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Rising Pune Supergiant have won their last three away games, and present a serious threat to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s undefeated home record this season

The Preview by Karthik Krishnaswamy05-May-2017Match factsSunrisers Hyderabad v Rising Pune Supergiant
Hyderabad, May 6, 2017
Start time 1600 local (1030 GMT)3:11

Tait: Big test for Unadkat against Warner & co

Form guide

Sunrisers Hyderabad (fourth): lost to Delhi Daredevils by six wickets, defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 48 runs, defeated Kings XI Punjab by 26 runs

Rising Pune Supergiant (third): defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by four wickets, defeated Gujarat Lions by five wickets, defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 61 runs

Head-to-headThis season: MS Dhoni turned back the clock in a chase of 177, producing a finishing masterclass that earned Rising Pune a four-wicket win at the MCA Stadium.Overall: The two teams have met three times, with Rising Pune winning twice and losing once.In the newsAshish Nehra has been in and out of the Sunrisers line-up, battling neck spasms. On the eve of the game, Sunrisers coach Tom Moody said Nehra could be available for selection. If fit, he should replace either Mohammed Siraj or Siddarth Kaul in their pace attack.Sunrisers picked Deepak Hooda ahead of Bipul Sharma in their last match, against Delhi Daredevils. Hooda did not bat, and Sunrisers ended up hampered by the lack of a genuine sixth-bowling option. With that in mind – and the fact that their wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha has not batted in their last five matches – Sunrisers may recall Bipul and give themselves an additional spin option.Qualification scenarioBoth teams are frontrunners to make the playoffs, but neither is there quite yet. A win for either team will obviously enhance their chances, but even 16 points isn’t quite safe for Rising Pune, as there is still a possibility of up to six teams finishing with 16 or more points (and that holds even if Kings XI lose to Royal Challengers today). Similarly, 15 points won’t be enough for Sunrisers either, as four teams could go past that tally.Sunrisers have a home game against Mumbai Indians, followed by an away one against Gujarat Lions in Kanpur, while Rising Pune play an away game against Daredevils, and finish their campaign at home against Kings XI.Likely XIsSunrisers Hyderabad: 1 David Warner (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Moises Henriques, 6 Naman Ojha (wk), 7 Deepak Hooda/Bipul Sharma, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10 Siddarth Kaul, 11 Mohammed Siraj/Ashish Nehra.Rising Pune Supergiant: 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Rahul Tripathi, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 MS Dhoni, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Manoj Tiwary, 7 Daniel Christian, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Imran Tahir.Strategy puntBhuvneshwar Kumar has dismissed Ajinkya Rahane six times in the IPL – no other bowler has dismissed him more than three times – while only conceding 64 off 67 balls. Rahane has struggled against Bipul Sharma as well, scoring only 12 off 23 balls against the left-arm spinner. To Rahane’s opening partner, Rahul Tripathi, Bipul has conceded 9 off 11 balls.* A case, therefore, for Sunrisers to open the bowling with Bhuvneshwar and Bipul.Stats that matter Sunrisers are the only team in the tournament to have not lost a home game yet. Rising Pune, however, have won their last three away games, and have beaten the other two teams in the top four – Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders – away from home. Sunrisers’ bowling has plateaued after an excellent start to the tournament. In the period coinciding with their first five games, Sunrisers had the second-best average (20.30) and economy rate (8.08) of all the teams. In their next five games, their average (30.55) is second from bottom while only Gujarat Lions and Delhi Daredevils have an economy rate poorer than Sunrisers’ 8.93. Bhuvneshwar Kumar made a sensational start to the season, taking 15 wickets in his first five matches at 7.20 while conceding only 5.40 per over. Since then, he has taken six wickets in five games at an average of 26.16 while conceding 7.85. Wary of his wicket-taking threat, teams have adopted a safety-first strategy against Rashid Khan. The legspinner’s economy rate in his last five matches (6.40) is better than it was in his first five (7.25), but where he took nine wickets in his first five games, he has only taken three in his next five.Moises Henriques has been especially poor in Sunrisers’ last five matches, bowling 12.1 overs while conceding 11.67 per over. Ben Stokes has enjoyed a dramatic turnaround in his death-bowling fortunes. In his first four games, he conceded 11.25 an over in the last five overs – in his next seven matches, that economy rate has dropped to 5.60. Sunrisers have only lost 41 wickets in ten matches, and have the best batting average (43.58) and scoring rate (9.14) of all teams this season. Their top five have averaged 45.97 – the best among all the teams – and scored at a strike rate of 146.00, second only to Kolkata Knight Riders, who have scored at 147.71.*07.40GMT, May 6: The preview had erroneously stated that Bhuvneshwar had not previously bowled to Tripathi. This has been removed.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are on the verge of re-signing Matt Doherty in what would be an 'unbelievable' return for the Irishman to Molineux and his addition may push Nelson Semedo out of the club, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Is Matt Doherty set for a return to Wolverhampton Wanderers?

According to TEAMtalk, Doherty is in talks over a dramatic return to Wolves following his release from Atletico Madrid, where he earned £68,000 per week in his short spell, at the end of last season.

The Republic of Ireland international has also had interest in his services from Saudi Arabia and Crystal Palace; however, the Old Gold are now 'closing in' on capturing the right-back and hope that they can officially announce his signature in the near future.

Cited by The Daily Mail, Doherty is represented by Jorge Mendes' Gestifute agency who are believed to have strong links to Wolves, which in turn will increase the chances of any deal happening.

Wolves are conducting their transfer business under strict financial limits and are of the notion that being able to acquire an experienced player with Premier League experience without having to pay a fee represents a savvy piece of recruitment.

Further lending credence to the speculation surrounding Doherty's future, The Athletic have chimed in and indicated that Wolves are in advanced talks to sign the 31-year-old, though no deal has yet been agreed between both parties despite holding 'positive discussions' in the last few days.

In his first stint at Molineux, Doherty became an icon at Wolves and made 302 appearances in all competitions, registering 28 goals and 41 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Jones has said that Doherty's proposed move to Wolves is 'in motion' while believes his arrival could have an effect on Portuguese right-back Semedo's future at Molineux, as the 29-year-old has been linked with a move to Roma, as per Marca via Roma Press.

Jones stated: "This one is in motion and I’m told it is happening. It’s a great opportunity to sign a good player without a big outlay and obviously that suits Wolves. But at the same time, it is quite an unbelievable story really because I never saw a time when he would return. From his point of view, Doherty is such a driven player, someone who seemed so determined to prove he can make it to the very top of the game, that going back to Wolves has always seemed a bit out of the question.

"If you look for a knock-on effect for a potential arrival of Doherty, then it is probably to see what happens with Semedo. He was the only player looking to start at right-back and Roma have already shown interest in him."

Will Wolverhampton Wanderers be able to effectively strengthen this summer?

Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui spoke out earlier this year about monetary problems at the club due to Financial Fair Play regulations and urged the Old Gold to 'solve' the mess they were in or risk finding it 'very difficult' to compete in the Premier League.

Nevertheless, following their sale of Nathan Collins to Brentford for £23 million this window, Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett via Football Daily revealed that Wolves are no longer under financial pressure to sell players this summer, in a major boost for the West Midlands outfit.

Bristol City starlet Alex Scott has emerged as a target for Wolves this summer as they plot an improvement on last campaign; however, any deal would cost in the region of £25 million, according to The Athletic's Steve Madeley.

According to The Daily Mail, Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo has been identified as another potential arrival at Molineux and they are considering offering him a shot at redemption in the Premier League following a torrid spell at Liverpool, signifying that movement regarding incomings at Wolves may begin shortly.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been backed by the board so far this summer as the club have brought in two new midfield recruits to bolster the squad.

Alexis Mac Allister joined from fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion last month and Hungary international Dominik Szoboszlai arrived from RB Leipzig last weekend.

The attacking midfielder has signed a five-year contract with the Reds for a fee of around £60m, after two-and-a-half years in the Bundesliga.

Upon his arrival, the 22-year-old ace said: “[A] really historic club, really good players, good coach, everything is good. For me it was perfect to make the next step in a club like this. The fans, the stadium, everything is really good.”

He may not be the last midfield signing for Klopp's side, though, and one player who has been linked with a switch to Anfield this summer is Atalanta star Teun Koopmeiners, with his valuation said to be around €40m (£35m).

What is Teun Koopmeiners' style of play?

The Netherlands international is a left-footed maestro with the ability to score goals on a regular basis from midfield, whilst also being able to create chances for his teammates, something could make him an unstoppable partner for Szoboszlai.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.19 across 32 Serie A appearances last season and contributed with an eye-catching ten goals, to go along with his four assists. To put that into context, no Reds midfielder managed more than three Premier League goals.

This suggests that the Dutch sensation, who Feyenoord U21 coach Keon Stam hailed as "dominant", could be a huge upgrade on the manager's current attacking options in that position.

As for Liverpool's new number eight, he is a terrific right-footed player who has the quality to score and create goals from the middle of the park, as he proved in the German top-flight last season.

Szoboszlai averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.42 over 31 Bundesliga outings as the Hungarian wizard chipped in with six goals and eight assists.

He created 14 'big chances' to go alongside his 2.3 key passes per match, with no Liverpool player producing more than 1.9 chances created per outing, indicating that the former Leipzig man will be an outstanding threat for Klopp on the ball.

Koopmeiners ranks among the top 5% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for shot-creating actions per 90 (4.16), while Szoboszlai is situated in the top 9% – with 5.09 – of attacking midfielders and wingers within the same statistic.

This shows that both players are exceptional creators, while their aforementioned form last season shows they are also terrific scorers, who could cause huge problems for opposition defences next term.

Therefore, they could be an unstoppable pairing in midfield for Liverpool, with Szoboszlai on the right and Koopmeiners on the left, due to their exceptional attacking quality.

That's a thought that should well excite supporters with the likes of Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez set to be inundated with more more opportunities in front of goal.

Steven Smith has challenged Virat Kohli’s suggestion that Australia broke DRS protocols repeatedly in Bengaluru, describing some of Kohli’s post-match statements as “disappointing” and “completely wrong”

Melinda Farrell in Ranchi15-Mar-20173:02

‘Saying we do it consistently, that’s complete rubbish’

Steven Smith has challenged Virat Kohli’s suggestion that Australia broke DRS protocols repeatedly in the second Test in Bengaluru, describing some of Kohli’s post-match statements as “disappointing” and “completely wrong”. Kohli, speaking ahead of the third Test in Ranchi, stood by his claims while remaining elusive about what those claims actually constituted.After the Test, the BCCI made a complaint to the ICC concerning an incident when Smith looked to the Australian dressing room when considering whether or not to use the DRS on an lbw call, before umpire Nigel Llong intervened. The BCCI withdrew the complaint later on the same day after a meeting between the BCCI and Cricket Australia.While more than a week has elapsed since India’s victory in Bengaluru, Kohli’s suggestion that he saw something similarly inappropriate on two occasions other than the Smith lbw has clearly left Smith concerned.Speaking publicly for the first time since Kohli’s press conference, Smith said: “It was a little bit disappointing. I think that obviously I made a mistake and I came out and said that. What I did was wrong and I know that.”But that was the first time it has happened. I know as a team we don’t do that. And I think his comments… I think he said that we did it twice while he was out there. I don’t think he was out there long enough for two appeals. He’s entitled to his opinion, but from my point of view he’s completely wrong.”Kohli refused to elaborate on the specific occasions he had referred to in his post-match remarks, insisting he wanted to move on and focus on the remaining two Tests without any lingering “bad taste”. But he was also adamant that his words were not emotionally driven in the wake of an often-heated contest.”I think about what I say,” Kohli said in Ranchi. “I don’t regret anything that I’ve said, but at the same time it’s very important not to be stupid and go on with the same things on a daily basis because there’s cricket to be played. There was a decent break in between, and we certainly don’t’ want to sit and think about one issue all the time.”We have two Test matches to play and that’s what we need to focus on. And I think it was a mature decision on everyone’s part to move on from that. We’ve seen instances in the past stretch too long and it just causes disharmony and there’s no outcome honestly.Steven Smith: ‘It was an error on my behalf. In regards to saying that we do it consistently, that’s complete rubbish in my opinion’•AFP”We just need to focus on the games that are left. I think it’s good for everybody that everyone moves on because you’ll always have two sides of the coin; one side will say one thing the other side will say another and that just takes the focus away from the game that we all are sitting here because of. So I think it’s best interests of everyone that we move on and focus on the game.”In an exchange with a journalist, Kohli doggedly deflected questions on his post-match comments. As in Bengaluru, Kohli could not be pinned down on the specifics of what he saw on the field.When asked if it was “appropriate for an international captain make serious allegations like that and not produce evidence to substantiate it”, Kohli replied: “What were the allegations?” Pressed further by the journalist, Kohli wanted to know “what is the allegation called”, adding that since he was not charged with any violation, what he had said could not be termed an allegation. “Because it has to be called something for me to be questioning something about someone to call it an allegation,” he said. “If no charges were pressed against me, how are those allegations?”Asked once more if he stood by his statement that there were two instances when he was batting when Australia flouted DRS protocols, and told there was no evidence to back this up, Kohli said: “As I said, we need to move on and focus on the game tomorrow and we have two more Test Matches to go. As I said, two sides to the coin, I could be speaking about it again and things are not going to move forward. Everyone sitting here has their own interests and choose to ask what they want to. But our focus remains on the game and we need to look forward.”Smith said he would like to seek clarification from Kohli on his comments when the two captains meet jointly with match referee, Richie Richardson, before play on the first day in Ranchi. Specifically, Smith would like to know which two other incidents Kohli was referring to.”Perhaps, might be able to ask a few questions. We’ll see what the mood’s like at the time,” Smith said. “Virat obviously stuck by his comments. From my point of view I think they’re completely wrong. I came out after the game and said I made a mistake. It was an error on my behalf, I had a brain fade. In regards to saying that we do it consistently, that’s complete rubbish in my opinion. I think he was wrong in his statement.”Smith said he had already met with match referee Richardson personally, ahead of Australia’s final training session on match eve. He said Richardson made it clear he expected both sides to play within the boundaries of the game so that “cricket was the winner in this Test”.

Sri Lanka will be without two key ODI players – Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga – for the three-match series that has sparked widespread interest following Bangladesh’s historic win in their 100th Test

The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando24-Mar-2017Match facts
March 25, 2017
Start time 1430 local (0900 GMT)1:02

Shakib Al Hasan’s reign at the top in the ICC rankings is longer than not only all cricketers but also the best from a few other sporting disciplines

Big pictureBangladesh have exulted, the Sri Lanka team have been verbally flagellated, and after Sunday’s result, a tour that had been flying under the radar on the island has suddenly sparked widespread interest.While Bangladesh’s second major Test victory in the space of a few months has been interpreted as a another sign of the team’s arrival at the top level, Sri Lanka’s loss has split opinion at home. Some have suggested Sri Lankan cricket has entered a death spiral; others have argued that while there is cause for significant concern, there is hope yet. Whatever the case, the limited-overs series have become doubly important for Sri Lanka now. If they lose here as well, there may not be many rushing to defend this team.What will worry Sri Lanka is that ODIs have recently been Bangladesh’s strongest format. They did lose to England at home last year, but have beaten India, Pakistan and South Africa in bilateral series in 2015.Sri Lanka meanwhile, can probably reflect that ODIs have been their weakest suit. Save for series against West Indies, Ireland and Zimbabwe – all of whom have failed to qualify for this year’s Champions Trophy – Sri Lanka have lost bilateral series against England, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and New Zealand (twice) since the start of 2015.The hosts are still without their two best limited-overs players – Angelo Mathews remains injured, and Lasith Malinga is also unavailable, thanks to a slow recovery from a major ankle injury.Bangladesh, meanwhile, will not only be buoyed by their Test win, they are also boosted by the arrival of their charismatic limited-overs captain: Mashrafe Mortaza.Form guideSri Lanka LLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh LLLLWIn the spotlightUpul Tharanga’s captaincy has yielded mixed results – a 0-5 thrashing in ODIs in South Africa, to go with a 2-1 win in the T20 series in Australia – but his own form has been largely encouraging. In addition to having scored heavily in the Galle Test, Tharanga had also struck a 90-ball 119 in an ODI in Cape Town last month. At 32, Tharanga is intent on retaining his place in the team until he retires, but he still needs to score more consistently to convince the many doubters.Mustafizur Rahman’s fourth day spell at the P Sara may have broken open the match for Bangladesh, but it didn’t feature many trademark cutters. Switching now to the format in which he made his name, Mustafizur has plenty of form behind him – having also taken two wickets in each of his ODI outings in New Zealand, in December. On Asian tracks better suited to his bowling, there is a chance the series is defined by how well Sri Lanka’s batsmen defuse his bowling.Team newsWith Kusal Perera out of the first two ODIs, left-arm spinning allrounder Milinda Siriwardana has been named in the squad for the Dambulla matches. Also returning to the fray are Danushka Gunathilaka – who had missed the South Africa series – and Thisara Perera, who had been dropped. Niroshan Dickwella is unavailable for this match, however, thanks to the suspension he picked up in Australia. Tharanga and Gunathilaka are likely to open together.*Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Danushka Gunathilaka, 2 Upul Tharanga (capt.), 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 5 Dhananjaya de Silva, 6 Asela Gunaratne, 7 Sachith Pathirana, 8. Thisara Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Vikum Sanjaya, 11 Lakshan SandakanBangladesh could make at least two changes to the XI from their last ODI, in New Zealand. Mushfiqur Rahim will return to the line-up as wicketkeeper in place of Nurul Hasan while Tanbir Hayder isn’t in the current squad. Mehedi Hasan’s late call-up suggests he could be handed an ODI debut. Sunzamul Islam may also earn an ODI cap if they decide to play only two seamers.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Soumya Sarkar, 3 Sabbir Rahman, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Mosaddek Hossain, 8 Mehedi Hasan, 9 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 10 Taskin Ahmed/Sunzamul Islam, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditionsThe Dambulla track has generally been slow, with 300 having been breached only twice there. The weather is expected to be fine.Stats and trivia Bangladesh have won only four ODIs and lost 33 against Sri Lanka. One of those wins and 14 losses have come in Sri Lanka. Mustafizur has failed to get two wickets only twice in his 11 ODIs so far. He has 30 wickets at an average of 13.83 in the format. Sri Lanka lost their last home series 1-4 to Australia. Quotes”We started well in New Zealand but couldn’t finish off those games. So every game becomes important, not just at the start or end of a series.”
“After the Test series, we had four training sessions, and in all those four sessions, we dedicated lot of time for fielding. I think we are doing quite okay in practices when it comes to fielding, but when we go into thee middle, we fail to concentrate.”
*This article originally had Dickwella among Sri Lanka’s possible XI. He is, however, suspended for this match.

Arsenal’s interest in Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia is far from a secret, however, news reported this week suggested that the Gunners are leading the pursuit.

Mikel Arteta is flexing his desire to bolster his squad this summer with Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber already set to wear the cannon next season, with the transfer window far from over.

As reported by Football Transfers, Arsenal have won the heart of Lavia, who ‘would prefer’ a move to the Emirates over links to Chelsea and Liverpool, putting the club in a 'good position' to sign the Belgian.

Saints are expected to ask for a fee in the region of £50m for the teenager, who only arrived on the south coast from Manchester City’s academy last summer.

Football Transfers added that a deal between Arsenal and the Belgian is moving slowly due to the movements currently going on in north London, with Rice arriving and Thomas Partey reportedly set to depart. That said, talks have been going 'very well' since they began back in April.

How good is Romeo Lavia?

In a dull season for Southampton, Lavia shone as a shining light in midfield for the Saints, sparking rumours that he will not follow the club to the Championship.

The teenager took his first shot at regular first-team football with a firm grasp, making his presence in the middle of the park known, acting as a monstrous figure sitting ahead of the defence.

Hailed as being a “shining star” by journalist Sam Tighe, the Belgian ranked in the top 4% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues in terms of blocks, averaging an impressive 1.90 per 90 to further state his dominance.

For Arsenal, a revamp of the midfield looks destined ahead of the new season, with Granit Xhaka departing and Partey also linked with a move away, the way Arteta’s side will look at the start of the campaign is unpredictable at this moment.

The speculated exits bring positive light in the Gunners’ pursuit of Lavia, who could add significant firepower and a jewel of youth in the Spaniard’s midfield.

It’s already expected that Havertz will be deployed in the middle of the park, making an exciting narrative should the Saints star also arrive at the Emirates, with numbers suggesting that the Belgian could get the best out of the former Chelsea sensation.

To operate as an attacking midfielder, it's imperative to have defensive support in order to balance the flow of the midfield.

Lavia could provide the German with significant cover in ways that Granit Xhaka did last season for Martin Odegaard, highlighted through his 1.02 tackles per 90, as well as providing a competent distribution to set play for the Norwegian, averaging 5.89 progressive passes per 90, via FBref.

The Belgian operated to a similar effect for the Saints as per FBref, averaging 4.13 progressive passes per 90 and excelling defensively with an average of 2.43 tackles and 1.34 interceptions per 90 in the Premier League.

The teenager has strengths in his passing ability and acts as an assured presence when dispatching the ball, making 4.09 passes into the final third per 90 on average last term while maintaining a pass completion rate of 86.2%, via FBref.

Havertz shone in the midfield at Bayer Leverkusen before making the switch to play in a more advanced role for Chelsea, registering 18 goal contributions in the 2019/20 in the Bundesliga.

The 23-year-old had the protection of the likes of Kerem Demirbay that term, who averaged 1.4 tackles per game in the bid to protect the midfield which ultimately allowed those ahead of him to flourish.

Equipping his side with a young player with the capabilities to play a pass and orchestrate the engine room could be a monumental shift in quality for Arteta.

Shai Hope scored his second century of the knockout stage to help lift Barbados to a 59-run win over Jamaica in the final of the WICB Regional Super50 in Antigua

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Feb-2017
ScorecardBarbados wicketkeeper-batsman Shai Hope backed up his 125 against Leeward Islands in the tournament semi-final with another century in the final against Jamaica to lay the foundation for a hard fought 59-run win that helped his side clinch the WICB Regional Super50 on Saturday.Jamaica had held Barbados in check through much of the first innings after Jason Holder elected to bat first at the toss. Barbados were 138 for 5 in the 35th over as John Campbell, Nikita Miller, Damion Jacobs and Damani Sewell tied down the batting order through spin. Kraigg Brathwaite was the first wicket to fall, going for 22 to Jacobs in the 13th over with the score on 59 after he played around a slider to be bowled, and wickets fell at regular intervals afterward, concluding with Shane Dowrich giving a return catch to Campbell in the 35th to make it 138 for 5.In a match-winning partnership, Holder joined Hope at the crease and the pair eventually added 127 for the sixth wicket in just 13.4 overs. Hope brought up his half-century off 69 balls in the 38th over and at that stage had only hit four boundaries as the pair initially continued steady accumulation. They were at 171 for 5 in 42 overs before Holder decided to attack Nikita Miller, charging him for the first Barbados boundary since the 35th. Hope was then dropped on 59 a few balls later by Chadwick Walton behind the stumps and he made Jamaica pay by hitting five sixes over the next five overs to speed toward three figures.The back-breaking over came in the 44th, when Jerome Taylor conceded 25. Holder began with a six off a full toss over midwicket, followed by a four behind point. A single put Hope on strike and he drove a straight six before a chest high no ball to Hope off what should have been the final delivery of the over allowed a free hit to Holder, who smacked a length ball over the rope at cow corner. Hope then hit Miller for two more sixes in the 45th as part of a 19-run over and the pair eventually hit nine sixes between them from the start of the 44th through the 48th.A straight six by Holder off Rovman Powell in the 46th brought up his half-century in 39 balls and a single by Hope in the 48th took him to 100 in 96 balls. Holder eventually fell to Powell for 69 off 47 balls to end the stand on the final ball of the 48th over. Two balls into the 50th over, Hope was run out for 101 by Powell off his own bowling as Barbados only managed to score six runs off the final 13 balls of the innings. By that stage, however, the damage had been done, as 94 runs came off the six-over stretch between the 43rd and 48th overs, which put the game out of Jamaica’s reach.Shai Hope followed a century in the semis with another in the final for Barbados•WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks LaTouche PhotoJamaica’s reply started in nervy fashion as Steven Taylor was nearly run out on the third ball of the chase before he had faced a ball, but a throw to the non-striker’s end was not backed up with Taylor stuck halfway down the pitch. He had made 9 before falling in the third over to Kemar Roach, driving to Carlos Brathwaite on the circle at mid-off. Roach applied the slightest bit of pressure to Jermaine Blackwood and two overs later the batsman fell chopping onto his stumps for 7 after an ill-advised charge down the pitch.Walton, who like Blackwood had made a century in the semi-final win over Trinidad & Tobago, fell to Sulieman Benn in the 16th for 26 to put Jamaica in an even deeper hole. Left-arm spinner Benn then took two more middle-order wickets to finish with match figures of 3 for 33 and a tally of 18 wickets in seven matches, tied with Holder for third overall in the tournament.Jamaica were 122 for 7 one ball into the 31st before Powell began a valiant fightback. He added 59 for the eighth wicket with Jerome Taylor but Taylor fell in the 40th to Holder and Miller followed to Holder in the 44th to put Barbados one away from victory. The Barbados captain then caught a Powell slog on the boundary for 65 off Carlos Brathwaite to end the match four balls later, Jamaica all out for 212.Offspinner Ashley Nurse had a relatively quiet final with figures of 1 for 42 but still finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Regional Super50 with 26 in ten matches at an average of 12.50 and an economy of 3.55. He took seven wickets more than the next closest bowler – Ravi Rampaul of Trinidad & Tobago. Kraigg Brathwaite and Hope finished on 484 and 482 runs respectively, behind only Leeward Islands captain Kieran Powell’s 513 runs at the top of the tournament runs aggregate.

Manchester United have made initial contacts over a move for midfielder Moises Caicedo and are now set to approach Brighton, Sky Sports report.

What’s the latest Man United transfer news?

The Red Devils are yet to bolster Erik ten Hag’s senior squad this summer, with an ongoing takeover saga continuing in the background at Old Trafford.

However, the off-field process on a takeover won’t impact United’s transfer business, with money available to Ten Hag regardless of the outcome, and it looks as if a new marquee midfielder is high up on the club’s wishlist.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester, with personal terms already agreed ahead of a transfer. Agreeing on a fee with those at Stamford Bridge has been an issue, though, and a £55m offer is still live.

Another midfielder the Red Devils appear to be firming up their interest in is Caicedo, with Sky Sports stating on Wednesday that initial contacts have been made and an approach to Brighton is expected.

“We know that Manchester United are in the market for a midfielder. Our understanding is that not only is Mason Mount potentially one of those targets – we know that there has been several offers and that final offer of £55m remains on the table.

“But Manchester United are expected to formally approach Brighton with regards to midfielder Moises Caicedo after making initial contacts this week.”

Who else wants to sign Moises Caicedo?

Caicedo, described as a "physical monster" by Sports Scientist Dr Rajpal Brar, is a wanted man this summer, with United not the only side keen on his services.

Fabrizio Romano revealed on Wednesday that Chelsea were set to open talks to sign the Brighton star in the coming days, adding that personal terms won’t be an issue.

Caicedo and Mount are fairly different midfielders, with the Brighton man naturally a holding midfielder and the Chelsea ace more of an attacking midfielder. Therefore, United may, in an ideal world, want both players to come in and bolster Ten Hag’s midfield options, especially with the club preparing for life back in the Champion League next season.

However, that could prove tricky, but who knows, Chelsea’s pursuit of Caicedo could help United in a potential move for Mount, and by the looks of it, there could be movement from Old Trafford soon as the Red Devils look to kickstart their summer business.

A round-up of the ninth round of Sunfoil Series matches that ended on January 15, 2017

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jan-2017A mammoth second-wicket partnership of 355 runs between Senuran Muthusamy and Vaughn van Jaarsveld – the fourth-highest for the wicket in first-class matches in South Africa – was the highlight of a high-scoring drawn game between Knights and Dolphins in Kimberley.Muthusamy’s 181 and van Jaarsveld’s 203 – his highest first-class score – helped Dolphins pile up 538 for 7 declared in response to Knights’ score of 487 for 7 declared. The pair came together in the 17th over of Dolphins’ innings, after the wicket of Divan van Wyk, and stayed at the crease for 86 overs; Dolphins’ entire innings lasted 141 overs. Van Jaarsveld brought up his century first – off 145 balls – while Muthusamy took 190 deliveries to reach his sixth in the format. Van Jaarsveld took only 86 more deliveries to get to his double century, hitting 27 fours and three sixes in his 237-ball knock, which was ended by Theunis de Bruyn. Muthusamy was out ten overs later, also dismissed by de Bruyn, having hit 20 fours and two sixes in his 348-ball stay. Knights used ten bowlers, and the most successful ones – de Bruyn with two and Rudi Second with 4 for 105 – were also the players who had struck centuries for them earlier in the match.De Bruyn and Second added 258 for the fourth wicket, pulling Knights out of trouble after they were struggling at 85 for 3 by the 28th over, having been put in to bat. The pair came within six runs of the partnership record for the fourth wicket in the competition, held by Albie Morkel and Justin Kemp. De Bruyn slammed 19 fours and four sixes in his 249-ball 182 while Second scored 125 off 170 balls with 14 fours. Knights were 364 for 5 by the time both batsmen were dismissed and managed to move past 450 with solid contributions from Keegan Petersen (65*) and Marchant de Lange (42).Dolphins took 8.07 points from the game, the most in the round, to grab a slender lead over Titans at the top of the table.Cape Cobras and Warriors remained in the bottom half of the points table as poor weather, bad light and a wet outfield truncated play in the draw in East London. Both teams saw half-centuries from their top and middle-order batsmen while offspinner Dane Piedt impressed with 4 for 64 on the last day after the third day didn’t see any play.Once Warriors opted to field, Cobras were in some trouble, at 200 for 6, after opener Andrew Puttick fell for 85. However, Aviwe Mgijima’s second straight fifty led them to a more respectable 291 as Basheeru-Deen Walters and Sisanda Magala finished with three wickets apiece.Warriors’ batting did not impress much either as they conceded first-innings lead after only Colin Ackermann (89) and Yaseen Vallie (94) scored more than 30. They were 175 for 5 at the end of the second day and Piedt claimed four wickets in the space of eight overs on the last day to restrict Warriors to 260. Cobras batted for 23 overs in the second innings to post 71 for 3, collecting 7.82 points compared to Warriors’ 7.2.Lions had the upper hand in their draw against Titans, who batted their way to safety after being set a fourth-innings target of 405 in Benoni.Lions scored 347 after being put in to bat, largely due to the efforts of Nicky van den Bergh (99), Devon Conway (66) and No. 10 Nono Pongolo, who struck an important 49 not out. Van den Bergh and Conway shared a 128-run partnership to pull Lions to 238 for 3 before seamer Malusi Siboto’s strikes left them in danger of being bowled out for less than 300. Van den Bergh and Pongolo added 80 for the ninth wicket.The Lions bowlers, particularly Ayavuya Myoli and Bjorn Fortuin, ensured a 96-run first-innings lead, with the pair taking four wickets each. The Titans batsmen got starts, but the top score in their innings was an 80-ball 39 from Chris Morris at No. 8.Morris’ three strikes, in a space of two overs, had threatened to keep Lions’ lead to manageable proportions, leaving them 61 for 4 in their second innings after they were 59 for 1. However, Dominic Hendricks and Mangaliso Mosehle struck centuries and added 163 runs for the sixth wicket to swell Lions’ lead. Mosehle struck a brisk 123-ball 100, with ten fours and three sixes, while Hendricks finished the innings unbeaten on 103, ensuring the side’s lead had passed 400.Aiden Markram struck a fifty at the top of the order for Titans n their second innings, which eventually closed at 143 for 2.

Aston Villa are in advanced talks to sign West Bromwich Albion midfielder Rico Richards, according to a recent report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Aston Villa transfer news?

Despite having already completed the signing of Youri Tielemans, Villa are keen to bolster their midfield even further, and they have emerged as potential suitors for Villarreal's Alex Baena, who is said to be valued at €50m (£43m).

Leeds United's Tyler Adams is another option for the Villans following the Whites' relegation from the Premier League, however, the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion, Everton and Nottingham Forest have also enquired about his availability.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain reportedly "expects" to make the switch to Villa Park this summer after leaving Liverpool, and Unai Emery has now been presented with another opportunity to snap up a midfielder on a free transfer.

According to a report from Football Insider, Villa are in advanced talks to sign Richards, who will be available for free upon the expiration of his contract with West Brom at the end of this month.

Talks have progressed well and Emery's recruitment team are confident of securing a full agreement with the 19-year-old, who primarily plays in advanced midfield, but can also play on either wing and up front.

To begin with, the youngster could join the likes of Louie Barry and Aaron Ramsey in the under-21 setup at Villa Park.

Who is Rico Richards?

The starlet has come through the ranks at West Bromwich Albion, making a total of 52 appearances in the Premier League 2, during which time he has registered a respectable six goals and eight assists.

After impressing at youth level, the Englishman was handed one appearance in the Championship last season, though that ten-minute cameo is the only experience he has of first-team football.

As such, the midfielder is likely to be some way off competing for a starting place at Villa Park, but he has certainly caught the eye in the youth setup, being hailed as "splendid" by journalist Joe Chapman after a quality display against Arsenal.

Villa are now in the privileged position of being able to attract top-quality young players, and there is every indication the West Brom youngster is in that bracket, recording nine goal contributions in 19 Premier League 2 games last season.

Given that Richards is available on a free transfer, it is a very low-risk signing, and it is exciting news that a deal is edging closer to completion.