ESPNcricinfo’s wrap of the fourth day of the Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and New South Wales in Perth

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2017
ScorecardFile photo – Peter Nevill fell just short of delivering New South Wales a place in the Sheffield Shield final•Getty ImagesVictoria will play South Australia in the Sheffield Shield final for the second consecutive summer after New South Wales fell seven runs short of victory in a tense finish to the last regular match of the competition in Perth. Chasing 403 to win and gain a place in the decider, the Blues were denied when Peter Nevill reverse-swept and was caught off Ashton Turner for 63.The six-run win was a fine way for Western Australia to farewell their retiring captain Adam Voges, although South Australia’s victory over Tasmania earlier in the day had ended any hopes the Warriors had of jumping from fifth on the table into the final. Instead, Western Australia had to settled for third on the table, with Victoria to host South Australia in the final in Alice Springs.The final morning began with New South Wales in a vulnerable position at 1 for 6, needing a further 396 in a day to secure a place in the final. But a 161-run second-wicket stand between Ed Cowan and Daniel Hughes was the perfect platform. Cowan fell for 80 when he was bowled by Cameron Green, but he finished on top of the Shield run tally for the regular portion of this season with 959 at 73.76.Hughes brought up his first century of the Shield season but was caught by Voges off Turner for 110, although further contributions were to come from the New South Wales middle order. Kurtis Patterson made 39 and captain Moises Henriques posted 66, but both men fell to the offspin of Turner and left Nevill marshalling the lower order for the remainder of the chase.The final partnership began when No.11 Harry Conway joined Nevill with 24 runs still required, although time was also a factor with the number of overs in the day starting to dwindle. Nevill and Conway put on 17 but the drama ended when Nevill reverse-swept on 63 and was caught off the bowling of Turner, who finished with a career-best 6 for 111.

An update has emerged on Chelsea and their plans to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window…

What’s the latest on Victor Osimhen to Chelsea?

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the Blues are one of a number of clubs pursuing a deal for Victor Osimhen from Napoli ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The report claims that Mauricio Pochettino’s side have a meeting with the player’s representatives planned as they eye up a swoop for the Nigerian, whose priority is to move to the Premier League, in the coming weeks.

There is no mention of how much the Italian side are prepared to demand for their star number nine but Le Parisien recently reported that it would take a staggering €180m (£155m) to secure his services this summer.

How would Victor Osimhen fit in at Chelsea?

Pochettino typically lines up with a 4-3-3 system and as such, Osimhen could play through the middle as his starting centre-forward, with new signing Nicolas Jackson lining up on the right.

Chelsea are reportedly set to sign the £30m Villarreal attacker this month and the club’s head coach could utilise him off the right flank, despite him predominantly playing as a centre-forward in Spain.

Jackson has experience of playing on the right wing and he could form an exciting partnership with Osimhen in the final third, as both players have showcased their ability to find the back of the net on a regular basis.

The Blues only scored 38 goals in 38 Premier League matches and bringing in two forwards with the potential to explode in the final third would be a huge boost to Pochettino ahead of next season.

Osimhen, who was described as a "goal-scoring machine" by journalist Josh Bunting, enjoyed a fantastic 22/23 campaign as the Nigerian number nine plundered an exceptional 26 goals in 30 Serie A outings for Napoli, which is 19 more than any Chelsea player managed in the top-flight last term.

These statistics suggest that the 24-year-old, who has scored 59 goals in 101 matches in all competitions for the Italian ourfit, would be a phenomenal addition to the squad and one that could finally solve their woes in front of goal.

Jackson, meanwhile, struck 12 times in 16 LaLiga starts for Villarreal and created seven 'big chances' for his teammates, suggesting that the 22-year-old ace could offer a huge goal-scoring threat whilst also being able to provide Osimhen, and others, with opportunities to score.

Indeed, the thought of both effervescent forwards in the same front line must be a mouthwatering thought for everyone associated with Chelsea.

Newcastle United are plotting to sign Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio this summer, with Eddie Howe keen to strengthen his side ahead of their Champions League campaign next season, according to a report from Football Insider.

Who are Newcastle signing this summer?

The Daily Mail have recently reported that Newcastle are still looking to bring in a forward, full-back and centre-back this summer, with Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi emerging as an option to fill the latter position.

The Magpies are ready to offer £45m to secure the centre-back's signature, but they are not the only Premier League club in the race, with Arsenal ready to splash the cash, meaning they may face a battle to secure his services.

Napoli's Kim Min-jae has been named as a target for Howe in the past, but the manager has missed out on the South Korea international, who is set to complete his medical tests before being unveiled as a Bayern Munich player in the near future.

Much like Kim, Inacio is in high-demand this summer, with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid all being named as potential suitors for the defender, and Newcastle are very much in the mix.

That is according to a report from Football Insider, which states that the Magpies are plotting to sign the Sporting CP star, with Howe keen to bolster his squad ahead of the return to the Champions League next season.

The manager wants to bring in more strength in depth, as his side aim to build on their fourth-place finish from last season, and the Portuguese defender "fits the profile" of player he is looking to add to the squad.

The Magpies are eager to sign players under the age of 24 with "huge potential", and the 21-year-old fits the bill.

How good is Goncalo Inacio?

The Almada-born youngster has been making waves in the Primeira Liga over the past few years, cementing himself as a key player for Sporting CP last season, making 33 league appearances at centre-back.

Football Scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the defender as "simply fantastic" in Ruben Amorim's three-man defence system, and he ranks in the 80th percentile for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to players at a similar level.

All in all, the 6 foot 1 centre-back ranks in the 99th percentile for three stats, which are shot-creating actions, passes attempted and progressive passes, with the latter two earmarking him as a good fit for Newcastle, who have been much less pragmatic with the ball since Howe's arrival.

The starlet's performances at club level have already earned him a call-up to his national side, making two appearances back in March, helping his side keep a clean sheet when he completed the full 90 minutes against Liechtenstein, showing he should have no problem playing under the pressure and bright lights of continental football.

Inacio has all the traits required to be a success at St. James' Park, and although the £39m asking price is a lot for a player unproven outside of Portugal, Newcastle should definitely pursue a deal.

West Ham hold a "strong interest" in Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay and see him as a Declan Rice replacement this summer, according to reliable journalist Miguel Delaney.

How old is Scott McTominay?

The Scot, who is currently 26 years of age, found it difficult to be a regular for United last season, following the arrival of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen at Old Trafford. In total, he only made 10 starts in the Premier League, coming on as a substitute a further 14 times, and the recent signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea could push him further down the midfield pecking order.

It remains to be seen if McTominay will look for a new challenge or stay put during the current transfer window, and while the Red Devils may be happy to keep hold of him, his current contract expires in 2025, meaning now could be the best time for them to receive a hefty fee for his signature.

West Ham have emerged as one of the front-runners to snap up the United man in recent months, as they look to fill the inevitable and significant void left by Rice, whose move to Arsenal feels like a matter of when rather than if.

Do West Ham want to sign Scott McTominay?

According to The Independent's Delaney, McTominay is seen as a primary target to come in and replace the Hammers captain once he has completed his move to the Emirates and the club are set to step up their interest.

"West Ham United are waiting until the formality of Declan Rice's move to Arsenal is completed, at which point they will step up strong interest in Scott McTominay. There has also been tentative interest in Harry Maguire, potentially on loan, although any such deal currently looks much more unlikely.

"The feeling within Old Trafford is that McTominay and one other player would have to go to fund Amrabat, who so impressed during Morocco’s stunning run to the World Cup semi-finals last year, especially if the prices for Onana and Hojlund exceed the current budget."

McTominay could be a shrewd signing for West Ham next season and beyond, not necessarily performing at Rice's level or having such a high ceiling, but possessing similar attributes that could be hugely effective at the London Stadium.

A box-to-box midfielder, the 39-cap Scotland international combines hard work, powerful running and an eye for goal arriving late into the penalty area, with the latter highlighted by a memorable brace for his country in a recent 2-0 victory over Spain at Hampden Park, in what could be looked back on as an iconic win.

Jose Mourinho once described McTominay as "special" during their time together at United, and at 26, he would be arriving at West Ham at a great point in his career, rather than coming in when he is over the hill as a player.

Granted, he likely won't be able to make up for the loss of Rice on his own, with an additional midfielder needed in that respect, possibly Ajax's Edson Alvarez, but he is now a very experienced player at the top level, having racked up 209 appearances for the Red Devils and won one EFL Cup in that time, even scoring the winner against West Ham in the FA Cup back in 2021.

In the second hearing of the case against Sharjeel Khan, the PCB presented the evidence in front of three-man tribunal the board had formed

Umar Farooq14-Apr-2017The evidence presented against Sharjeel Khan for the alleged corruption charges against him is “insufficient”, according to his lawyer Shaigan Ijaz. In the second hearing of the case against him, the PCB presented the evidence in front of three-man tribunal the board had formed, and provided the material to the player and his counsel, who need to submit the response by May 5.Latif challenges constitution of tribunal

Khalid Latif filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court before the hearing on Friday, challenging the constitution of the PCB’s three-man tribunal headed by retired Justice Asghar Haider. The petition, however, was dismissed after a few hours, making the player appear before the tribunal.

“They have presented the evidences to the tribunal that contain statements of witnesses and some recording of interviews they had done during the investigations,” Sharjeel’s counsel said. “I want to insist to my media friends that everybody is innocent until or unless proven guilty. Sharjeel Khan is our national asset and our national team player and until the matter is in proceeding and until things are not proved, he is innocent. We will assess the evidence in detail but we understand that these are insufficient.”Similarly, Khalid Latif appeared before the tribunal along with his lawyer and was handed over the evidences. He also needs to respond by May 5.Sharjeel and Latif were charged by the PCB for alleged breaches of its Anti Corruption Code, during the second season of the PSL in the UAE. The PCB had charged the duo for breaching various articles under Clause 2, for attempts to corrupt a game, and for failing to disclose suspect approaches. Both had challenged the harges and a tribunal was formed to hear their cases.The specific articles both are alleged to have violated are: 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.4.4 and 2.4.5. In addition, Latif is alleged to have breached 2.1.4. Both players had denied some of the alleged breaches they were accused of but admitted to at least one of the more minor charges that was related to not reporting the corrupt approaches.The charges are mainly centred on the opening game of the second season of the PSL, as well as activities around it, in Dubai. Islamabad United had registered a comfortable seven-wicket win, by the D/L method, over Peshawar Zalmi. Sharjeel was dismissed for 1 off four balls and Latif did not play the game. Both players were provisionally suspended by the PCB and were sent home with immediate effect.

أعلن الجهاز الفني لفريق الكرة الأول بنادي ضمك بقيادة المدرب الروماني كوزمين كونترا، تشكيل لاعبيه لمباراة الحزم.

المباراة من المقرر إقامتها على ملعب نادي الحزم، ضمن منافسات الجولة السادسة والعشرين من عمر الدوري السعودي “روشن”.

ويخوض فريق ضمك الذي يضم بين صفوفه الدولي المصري طارق حامد، المباراة وهو محتلًا المركز السابع في سلم ترتيب البطولة.

أحمد سليمان يوضح حقيقة تعاقد الزمالك مع مصطفى فتحي.. وإمكانية عودة بن شرقي وطارق حامد

واستطاع فريق ضمك حصد 34 نقطة من 25 مباراة خاضها، إذ فاز في 9 مباريات وخسر مثلها وتعادل في 7 مواجهات، وسجل لاعبوه 38 هدفًا واستقبلت شباكه 32 هدفًا.

أما فريق الحزم صاحب ملعب مباراة اليوم، فيتذيل ترتيب الدوري السعودي برصيد 15 نقطة فقط حصدهم من 25 مواجهة، فاز في مباراتين فقط وتعادل في 9، وتلقى 14 هزيمة.

وشهد تشكيل ضمك لمباراة اليوم غياب اللاعب المصري طارق حامد، بداعي الإيقاف لتراكم الإنذارات.

ونال حامد بطاقة صفراء خلال مباراة ضمك والخليج الماضية، من على مقاعد البدلاء بعد استبداله في اللقاء.

الجدير بالذكر، أن طارق حامد قد حصل على 8 بطاقات صفرات هذا الموسم مع فريق ضمك، فيما لم يحصل على أي بطاقة حمراء. تشكيل ضمك لمباراة الحزم

Arsenal "will make" a second midfield signing this summer as manager Mikel Arteta continues his squad overhaul, according to reports.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

The north Londoners mean business this summer and sporting director Edu has been very busy so far, having already sealed deals for Germany international Kai Havertz, defender Jurrien Timber from Ajax and a club-record £105 million move for Declan Rice.

Arsenal's total expenditure by the end of this transfer window could total over £200 million, as per claims in the media, with the Gunners also linked to making further signings.

Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia, who is also attracting their interest, may cost around £50 million but Arsenal are believed to be targeting the Belgium international. Further forward, it is also said that they want to sign Montepellier forward Elye Wahi, alongside the likes of Newcastle, Strasbourg and Eintracht Frankfurt.

However, if they're to make these moves, Arsenal may well need to offload certain players to balance the books -with former midfield general Granit Xhaka already making the move to Bayer Leverkusen recently.

Thomas Partey, who was a fixture in Arteta's starting eleven, may well be on the way out himself as Arsenal seemingly plot a major revamp of their midfield.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, backing their interest in Lavia, reporter Ryan Taylor of The Daily Express has assured supporters that they "will make" a second midfield signing this summer. Even if Lavia's price tag is a deterrent right now, Taylor does expect another addition in that area, while he also claims Partey looks certain to make way.

"As we know, Liverpool were there as well and again, my understanding of Lavia is the price tag needs to drop," said Taylor.

"I don't think any of those parties are prepared to pay £45-50 million for him, particularly after Southampton's relegation. So I do believe Arsenal will make a second midfield signing and I do also expect Thomas Partey to make way."

Little else is said on how Edu and co expect to fund the signing of another body in that area, but going by Taylor's claim, Gooners can await more potential transfer activity before the window's closure.

Who else should Arsenal sign?

We believe Lavia is, by far, a brilliant candidate to shore up Arteta's midfield options further whilst providing real strength in depth.

While the 19-year-old's price tag is arguably excessive, especially considering the Saints' drop to the Championship, there is little denying his quality.

If Southampton are willing to compromise on Lavia's asking price, the teenager could be a brilliant addition, with members of the press revering his sky high ceiling.

Last season, the midfielder stood out as a "shining star" at St. Mary's Stadium, at least according to journalist Sam Tighe, who also said that Arsenal supporters should be "excited" by his potential arrival.

"I watched every game Roméo Lavia played last season and he was absolutely incredible," said the reporter on Twitter.

"A shining star despite playing in terrible circumstances most of the time. Arsenal reportedly advancing on a deal…one to be very excited about."

The former Man City starlet has also been praised by Pep Guardiola for his brilliant first season on the south coast.

Liverpool endured a difficult 2022/23 campaign as they finished fifth in the Premier League and missed out on qualification for the Champions League by four points.

Jurgen Klopp has reacted to that disappointment by adding two new players to his squad in the off-season, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai coming in to bolster the midfield department.

However, the German head coach may not be finished there as the Reds have been linked with further signings ahead of next season.

Liverpool, along with the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, are reportedly interested in signing Fenerbahce talent Arda Guler, who has a release clause of €17.5m (£15m) in his contract with the Turkish giants.

What is Arda Guler's style of play?

The teenage dynamo is a creative midfield player whose strengths include dribbling, opening up opposition defences, and delivering consistently impressive performances.

Guler's exceptional form for Fenerbahce last term suggests that the potential is there for him to come in as a huge upgrade on current Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, as both players are left-footed gems who can operate in the middle of the park or out wide on the right.

The Turkey international averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.48 across 20 Super Lig outings and caught the eye with his contributions in possession.

He created two chances alongside two completed dribbles per game for his side, whilst the 18-year-old also chipped in with four goals, which shows that the mercurial maestro is capable of committing defenders and providing teammates with opportunities in front of goal on a regular basis.

Elliott, on the other hand, averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.81 over 32 Premier League matches, which placed him 17th within the squad. The England U21 international produced 0.8 key passes along with 0.6 dribbles per outing for the Reds, who did not have any player with as many as two chances created per game – with Trent Alexander-Arnold (1.9) leading the way.

Therefore, Guler could offer more than Elliott in possession due to his ability to create for others whilst also being able to push the team up the pitch by beating defenders with his quick feet.

No Liverpool star managed a higher Sofascore rating than 7.32 and this indicates that Guler, who was described as a “sensation” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has the potential to develop into an outstanding midfielder for Klopp, if he can translate his form in Turkey over to England.

At the age of 18, the Fenerbahce wizard has plenty of time on his hands to develop under the German manager's coaching, which means that he could be an excellent addition for the club as an immediate upgrade on Elliott and as a long-term project to bolster the side moving forward.

Andrew Tye picked up 5 for 17 – the best figures for an IPL debutant – to lead Gujarat Lions to their first victory in IPL 2017

The Report by Alagappan Muthu14-Apr-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details5:25

Hogg: McCullum took the game away from Pune

Gujarat Lions had picked up only one wicket in two matches this season. But Andrew Tye took five times as many – including a hat-trick, the second of the day – to record the best figures by an IPL debutant. His 5 for 17 was then followed by a typically brutal display of batting from the top order to ensure a perfect record against Rising Pune Supergiant after three matches so far.Good length = bad length
In the space of this past week, Lions have put on their two worst performances in the Poweplay. They leaked 73 runs in the season opener against Kolkata Knight Riders last Friday and now they gave up 64 to Rising Pune Supergiant. Their bowling attack largely consists of medium-pacers who, unless there is some sideways movement, can be lined up. All seven fours in the first six overs came off length balls. Two of the three sixes came off length balls. Praveen Kumar was carted for 25 runs in the fifth over. It had been 10 years since he had been that expensive in the IPL.The change up
Pune had just recorded their fastest fifty of the tournament – in 27 balls. They had to be slowed down and so Lions turned to the bowler with the best slower ball. A batsman can read the offcutter when the bowler’s wrist breaks. Ditto the legcutter. The back-of-the-hand slower ball is difficult largely because of the way it misbehaves off the pitch. But the knuckle ball is slightly different for much of its potency lies in making sure the batsman doesn’t pick it.As a batsman, 22 yards in front, it is hard to read the change in Tye’s grip and he doesn’t give anything away in his run up. He took four of his five wickets with that knuckle ball, including the one that sealed his second hat-trick of 2017.Tye’s introduction brought Lions back from the brink. They allowed only five of the 48 deliveries that followed the Powerplay to get to the boundary and in the 14th over the returning Ravindra Jadeja dismissed MS Dhoni for the second time in the IPL. The wicketkeeper-batsman fell for 5 off eight balls, his third successive innings at a strike-rate below 100.From 120 for 5, even a solid partnership of 47 runs in 29 balls between Manoj Tiwary and Ankit Sharma – one of six changes to the XI – could only take Pune to 171.The top-order threatLions’ specialist openers made 762 runs in 2016 – that’s 30% of the team’s total runs. Stopping them had to be Pune’s best chance to defend 171. But, on a slow pitch, they fed Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith with fast bowling. It proved a costly mistake. Both of them were set by the time Imran Tahir came on to bowl and the legspinnner was smashed for 15 runs in his first over. He would be hit for 10 boundaries in his spell – the most he has conceded in all the matches he has played in the IPL and for South Africa.With the main threat decimated, all Lions had to do was trust in their batting depth. They had pushed Aaron Finch down the order because among their four overseas openers he handles spin best – averaging 27.73 and striking at 129. He and Raina, the first man to play 150 IPL games, saw this one through to the finish.

With promotion expert Daniel Farke now at the helm, Leeds United will no doubt be plotting to secure an instant return back to the Premier League this term, having slipped back into the second tier last term after just three years in the top-flight.

The chances of Farke – who sealed two promotions from the Championship during his time at Norwich City – pulling off that feat have not been aided by the possible mass exodus that the Whites are set to endure, with the likes of Robin Koch and Brenden Aaronson having already moved out on loan.

A far greater blow, however, looks to be the impending exit of last season's top scorer, Rodrigo, with the 32-year-old Spaniard seemingly on his way to Qatar to join Al-Rayyan, after three seasons at Elland Road.

Since signing from Valencia back in the summer of 2020, the experienced marksman has netted 27 times in 95 games in all competitions for the Yorkshire giants, with 15 of those strikes coming last term despite the club's eventual relegation.

With no other Leeds player having even reached double figures for goals in 2022/23, the Brazil-born hitman will leave a notable void in Farke's squad, with it unlikely to prove an easy fix trying to replace his influence in attack.

One name that has been mentioned as a possible centre-forward target of late, however, is Nottingham Forest's Sam Surridge – according to The Athletic's Phil Hay – with the 24-year-old also attracting interest from MLS clubs amid his limited game time at the City Ground, after starting just two league games last term.

While the Englishman may not be the most glamourous of signings, his prior experience in the second tier could prove invaluable for Farke and co next season…

How good is Sam Surridge?

It is fair to say that the Slough-born striker endured a frustrating 2022/23 campaign after scoring just one Premier League goal for Steve Cooper's side, albeit with the former Stoke City striker having been a crucial figure in Forest's successful promotion charge in the previous season.

Having signed from the Potters in January 2022, Surridge went on to score seven goals in just 17 Championship appearances in the second of the season, having arguably been "one of the best finishers" in the league, according to Forest legend, Gary Birtles – who also dubbed him "sensational" in front of goal.

That view has been echoed by journalist Lee Clarke, who recently hailed the £15k-per-week ace as something of a "cheat code" due to that sparkling previous form, as he simply "never looked like missing" when played in on goal.

Evidently a player who could fill the goalscoring shoes of Rodrigo, Surridge is also an asset due to his hard-working nature when leading the line, with Birtles describing him as a player who "worries defenders", while also stating:

"His work rate and trying to close defenders down to stop them playing, that lets midfield push up a couple of yards and the defenders even more. That makes life more uncomfortable and problematic for the opposition."

That willing work ethic is seemingly shared by Leeds' departing forward, with the ageing sensation notably ranking in the top 11% among those in his position in Europe's big five leagues for tackles made, showcasing that desire to defend from the front.

That would suggest that if Farke is turn to Surridge to be the main man next season, the 6 foot 3 machine could prove to be the perfect heir to Rodrigo at Elland Road.