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Heart of Midlothian are keeping tabs on defender Morgan Feeney as they look to strengthen their defence ahead of next season.

What’s the latest on Morgan Feeney to Hearts?

According to the Daily Record, Hearts are eyeing up a move for Feeney, who is set to become available on a free transfer after his current contract at Carlisle expires this summer.

They could face stiff competition from League One teams along with Premiership outfits Hibernian and Aberdeen in order to secure the former Everton youth starlet.

Could Morgan Feeney sign for Hearts?

They will need to beat off competition from their arch-rivals, however, with the club aiming to get their managerial appointment spot on, his signing could very well depend on who becomes permanent manager.

The Tynecastle side had the fourth-best defensive record in the Premiership last season, conceding 57 goals in 38 matches, however, improvement will need to be made if they are to finish higher than fourth next term.

The club are currently thin at the back, with Kye Rowles, Tony Sibbick and Craig Halkett their only senior centre-backs, and Feeney could give them a boost in that area.

Having played over 60 matches for the youth sides at Everton, the 6 foot 3 gem made his senior debut aged just 17 back in 2017, however, he failed to make the grade at Goodison Park, turning out for Tranmere Rovers and Sunderland before finally establishing himself at Carlisle.

Across two seasons with the club, Feeney has featured 76 times, and despite missing the playoff victory that saw them win promotion to League One through injury, he was solid throughout the 2022/2022 campaign.

The 24-year-old averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.96/10 across 31 games in League Two, helping his team keep 13 clean sheets while winning 62% of his total duels, making 2.8 clearances, 1.3 interceptions and 0.6 tackles per game, showcasing his defensive abilities.

Following his season-ending injury in April, the Bootle-born ace was praised by journalist Nathan Ridley, who said: “A real shame if Morgan Feeney's time at Carlisle ends like this. He's more than capable of playing in League One.”

The defensive titan could be an ideal signing for Hearts as they head into pre-season looking at reclaiming third spot next season. They wouldn’t have to spend a penny on the centre-back, and it could represent a solid investment from the club as they look to also improve other areas of the side in what could be a busy summer transfer window.

A round-up of the third day of the third round of Ranji Trophy matches in Group B, also featuring a five-wicket haul from Ashok Dinda and Gujarat’s batting prowess in Lahli

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Oct-2016Abhinav Mukund’s second successive first-class ton led Tamil Nadu’s strong response to Uttar Pradesh’s 524 in Dharamsala. Abhinav, the captain, made 154 off 249 balls, including 26 fours and one six. Dinesh Karthik (73) and B Indrajith (70 not out) lent excellent support to lift the team to 398 for 6. Fast bowler Ankit Rajpoot returned two wickets for Uttar Pradesh. Tamil Nadu were still 126 runs in arrears.Five-wicket hauls from Ashok Dinda and debutant seamer Amit Kuila bowled Bengal to a 133-run first-innings lead against Punjab in Bilaspur. Punjab, 168 for 4 overnight, were all out for 271. Uday Kaul top-scored for them with 77 off 149 balls, but the second-highest was 46 from No.10 Sandeep Sharma. Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary’s 61 in the second innings took the overall lead to 315 at stumps. Seamer Siddarth Kaul was the pick of the bowlers for Punjab, taking 3 for 30.Opener Akhil Herwadkar’s patient 136 not out led Mumbai’s reply after Madhya Pradesh had racked up a total of 445 in Raipur. Herwadkar watched his team slump to 56 for 3, before adding 67 for the fourth wicket with Suryakumar Yadav. He then found a stronger ally in captain Aditya Tare with whom he put on 155 in 55.5 overs. The fifth-wicket stand ended when Tare was trapped in front by seamer Ishwar Pandey for 80. Herwadkar and Tushar Deshpande took Mumbai to the close at 290 for 5.Priyank Panchal’s hundred helped Gujarat set Railways an improbable target of 501 in Lahli. Bharghav Merai (70), Parthiv Patel (53), Manpreet Juneja (66), Chirag Ghandhi (60) also contributed to Gujarat’s surge on the third day. Railways, in reply, were reduced to 91 for 4 before Arindam Ghosh and wicketkeeper-batsman Mahesh Rawat (52) put on an unbroken 80-run partnership for the fifth wicket to take the team through to stumps at 171 for 4.

Liverpool are interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni this summer, one year after missing out on the prodigious talent.

What's the latest on Aurelien Tchouameni?

That's according to reports from Spain, who claim that the Reds have already had an opening offer of €60M (£52m) for the 23-year-old rebuked by Los Blancos as they look to fortify their midfield with first-rate new signings.

The Frenchman was integral for Monaco in the 21/22 campaign and left observers awestruck with the level of his displays, earning an £85m transfer to Carlo Ancelotti's outfit despite intense attempts from Jurgen Klopp's side to clinch his services.

Tchouameni's maiden campaign in Madrid has not played out seamlessly, however, and the ace has been restricted to just 24 starts in LaLiga after struggling to quite reach the same imperious heights he forged in his homeland, and Liverpool will be sure to lurk waiting to pounce if an opportunity arises.

Could Liverpool really sign Aurelien Tchouameni?

Liverpool supporters watched with gritted teeth as their hopes of signing Borussia Dortmund sensation Jude Bellingham slipped away over the past few months, with Real Madrid adding the coveted ace to their jaw-dropping collection of central stars for an agreed initial sum of £88.5m.

The move could play into Liverpool's hands, however, in pushing for a deal for Tchouameni, who might see his playing time impacted further by the arrival, with Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Fede Valverde already occupying midfield roles at the Santiago Bernabeu – not a bad crop.

And despite not quite reaching the desired heights in Spain thus far, the 22-cap gem is a phenomenal talent with a proven pedigree on both the European stage and at international level, where he played an important part in France's World Cup campaign in Qatar, scoring a marvellous goal against England in the quarter-finals and recording an average rating of 7.07 – as per Sofascore – as he started all seven matches, completing 90% of his passes and averaging two interceptions per game.

For such a talented pivot, he could quite easily assume a starring role with Klopp's side and perhaps displace Anfield's holding midfielder Fabinho, who has been a shadow of his former self this season, right at the kernel of the club's midfield problems this season, branded "awful" by Jamie Carragher for his performance – or absence of it – earlier this term as the Reds meekly lost to newly-promoted Nottingham Forest.

The 29-year-old Brazilian has remained a crisp distributor of the ball but has lost his fiery tenacity this term, ranking among the top 8% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 18% for passes attempted per 90 but failing to rank among the top 30% for any other metric, as per FBref.

Tchouameni, despite his stop-start first year with Real, ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for pass completion, the top 15% for progressive passes, the top 22% for tackles, the top 1% for interceptions, the top 8% for clearances and the top 11% for aerials won per 90.

The £209k-per-week Madrista has left the likes of Rio Ferdinand waxing lyrical, with Manchester United legend saying: “Listen Tchouaméni is a young kid, he’s going to make mistakes but he’s a superb talent, he produces moments out of nowhere, incredible player.”

At Real Madrid, Tchouameni is a gem within a gilt-laden box of sparkling stones, but on Merseyside, he could be a jewel to captivate all who observe, standing out as the superlative star for one of the Premier League's most prestigious outfits.

Afghanistan would want to keep their bowling plans intact, after being successful in their two-wicket win as they face Bangladesh in the series-decider on October 1

The Preview by Mohammad Isam30-Sep-2016Match factsOctober 1, Mirpur
Start time 1430 local (0830 GMT)1:46

Isam: Will be tough for Bangladesh to decide playing XI

Big PictureIf it wasn’t during the first game, the second ODI made sure Afghanistan grabbed the undivided attention of Bangladesh – the cricket team and nation alike. There will be a lot of eyeballs on the Shere Bangla National Stadium for the series decider, which will have a large bearing on the home team’s mindset ahead of the England series.Bangladesh would like their batsmen to not throw away their wickets after getting a start, as the top five did in the second game. Soumya Sarkar, in need of runs after a barren 12 months, was the biggest culprit when he charged at Mirwais Ashraf unnecessarily after Tamim Iqbal had got out attempting the same shot.Imrul Kayes returning to the XI would be a must, given how comfortably he dealt with the Afghanistan attack, albeit for 50-odd deliveries. But his form is going to be important in the third ODI. So would be longer knocks from Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan.Bangladesh also have a reshaped bowling attack after Rubel Hossain was dropped from the squad for the third ODI, making way for left-arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain, the domestic stalwart making a comeback after eight years. Mashrafe Mortaza would have a lot in his mind with the bowling attack, and that could mean picking three left-arm spinners, himself and Taskin Ahmed.Afghanistan have to keep their bowling plans intact, after being successful in their two-wicket win. Mohammad Nabi’s accurate offbreaks have been the perfect foil for Rashid Khan’s quick legspin but the rest of the Afghanistan attack must put its act together.And so should their batting line-up. A big one is due from Mohammad Shahzad, and there would not be any better time than to let one of his whirlwind innings hit Mirpur. It could knock the wind out of Bangladesh. Form guideBangladesh LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan WLLWLIn the spotlightIt was a dream ODI debut for Mosaddek Hossain with some runs and wickets. There wasn’t enough opportunity for the newcomer in the first ODI but he made the best of what he got, forging a 43-run tenth-wicket stand with No. 11 Rubel Hossain. He was a revelation with the ball and might get more overs in the third ODI.Asghar Stanikzai reached his first ODI fifty in 19 months, in the second ODI, as he mixed caution with six-hitting quite effectively. But he suffered from cramps twice during the innings. He would now want to continue with the flow, and make sure the humidity doesn’t get to him.Team newsBangladesh brought in Mosharraf Hossain to replace Rubel Hossain in the 14-man squad, but it is still uncertain whether he will replace Taijul Islam or Bangladesh will go with three specialist left-arm spinners. Imrul Kayes could return to the playing XI at the expense of the out-of-form Soumya Sarkar.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Imrul Kayes/Soumya Sarkar, 3 Mahmudullah, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Sabbir Rahman, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt.), 9 Mosharraf Hossain, 10 Taijul Islam, 11 Taskin AhmedAfghanistan brought in the experienced Nawroz Mangal to open with Mohammad Shahzad. Although Mangal didn’t make a worthy contribution, the winning combination may not be altered with the chance to win the series.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 2 Nawroz Mangal, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi, 5 Asghar Stanikzai (capt.), 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Najibullah Zadran, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Mirwais Ashraf, 10 Dawlat Zadran, 11 Naveen-ul-Haque Pitch and conditionsThe Mirpur pitch was sluggish in the first ODI and then a rank turner in the second. Curator Gamini Silva could revert to the one he put out for the first game, which could assist Bangladesh’s spinners who bowl slower than the Afghanistan counterparts. For a change, there is very little rain forecast for Saturday.Stats and trivia Shakib Al Hasan is only the third bowler after Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis to take 100 or more wickets at a single venue. Akram and Younis took 122 and 114 wickets each at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium while Shakib has exactly 100 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Afghanistan seem to be specialist in winning by two wickets, having now done it five times. If Afghanistan win, it will be their first series win against any team ranked higher than Zimbabwe in ODIs.Quotes”Pressure is obviously on both sides, this being an international match. Fact that they are an Associate nation doesn’t come to our mind. They are a strong team.”

Chelsea could be set to replace an old favourite by swooping from a fellow Premier League rival.

What's the latest on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea?

That's according to Fabrizio Romano, who took to Twitter to issue an update on the future of Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo.

He wrote:

"Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi told Moises Caicedo in January to stay at the club until June despite huge bids… and then promised to sell him in the summer in case of good proposal.

#BHAFC Pact will be respected; Chelsea are still keen on Caicedo but it’s 3 clubs race."

There has been little indication that the £90m touted fee from March is wrong too, suggesting that this will be a huge first deal for Mauricio Pochettino should he push it through.

Could Moises Caicedo be as good as Nemanja Matic?

Stamford Bridge has been home to some famous holding midfielders, with Claude Makalele, Micheal Essien and more recently N'Golo Kante all shining in a blue shirt.

However, one of the more underappreciated alternatives for that role was Nemanja Matic, who quietly went about his work but was imperative in the success earned during his time in west London.

As a towering defensive option, the Serbian only spent three seasons during his second stint at Chelsea before joining Manchester United, yet won two league titles alongside a League Cup.

The 6 foot 4 maestro was the heartbeat of that side, breaking up the play but using his steady demeanour to always find the right pass. During the 2017/18 term, arguably his apex of that period, the 34-year-old maintained a 7.11 average rating upheld by an 88% pass accuracy, 1.8 interceptions, 1.9 tackles and 1.6 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

Without his calming presence Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte would have struggled to claim such emphatic title victories, with the former even telling The Times: "Matic, I cannot say that I had better guys than him in my career."

Pochettino will be seeking to secure his figure akin to the former Blues favourite, and in Caicedo they could achieve just that.

To first outline this comparison, FBref even notes Matic upon the Ecuador international's similar players list.

However, it is their shared statistics that showcase their true similarities, as a couple of ball-winning gems who are imperative in offering the foundation for success.

For the Seagulls this campaign, the 21-year-old has recorded a 7.08 average rating, with his 89% pass accuracy giving way to 1.2 key passes, 1.5 interceptions and 2.7 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

For what he lacks in height compared to the AS Roma star, he more than makes up for with an added element of energy and creativity that his potential predecessor missed.

To emphasise his defensive excellence, journalist Richie Mills even branded him an "immovable object" in the engine room just last year.

Whilst Pochettino has enjoyed players such as Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele operating in these roles over the years whilst at Tottenham Hotspur, Caicedo arguably represents a combination of them all, with poise on the ball and a decisive nature that feeds into his relentless defensive work rate.

Acquiring him would be a huge step towards taking the west London club back to the pinnacle of English football, where Matic previously led his Chelsea team.

Alex Lees sustained Yorkshire during a tricky opening day against Durham with a season’s best 132, passing 1000 first-class runs in the process

David Hopps at Headingley06-Sep-2016
ScorecardAlex Lees gave Yorkshire a strong platform at Headingley•Getty ImagesDo it for Dizzy is not yet emblazoned across Headingley, but it seems an appropriate exhortation as the Championship season reaches its climax. Jason Gillespie is heading back to Australia at the end of the season and Yorkshire would love nothing better than to send him on his way with a hat-trick of Championship titles. He has become as popular as a coach as his fellow Australian, and good mate, Darren Lehmann was as a player and that is an achievement indeed.With three games remaining, Middlesex ahead by four points, and a potential winner-takes all finale between the two sides at Lord’s, Yorkshire’s minimal task is to match them over the next two games if that third title is to come to pass. Alex Lees sustained them during a tricky opening day against Durham with a season’s best 132, passing 1000 first-class runs in the process. Yorkshire’s 341 for 5 was a decent return in testing conditions against a Durham side that nevertheless looked over-reliant on its opening attack of Graham Onions and Chris Rushworth.Lees’ reputation as an England opener-in-waiting weakened during an unsuccessful 2015 so here was another innings that suggested his career is back on track, if with a disturbing tendency to jump the rails on occasions. He believes the experience has made his game tougher and given him “nuggets of information” that will help him through when the bad times return.”Everybody has down times,” he said, and to illustrate that fact he only had to look 22 yards away for the first half of the day as he shared an assertive second-wicket stand of 163 in 43 overs with Gary Ballance, one which scotched Durham’s hopes of making use of favourable bowling conditions.Lees finally fell driving a low full toss back to the offspinner Ryan Pringle. He retains his admirers, but as much as his wish to transfer pressure back to the bowlers is in keeping with the current crop of young openers, there have been too many ungainly moments, and rushes of blood, along the way to be mentioned in England despatches just yet. It is across the Pennines where England’s attention now resides with strong indications that they are prepared to take a punt on the admirable Haseeb Hameed for the Test tours of Bangladesh and India.Lees has only 81 fewer first-class runs, but he averages 43 as opposed to Hameed’s 53 and whereas Hameed’s defences seems to have been designed on principles drawn up by the North Korean border police, Lees can be a little bit too Green Channel for his own good. He played one headstrong wipe at Onions early in his innings that would have had Hameed consigning himself to a month’s solitary confinement in self-admonishment.That Lees is finishing the season strongly, however, asserts that here is a cricketer of strength of character. He was not yet 23 when he was awarded the Yorkshire captaincy in one-day cricket. Considering that tradition in the Broad Acres once had it that you were not old enough to be allowed a word in edgeways until you were at least 30, he has coped remarkably well. Imagine the pressure of explaining a fielding change to a member only to be told: “Speak when tha’s spoken to lad.”That captaincy brought promise, but no trophy – or as they prefer to describe it in Yorkshire: “Two lots of the treble messed up so far.” Under his leadership, Yorkshire suddenly discovered how to play Twenty20, got to Finals Day but lost in the semi-finals. A home semi-final over 50 overs provided another disappointment when Surrey outplayed them at Headingley in front of a lower crowd than expected. There were letters in the complaining their one-day cricket was still a mess, which suggests that many counties must be living in considerable depravity.For Yorkshire to find consolation in a third successive Championship, they will have to manage without their England duo of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, who have been told to rest out the last three games in the Championship season. There were so many low-level grumbles around Headingley that one might have imagined the boilers were on the blink, but Root is a multi-format player with a bad back and, in particular, would benefit from a prolonged rest. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that there was an idealism in the grumbles because the commitment of Yorkshire – and others – to the Championship is keeping English cricket alive.Root, if he needs rest, should also be allowed to skip England’s one-day series in Bangladesh, although that decision would no doubt be influenced by politics as much as cricketing logic. With the tour surrounded by safety concerns, there will be a reluctance within the ECB to be accused of favouritism to certain players. The approved Yorkshire response to that, incidentally, would be to trust to cricketing logic and bugger what the rest of them think. England should follow that course.It was a sultry morning, but Yorkshire lost only one wicket to the new ball, Adam Lyth fending Onions to Keaton Jennings at gully, before Lees and Ballance took the game by the scruff. Ballance’s innings smacked of a game returning to good order ahead of the winter tour selections. It ended when he edged back to a length ball from Barry McCarthy and was caught at the wicket.The wicketkeeper was Paul Collingwood, who was forced to deputise because of a dislocated finger suffered by Michael Richardson. Richardson has only recently relinquished the gloves in a successful attempt to regain his batting form, but he had to take them when Stuart Poynter reported ill. Is there an outside chance that Phil Mustard could yet be summoned back from a loan spell at Gloucestershire for an end-of-season hero’s farewell? Some in Durham would love nothing better. As for Collingwood, it would be no surprise to learn that during the close season he has also been tasked with fixing the plumbing and painting the sightscreens.When Andrew Gale was bowled around his legs by Onions, there was a possibility that Yorkshire, at 190 for 3, could fritter away a dominant position. But Lees wore his responsibilities maturely, taking an hour to negotiate the 90s, a phase of the game in which he did not get much strike. He flicked a long hop from Pringle to the square leg boards to secure his third Championship hundred of the season – his first at Headingley since he also took one off Durham two years ago – before Jake Lehmann, with a half-century in his first appearance on a ground graced so often by his father, helped him restore Yorkshire’s superiority.

Presenter Conor McGilligan has claimed that Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani will be "burnt" if he sells the club now as he won't make as much profit as anticipated.

What is the latest on Andrea Radrizzani and Leeds United?

The Italian has been the majority shareholder of the Whites since 2017, in which time they've become a Premier League side. However, they now look on the verge of going back down into the Championship which could change an awful lot behind the scenes at Elland Road.

Indeed, as per The Athletic, minority shareholder 49ers Enterprises (the investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers) had agreed to buy out the club for close to £500m in January 2024.

However, they had planned to bring that forward to complete a takeover at the end of this season but that exact sale fee was contingent on Leeds still being a Premier League club and so it's now unclear how much Radrizzani can sell the club for.

While speaking about it all on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan seemed to think that the owner will lose out on millions as a consequence of the club's on-pitch failures.

He explained (3:30): “So I think the issue with Radz at the minute is he knows that if, when Leeds go down, he's going to lose out on £150m to £200m, or even more.

"Leeds are going to go from a club that is going to be worth £400m, £450m and growing in the Premier League to £150m.

"Which is more than he first bought Leeds for, a lot more than first bought Leeds for, and he'll be making a significant profit, but he could have almost made 10 times the money that he bought Leeds for.

"So yeah, he's going to be burnt with that.”

How much will Leeds be worth if they are relegated?

Of course, Leeds aren't relegated yet and can still technically stay up if they beat Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the season, while Everton lose and Leicester City fail to win.

Regardless of what happens, though, it seems Radrizzani is already plotting his next move. As per the Daily Mail, he was in Italy on Monday to try and complete a takeover of Sampdoria – which suggests he wants to sell Leeds even if they stay up.

Just as McGilligan mentions, that article claims the Italian could lose millions in a sale this summer, with the club suddenly dropping to a value of around £150m if they go down.

And while that will be a big blow for Radrizzani, it sounds as though the 49ers Enterprises are still set to take charge anyway. No doubt the owner will be desperate to see his club avoid the drop this weekend though for the sake of his bank balance.

With the summer transfer window now looming large, Manchester United are yet again being linked with a whole host of prospective targets, as manager Erik ten Hag seeks to bolster his squad ahead of next season.

Among the multitude of transfer rumours involving the Red Devils, one perhaps surprise claim that has emerged in recent days is the links to former Liverpool man, Sadio Mane, with Spanish reports noting that the Senegalese forward could be a potential target for the top-four hopefuls.

This follows claims from Sky Germany which suggested that both the Old Trafford outfit and Newcastle United are the likeliest clubs to make a move for the 31-year-old, with the Champions League-winning winger seemingly set for a swift exit from current side Bayern Munich after a disappointing debut campaign in Germany.

The one-time Southampton ace only made the move to the Allianz Arena on a £35m deal last summer after a six-year stint at Anfield, although despite scoring 12 goals and contributing six assists in 37 games to date, the belief is that the Bavarian giants are already contemplating an exit.

That has given the opportunity for United – who reportedly agreed a deal with Mane back in 2016 prior to his move to Merseyside – to pounce, with it set to be another case of an ex-Liverpool man making the contentious move to the Theatre of Dreams.

Would Mane be a good signing for Man United?

United have previous for irking their rivals having snapped up Michael Owen on a free transfer from Newcastle United back in 2009, with the now-retired marksman having begun his career with the Reds, scoring over 150 goals for the Merseysiders.

That controversial move ultimately failed to prove fruitful, however, as the ageing striker – who was 29 at the time of his switch – was repeatedly hampered by injury over the next few years, albeit while scoring a memorable, stoppage-time winner in the Manchester derby during his debut season.

The former England international would go on to net just 17 goals in 52 games for Sir Alex Ferguson's side before leaving for Stoke City in the summer of 2012.

In the case of Mane, the signing of the 94-cap ace would have merit due to his previous heroics at Anfield, with the versatile forward also proving rather clinical for United's rivals, much like Owen, with 120 goals and 48 assists in just 269 games.

Previously hailed as "brutal" and like a "machine" by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, the 5 foot 9 speedster has lost his way somewhat during his time at Bayern, however, with it difficult to ascertain just what version of the forward Ten Hag would be acquiring.

Mane's woes in his current surroundings have been laid bare by the fact that those in Germany have even quipped that they may have signed the marksman's "twin brother", with the deal proving an undoubted "mistake" – according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

There may well be a feeling that the one-time Red Bull Salzburg ace could be past his best – as appeared the case during Owen's time in Manchester – hence the need for Ten Hag to steer clear of the £35m-rated asset.

Andre Russell struck a 42-ball century, his first in T20 cricket, to lift Jamaica Tallawahs to 195 and set up a convincing win over Trinbago Knight Riders in Qualifier 2

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAndre Russell brought up with century off 42 balls to propel Jamaica Tallawahs to 195•CPL/SportsfileAndre Russell struck a 42-ball century, his first in T20 cricket, to lift Jamaica Tallawahs to 195 and set up a convincing win over Trinbago Knight Riders, sealing their place in the CPL 2016 final. After a lengthy rain interruption during the run chase, Knight Riders’ adjusted target of 130 in 12 overs always looked out of their reach, and they fell 19 runs short in the second Qualifier.After being asked to bat first, Tallawahs made halting progress in their first 10 overs. Openers Chadwick Walton and Chris Gayle got off to reasonably brisk starts, with Gayle hitting two fours and three sixes in his 26-ball 35. But both fell to Kevon Cooper before they could convert their starts into more substantial knocks. Kumar Sangakkara and Rovman Powell were dismissed in single figures to leave Tallawahs at 67 for 4 in the tenth over.That brought Russell to the crease. It did not take long for the fireworks to begin. Russell launched Anderson Phillip for two mighty sixes down the ground in the 11th over and he was away. Phillip, Cooper and Ronsford Beaton all came in for heavy punishment in the ensuing overs as Russell pummelled three fours and 11 sixes to blaze his way to 100 off 44. His 101-run fifth-wicket partnership with Shakib Al Hasan came off just 53 balls; Shakib contributed 19 off 23. In the midst of the carnage, Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo managed to keep things relatively tight, but that could not prevent a Russell-powered Tallawahs side from racing to 195 in their 20 overs.In reply, Knight Riders lost Umar Akmal early, to a run-out, and pottered to 18 for 1 in three overs before a lengthy rain delay led to a D/L-adjusted target of 130 in 12 overs. With his team in need of quick runs after the resumption, Colin Munro wasted no time in providing some impetus, hitting three fours off Kesrick Williams in the fourth over. More boundaries flowed from Munro’s bat, before he miscued a flighted ball from Imad Wasim to depart for 38 off 26, with Knight Riders still requiring 63 from the last four overs.Hashim Amla took over briefly, hitting a couple of fours and one six. But, in the end, the magnitude of the task proved to be too great and Knight Riders lost five wickets in the last two overs as they stumbled to a 19-run defeat.

Newcastle United's planning for the upcoming summer transfer window is already underway as the Magpies have been linked with a number of players in recent weeks.

The last few games of the campaign could dictate who they end up being able to bring in as the club compete to secure a place in the Champions League for next term.

Their chances of completing ambitious signings could be boosted by playing in Europe's premier competition and this could be the case with West Ham United's Declan Rice, who is a reported £90m target for Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth.

How would Declan Rice fit in at Newcastle?

The England international could be the dream partner for Bruno Guimaraes in the middle of the park as the arrival of a natural defensive midfielder would allow the ex-Lyon man to play further up the pitch.

Newcastle's star scored three goals and provided one assist in nine appearances as a central midfielder in the Premier League for the Magpies last season but 28 of his 29 outings in the division this term have been in a holding role – resulting in three goals.

Guimaraes created three 'big chances' in his 11 starts in the top-flight in 2021/22 but has only provided two in the current campaign, which suggests that his threat in the attacking third is being diminished by the club's need to play him in a defensive position.

Rice has made 4.1 tackles and interceptions per match in the Premier League this term and won 58% of his individual duels, whilst ranking in the top 3% of his players in his role for interceptions per 90 (1.86) in Europe's top five leagues over the last 365 days.

The Hammers skipper is an exceptional defender in the number six position, which is backed up by the aforementioned statistics, and his presence in Howe's midfield would allow Guimaraes to play as one of the eights ahead of Rice.

This would provide the Brazilian with more opportunities to make an impact in the final third by being further up the pitch and his statistics from 2021/22 suggest that he could be a difference-maker for the Toon Army if deployed in an advanced position for an entire season.

Therefore, the £90m star, who was lauded as a "generational talent" by The Athletic journalist Roshane Thomas, could be the perfect partner for the 25-year-old.

His defensive quality could brilliantly complement Guimaraes' skill and poise in possession to create a frightening midfield for Newcastle, which is why Howe and Ashworth must work hard to get this deal over the line in the coming weeks and months.