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Shweta Sehrawat, Priya Punia among first picks in the four-team inaugural women’s DPL

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Aug-2024

Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma, Ayush Badoni and Harshit Rana were among the key picks at the player draft of the inaugural Delhi Premier League (DPL) on Friday. The draft featured 270 players from across Delhi including those who played for India’s senior and Under-19 teams and the IPL. A notable absentee in the player draft was fast bowler Mayank Yadav, who impressed with his pace for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024 but was ruled out due to injury.Purani Dilli 6 picked Pant and Ishant while North Delhi Strikers drafted Rana in and Badoni was the first pick for South Delhi Superstars. Central Delhi Kings drafted in former India Under-19 captain Yash Dhull and legspinner Prince Choudhary.Rana returned 19 wickets in 13 matches of IPL 2024, representing title-winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He also received his maiden call-up for the ODI series on India’s tour of Sri Lanka. Apart from Rana, North Delhi Strikers also selected KKR spinner Suyash Sharma, who was Delhi’s leading wicket-taker in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023, as well as Kshitiz Sharma, the allrounder who Chennai Super Kings (CSK) picked in the auction ahead of IPL 2018.Pant and Ishant aside, Purani Dilli 6 also drafted in offspin-allrounder Lalit Yadav, who played for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, batting allrounder Shivam Sharma and right-arm fast bowler Prince Yadav.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wicketkeeper Anuj Rawat and CSK fast bowler Simarjeet Singh were the first couple of picks for East Delhi Riders. Fast bowler Navdeep Saini and former Mumbai Indians spinner Hrithik Shokeen were the first two picks for West Delhi Lions. Priyansh Arya, who was the leading run-scorer for Delhi in the Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy last year, was drafted by South Delhi Superstars, who also got left-arm fast bowler Kuldip Yadav as their second pick. Kuldip made his IPL debut in 2023 for Rajasthan RoyalsShweta Sehrawat will play for South Delhi Superstars in the inaugural DPL•ICC/Getty Images

Sehrawat leads the pick for womenBatter Shweta Sehrawat, who was India’s vice-captain in the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup early last year, was the top pick for South Delhi Superstars while opener Priya Punia, who made her ODI comeback this year in Bangladesh, will play for East Delhi Riders.Wicketkeeper Laxmi Yadav, who was with UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), was drafted by Central Delhi Queens while hard-hitter Ayushi Soni and seamer Soni Yadav were picked by North Delhi Strikers.The top four bidders for teams in the men’s franchise auction also secured the teams for the women’s DPL.The inaugural DPL will be played from August 17 to September 8, 2024 with all matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The men’s competition will consist of 33 games while the women’s competition will have seven matches.Men’s Delhi Premier League squadsSouth Delhi Superstars: Ayush Badoni, Kuldip Yadav, Priyansh Arya, Sumit Mathur, Divij Mehra, Kunwar Bidhuri, Digvesh Rathi, Tejaswi Dahiya, Raghav Singh, Saurabh Deswal, Sarthak Ray, Lakshay Sehrawat, Tarun Bisht, Shubham Dubey, Vision Panchal, Dhruv Singh, Mayank Gupta, Anshuman Hooda, Anindo Naharay, Deepanshu GuliaEast Delhi Riders: Anuj Rawat, Simarjeet Singh, Himmat Singh, Himanshu Chauhan, Harsh Tyagi, Vaibhav Sharma, Mayank Rawat, Samarth Seth, Pranav Pant, Sujal Singh, Hardik Sharma, Raunak Waghela, Agrim Sharma, Shantanu Yadav, Bhagwan Singh, Ansh Choudhary, Sagar Khatri, Shivam Kumar Tripathi, Rishabh Rana, Lakshaya SangwanCentral Delhi Kings: Yash Dhull, Prince Choudhary, Hiten Dalal, Jonty Sidhu, Lakshay Thareja, Yogesh Sharma, Money Grewar, Keshav Dabas, Shaurya Malik, Saurav Dagar, Aryan Rana, Siddhant Bansal, Rajneesh Dadar, Sumit Kumar, Kaushal Suman, Deepesh Balyan, Vishant Bhati, Dhruv Kaushik, Ajay GuliaNorth Delhi Strikers: Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Pranshu Vijayran, Vaibhav Kandpal, Kshitiz Sharma, Vaibhav Rawal, Yash Dabas, Pranav Rajvanshi, Manan Bhardwaj, Yash Bhatia, Yatish Singh, Aman Bharti, Yajas Sharma, Sarthak Ranjan, Anirudh Choudhary, Shivam, Yatharth Singh, Sidhhartha Solanki, Dhruv Chauhan, Yuvraj RathiWest Delhi Lions: Hrithik Shokeen, Navdeep Saini, Dev Lakra, Deepak Punia, Shivank Vashisth, Akhil Chaudhary, Ayush Doseja, Krish Yadav, Anmol Sharma, Yugal Saini, Ankit Rajesh Kumar, Vivek Yadav, Aryan Dalal, Masab Alam, Ekansh Dobal, Shivam Gupta, Yogesh Kumar, Suryakant Chauhan, Tishant Dabla, Abrahim Ahmad MasoodiPurani Dilli 6: Lalit Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Arpit Rana, Shivam Sharma, Prince Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Mayank Gusain, Sanat Sangwan, Ankit Bhadana, Yug Gupta, Keshav Dalal, Ayush Singh, Kush Nagpal, Sumit Chhikara, Arnav Bugga, Vansh Bedi, Manjeet, Yash Bhardawaj, Sambhav Sharma, LaxmanWomen’s Delhi Premier League squadsSouth Delhi Superstars: Shweta Sehrawat, Medhavi Bidhuri, Tanisha Singh, Ekta Bhadana, Manju Godara, Sumiti Soni, Nishika Singh, Nidhi Mahto, Riya Soni, R Priyadarshini, Mitali, Aarti Kumari, Anshu Nagar, Shivani Yadav, Vrinda, Chelcy Yadav, Neha Puri, Chhavi GuptaEast Delhi Riders: Priya Punia, Priya Mishra, Pratika Rawal, Madhu, Mallika Khatri, Pragya Rawat, Kashish, Saachi, Vanshika Lila, Ishika, Nilanchal Nerwal, Priya Gaur, Shivani, Jyoshi Nain, Ashmeet Kaur, Shreya Sharma, Himanshi Rai, Anushka SinghCentral Delhi Queens: Laxmi Yadav, Parunika Sisodia, Mayuri Singh, Ria Sharma, Vandana Chaturvedi, Shivi Sharma, Mahi Chauhan, Deeksha Sharma, Meenakshi Vashishat, Armeet Kaur, Akanshi Singh, Mitali R, Neha Chillar, Sonia, Rishika, Taniska Rana, Aujasvie, ChanchalNorth Delhi Strikers: Soni Yadav, Ayushi Soni, Nazma, Bharti Rawal, Riti Tomar, Riya Shokeen, Monika, Antra Sharma, Riya Kondal, Upasana Yadav, Goyinka Sharma, Mansi Sharma, Urvashi Gupta, Reshika Beniwal, Kritika Gaghda, Sonia Lohia, Aashi Saxena, Sonia Khatri

كشفت تقارير صحفية عن دخول البرتغالي برونو لاج في مفاوضات مع نادي كبير رغم أنباء اقترابه من النادي الأهلي.

ويعتبر برونو لاج المرشح الأبرز لتدريب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي خلفًا للإسباني خوسيه ريبيرو بعد إقالته بسبب سوء النتائج.

ولم يفُز ريبيرو سوى بمباراة واحدة في بطولة الدوري على حساب فاركو برباعية مقابل هدف، بينما تلقى هزيمتين وحقق 4 تعادلات.

ورحل ريبيرو بعد الخسارة أمام بيراميدز في الدوري المصري بثنائية نظيفة، عقب أداء سيئ للغاية والكثير من المعاناة التي ظهرت على لاعبي الأهلي.

وكانت صحيفة “أو جوجو” البرتغالية أفادت أن المفاوضات بين برونو لاج وإدارة الأهلي قد تُحسم خلال الساعات القليلة القادمة.

اقرأ أيضًا | 200 ألف يورو تفصل برونو لاج عن تدريب الأهلي

وذكرت أن إدارة النادي الأهلي عرضت على المدرب 4.8 مليون يورو سنويًا في حين أن المدرب يريد تقاضي 5 ملايين يورو.

ووفقًا لصحيفة “نت فلو” فإن المدرب البرتغالي يعتبر أحد المرشحيين البارزين لتدريب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي فلومينينسي البرازيلي.

ريناتو جاوتشو كان قد استقال من منصبه كمدرب لفريق فلومينينسي مساء الثلاثاء، بعد الخروج من بطولة كوبا سود أمريكانا أمام لانوس.

يُذكر أن برونو لاج كانت له تجربة في البرازيل حينما قام بتدريب فريق بوتافوجو منذ عام 2023 حتى 2024.

Fighting century and two wickets on bowling comeback condemn Pakistan to heavy defeat

Andrew Miller29-May-2024

Nat Sciver-Brunt declared herself sore but satisfied after a formidable allround performance at Chelmsford, as England’s women signed off from their Pakistan series in style with a 178-run victory in the third and final ODI.Sciver-Brunt top-scored in England’s innings of 302 for 5 with a mighty 124 not out from 117 balls, then signalled a return to bowling after a long-standing knee niggle with two wickets in her designated five-over spell, including Pakistan’s top-scorer, Muneeba Ali, for 47.She left the field immediately after her spell with a slight hamstring niggle, with England’s substitute fielder Sophia Dunkley claiming the series-sealing catch at long-off. But afterwards she insisted it was “nothing a rest-day tomorrow can’t fix”.”I had a great time, and it’s a great way to finish the series,” Sciver-Brunt said during the post-match presentation. “The body is pretty sore! It’s probably not my quickest five overs ever, but I was happy to bowl in a consistent area.”England’s bowling performance was set in motion by two wickets for Lauren Bell in the powerplay, then sealed by the spin of Sophie Ecclestone, whose 3 for 15 included her 100th ODI wicket in a women’s record 64 matches.But the batting rested almost entirely on Sciver-Brunt’s ninth ODI hundred, and her fourth in her last nine innings. Danni Wyatt was England’s next-highest scorer with 44 from 42 balls, and though Alice Capsey finished strongly with 39 not out from 42 at No.7, run-making was never quite as easy as Sciver-Brunt made it look in the final analysis.”I’m pretty happy with the level of skill, but the mental game of it as well,” she said. “I managed to get through those tougher patches today and communicate well with my batting partner. I felt pretty natural going onto the back foot, it’s probably more that I’ve worked on manipulating the field [with paddles and sweeps] and getting fielders into places to make it easier for my more comfortable shots.”After arriving at the end of the 11th over following the loss of England’s openers, Sciver-Brunt negotiated the further loss of Heather Knight for 12 before playing second-fiddle to the forceful Wyatt, who took the initiative in a fourth-wicket stand of 79 in 13.2 overs.After reaching her fifty from a measured 58 balls and her century from 110, it wasn’t until the final throes of the innings that Sciver-Brunt truly cut loose, with consecutive sixes off Diana Baig as she and Capsey added 47 runs in the final three overs.”That probably tells you it was more situational, rather than how I was feeling in that period around 80 to 90,” she said. “I did a lot of thinking about my innings whilst I was out there, just trying to be really present.”I was taking my time because, at times, I didn’t feel very free-flowing. But I guess that ebb and flow of the innings is something that I could get through today, which I was really happy with. Hopefully I can use that next time I’m in a bit of strife out there, or it’s not coming out that good. It’s something to fall back on.”Despite the self-proclaimed scratchiness of her innings, Sciver-Brunt’s only clear-cut chance came on 86, when she was dropped by the wicketkeeper Najiha Alvi after charging and missing an attempted whip to leg off Nashra Sandhu.Related

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“I felt like I wanted to get on with it a bit quicker, but I probably could have done that with just getting off-strike,” she said. “I was probably [looking to score] a few more boundaries at that point. So, on reflection I probably didn’t need to do that too much. Or if I was going to, keep hitting straight.”The extent to which Sciver-Brunt had to battle chimed with Heather Knight’s pre-series assessment that England needed to get better at managing the moments that can crop up over the course of a full 50-over innings.And though the 20-over World Cup is the team’s immediate priority, the 50-over version is approaching quickly in 2025, and Sciver-Brunt acknowledged that adapting between formats was something that all the players would have to do better in an ever-more-crowded professional era.”At the end of the day, the skill is pretty much the same,” she said. “It’s just elongated, or you might use different things in your armoury at different times. But international cricket is a bit like a merry-go-round. It’s evolved massively since I started playing, so individually, it’s about working out your freshest mindset for whatever tournament comes up next.”You used to have two or three months to work on your skills, then go into a tournament or series. But actually learning on the job now is so important, and that’s something that we’ve realised as a group. You don’t have that luxury of two months working on a skill, you have to do that live in games. It’s something we’re a bit more used to now.”

Stokes has dark days. But he has climbed back up and, on the biggest occasions, when his team need him most, it was Stokes who always his hand up

George Dobell at Lord's15-Jul-2019A few weeks ago, in a hotel in Jaipur, Ben Stokes spoke publicly for the first time about the aftermath of night in Bristol.He was, in many ways, frustrated to revisit an episode from which he had moved on. And from which he thought everyone else should have moved on too. He had been exonerated, after all. Stokes’ main point was, in essence, that he didn’t want to be defined by it. As he put it, “I don’t want to be remembered as the guy who had a fight in the street. I want to do things on the field to be remembered for. If we win the World Cup, that becomes the first paragraph [of his ESPNcricinfo profile].”He didn’t want to be remembered for night in Kolkata, either. England’s men’s side haven’t won many global tournaments: to have one snatched away in such dramatic fashion as occurred that night in April 2016 hurt for a long time. More importantly, it could have scarred many cricketers and made them avoidant of similar high-pressure moments. As Eoin Morgan put it: “A lot of careers would have ended after what happened in Kolkata.”Yet here was Stokes, once more at the helm when a match had to be decided. And not just any match. A World Cup final. A game that represented the culmination of four years’ work and would define the reputation of this England side. A game upon which the game in England and Wales hoped to win many new supporters. The stakes could not have been higher. And when his team needed someone to be there at the end, it was Stokes putting his hand up.It was no surprise. For it has been telling that, in his last five innings of the tournament, Stokes has scored between 79 and 89 four times. Just as it was telling that it was Stokes who provided the late-innings acceleration against India (he scored 79 in 54 balls), and Stokes who stood unbeaten (with 82) when the lower-order collapsed (England’s last six batsmen contributed 32 runs between them) in the defeat against Sri Lanka. His 89 in the group game against Australia at Lord’s went in vain, but it was noticeable that he was the only man in his side to reach 30 in the innings. Whatever the need, whatever the occasion, he has adapted his game the best he can to serve his team.And he delivered. He held his nerve, he oversaw a testing run chase, and he saw – just about – his side over the line. He is now a World Cup winner. More than that, he has a Man-of-the-Match award in the first World Cup final England’s men team have won. It was Stokes who brought cricket home. His rehabilitation is complete. His legacy assured. This is what fulfilment looks like.Stokes’ reputation, with the bat at least, is probably that of an audacious strokemaker. And as he showed when slog-sweeping Trent Boult for six in the final over of England’s chase, he can play some remarkable shots. He was the only man in the England innings who hit a six, and from a point of apparent hopelessness, he made 32 from his final 13 deliveries to earn the Super Over.Ben Stokes – a fine cricketer, and a fine role model•Getty ImagesBut that reputation sells him a bit short. For he is also an intelligent, calm cricketer with fine technique. He has made Test centuries in Perth and Rajkot, against pace and spin, and timed this chase with calm precision. It took him 81 balls to reach his half-century here – an age in England’s modern ODI history – after he reasoned his side could not afford to lose him. He has developed into a thoughtful, versatile cricketer who can adapt his game to suit his side’s needs. He is now averaging 54.31 at a strike rate of 87.16 since he came back into the ODI side.That’s just as well too. For while many of us expected this tournament to be contested upon the flat, high-scoring wickets on which England built their reputation, they have actually been contested on surfaces offering bowlers far more assistance. As a result, the batsmen who have excelled are, on the whole, those who have adapted. And adaptation has not always been the area in which England have been strongest.It’s not just with the bat he has adapted either. Having accepted that other bowlers were better suited to the role of wicket-taker in this tournament, he became England’s second most economical bowler in the campaign – he conceded 4.83 runs per over; Jofra Archer conceded 4.57 – while also finishing with his team’s highest batting average (66.42) and passing 50 five times. Not even Joe Root or Jason Roy managed it more often. “He really carried the team and our batting line-up,” Morgan said.Don’t forget his fitness, either. He had already covered much ground in the field, bowled a few overs and batted for two and a half hours before the Super Overs started. Yet he was the man Morgan chose to bat again; a decision Stokes justified with eight from three balls and some demanding running between the wickets. And of course he pulled off one of the catches of the World Cup, in the opening match against South Africa. “Superhuman” was Morgan’s description of his efforts; it seems about right.That this result was achieved, in part, by a moment of incredible fortune – a throw deflecting for four overthrows off Stokes’ bat – was cruel for New Zealand. Stokes looked genuinely mortified to be the unwitting beneficiary. He apologised to Kane Williamson at the time – an apology that was graciously accepted – and admitted it “wasn’t the way I wanted to do it”. There was, though, perhaps something fitting about England winning on the basis of hitting more boundaries. Such big-hitting has been the bedrock of their approach over the last four years or so, after all.Perhaps there may be some consolation that Stokes has New Zealand heritage too. He lived in the country until he was 12 – his parents and brothers still do – and he has Maori ancestry, which some in his family think contributes to his unquenchable spirit. Maybe, in a way, the people of New Zealand will take pride in his success. And maybe, in a way, they will take pride in the manner in which England have adopted New Zealand’s approach to the game. New Zealand’s influence has changed cricket for the better. It won’t feel like it right now, but in its own way maybe that matters more than trophies.Certainly the people of England and Wales should be proud of Stokes. He has been knocked down. He has known dark days. But he has climbed back up and, on the biggest occasions, when his team-mates needed him most, he has always taken responsibility and very often delivered. He is a fine cricketer, a fine team-mate, and yes, a fine role-model. Ben Stokes: World Cup final match-winner. That’s his reputation now.

Marizanne Kapp showed she is an all weather, all-conditions and all-situations match-winner yet again with a player-of-the-match performance in Sydney that took South Africa over the line against Australia for the first time in their ODI history, and she knows the significance of this result.”It’s a proud moment,” Kapp said, “not only for me but for South African cricket as a whole. We all know we’ve never beaten Australia in a one-day game. So, to be able to perform and help my team over the line is a massive achievement for me.”It wasn’t straightforward as South Africa’s innings was hit by a couple of rain breaks in the middle overs, after they were sent in to bat. Kapp wasn’t always comfortable but that didn’t stop her from grinding away to 75 off 87 balls, which carried the visitors to a healthy total of 229 in a shortened 45-over innings.Related

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“At first it was okay,” she said, “but then I probably got a little bit annoyed because I was worried that the wicket might get too wet and it might make things difficult later on. I definitely felt like at the back end when I batted it got really tough, one or two balls really sprung at me especially off a length.”I knew It was gonna be tough. In saying that, I knew Australia would have to bat on it as well. So it was something that went both ways.”But this was Australia, a team that has sustained long-term excellence thanks to their talent and professionalism. However, this was also a team in transition. They no longer had Meg Lanning, who had led them from the front for nearly a decade. And while they still boasted a strong side, they didn’t carry that air of invincibility. There’s another side to the story though, and it’s not all that bad.”There’s definitely a change and I’ve mentioned it previously as well,” Kapp said of Australia. “Losing someone like Lanning, you’re never going to be able to replace her, not her captaincy and I don’t think her batting as well. I remember too many games where we had Australia in trouble and she came in to bat and she saved them. So, yeah, I think everyone’s catching up a bit around the world. Even your Associate teams are picking up against your lower-ranked teams. It’s good for the women’s game. It’s a lot more challenging and, hopefully, this can continue.”Ayanda Hlubi dismissed Ellyse Perry for her first ODI wicket•Getty Images

South Africa themselves are an evolving side looking to fill the void left by Shabnim Ismail, who drew curtains on a 16-year-old career last year. Apart from Kapp and Nadine de Klerk, no bowler in their side has picked up more than five wickets with an average below 30 since her retirement. It led to some introspection and soul-searching within the side.”We had a [the] odd chat,” Kapp said. “I feel like, a lot of times, we don’t wanna speak straight and say it as it is, and we had that chat. We asked the whole squad to just to go to your room, look at yourself a bit and come back with [answers]. It’s always easy to say, ‘it was tough conditions or they really bowled well,’ but we also bowl well. You have to try things and you have to be positive. I feel like, today, we were a little bit better at that.”After a thumping in Adelaide, they brought in young blood to strengthen their bowling despite the series being on the line. Nineteen-year-old Ayanda Hlubi was handed an ODI debut and 21-year-old Eliz-mari Marx came in as well. The duo repaid the team’s faith by sharing four wickets, including big guns Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner.”I’m relieved, I’m not gonna lie.” Kapp said of the two youngsters joining the attack. “It meant I could ease off a little bit. They’re two upcoming youngsters. I love the way they bowl. I’ve seen them in the nets. It’s a big thing to come for them in their career.”It obviously helps when you get a wicket like this to bowl on. But they’ve been been brilliant. I feel like they have massive careers ahead of them. For now, it’s big boots to fill. We all know how good Shabi is and she is missed, I’m not gonna lie, she is missed, but it’s good to see different bowlers picking up their hands.”The conditions were tricky and South Africa managed to get over the line this time. What if it happens again in two days’ time in the series decider? Kapp not only dismissed those concerns but also welcomed the challenge.”I think it’s probably the rain that made it so tough,” she said. “I think it’s usually a flat wicket, it’s very good for batting. It was one of those days where it got a little bit too wet and it moved around a bit. So I feel like it’ll probably be a little bit flatter the next game. But that’s cricket. Look, as an allrounder I get so annoyed when we keep on playing on these flat and low wickets. You want wickets like this where you need a little bit more skill and it brings the bowlers into the game as well.”

Shoaib Malik will rejoin the Fortune Barishal squad on February 2, after leaving the BPL abruptly last week. He will be available for the team’s last game of the Sylhet leg, against Khulna Tigers on February 3.It was not clear initially why Malik had left. Later, he tweeted: “I would like to address and dismiss the recent rumours circulating about my playing position with Fortune Barishal. I had a thorough discussion with our captain, Tamim Iqbal, and we mutually planned the way forward. I had to leave Bangladesh for a pre-committed media engagement in Dubai.”In his three outings for Barishal so far, Malik batted at No. 6 and scored 7, 5* and 17*. He bowled one over in each of the first two games but didn’t get to bowl in the third.There was a storm around Malik on social media during the second game, against Khulna Tigers in Mirpur. Bowling the fourth over of the innings, he overstepped three times and leaked 18 runs as Fortune Barishal failed to defend 187.Malik is the only spinner to overstep three times in an over in men’s T20s (where data is available with ESPNcricinfo). Only Miguel Cummins bowled more front-foot no-balls in an over, when he overstepped five times in a CPL 2014 match.Barishal are currently fifth on the points table with two wins from five games.

Henry Nicholls has been accused of breaking New Zealand Cricket’s code of conduct after being reported by umpires for ball-tampering in a domestic first-class match.TV footage of the Plunket Shield match between Nicholls’ Canterbury and Auckland this week appeared to show Nicholls brushing the ball against a helmet during a change of ends.”Nicholls has been reported for allegedly breaching Rule 3.1, article 1.15 of the Code during Day 3 of the Plunket Shield match between Canterbury and Auckland at Hagley Oval,” New Zealand Cricket said in a statement Friday.The rule “involves changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 41.3 of the Laws of Cricket”.New Zealand Cricket said the allegation had been referred to a commissioner for first-class cricket. No date has yet been set for the hearing. Nicholls is due to tour Bangladesh with the New Zealand Test squad later this month.Nicholls has not commented on the charge.In the game between Canterbury and Auckland, Nicholls played a leading role in taking his side to an eight-wicket win. After Auckland were bowled out for 217 in their first innings, Canterbury declared their first innings on 413 for 9, with Nicholls top-scoring with 120. He added another unbeaten 30 when Canterbury, set a victory target of 61, got there for the loss of two wickets.It was Canterbury’s first win of the Plunket Shield season. They are currently in fourth place on the six-team table.New Zealand’s leading limited-overs players are in India competing at the ODI World Cup, where a win over Sri Lanka on Thursday moved the 2019 runners-up closer to qualifying for the semi-finals.

Liverpool are ready to trigger a £125m release clause to sign a free-scoring striker over Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.

Isak helps Newcastle to EFL Cup final win over Liverpool

The Reds suffered Wembley heartbreak in the final of the EFL Cup against Newcastle, with Arne Slot’s side losing 2-0 to the Magpies.

A Dan Burn header on the stroke of half-time was followed up by an effort from Isak in the second half, with Federico Chiesa’s late goal only proving to be a consolation.

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There has been talk of FSG signing a new striker this summer, and Fabrizio Romano has recently claimed that Liverpool have made contact with Isak’s representatives. However, Arsenal are also keen on the Sweden international, who is valued at up to £160m.

“Newcastle keep insisting in private and in public that they want to keep Alexander Isak. They hope to be in the Champions League next season but, in any case, they want to keep Alexander Isak at the club, so that’s the message from Newcastle. But I keep telling you that big, big, massive proposals will come to the table for Alexander Isak because Arsenal will be there, Arsenal want Isak.

“[Benjamin] Sesko is the other name on the list but, for sure, Isak and Sesko are the main names. Liverpool are also there for Alexander Isak, they already made some contacts with people close to the player, so both clubs are interested in Alexander Isak. For Arsenal, he is the absolute top target. For Liverpool, he’s one of names they are considering in that position.”

Another attacker on the Reds’ radar is Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.

There have been reports that Liverpool were lining up a club-record bid to sign the former Man City star, and a new update has now emerged.

Liverpool ready to trigger £125m clause to sign Julian Alvarez

According to a report from Spain, Liverpool are planning to spend €300m (£250m) on three new signings this summer. The three players in question are Alvarez, attacking midfielder Xavi Simons and centre-back Alessandro Bastoni.

Alvarez looks set to be the most expensive of the trio, with the report claiming that Liverpool are ‘prepared to pay’ his €150m (£125m) release clause.

It is added that the Argentine’s ‘ability to play in various attacking positions makes him an ideal fit for Slot’, and it looks as if a £125m move is on the cards.

The Atletico Madrid man has impressed in his first season under Diego Simeone, scoring 23 goals and registering five assists in 44 appearances, taking his career tally to 144 goals.

River Plate

122

54

31

Man City

103

36

17

Atletico Madrid

44

23

5

Argentina

42

11

2

However, a swift return to England could be on the cards for the 25-year-old, especially following this exciting update.

Liverpool may have made contact with a European club over the signing of their “monster in the making” in the January transfer window, with a summer move to Anfield still possible.

Latest Liverpool news

The Reds suffered a rare off day on Sunday afternoon, crashing out of the FA Cup at the fourth round stage, following a 1-0 defeat away to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle.

In the grand scheme of things, the result was no disaster for Liverpool, with Arne Slot ringing the changes at Home Park, ahead of a vital Premier League clash with Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening. Still, being eliminated from any competition is never ideal for momentum and confidence.

In terms of Red-related transfer news, the Merseysiders are believed to be pushing to complete the signing of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong this summer. The 27-year-old could be made surplus to requirements at the end of the season, so Slot may look to pounce.

Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko, who Slot knows well from their time working together, has also been linked with a move to Liverpool, being seen as a possible long-term heir to Virgil van Dijk at the heart of the defence. He has started 20 league games his season, averaging 2.8 clearances and 1.6 aerial duel wins per match.

Liverpool contacted club over defensive signings

According to a new update from Jornal de Noticias [via Sport Witness], Liverpool contacted Benfica over the potential signing of defenders Alvaro Carreras and Tomas Araujo in the January window, although it isn’t specified who the Reds wanted out of the two.

While the Reds were unable to sign the left-back and centre-back, respectively, a summer deal still looks possible for one or the other. Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are also mentioned in the report with an interest in either defender.

A new left-back is essential for Liverpool in the summer, considering Andy Robertson turns 31 soon and Kostas Tsimikas arguably isn’t the long-term answer in that position. In Carreras, the Reds could have an ideal option to bring in, having already become such a key player for Benfica, making 49 appearances to date.

The 21-year-old has a £41.5m release clause in his contract, which seems relatively cheap in the modern game, and football talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as a “monster in the making” recently, further highlighting his talent.

Bournemouth ace Milos Kerkez is the same age and arguably looks like the strongest target, mainly because he already has Premier League experience, but the Benfica man could be right near the top of the list, too.

Meanwhile, centre-back also has to be an area of focus for Liverpool, considering Virgil van Dijk isn’t getting any younger and Ibrahima Konate is injury-prone, and Araujo stands out as an exciting signing.

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The 22-year-old is already an influential figure for Benfica, averaging 2.2 aerial wins per game in the Primeira Liga this season, and completing 86.% of his passes in the Champions League. He would be a long-term acquisition who could also battle to be a starter from the off.

Aston Villa snuck through to the next round of the FA Cup last night after getting the better of Ange Postecoglou’s out-of-form Tottenham Hotspur side 2-1.

On another occasion, Unai Emery’s Villans might well have cruised to victory instead of being made to hang on at the end courtesy of a goal from Spurs debutant Mathys Tel, with the hosts registering a bumper seven shots on target across the duration of the entertaining clash.

Thankfully, Villa got the ball rolling early on when homegrown product Jacob Ramsey caught Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky cold, with Ramsey one of many faces for the hosts that can walk away from the Cup win with their heads held high.

Standout Aston Villa performers vs Spurs

The natural place to start here is with Ramsey’s fortuitous goal within the first minute of the match, with the Villa starlet lashing an effort towards the Czech ‘keeper’s net that somehow trickled in.

Away from this perfectly timed opener, there were also the likes of Donyell Malen and Leon Bailey who looked equally as lively in attack with a combined five shots amassed between them, on top of Morgan Rogers stylishly stealing the show from the number ten spot once more.

Rogers would ultimately seal the win with a tap-in deep into the second 45 minutes, with his performance on the night more than deserving of another standout moment in the Villa Park spotlight, considering the on-fire 22-year-old accumulated four key passes, two successful dribbles and won six duels away from this simple finish finding the back of the net.

Whilst there would have been frustrations that Villa leaked a late goal, the main mood around the stadium at full-time would have been one of joy and optimism, especially with the star-studded substitutes bench Emery can now call upon after a busy transfer deadline day.

Performance in Numbers

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Aston Villa star has already shown glimpses of Grealish

Obviously, there was a lot of fanfare surrounding Marcus Rashford’s late introduction into the contest, but Marco Asensio would end up leaving more of a lasting mark on Villa supporters than the Manchester United loanee.

Indeed, Asensio very much showed off his ex-Real Madrid pedigree with a cool and assured 24-minute cameo, amazingly not misplacing any of his 15 passes which was undoubtedly the standout statistic.

Minutes played

24

Touches

20

Accurate passes

15/15

Key passes

1

Dribbles

1

Crosses

2

Duels won

2/3

Possession lost

2

Interceptions

1

Tackles

1

Birmingham Live journalist John Townley gifted the skilful Spaniard a high 8/10 post-match rating despite the 29-year-old barely being on the pitch, stating that his brief showing gave the Villa masses something to ‘cheer’ about late on with more ‘flicks and tricks’ to come as he establishes himself in England.

Asensio will hope he goes down remembered as an exciting player in the West Midlands in a similar manner to Jack Grealish with the Spain international’s cameo certainly showing a few shades of the Midlands native. The backheel to set free Rogers at one stage (footage above) was simply marvellous.

Both Asensio and Grealish certainly share similar traits with both players in question regularly leaving defenders in a spin courtesy of a whole array of flashy moves down the wing, with the end product also there to justify the immense trickery.

PSG

47

7

11

Real Madrid

286

61

32

At his previous two esteemed employers, Asensio has managed to pick up an impressive 111 goals and assists from 333 appearances, with Grealish helping himself to a hefty 32 goals and 41 assists when hitting the 200-plus game mark at Villa Park.

Emery will hope Asensio can explode into life like this – away from these promising beginnings in Birmingham – to show off his PSG and Madrid best.

The options the ex-Arsenal manager has at his disposal now in attack are very impressive as the Villans potentially eye up a FA Cup success as well as a top-four finish in the Premier League.

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