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Chris Read set a new wicket-keeping record for Nottinghamshire as they moved closer to promotion with an innings defeat of Derbyshire

Jon Culley at Derby09-Aug-2017It is every retiring cricketer’s wish to leave the game in a winning moment and the fulfillment of that aspiration is within touching distance for Chris Read now after Nottinghamshire escaped the ravages of the weather to complete a comprehensive win over their nearest neighbours.Brett Hutton delivered the key performance with the ball against Derbyshire, taking five wickets for the second time in the match.Read, Notts’ veteran wicketkeeper and captain, may not have a third Championship to celebrate when he plays his final first-class match next month but promotion as champions from Division Two would not be a bad consolation, particularly with the Royal London One-Day Cup already in the trophy cabinet.Not to forget a potential Nottinghamshire tilt at the NatWest Blast, even if Read himself has retired from that format.With a lead of 50 points over third-placed Northamptonshire and four matches remaining, it is hard to imagine any other outcome to Read’s valedictory year, from which he will also take the Nottinghamshire record for most wicketkeeping dismissals, which he claimed with the first of his two catches on the final afternoon.It took him to 968 victims, overtaking Thomas Oates, born not too far from here in the mining town of Eastwood, who numbered 967 in a career that ran from 1897 to 1925. The breakdown of those figures reflects how different the game is today. Of Oates’s total, 744 were catches and 223 stumpings, compared with 924 catches and just 44 stumpings by Read.Read, on the eve of his 39th birthday, looked no less mobile behind the stumps than he did when he made his Nottinghamshire debut in 1998, diving to his right to grasp the ball as Mark Footitt induced an edge from Gary Wilson.”I’ve been aware of the milestone and it is an honour of which I’m immensely proud because Thomas Oates clearly played a lot of cricket and was a great servant to the club,” Read said, admitting that his last season could hardly be progressing better.”I’m ecstatic with the way things are going. We set ourselves some aims and goals and so far we are going a long way to achieving those. Primarily that is getting promotion to Division One, and we are in a good position to do that, while winning the 50-over competition was brilliant.”To win this game after losing a day and a session was a tremendous effort. Alex Hales’ knock on day two was phenomenal but the headlines should belong to Brett Hutton, who got more out of the pitch than anyone else in both innings.”It was bitterly disappointing to get relegated last year but I’m looking forward to finishing off in style with promotion and get back to where we belong.”Read, who will leave the professional game to be director of cricket at Uppingham School, is not dwelling on how he might feel when the curtain does finally come down for good.”No I’m not thinking about it massively,” he said. “We know we have to keep putting in the performances and after the T20 group stages and quarter-finals are out of the way we have two massive home games against sides in the top four, so we can’t let any complacency come in.”Aside from Read, the man of the hour for Nottinghamshire was the seamer Hutton, who chose a good moment, given that his team are reaching the climax of the season without three of those bowlers – Stuart Broad, James Pattinson and Luke Fetcher – who were first-choice picks at the beginning, to find his best form.Hutton, who took five for 52 in the first innings, finished with 10 for 126 in the match in his fifth Championship appearance of the year, almost equalling his tally in the first four as Nottinghamshire made sure Hales’s brilliant 218 off 218 balls did not go to waste.In addition to Read, Hutton and Hales, Nottinghamshire ought to raise a glass too to the Derbyshire groundstaff, whose efforts to make the ground fit after 24 hours of almost continuous rainfall gave them 75 overs from one o’clock in which to take the nine wickets needed to complete a sixth win of the season, which they achieved with 12.1 to spare.For the first hour and 20 minutes, it seemed Derbyshire might deny them as Ben Slater and captain Billy Godleman extended their second-wicket partnership, which had reached 31 at the end of day two before rain the weather washed away day three, to 96 without encountering too many problems.But then Slater, drawn into playing at a full length ball from Hutton that swung late, edging to Riki Wessels at second slip, and after Godleman, seven overs later, was superbly caught by a running and diving Hutton at extra cover, pushing at one from left-arm spinner Samit Patel, the innings never recovered.After breaking the Oates record – to give Footitt his fourth wicket of the match against the county that enjoyed his best years so far – Read added another to the collection with a more routine take as a terrific ball from Jake Ball proved too good for Harvey Hosein.Wayne Madsen, coming in at five down after suffering with an upset stomach, was bowled by Hutton off an inside edge and, after Hardus Viljoen had played over one from Ball, Hutton wrapped things up after a small measure of late defiance from the tail, pinning Tom Taylor in front as he played around one and taking out Tony Palladino’s off stump.Godleman, whose side had been denied an almost certain victory over Nottinghamshire by the weather when they went to Trent Bridge earlier in the season, felt his side had played poorly this time.”There was still a small bit in the wicket for the seamers but we felt we were capable of batting it out and saving the game and we should have found a way to not lose the game,” he said.

Everton have now leapfrogged other Premier League clubs to lead the race to sign Manchester United and England centre-back Harry Maguire this summer.

How much does Harry Maguire earn?

The 30-year-old has had a tough time of late, losing his place in United's regular starting lineup, and having to make do with a squad role instead. Only eight Premier League starts came his way last season and Erik ten Hag has now made the decision to take the captaincy away from him, giving it to Bruno Fernandes instead.

For that reason, it could be that the £189,000-a-week-earning Maguire looks for a move away this summer, in order to be a regular elsewhere and keep his place in England's team secure ahead of Euro 2024 next summer. His current deal at Old Trafford expires in 2025, but the Red Devils could jump at the chance to earn good money for him now.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Everton are eyeing defensive reinforcements ahead of the new season that starts later this month, with Conor Coady's loan move not made permanent at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, and it looks as though the United and England man could now be a serious target.

Could Everton sign Harry Maguire?

According to Football Insider, Everton are now in pole position to snap up Maguire this summer, jumping ahead of others in the queue:

"Everton have leapfrogged Tottenham and West Ham in the race to sign Man United defender Harry Maguire, sources have told Football Insider. The three Premier League clubs, as well as Chelsea, have registered their interest in signing the England centre-back before the window shuts.

"United are willing to sell Maguire, 30, but he is on big wages of nearly £200,000-a-week and that deal runs for two more years."

There is no question that Maguire's form has dipped in recent years, having initially being a strong player for England, earning him a move to United in the first place, but he could be an excellent signing by Everton.

While Ten Hag's style of play doesn't suit the Englishman, with his high line exposing the centre-back's lack of pace, Sean Dyche's lower block could be ideal for him, allowing him to showcase his aerial dominance and leadership.

Maguire won three aerial duels per game across five appearances at the 2022 World Cup, highlighting that area of his game, but he also averaged 2.6 clearances per match in the Premier League last season. A tally of 57 England caps and 175 United appearances shows the experience that he now possesses, and he could form an impressive defensive partnership with James Tarkowski, rebuilding his career in the process.

Ten Hag has still hailed Maguire as a "dominant" player recently, despite losing his place, as well as praising his "dictating of the game", and if Everton are willing to spend fairly big on him, he could prove to be an underrated signing who is perfect for the Blues.

It could be that he is desperate to fight for his place at United, though, which could put paid to the move happening, but while some may turn their noses up at the idea of him at Goodison Park, we think he'll prove them wrong if a deal goes through.

Australia’s coach, Darren Lehmann, says the savaging Australia have received from the media and public back home after their loss in Bangladesh has cut through to the team

Adam Collins in Dhaka01-Sep-2017When football clubs rebuild, a certain amount of leeway is usually given. There’s an acceptance that progress with inexperienced players is punctuated by some nasty spikes along the way. But it’s not so simple with the Australian cricket team. They are held to a different standard, and not altogether unreasonably given the resources that underpin elite level performance.Australia’s loss at Dhaka was the first serious blip since the reset button was slammed after they were throttled for 85 by South Africa nine months ago. Since that Hobart debacle, four home Tests were won by them on the spin, a stretch that became five when routing India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener, crushing expectations after nine consecutive Asian losses. Ultimately that series was lost 2-1, but rarely have so many positives been found in baggy green defeat.But Dhaka was different. India had not lost a Test at home for over four years but Bangladesh are Bangladesh, with nine wins in 100 starts, ever. When that became 10 from 101, whatever the context, the response was always going to be unhinged. It constitutes one of the many varied challenges the side need to overcome in a matter of days before Chittagong.In the aftermath of the defeat, coach Darren Lehmann cut a sanguine figure issuing his own report card. “We are quite a young side,” he began. “We had five under ten Test Matches. So, in terms of a rebuild as such, which we started after the Hobart/South Africa game, it is a young group coming together learning their craft. Bangladesh put the pressure on us and we didn’t cope well enough and that happens with a young group.”Age, experience or otherwise, Lehmann acknowledged the performance was underwhelming, the savaging they received for it at home cutting through to the team. “The boys are all hurting with the criticism you get,” he said. “(But) you deserve that when you don’t win. It is not good enough when you lose a Test match to anyone, but Bangladesh are tough at home.”To that last point, Lehmann agreed that Bangladesh’s strength is misunderstood, more in line with any of the combatants in this part of the world they have routinely failed to overcome. “If you look around the world not too many teams are winning away,” he said. “We are very good at home and have struggled away. So, we have got to get a side together that can win at home and away, and that’s what we are trying to do. (Bangladesh) are very good.”A team for all seasons is something Lehmann craves, similar to the settled line-up he took so long to break into despite thousands of first-class runs. “You are trying to look for that all-round player that can actually adapt in all conditions so you don’t have to keep chopping and changing with horses for courses,” he explained. “You want to pick a side, a group, that can play together for five to ten years if that is possible and that is what we are trying to do. So, for us, it is a long-term view.”That was the pre-Test rationale as it applied to Usman Khawaja, a batsman unquestionably in the best XI at home, but on the bench in India after a dreadful tour of Sri Lanka. “There was certainly a feeling of that,” he said of the decision to recall the number three, who had a terrible time of it. “It is important to have a settled group. For the Ashes, we are pretty clear on where we are going and who want to play in that scenario.”Similarly, before the Test, Steven Smith openly discussed his desire for Bangladesh to provide a platform for the next time they visit India for a red-ball stoush in 2021. Lehmann said it is a “fair call” for that thinking to be given a second thought in light of a 0-1 score-line.Smith was specifically addressing the decision to leave Steve O’Keefe at home in favour of decade-younger Ashton Agar. Now, the coach is clearly thrilled to see him back in the team hotel. He hinted not-so-subtly at the case for O’Keefe’s inclusion, ahead of spare seamer Jackson Bird, after a “pretty easy” decision to rush him over when Josh Hazlewood broke down.”The way the wicket was,” Lehmann said, “you are not going to have too many overs bowled by the quicks as the game goes on and we expect the same sort of pitch.” O’Keefe recognised as much himself when addressing reporters. He knows he is here to play, not watch.Those conditions will be surveyed closely upon arrival as they relate to Khawaja’s retention, but also wicketkeeper Matthew Wade’s. It is easily forgotten that it wasn’t only Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb who came into the side after Hobart – there was a quartet of major batting changes. Nic Maddinson’s tenure lasted three Tests, Wade’s is now nine. All told, his 15 innings have been worth a sketchy 255 runs at 21, passing 50 just once at number seven.”When we get there we will take a look at the wicket,” Lehmann replied when asked directly whether Wade might be replaced by Handscomb, who kept for Victoria in an earlier life when Wade was on national duty. With such a specialized position and Wade the only full-time stumper on the trip, that’s not the sort of query that isn’t answered effusively unless there is a distinct possibility of change. Watch this space for that one.Two others reintegrated back into the side since the last Australian summer are Agar and Pat Cummins, who with David Warner and Nathan Lyon were Australia’s best in Dhaka. Alongside Renshaw and Handscomb, it suggests the rebuild is ticking plenty of boxes for the longer term. But that won’t count for much if this series can’t be salvaged. The future can wait, they now have a Test match to win. Urgently.

Evin Lewis shellacked an unbeaten 97 off 32 balls as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots ran down a target of 129 in seven overs, with all ten wickets intact on a record-breaking night in Bridgetown

The Report by Peter Della Penna04-Sep-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsEvin Lewis blasted six fours and 11 sixes•Ashley Allen – CPL T20 / GettyOn a night when Barbados Tridents needed to win by a record-breaking margin in order to make the CPL 2017 playoffs, it was St Kitts & Nevis Patriots who instead created several fresh pages in the CPL record books, in a 10-wicket mauling of the home team at the Kensington Oval. Among the marks set on the night were the fastest fifty of CPL 2017, by Evin Lewis (off 19 balls), and the highest Powerplay score in CPL history (105 for 0 in six overs).But it may be the one record that wasn’t set which ended the game on a sour note. Lewis was on 97 off 31 balls when he took strike at the start of the eighth over with the scores level. Needing a boundary to record the fastest hundred in CPL history and the second fastest in all T20 cricket, he was denied the opportunity to do so. Kieron Pollard reprised the infamous delivery sent down by Suraj Randiv to Virender Sehwag in an ODI between Sri Lanka and India in 2010, bowling a no ball that gave Patriots the winning run.Patriots displaced Jamaica Tallawahs at second place, ensuring themselves two cracks at making the final. They will now come up against regular season leaders Trinbago Knight Riders in the first qualifier on Tuesday night at the Brian Lara Stadium. Tridents’ loss meant Guyana Amazon Warriors booked the final playoff spot, setting up a date on Wednesday night against Tallawahs in the eliminator.Tri-dented batting orderBarbados had great individual batting highlights during the season – chiefly Dwayne Smith’s pair of centuries – but never found consistency through the order. Lack of key contributions did them in again on Sunday. Nicholas Pooran once again failed to convert a strong start, playing over the ball on a pull against Mohammad Hafeez to be bowled for 21. Patriots made it two in two when Dwayne Smith edged Carlos Brathwaite behind for 17 to start the next over.Like Pooran, high-priced marquee signing Kane Williamson went the entire season without a fifty. On Sunday, he was out for 14, groping a drive off Tabraiz Shamsi to long-on. As bad as Williamson’s season was, mid-season signing Eoin Morgan proved even worse, and was bowled by Mohammad Nabi for 2 to make it 76 for 4. It capped a barren four-game stretch for Morgan with Tridents, with a total of nine runs in 17 deliveries.Brathwaite’s bestOnly once before had Carlos Brathwaite taken four-for in a T20. On Sunday, he bettered that with his career-best figures, ripping through the Tridents line-up late into their innings. He had Pollard caught on the flick, off the leading edge to short third man in the 16th over. Then, he had Tion Webster, the top-scorer, playing in just his second match of the season, caught at long-on. Ryan Wiggins was caught behind in the 18th as Brathwaite ended with 4 for 15 and Tridents stumbled through the end.Lewis’ half-hour of powerTridents began the night needing to win by 220 runs to claim the final playoff spot. When the hopeless mission became impossible, the Tridents responded with a lifeless display befitting their position.Gayle faced the entire first over, striking two boundaries off Wahab Riaz. But he only faced eight balls in the rest of the chase as Lewis took center stage. He slammed his first ball, off Wayne Parnell, over the leg side for six, and hit two more before the over was finished. Thereafter, his strike rate never fell below 200.He broke Colin Munro and Darren Sammy’s jointly held record for fastest fifty of the season – off 23 balls – with a heave over square off the same bowler.Two fours and a six out of the stadium to end the sixth over made Patriots the first CPL side to score triple-figures in the Powerplay.The match lasted just six more legal deliveries, with the seventh over, sent down by Damion Jacobs, being clattered for 23 runs. He was on 96 before the last ball of that over, when a diving stop at sweeper cover denied him a boundary but allowed him to keep strike.The naughty no ballWhile Randiv’s no-ball seven years ago was a massive overstep that sparked ill-will between Sehwag and Sri Lanka over a century denied, Pollard was slightly less conspicuous in his penalty delivery to Lewis, but was still comfortably beyond the crease when the front foot landed. It was an anticlimactic and unsportsmanlike end to Lewis’ whirlwind knock.

As reliable media sources say they're closing in on a deal for Santos starlet Deivid Washington, Chelsea appear to have also made a move for Crystal Palace star Michael Olise.

Who will Chelsea sign?

Mauricio Pochettino has been backed with major summer signings as we enter the final phase of this window.

Indeed, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sanchez and Angelo have all put pen to paper on moves to Stamford Bridge, taking their total spending to around £179 million.

A move for Brighton star Moises Caicedo is still on the cards, despite Chelsea having two bids rejected for the star midfielder, but they aren't afraid to turn to alternatives like Juventus star Leandro Paredes.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

The Blues could also imminently sign Washington from Santos, perhaps as soon as next week, with renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano saying the green light is imminent.

Pochettino, speaking to the media recently, hinted at further signings and Chelsea could well add more quality to their forward department.

"Yes, of course, maybe we can add some different profile or different player who can help us, of course, we are open," said Pochettino.

"I am so happy with both and we have younger players like Mason [Burstow] today and [Armando] Broja in the UK recovering from his procedure.

"We need to analyse now in the next weeks until the transfer window closes. We will take the best decision for the team."

Olise, who is rumoured to have an enticing £34.5 million release clause in his Palace contract, has been attracting interest from major English clubs like treble winners Man City.

The 21-year-old is also on Chelsea's radar, and RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins has shared quite a promising update on their pursuit.

Taking to social media, the reporter claims they've made a verbal offer of around £26m, with Olise himself reaching an agreement in principle to join Chelsea.

"Michael Olise," said Hawkins.

"Verbal offer from Chelsea of ​​around €30 million (£26m). The Blues are waiting to hear more about the progress of his injury before making a written offer.

"MO/Chelsea agreement in principle. Man City also follows him but goes further. The clause of M. Olise < €40M (£34.5m)."

How good is Michael Olise?

The attacker was a mainstay under both Patrick Vieira and Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park last term, playing 37 league games and standing out as one of their best-performing players per 90 (WhoScored).

Olise bagged a very impressive 11 assists in that time, adding a further two goals, with Vieira hailing his former star as a "special" talent.

"When you look at the last round and this one, he played well. He can score goals, create chances and he is a special talent," Vieira said to the press.

"He will improve and get better as a player. His work ethic every day has been terrific since he has been at the football club."

Hodgson, meanwhile, believes he is an "enormous talent".

“I have seen him for 10 days less than I have seen the others," said the current Palace boss.

What I make of him is that I think he is an enormous talent – he has got a great possibility to have a wonderful career and a wonderful future. We can only hope we at Crystal Palace can give him that platform.”

The ICC had said that when games are reduced to less than 10 overs, the maximum quota of overs per bowler shall not be less than two. But that was not the case in Ranchi

Arun Venugopal in Ranchi08-Oct-2017From the version of events relayed by Aaron Finch, it has emerged that Australia weren’t allowed the advantage of ICC’s new playing conditions for shortened games even though DRS – part of T20Is only under the new playing conditions – was in play in Ranchi.According to the new playing conditions which came into effect on September 28, DRS would now be used in T20 Internationals in addition to Tests and ODIs. They also state that in a game “reduced to less than 10 overs, the maximum quota of overs per bowler shall not be less than two: meaning that if a match is reduced to five overs a side, two bowlers will be able to bowl two overs each.”But this was not the case on Saturday despite the chase being cut to six overs. While three Australia bowlers could have bowled a maximum of two overs each under the new rules, only one – Nathan Coulter-Nile – was allowed to do that. Four others – debutant Jason Beherendoff, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Dan Christian – sent down one over each.Finch acknowledged it was strange that the rules were “mixed and matched” for the series. “I didn’t know there was a review system until about the fifth over. Nobody did,” he said at the post-match interaction. “Steve Smith, when he ran out a drink, mentioned it. So, we had to ask the umpires. But it is quite strange to have a crossover of rules for this series. I mean bat sizes and things like that are coming in at the end of the series. The over situation with a shortened game – three bowlers being allowed to bowl two overs – but DRS was in for this. It didn’t have any effect on the game. I just thought it was quite odd to have mixed and matched the rules for this series.”Shikhar Dhawan, who arrived for India’s press conference, admitted to being in the dark as well. “I’m sure they [Australia] would have felt the inconsistency,” he said. “But whatever is the rule, is the rule. I’m not exactly aware of the rule you were talking about. But, it is what it is.”Some of the confusion may have risen because the new rules weren’t in operation in the ODI series between India and Australia because it had begun before the roll-out date. The ICC had taken the decision to avoid the discrepancy of playing a few games by the old rules and a few by the new ones.

A report has shared the latest on Tottenham Hotspur and their talks for new attackers, with this one including in-form Montpellier talisman Elye Wahi.

Who will Spurs sign next?

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, midfielder James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon and striker Alejo Veliz have all put pen to paper on moves to Spurs.

Joining the likes of defender Pedro Porro and winger Dejan Kulusevski, who also both joined Tottenham permanently from their respective clubs, it's been a fairly busy summer window for chairman Daniel Levy.

Manager Ange Postecoglou has also dropped multiple hints that the north London club could go after another centre-half, leading to their links with Torino's Perr Schuurs, but it will depend on outgoings at the club.

The most high-profile departure, and by some distance, would be star striker Harry Kane – as German heavyweights Bayern Munich have now reaching an agreement to sign the Spurs star.

Postecoglou, speaking to the press last month, admitted it was an unwanted distraction from Tottenham's pre-season preparations.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

"Fair to say I am not relaxed about it," said the Spurs head coach to media.

“So, you’ve got to deal with it, and I think, for everyone concerned, we don’t want to be doing it for too long. I don’t think that is good for anyone. I don’t think it is good for Harry, I don’t think it is good for the club."

As a result of the Kane saga, which may now be resolved very soon in light of the huge news, there have been links to multiple forwards.

Gent striker Gift Orban is a name regularly mentioned, while Spurs are also believed to hold a keen interest in Wahi of Montpellier.

That is according to a report by 90min, who have shared news this week on the 20-year-old attacker and a possible move to Tottenham.

As per their information, the north Londoners have multiple attacking options on their radar, which includes both Orban and Wahi.

The latter striker, who bagged an impressive 19 goals and five assists in 33 Ligue 1 appearances last campaign, has "recently held talks with representatives of Tottenham Hotspur" over signing for the club.

The outcome of this meeting with Spurs chiefs is undisclosed, but if they were to step up their talks, there is reason to believe he would be an exceptional capture.

How good is Elye Wahi?

According to WhoScored, alongside his goalscoring record, Wahi ranked among Montpellier's best for attempts at goal, key passes made and successful take-ons in the final third.

His form over the last 12 months has earned praise from members of the media, like journalist Andrés Onrubia Ramos, who called him a "real beast" while backing Wahi to "explode".

"Elye Wahi (2003). If he manages to polish the definition, we are facing a striker who is going to exceed ten goals per season," said Ramos on X.

"A real beast in space that, in addition, associatively also leaves interesting things. It should definitely explode."

Mumbai lose Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas Iyer early, MP bundle out Odisha for 147 and Swapnil Singh rescues Baroda after TN pacers strike

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2017Mumbai started their quest to qualify for the knockouts by dismissing Tripura for 195 but stuttered in reply to end the day on 77 for 3 at Wankhede Stadium. The hosts lost Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas Iyer for one run each and Suryakumar Yadav for 30 even as Jay Bista kept their hopes alive with an unbeaten 43.Medium-pacer Akash Parkar – playing his fourth first-class match – capitalised on Mumbai’s decision to bowl with a maiden five-wicket haul. Dhawal Kulkarni dented Tripura with two early wickets before Parkar also struck twice and Bista effected a run-out to leave the tourists reeling on 96 for 5.Yashpal Singh halted the collapse with his 33. His 41-run stand with captain Manisankar Murasingh who went on to score 43 led the score past 150. But Parkar dismissed both Yashpal and Murasingh and was on a hat-trick in the 54th over to leave Tripura on 152 for 8. The visitors added another 43 for the last two wickets before Kulkarni took the last wicket to finish with 3 for 67 while Parkar had 5 for 32 from 16 overs.In reply, Shaw lasted only 12 deliveries as he was bowled by Rana Dutta and Murasingh had Iyer caught behind in the seventh over. Bista and Suryakumar counterattacked with a 50-run stand in less than 11 overs, Suryakumar handed a return catch to Abhijit Sarkar for 30 which made them stutter again.Led by Chandrakant Sakure, Madhya Pradesh’s pace attack ran through Odisha to bundle them out for 147 on the first day in Indore. Sakure’s four-for was assisted by three wickets from Puneet Datey and two from Ishwar Pandey, before MP ended the day on a stable 96 for 1, trailing by only 51 runs.MP’s bowlers cashed in on their decision to bowl as Datey struck on his sixth ball and Pandey in his third over. Only opener Ranjit Singh, captain Govinda Poddar and No. 5 Shantanu Mishra scored in double-digits as the MP bowlers did not allow any partnership to go beyond 44. Mishra resisted with 60 in over two hours even as Sakure troubled the middle and lower order. Odisha lost five wickets for only 33 runs to stutter to 138 for 9 before they were all out in the 53rd over.MP lost opener and debutant Aryaman Birla for a patient 16 off 67 when he was trapped lbw after an opening stand of 72 with Rajat Patidar. Captain Devendra Bundela and Patidar played out the next nine overs as Patidar did the bulk of the scoring with an unbeaten 72 with the help of nine fours.Swapnil Singh’s unbeaten 94 led the Baroda score past 250 while the Tamil Nadu medium-pacers helped remove eight batsmen in Vadodara. All of Baroda’s top five batsmen got starts with double-digit scores but only Swapnil converted and scored beyond 25. He was later assisted with a useful 42 from No. 9 Kartik Kakade, putting on 69 runs for the eighth wicket.K Vignesh started Baroda’s stutter by removing the openers and Washington Sundar dismissed Vishnu Solanki for 20. Deepak Hooda, the captain, then handed a return catch to Sai Kishore for 20. Baroda lost four wickets for 37 runs – two of those taken by J Kousik – leaving the hosts on 176 for 7. Swapnil and Kakade joined forces to steer them close to 250 before Kakade was run-out, but after hitting five fours and two sixes. Swapnil struck three sixes and 10 fours as he led the team to 254 for 8.

Reliable Tottenham Hotspur journalist Dan Kilpatrick has shared how Spurs are planning for life without Harry Kane as they prepare a move for Gent striker Gift Orban.

Who will Spurs replace Kane with?

Last week, one of the biggest transfers of this summer window started take shape, when David Ornstein broke the news that Bayern Munich had finally reached an agreement to steal Kane away from Tottenham.

It was then up to the player, but after some waiting, the 30-year-old decided to join Bayern just two days before the opening game of Spurs' season away to Brentford.

Kane has since made his Bayern debut and Ange Postecoglou must now plan for life without him – which comes as a huge task for the Australian who has been linked with a host of possible replacements.

Postecoglou, though, knew the striker was going to leave this summer after speaking to Kane personally.

"I had a conversation with Harry the first day he arrived and he was up front and honest, and I was the same," the 57-year-old said before their 2-2 draw on Sunday.

“You get an indication there that he kind of made up his mind: that if the clubs agreed he would go, particularly if it was before the first game. That was my preference as well.

“There's nothing along the way that's sort of made me feel there's anything other than this outcome. None of these things happen in isolation, everyone is pretty clued into what's going on, so from my perspective I hadn't received anything from Harry, the club or anyone else to suggest to me anything had changed about his stance."

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE..

Montpellier striker Elye Wahi, Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku and Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic have all been mentioned as Kane's possible successors in the last few days, alongside Orban.

The latter man, who has been in sublime form for his club this year, is firmly on Tottenham's radar with reporter Kilpatrick sharing their transfer plan for him.

Writing for The Standard, the journalist claims Spurs are expected to make a formal move for Orban in the final weeks of this window, with their headline saying a bid is "readied".

The north Londoners really rate Orban, who they believe has "enormous potential", but must first prioritise player sales before making their move. Gent value their star forward at around £25 million and Tottenham are conscious they may face stiff competition for his signature.

How good is Gift Orban?

The Nigeria international bagged a brilliant 20 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions last term, and he has continued that fine form this season with five goals in four matches overall.

Orban has marked himself out as one of Europe's most exciting, young and in-form strikers – with members of the media like Sport 1's Patrick Berger calling him one of Nigeria's "very interesting" group of breakthrough stars.

Journalist Ryan Taylor, taking to X, also praised Orban as a name to remember.

"Gift Orban, Victor Boniface & Tolu Arokodare. Remember these names," wrote Taylor.

"Making waves in Belgium & on European stage. Throw in Victor Osimhen & Terem Moffi – future looks very bright for Nigeria. Quickly approaching a golden generation for the Super Eagles."

Liverpool have spent the majority of the summer transfer window trying to revamp their midfield following a mass exodus.

In total, five midfielders have left the club on a permanent basis, and although Jurgen Klopp has secured the services of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo in a bid to fill the void left by those who have departed, he will be keen on signing more.

But the German could yet strengthen other areas of his team, as the Reds have shown interest in a defender who has shone in Ligue 1 recently.

Who will Liverpool sign next?

According to French outlet L’Equipe (via Get Football News France), the Reds are interested in centre-back Arthur Theate, who is currently playing for Stade Rennais.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Fulham are also keen, though the lure of Anfield and European football and the chance of winning trophies should prove to be a much bigger incentive.

The Belgian only moved to France last summer from Serie A side Bologna and according to Football Transfers, he is currently valued at €25.1m (£21m).

However, considering he has three years left on his current deal, you would imagine the French club will be demanding a pretty steep fee for his services.

How good is Arthur Theate?

The Anfield side endured a tough 2022/23 season, failing to win any trophies, and they scraped into fifth position following an impressive run across the final months.

They conceded 47 goals in the Premier League, which represented a major jump from the 26 they conceded the season prior when they finished second to Manchester City.

This suggests that Klopp needs to improve his defence, and Theate could certainly add something extra while also becoming an upgrade on Joe Gomez in the process.

Indeed, last season, the Belgian registered more goal contributions (four v zero) than Gomez, while also registering a higher pass completion percentage (89.4% v 85.7%) and a higher percentage of successful aerial duels (64.8% v 54.8%) – which clearly suggests he could be an upgrade on the Englishman.

Theate is also a forward-thinking defender, which could work well under Klopp.

Compared to positional peers playing at a similar level, the Belgian ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes per 90 (6.63) while ranking in the top 12% for progressive passes (1.16), total shots (0.96) and non-penalty goals (0.13) per 90, indicating that he could also be a reliable threat in front of goal.

Theate also made more clearances (3.2 v 2.2), kept more clean sheets (ten v eight) and lost possession less often than the current Reds centre-back, and he could yet improve should he join Liverpool.

He was lauded for his “remarkable performances” last term by journalist Sacha Tavolieri, and given the massive drop-off from the Liverpool defence compared to their wonderful 2021/22 season, it’s evident Klopp needs to freshen things up slightly.

Theate is still only 23 years old and has the potential to keep getting better. Alongside someone like Virgil van Dijk, the Belgian could settle in well on Merseyside, and he’d give Klopp a licence to ditch Gomez.