounded to reach 290 after being reduced to 23 for 2. Their captain Sagun Kamat (63 off 75 balls) and Suyash Prabhudessai (52 off 47 balls) hit half centuries, but it was Snehal Kauthankar’s 110-ball 94 that led Goa’s batting. Playing his fourth List A game, Kauthankar made his career-best score, but late wickets prevented Goa from reaching 300. Ankit Kushwah was the pick of the bowlers for MP, finishing with 5 for 60.

Manchester United have made contact with Inter Milan over a move to sign Nicolo Barella, according to reports.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils appear to be preparing for a busy few months in the transfer market despite the ongoing takeover saga at Old Trafford. There could be plenty of additions to Erik ten Hag’s side all across the pitch, from a new goalkeeper to a marquee attacker.

However, midfield appears to be an area where Ten Hag and United want to strengthen, especially with Scott McTominay telling those at Old Trafford he wants to quit and Fred being linked with a move to Fulham.

One midfielder who Man United appear desperate to sign is Chelsea’s Mason Mount. Personal terms have already been agreed with the England international, however, striking a deal with their Premier League rivals has proven tricky so far.

The Red Devils had an opening £40m offer turned down by Chelsea, and an improved £50m bid also rejected. Meanwhile, West Ham's Declan Rice is another target, with Man United ready to rival Arsenal in the race for his services with a player-plus-cash offer.

Alongside Mount and Rice, a move for Barella appears as if it could be one to keep an eye on, with an update emerging over the last 48 hours.

Sport Witness relayed news from Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport regarding Man United and Barella. They claimed that Old Trafford officials have made the first move by making ‘interested phone calls’ to Inter Milan.

A move to Manchester over Newcastle is seen as a ‘far more attractive’ destination, with Inter Milan wanting at least €80m ahead of a potential deal.

Who is Nicolo Barella?

Barella, once hailed "top-class" by Jurgen Klopp, is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in holding or attacking midfield roles if needed. The 26-year-old appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high €75m Transfermarkt valuation and currently earns £154,000-a-week.

The Italy international made a permanent move to Inter back in 2020 following a successful loan spell from Cagliari and has gone on to make 187 appearances for the Champions League finalists, scoring 20 goals and registering 44 assists.

Described as a "monster" in the media because of his energetic displays, United could see Barella as the perfect box-to-box midfielder to play alongside Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, with the player ranking in the 92nd percentile for progressive passes and non-penalty goals and 89th percentile for carries into the final third, as per FBref, showing how he can create, score and dribble.

ScorecardMoises Henriques struck 13 fours en route to his unbeaten ton•BCCI

Moises Henriques, the New South Wales captain, struck an unbeaten century to spearhead a sturdy batting display against Queensland on day one of the Sheffield Shield match at the SCG.On a day of high temperatures in Sydney, with more forecast for Saturday that forced the cancellation of weekend club matches, the hosts made the most of the conditions after Henriques won the toss.While Daniel Hughes fell to Peter George in the day’s first over and Ed Cowan was unable to replicate his double-century against Victoria at the MCG last week, falling lbw first ball to Michael Neser to leave the Blues 2 for 2, both Nick Larkin and Kurtis Patterson were able to sculpt substantial innings to guide NSW into a strong position.Opener Larkin struck 86 in a 156-run partnership for the third wicket with Patterson, who struck 88 himself, as NSW rescued their innings.Arriving at the crease with 158 on the board, Henriques built his innings sensibly before accelerating to capitalise on tiring bowlers in the final session, hitting 13 fours in his unbeaten knock of 102. The Bulls missed the legbreaks of Mitchell Swepson, presently training with the Australian Test squad in Dubai ahead of their imminent trip to India.

Chelsea completing a deal to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo is now at the "final stage", according to reliable journalist Rudy Galetti.

Is Moises Caicedo leaving Brighton?

Back in January, Brighton’s defensive midfielder was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal and he even penned an open letter on his social media channels confirming that he wanted to leave, but instead he ended up signing a new long-term contract until 2027, likely so that he could be sold for more during the summer.

The Ecuador international has recently been attracting significant interest from Mauricio Pochettino in SW6 with the Daily Mail claiming that the Blues have already seen a £60m opening offer rejected, but having seemingly since returned to the negotiating table, it appears that all financial roadblocks have been resolved.

The Stamford Bridge outfit will have a more healthy budget now that the likes of N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic have been sold from their engine room, and the 21-year-old looks like he could be one of the central reinforcements making his way to London.

Are Chelsea signing Caicedo?

Taking to Twitter, Galetti revealed that Chelsea and Brighton are close to reaching a full agreement for the sale of Caicedo, with the player having already personally said yes to the giants in the Premier League. He wrote:

"Moises Caicedo, the talks between Chelsea and Brighton are entering in the final stage. Understand the 2 clubs agreed the fixed amount of the transfer (£75m) and now they are discussing the add-ons. Moises is keen to join CFC and he’s pushing for the move."

What could Caicedo bring to Stamford Bridge?

Chelsea and Pochettino will be aware that Caicedo is much stronger in the natural defensive midfield aspect of his game having recorded just one goal and assist in the top-flight last season, so he could bring an excellent layer of protection to the backline should he sign on the dotted line.

The Futbol Division client won 50 out of his 100 tackles during the previous campaign which was not only the highest-success rate but also the most made throughout the whole of his squad, via FBRef, alongside averaging 1.5 interceptions per game in the Premier League.

Brighton’s “Machine Man”, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, would also add wonderful versatility to the manager’s ranks with his ability to operate higher up in central midfield and even at right-back alongside his usual role, and if possible, he would only excel further under the leadership of Pochettino.

For all the talk regarding incomings at Manchester United this summer, a further priority for manager Erik ten Hag will be to move players on, as the Dutchman seeks to continue putting his stamp on proceedings at Old Trafford.

As The Guardian reported back in April, as many as 15 players could well be under threat despite what was a largely positive 2022/23 campaign, with the Red Devils needing to generate funds with player sales in order to bolster their transfer kitty.

Among those who could well be heading for pastures new is Brazilian international, Fred, with Manchester Evening News also outlining that the 30-year-old is attracting interest from fellow Premier League side Fulham.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk man – who is now in the final year of his contract – did enjoy a profitable season last time out after scoring six goals and providing six assists in all competitions, albeit with doubts remaining over his lack of quality, having been described as "not good enough" by club legend, Roy Keane.

The diminutive machine notably started just two of the final 13 league games of the season following the abject 7-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool at Anfield, with that lack of action perhaps a sign of his declining status under Ten Hag.

The former Ajax boss could then help to hasten Fred's summer exit by acquiring a dream replacement for the 5 foot 7 dud over the coming weeks, with the 53-year-old potentially already eyeing up one option in the form of Benfica's teenage sensation, Joao Neves.

Who is Joao Neves?

As per Gianluca Di Marzio, United are 'interested' in signing the 18-year-old midfielder this summer, with the youngster – who could soon have a €100m (£86m) release clause – having enjoyed a real breakthrough 2022/23 campaign after making 20 first-team appearances for the Lisbon outfit.

The Portuguese starlet may only be in the infancy of his senior career although he has already caught the eye thus far, with youth scout Jacek Kulig naming him among a group of "highly talented" emerging Benfica stars.

Like Fred, Neves is arguably not the most dominant presence due to his 5 foot 9 frame, although he is still able to make a real nuisance of himself in the centre of the park, with writer Zach Lowy having stated back in May:

"One thing that I like about Neves is despite his short stature, he’s a very good header of the ball and never shies away from going up in an aerial or ground duel. Skilled at protecting the ball and weaving passes forward & holding his own in physicality."

That impressive work ethic has ensured that the Tavira native has averaged 3.83 tackles and 2.06 aerial duels won per 90 across the last 365 days, with that putting him ahead of the current United man in both of those metrics, as the Brazilian averages 3.50 and 0.76, respectively.

The youngster's quality on the ball is what truly sets him apart from the man he could potentially replace at the Theatre of Dreams as he averages 7.37 progressive passes per 90 as a marker of his ball-playing brilliance and front-foot approach, while Fred averages 5.22 in that same metric – ranking him in just the top 43% among his European peers.

With Neves' youth also making him an asset that Ten Hag can build around for the next decade or so, it appears to be a no-brainer to replace Fred with the precocious teen – provided the funds are available.