Southern Vipers 132 for 4 (McGlashan 54*) beat Lancashire Thunder 121 for 7 (Lamb 34, Satterthwaite 31) by 11 runs
ScorecardSara McGlashan’s fifty proved to be a matchwinning innings•Getty Images

The Southern Vipers made it two wins out of two in the Kia Super League as they came away from sunny Blackpool with an 11-run victory over a below par Lancashire Thunder.Despite being without their talismanic skipper Charlotte Edwards the Vipers recovered from 34 for 3 to reach 132 for 4 from their 20 overs with the score proving just enough against the slightly unlucky hosts.Having chosen to bat, the Vipers were quickly in trouble when opener Georgia Adams was bowled by the sixth ball of the innings as Hayley Matthews got one to turn sharply and hit the stumps.Captain Suzie Bates soon followed when she slapped another Matthews delivery straight to Natalie Brown at point for 15 and when Izzy Collis edged behind off Deandra Dottin’s first delivery, the Thunder looked to be well on top.But Sara McGlashan had other ideas as the New Zealand international steadily rebuilt the innings with the help of Arran Brindle who offered valuable support as McGlashan went through the gears after Lydia Greenway had departed for 11.McGlashan hit the one six of the innings as she slapped the unfortunate Kate Cross back over her head with the New Zealander reaching her 50 off 48 balls in the final over with Brindle remaining unbeaten on 29.The unbeaten partnership of 70 for the fifth wicket left the Vipers with a spring in their step and they carried the momentum into their bowling when Matthews departed in the first over after hitting a Morna Nielsen full toss straight at Brindle at mid-on.A topsy turvy game then swung in Thunder’s direction as Emma Lamb and skipper Amy Satterthwaite compiled a second-wicket partnership worth 57 before Satterthwaite picked out McGlashan on the boundary off Linsey Smith for 31.With Lamb still at the crease Thunder looked to have a chance but when she was run out for 34 going for a suicidal run after hitting the ball straight to Nielsen the game was all but up for the home side.Danielle Wyatt impressed with a 28-ball 29 as she and Laura Newton dragged Thunder to within range but with 18 required off the last over it was all but finished as Bates picked up two late wickets to finish with 2 for 20 and the hosts needing two wins from their remaining games if they are to progress.

The farce in Port of Spain ended in bright sunshine with no play possible, just like the earlier three days

The Report by Sidharth Monga22-Aug-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
TTCB to investigate washout

After the Test, Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board president Azim Bassarath said the reasons behind the outfield’s condition would be investigated by his board.
“As hosts, the TTCB and Queen’s Park Cricket Club regret that limited play was possible in the fourth Test match between West Indies and India at the Queen’s Park Oval,” he said in a statement. “We have jointly launched an investigation to determine what occurred with a view to remedying the situation so that this does not occur in the future. Once this has been done it will be presented to the WICB.”

The farce in Port of Spain ended in bright sunshine with no play possible, just like the earlier three days. Called off at 9.30am on the fifth day, this was the third-shortest non-abandoned Test ever.This was the first Test played in August in Trinidad, which is the rainy season. The outfield had taken a lot of beating in the days leading up to the Test, but the ground staff was economical with covering the ground when it rained, leaving the bowlers’ run-up exposed. There was no super sopper available either. As a result the field didn’t recover from the rain on day one, and only 22 overs – all in the first session of the Test – were bowled.The draw meant India lost their No. 1 ranking to Pakistan one week after they had gained it thanks to the whitewash of Australia in Sri Lanka. They still won the series 2-0, the first time they won two Tests in a series in the West Indies.

Everton are keeping tabs on UD Almeria forward Largie Ramazani ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Largie Ramazani?

Ramazani is an exciting winger who currently plays his football at the Power Horse Stadium having made 93 appearances since joining back in August 2020, and he’s already got experience playing in England having previously undergone spells at Charlton Athletic and with Manchester United’s U18s and U23s youth sides, as per Transfermarkt.

The Toffees were already heavily linked with a move for the 22-year-old back in January after outlet AS reported that Farhad Moshiri had made contact to ask about the possibility of a deal, and they were handed a further boost by Estadio Deportivo who claimed that the attacker would say yes to joining if a proposal was made.

The Goodison Park outfit and the Belgian, however, failed to reach an agreement at the start of the new year, but with there being a method to prise him away, Sean Dyche appears to be preparing to take a second bite of the cherry during the upcoming window.

Are Everton signing Ramazani?

According to Spanish reports (via Sport Witness), Everton still have Ramazani in their “sights” ahead of the 2023/24 season. The Almeria forward is “attracted” by the prospect of establishing himself in the Premier League and the Blues are “looking” to recruit him to bolster Dyche’s attacking department, with the club believing that he would play an “important role” on Merseyside. The only “potential hurdle” that the board could face though is his €40m (£34m) release clause which may prove to be a “challenge”.

Ramazani isn’t as high-profile of a name as Everton fans might expect to be targeting but he’s a hidden gem that’s even been dubbed a “Mini-Vinicius” by talent spotter Jacek Kulig, so the left winger, who has the versatility to play in seven various positions across the pitch, would be a promising purchase for the long-term future of the club.

The Europa League participant, whose contract still has another two years remaining, has racked up 46 goal contributions (32 goals and 14 assists) in 144 appearances throughout his career, but even when he’s not on the scoresheet, he’s constantly looking to produce moments of quality in the final third.

As per FBRef, Ramazani ranks in the 99th percentile for interceptions, the 98th percentile for progressive carries and the 95th percentile for successful take-ons so loves to dribble past his marker and make the magic happen, and an offensive player with this level of drive to succeed is the exact profile of what the manager needs at his disposal.

Arsenal have had to painfully watch as Manchester City have overtaken them in the Premier League title race, whilst also making their way to an FA Cup and Champions League final. They are everything Mikel Arteta wants his team to be, but so far from the level required to mount such an assault on all fronts.

With unparalleled depth and a manager second to none when it comes to keeping squad harmony in check, Pep Guardiola has remained complimentary of his former apprentice throughout their gruelling battle.

"A guy [who spent] many years here. I don’t know my part on him but his influence on me was so important to become a better manager," he noted.

Given the tactical similarities between the two sides, it is clear for all to see the influence that the former Barcelona boss had on the 41-year-old, not to mention his acquisition of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus last summer to further emphasise that shared philosophy.

However, there are certain characters that he still lacks to perfect this system, and given the success of Ilkay Gundogan this season, the German has announced himself as such a fine example.

As a busy midfielder who goes about his work silently in the engine room, his creative influence cannot be understated. For all their fine performances, neither Granit Xhaka nor Thomas Partey has the mobility or touch of class to emulate the intelligent 32-year-old machine.

That could therefore explain their push towards the summer window, where Youri Tielemans' expiring contract is of keen interest to sporting director Edu Gaspar and the Spaniard.

What's the latest on Youri Tielemans to Arsenal?

It has been common knowledge for some time now that the Belgium international would depart Leicester City at the culmination of his £35k-per-week deal this summer, however, his next destination remained a mystery.

That was before Italian publication CalcioMercato issued their verdict, suggesting that the 26-year-old is high on the north London club's list of priorities, and they remain in pole position as favourites for his signature.

Despite this, Manchester United, Newcastle United and other clubs across Europe such as Juventus and AS Roma retain an interest too, all seeking a coup for the £42m-rated ace.

How good is Youri Tielemans?

The midfield metronome has been ever-present in the Foxes' engine room since he made the permanent move in 2019.

As a top young talent, it quickly became clear just how impressive he was, as a calming presence on the ball with an eye for a pass that could carve through the opposition.

His debut year served to prove that, as he maintained a 7.25 rating buoyed by three goals, four assists and 1.3 key passes per game, via Sofascore.

Upon first joining, he earned praise for his desire to push further forward, floating around in a similar fashion to how Gundogan does now, neatening up the play with tidy touches to keep things ticking over. James Maddison's emergence has since seen him revert into more of a deep-lying playmaker role.

This style has merited a 7.15 average rating for the former Borussia Dortmund star, but with eight goals and four assists, it is clear to see the difference playing in a title-chasing side makes. However, with 1.3 key passes per game too, their similarities are extended much further than just their physicality.

Both Gundogan and Tielemans have impressive technique when it comes to set-pieces, too.

Guardiola has unsurprisingly been effusive in his praise for the German sesnation of late, speaking after his exploits led them to a comfortable victory at Goodison Park: "It's not just scoring goals, he has his momentum because against Leeds, he was the player and again here. He can do everything."

This ability to be everywhere and do everything paints the picture of him silently being in control of all good things that Manchester City curate, almost akin to journalist Rob Tanner branding Tielemans a "puppet master".

Should Edu get this deal done, then Arteta will surely see all these similarities as a possibility to mould the perfect heir to the man who could well leave the Etihad this summer, all without having to spend a penny in terms of a transfer fee. It's surely a bargain and a no-brainer for the Gunners.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed there is now a "concrete chance" Tottenham Hotspur will hire Arne Slot as their new manager.

What are the latest Spurs manager rumours?

Since Antonio Conte left, Spurs have been linked with a number of men who could come in and replace the Italian this summer.

Indeed, the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique, Brendan Rodgers, and Vincent Kompany have all been touted in the media.

However, it appears that 44-year-old Feyenoord boss Slot is steadily becoming a more and more realistic option for the North London outfit.

Indeed, while speaking about the latest managerial situation on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that Spurs are holding "internal conversations" about the coach and he is also set to speak to his club soon about a possible exit too.

He explained (1:44): “Also to update on the Tottenham job, because Daniel Levy is still looking for a new director, and then he will go for the new manager.

"But internal conversations, as I told you, are taking place Arne Slot, Feyenoord manager. Really appreciated entirely Tottenham, so he's a concrete chance for the Tottenham job.

"And with Arne Slot, there will be conversations also in a direct way between Slot and Feyenoord this week to understand the potential conditions and the potential compensation needed for him to go to Premier League."

What has Arne Slot said about Spurs?

Pubically at least, Slot has remained coy about his chances of leaving, telling Dutch media on the weekend (via Evening Standard): "We're here for next Sunday's game. I'm not here to talk about my future. That could mean that English journalists are leaving with their tails between their legs."

While adding: "I’m under a huge magnifying glass in everything I say about this subject. So I choose to say as little as possible again … when it comes to new clubs there’s a huge scale in every word I use, so I try not to talk about it until I can say something about it."

But if he is set for "direct" conversations with Feyenoord behind the scenes about compensation and other things like that, as Romano claims, then it does sound as though he is genuinely considering the job.

Of course, though, Spurs are reportedly looking to hire a new sporting director first, so a move for Slot may be put on ice for a brief while as Daniel Levy finds a successor to Fabio Paratici.

Arsenal deserve huge praise for the way in which they returned to the apex of English football, putting their trust in Mikel Arteta and remaining with him through the good times and the bad.

It is a method that has been so successful that clubs such as Everton, Aston Villa and even Chelsea sought to emulate it, placing their faith in a younger coach to lead them into the future. However, given that Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Graham Potter have now all been dismissed, it is clear that the Gunners invested wisely in their young tactician.

The Spaniard has retained the glorious free-flowing play style that the Emirates had become accustomed to, but finally harnessed some of the solid players to remove the weakness that often plagued the club.

Despite only finishing second, this has been a campaign of rapid progression.

Now, in an attempt to stride into this summer window and acquire more players in this steely yet silky mould, Hakan Calhanoglu has emerged as an outstanding option for Edu. His tireless work rate is paired with unparalleled creativity, making his €40m (£34m) valuation a seemingly fair price.

How good is Hakan Calhanoglu?

The Turkey international's key assets could see the Gunners replicate Manchester United's success with Christian Eriksen, having converted the former number ten into more of a number eight, with his defensive assets called into action.

It did not take long for the 31-year-old to prove his worth, with his debut year in Old Trafford seeing him maintain an 85% pass accuracy, 1.3 key passes and 1.8 duels won per game, via Sofascore. The injection of 12 goal contributions from deep is an added benefit too.

Meanwhile, for Inter Milan, the 29-year-old has maintained a 7.31 average rating this term, bolstered by his 2.2 key passes, 1.4 tackles and 2.9 duels won per game, via Sofascore.

Just last season also saw him record 21 goal contributions of his own, showcasing how these former attacking midfielders have moulded their styles to adapt to the modern game, without losing that touch of offensive class.

FBref serves to support this comparison too, with Eriksen featured among the former AC Milan gem's similar players list.

The latter's tireless nature is further emphasised through the words of his former coach Stefano Piolo, who claimed: "A lot of the credit goes to him, he’s a generous player with high quality, he works for the team."

Clearly a big fan of the Turkish trickster, on a separate occasion he also branded the £155k-per-week star a "leader on the pitch and "an intelligent player".

Calhanoglu clearly has all the assets needed to shine in the engine room, and when partnered with the defensive exploits of Thomas Partey, or even Declan Rice should recent reports come true, his career could reach new heights as Arteta seeks to push even closer to that coveted Premier League title.

كشفت تقارير صحفية إسبانية، عن الخيارات التي قد تؤدي إلى تولي توماس توخيل تدريب فريق كرة القدم الأول ببرشلونة، خلال الموسم المقبل.

برشلونة سيودع تشافي في نهاية الموسم، بعدما أعلن المدير الفني الإسباني رحيله، عقب الخسارة من فياريال في وقت سابق من يناير الماضي.

صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، أكدت أن البحث عن مدرب جديد أصبح واضحًا داخل برشلونة، وأن المدرب الذي يأتي يجب أن يكون قادرًا على الفوز ببطولة دوري أوروبا، والذي يعد حلمًا لـ خوان لابورتا.

التعاقد مع يورجن كلوب لن يكون سهلًا، لأن المدرب الألماني يرغب في الراحة والابتعاد عن التدريب خلال الموسم المقبل بالكامل.

الخيار الآخر والذي يحظى بشعبية كبيرة هو توماس توخيل، المدير الفني الحالي لفريق بايرن ميونخ الألماني، والذي أصبح ممكنًا اليوم بعدما كان شبه مستحيل في الأسابيع الماضية.

طالع أيضًا.. تقارير: تشيلسي رفض عرض بايرن ميونخ لضم لاعبه في آخر أيام الميركاتو

الصحيفة الإسبانية، أشارت إلى أن الخيارات التي تجعل توخيل الأقرب لقيادة برشلونة، أهمها العلاقة المتوترة بينه وبين بايرن ميونخ، بسبب ابتعاده عن الصدارة وخسارته الأخيرة من باير ليفركوزن.

بالإضافة إلى ذلك، فإن خسارة الدوري الألماني هذا الموسم تعني رحيله دون جدال، لأنه سيكون فشل في كل التوقعات المعقودة عليه من قبل بايرن ميونخ.

الصحيفة الإسبانية، ترى أن توخيل سيكون متحمسًا لقيادة برشلونة، خاصة بعد تصريحاته الأخيرة أنه لا يمانع التدريب في إسبانيا ويتطلع لذلك، وإذا وصل له عرض جيد مع مشروع مضمون للبلوجرانا، سيوافق على الفور.

Leeds United will head to the London Stadium this afternoon to continue their relegation battle in their Premier League clash with West Ham United and Sam Allardyce will be hoping his team can put up a fight in the penultimate game of the season.

The Whites are currently 18th in the top-flight table and two points deep in the relegation zone heading into their final away fixture, so picking up nothing short of all three points from the Hammers this weekend will be crucial to their survival hopes.

A 2-2 draw with Newcastle United last weekend should give the Leeds squad a boost of confidence in their capabilities to retain their Premier League status by next weekend, however, with Everton and Leicester City also battling to beat a drop down to the Championship, there is still work to be done.

As a result, Allardyce will be looking to fill his starting eleven with experienced players he can rely on to provide a positive outlook for the West Yorkshire club ahead of the final day of the season, and an opportunity for Pascal Struijk to start could present itself in east London today.

Will Pascal Struijk start against West Ham?

Leeds have been plagued with injuries throughout the season and will be without Tyler Adams, Luis Sinisterra and Stuart Dallas against the Hammers, whilst Marc Roca and Liam Cooper will be subjected to late fitness tests ahead of the clash.

Not only that, Junior Firpo will be unavailable for selection at left-back due to a one-match suspension after he picked up two yellow cards and a sending off against the Magpies at Elland Road last week, paving the way for Struijk to reprise his role on the left flank.

The versatile £50k-per-week titan – hailed "tremendous" by Tony Dorigo – has played predominantly in the left-back position this season but is also extremely experienced in the centre-back role too, giving Allardyce a player he can utilise across the defensive set-up in the final fixtures.

Over 27 league appearances, Struijk has scored two goals, registered one assist and successfully completed the majority of his dribbles (56%), as well as averaging 2.3 clearances, 2.8 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 5.6 duels won per game, proving that he is both potent in attack and defensively sound when playing in the back four.

With that being said, it would be an absolute no-brainer for Allardyce to unleash Struijk against West Ham as not only will he replace Firpo, but the full-back could revive Leeds' season if he can provide a moment of magic away from home.

Everton will have no transfer money to spend this summer regardless of the club’s status at the end of the season, according to reports.

Will Everton get relegated?

The Toffees played out a 1-1 Premier League draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers in their previous outing and the results of Leeds United and Leicester City mean that Sean Dyche’s side are in 17th place, just two points above the relegation zone heading into the final fixture of the season, when their safety will be firmly in their own hands against Bournemouth.

The Goodison Park outfit, however, likely find themselves in this struggling position due to the fact that Farhad Moshiri failed to sign a single new player during the January window, making it difficult for them to pull away from the drop with the same squad they had in the first half of the campaign. And unfortunately for the manager, it sounds like he still won’t be in a strong position to recruit this summer.

Do Everton have money to spend in the summer?

According to Football Insider, Everton will have “no money” to utilise during the upcoming market regardless of whether they are in the Premier League come Sunday evening. The Merseyside outfit staying up will, of course, be the desired outcome, but it’s stated that it will “not be followed” by a spending spree to help rejuvenate the squad ahead of next term.

As per the report, “well-placed sources” have revealed that the Blues will only be able to operate on a “sell-to-buy” policy, meaning that they will have to bring in fresh faces with the cash raised from getting rid of some of their most prized assets. Dyche, therefore, will have to work under extreme “financial restrictions”, just as he did at his former club, Burnley.

Everton not being able to sign new players – especially in the attacking department, where they arguably need it most considering they are the third-lowest goalscorers in the Premier League – will be a huge setback for Dyche, but the boss should look a bit closer to home as to who he could hand an opportunity to ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Journalist Alan Nixon recently reported that club academy graduate Tom Cannon will move significantly higher up the pecking order should relegation occur, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Neal Maupay both expected to depart – and he’s already shown glimpses of what he’s capable of.

Whilst out on loan at Preston North End, the Irish striker scored eight goals and provided one assist in 21 appearances at Deepdale and ranked as Ryan Lowe’s second-best offensive player and third overall, with an average WhoScored match rating of 6.87, so it could well be worth the manager taking a shot at one of his homegrown talents to bring his team back to life.

Australia’s ODI against Ireland in South Africa has been ignored by the pay television operator Fox Sports, leaving followers in Australia without a legal means by which to watch it.The match, being played at Willowmoore Park in Benoni from 6pm Eastern Australian time, is being broadcast by SuperSport in South Africa, but was not purchased by Fox Sports as part of a rights package that features the five ODIs between South Africa and Australia that begin on September 30.It is believed that the rights to the Ireland match were offered as a standalone proposition alongside the South Africa fixtures, with Fox choosing not to add it to their investment.Ben Amarfio, CA’s executive general manager, Media, Communications and Marketing, said he would have preferred to see the match broadcast. “Our preference would be for all of Australia’s away matches to be broadcast in the Australian market,” he said, “but ultimately that is the choice of rights purchasers to determine.”Very seldom is an international fixture played by an Australian side not broadcast back into Australia on Fox Sports. However, the network has in the recent past left it quite late in confirming their broadcast of matches.The most recent example of this was the broadcast of England v Pakistan Test series earlier this year, which was left in doubt until a matter of hours before the series began at Lord’s.Fox Sports has just completed showing the first Test between India and New Zealand in Kanpur, and is also broadcasting the ongoing T20 series between Pakistan and West Indies in the UAE.Cricket’s relationship with the pay television operator was somewhat strained in 2013, when after Fox Sports broadcast the first two seasons of the Twenty20 Big Bash League, Cricket Australia sold the rights to the free-to-air Ten Network to dramatically expand the tournament’s television audience. That decision led to a major scaling back of Fox Sports’ cricket department to a small part of the business.Cricket Australia, meanwhile, launched into a major digital partnership with Channel Nine in addition to the BBL deal with Ten.A Fox Sports spokesperson declined to comment.