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Like the first Test in Wellington last week, the second Test in Christchurch could boil down to a second-innings shootout if New Zealand don’t get too far ahead of Bangladesh

Mohammad Isam in Christchurch21-Jan-2017

Like the first Test in Wellington last week, the second Test in Christchurch could boil down to a second-innings shootout if New Zealand don’t get too far ahead of Bangladesh in the first innings.New Zealand were reduced to 260 for 7 on the second day at Hagley Oval, trailing Bangladesh by 29 with three wickets in hand. They had been comfortably placed at 252 for 4 but Shakib Al Hasan took three quick wickets late in the day to level the contest.”I think the Test match is pretty even,” New Zealand opener Tom Latham said at the end of the second day. “The first hour tomorrow morning is going to be crucial for both teams, we’ve got Henry Nicholls in there on 50-odd and batting really nice. If we can build some partnerships with the tail, hopefully we can put the momentum back in our favour.”If [the pitch] keeps flattening out, hopefully it should, then you never know. If you look back at that last Test, it came down to the third and fourth innings. If we can get ourselves in a handy position and get as many as we can in front, hopefully we can put the pressure on them with the ball.”Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, whose only wicket on the day was that of Latham, targeted a clinical effort on the third morning. “All the bowlers contributed in different ways. Some bowled good spells, some took wickets while some checked the run-making,” Taskin said. “We bowled in the right areas, but we have to finish it better tomorrow.”I am not too bothered about the dropped catches off my bowling. Some went through slips and gully, but it wasn’t my day. I might end up with seven-eight wickets when it is my day.”Despite Bangladesh taking seven New Zealand wickets on the second day, Taskin said the job was far from done. “We are not entirely pleased since we have some work left in the innings. We will try to bowl them out early. I think our batsmen also have to give us a big score in the second innings.”Latham, who had made 68 off 111 balls and added 106 for the third wicket with Ross Taylor, said the pitch might provide turn later in the Test.”Still a bit of movement for the bowlers and tended to swing more than Wellington,” Latham said. “It quickened up from yesterday and might take bit of turn towards the end. Looks like the Test match is going to be a good one.”

كشفت تقارير صحفية، موقف ريال مدريد، بشأن إعارة الدولي التركي، أردا جولر، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة.

ميلان كان أبرز الأندية التي ترغب في ضم جولر من ريال مدريد، والتقارير أشارت إلى أن النادي الملكي لن يمانع، في ظل تألق إبراهيم دياز من قبل مع روسونيري والبيئة التي ستساعده على اكتساب الخبرات.

صحيفة “AKSAM” التركية، أكدت بأن ريال مدريد تراجع عن إعارة أردا جولر، حيث يتطلع إلى كسب المزيد من الدقائق تحت قيادة كارلو أنشيلوتي، وحصل على وعد من المدرب الإيطالي بأنه سيحصل على الفرصة في المباريات القادمة من الموسم.

وأشارت التقارير إلى أن اللاعب لا يمانع الاستمرار والانتظار حتى الحصول على الفرصة، حتى نهاية الموسم لتقييم فكرة الرحيل من عدمها.

اللاعب التركي سجل أول هدف له بقميص ريال مدريد، بعدما هز شباك سيلتا فيجو الأحد الماضي، وهو الهدف الذي أظهر احتفالا كبيرا من اللاعبين بأردا جولر.

عانى جولر هذا الموسم مع ريال مدريد بسبب الإصابات التي لحقت به منذ أن انضم للفريق قادمًا من فناربخشة التركي، ولم يتمكن من اللعب أساسيًا في أي مباراة بالدوري الإسباني حتى الآن.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in adding Marc Guehi to their defensive line this summer as Ange Postecoglou readies himself for a spending spree.

Will Tottenham sign Marc Guehi?

News of Tottenham's interest in the centre-back has come from Charlie Eccleshare, a Spurs correspondent for The Athletic, who announced that the club have been looking into the Englishman's signature for a while.

Speaking on the Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel, Eccleshare stated: "Marc Guehi is another one who I've heard mentioned. He is someone Spurs have been looking at for a while. Really good player. Really, really talented, I think he would fit the bill".

Tottenham have been strongly linked with a number of centre-backs during the transfer window already, with Fabrizio Romano recently reporting that Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba is also on the club's radar. Clement Lenglet, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham, has also been touted with a permanent move.

Guehi would be a major coup for Postecoglou if a deal can be struck, especially considering the 22-year-old has already reportedly attracted interest from Champions League clubs Arsenal and Manchester United.

Signing Guehi would not be cheap, however, with Palace reportedly wanting £50m to part ways with the former Chelsea man. Considering Spurs need to strengthen heavily across their squad for next season, spending such a large sum on one player may not be wise with potentially cheaper alternatives out there.

The Lilywhites have already captured Dejan Kulusevski's signature on a permanent deal, spending £25m in the process, while they are closing in on a new goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario. Spurs are also heavily linked with Leicester City midfielder James Maddison.

Why do Spurs want Guehi?

Guehi enjoyed a fruitful season with Crystal Palace last season, playing 37 times in the Premier League. A modern defender, Guehi has a good range of accurate passing, with a 91% short pass and 93.2% medium pass completion percentage.

While his long range passing accuracy is significantly worse (just 56.3%), he ranked in the top 14% of Premier League centre-backs for attempted long passes, meaning he's willing to take risks to switch possession.

Guehi is very comfortable with the ball at his feet, ranking in the top 12% of centre-backs for successful take-ons last term. Willing to play his way out of trouble, the defender could be exactly what Postecoglou is looking for in his new system at Tottenham.

The Eagles man is also comfortable playing on the left-hand side of a back two, despite being right-footed, and at 22 has plenty of time to improve his game. He also finished runner-up in Crystal Palace's Player of the Season vote last campaign, showing how well respected he is at Selhurst Park.

Islamabad United opener Sam Billings combined clean timing with explosive power-hitting to ensure the defending champions inflicted the season’s first defeat upon Quetta Gladiators

The Report by Danyal Rasool15-Feb-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsIn a nutshell
A blistering 78-run knock from Islamabad United opener Sam Billings neutralised Quetta Gladiators’ impressive spinners Mohammad Nawaz and Hasan Khan and ensured the defending champions inflicted the season’s first defeat upon Quetta. In the first game of this season’s PSL at the Sharjah Stadium, the 25-year-old England batsman combined clean timing with explosive power-hitting to keep his side on course throughout the chase.Quetta had earlier managed a slightly under-par 148, thanks to a disciplined bowling display from Misbah’s men. It centred around 18-year old legspinner Shadab Khan, who was extremely difficult to read as he spun the ball sharply both ways. Each of the bowlers bowled according to their strengths; Mohammad Sami consistently found the inswinging yorker – one of which accounted for Kevin Pietersen’s second successive golden duck – and Shane Watson’s short deliveries and pace variations were just as hard to dispatch as they have been all tournament. Quetta’s innings never really took off as wickets fell regularly and the scoring rate stayed below seven for much of the first 15 overs, before a late partnership between Mahmudullah and Thisara Perera took them near 150. It was to be competitive, but not match-winning.Where the match was won
Quetta’s middle-order pairing of Sarfraz Ahmed and Rilee Rossouw – the PSL’s top scorer thus far – got them over the line against Karachi in their last game. So when Ahmed Shehzad got off to a quick start with Pietersen and that duo lying in wait, Quetta might have looked set for a total nearer 200. However, they reckoned without a fiery Mohammad Sami having one of his better days. He beat Shehzad for pace, forcing him to pull right down midwicket’s throat, before a 146 kph yorker crashed into Pietersen’s pads and pinned him lbw.Shadab and Shane Watson then took charge of the middle overs, strangulating Quetta, and continuing to push the run rate down. In the ten overs that began with Shehzad’s dismissal, Quetta managed only 56 runs, and lost four wickets. Powerplays and death overs might make for better talking points, but these middle overs were what handed Islamabad the two points today.The men that won it
Billings seemed to be batting on a different surface to his fellow team-mates, finding the gaps regularly in the first six overs and clearing the ropes periodically thereafter. It wasn’t all guns blazing, either; he was content to show respect where it was due, taking the singles off left-arm spinners Nawaz and Hasan, while unleashing his ire on the pace attack. Perera bore the brunt of Billings’ buffeting, going for 40 in 3.1 overs. It was a mark of Billings’ dominance that by the end the 17th over of the Islamabad innings, no other batsman had a strike rate above 100. Billings, meanwhile, was coasting along at 150.Shane Watson removed Asad Shafiq and Rilee Rossouw•PCB

The drop v the missed stumping
When Rilee Rossouw was on 5 in the first innings, he charged down the track to the young Shadab, missing the ball completely. Haddin, however, fluffed an easy stumping chance, and must have feared the worst after reprieving the South African. Next over, however, Rossouw holed out to deep midwicket. In contrast, when Watson joined Billings with their side wobbling at 72 for 3, he nicked Mohammad Nawaz behind before he had got off the mark. It popped right out of Sarfraz’s hands, and from thereon, Quetta’s fate was sealed. The pair combined for what turned out to be a match-winning 63-run partnership, Watson contributing 36 in 27 balls. He, unlike Rossouw, made the opposition pay.The moment of the match
Hasan, singled out by Moin Khan as the most promising of Quetta’s youngsters, might have been on the losing side, but there was a moment the 18-year old is unlikely to forget. He had been bowling a tight line to opposition captain Misbah-ul-Haq, not hesitating to follow him when he attempted to make room. So when Misbah stepped inside the line to sweep the teenager over fine leg for four, Hasan appeared to be under pressure. Two balls later, he bowled a similar delivery, except he had slid it in with the arm. Misbah attempted the same shot, but he was too late. The ball struck him on the thigh and the umpire raised the finger. Hasan, more than 24 years his junior, had out-thought Pakistan’s most successful Test captain.Where they stand
This result means both Quetta and Islamabad now have two wins from three games. They occupy second and third position respectively on four points each, with Quetta ahead on net run rate.

Arsenal have been prolific in this summer window, yet only have the official announcement of Kai Havertz to show for it.

That being said, it seems that deals for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are all but done, having warded off interest from rivals to bolster their side tenfold.

However, despite that being the best part of £200m set to be expended, it seems Mikel Arteta remains unsatisfied.

His youthful revolution does not stop at incomings, with rumours now circulating regarding the unsure future of Thomas Partey. Should he decide to leave, it is easy to assume that Southampton's Romeo Lavia will be the natural successor, as that report states.

At £50m he represents solid value for a 19-year-old, but with Liverpool and Chelsea having overtaken the Gunners in the race, perhaps an alternative is in order.

Fortunately for them, they have already seemingly identified a target who surpasses the teenage sensation in almost every facet of their games.

As reported before the window opened, Leeds United's Tyler Adams was on Edu's transfer wish list and is valued at just €38.9m (£33m) by Football Transfers.

Given this turn of events, there is no better time to reignite this interest.

How good is Tyler Adams?

Having only joined Leeds last summer, the USA international quickly established himself as one of the Premier League's finest ball-winning midfielders. Now that the season has concluded, he sits fourth for tackles made throughout the whole campaign.

His unrelenting attitude and tireless work rate made him perfect for the physicality of English football, and it did not take long for him to be regarded as the Whites' best player too.

In fact, his average Sofascore rating of 6.98 from last term was comfortably the best out of anyone who started more than five games for the Elland Road outfit.

What buoyed that figure was his exceptional defensive work, although he paired it with a touch of class that Lavia perhaps lacks at this stage in his career. For example, the 24-year-old maintained one key pass, 1.5 interceptions and 3.7 tackles per game in the league, via Sofascore. It is no surprise therefore to see former USA defender Alexi Lalas had labelled him a "monster" in the past.

Meanwhile, Lavia set his level at just 0.6 key passes, 1.1 interceptions and 2.1 tackles per game, with his rating sitting at just 6.80, via Sofascore.

If Arteta is merely seeking a defensive destroyer to partner Rice, he needs to look no further than Adams.

However, what further elevates the former RB Leipzig ace away from the Manchester City academy graduate is his experience, considering he boasts 14 Champions League appearances for the German outfit.

Given the Gunners will make their triumphant return to the competition in the coming season, this kind of pedigree will be key. He even starred for his national team at the recent World Cup, with journalist Clint Smith branding him as "special" after their draw with England.

Lavia would instead be playing just his second-ever full year of senior football should he be preferred, marking yet another gulf in quality.

Given how shrewd and intelligent their business has been thus far in this window, surely the north London outfit must make another smart move by allowing their rivals to overpay for someone who they had already secured a better alternative.

تغنى مدافع نادي برشلونة الأسبق، جيرارد بيكيه، بمدرب ليفربول المحتمل عقب رحيل كلوب نهاية الموسم الجاري.

وكان كلوب قد أعلن رحيله عن صفوف ليفربول الإنجليزي عقب انتهاء الموسم الجاري، ولم يحدد وجهته المقبلة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مهاجم ليفربول أولوية في باريس سان جيرمان لتعويض رحيل كيليان مبابي

ويعد تشابي ألونسو أبرز المرشحين لتولي تدريب ليفربول آخر الموسم الجاري في ظل النتائجة الجيدة التي يقدمها مع باير ليفركوزن.

ويقود ألونسو فريق باير ليفركوزن لتصدر جدول ترتيب الدوري الألماني دون خسارة في 39 مباراة متتالية، ولم يخسر قاريًا أيضًا.

وتحدث بيكيه عن مواطنه في حوار عبر شبكة “سكاي سبورتس”، وقال: “بالتأكيد، ألونسو يمتلك كل الإمكانات التي تجعله ينجح كمدرب”.

وتابع: “تشابي يحب كرة القدم بشكل جنوني، لديه رؤية مختلفة للمباريات مثلما هو الحال بالنسبة لسيرجيو بوسكيتس”.

وأضاف: “لا يزال بوسكيتس يلعب لكنه سيكون مدربًا رائعًا في المستقبل، لكن بالنسبة لألونسو فهو أثبت مدى جدارته بالفعل”.

واستمر: “ألونسو في الموسم الحالي يقدم أداءً مثاليًا مع باير ليفركوزن ولم يخسر، دعونا نرى ماذا سيفعل في الموسم المقبل”.

وأتم: “الجميع يتحدث أنه سيذهب إلى ليفربول سيكون خيارًا جيدًا لرحيل، يورجن كلوب، لذلك دعونا نرى ما سيحدث”.

Leigh Kasperek, the New Zealand women’s offspinner, has been sidelined from the rest of the 2016-17 season with multiple fractures on her left little finger

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Feb-2017

Leigh Kasperek, the New Zealand Women’s offspinner, has been sidelined from the rest of the 2016-17 season with multiple fractures on her left little finger. The injury occurred in Melbourne on Friday, when she played the T20I against Australia but couldn’t prevent a 40-run defeat of her side. Although Kasperek was able to bowl three overs at the MCG, subsequent scans confirmed that the damage was bad enough that she would need surgery. She has left for home with 16-year old legspinner Amelia Kerr brought in as a replacement.Despite still being in school, Kerr has five games of international cricket under her belt including a stunning Twenty20 debut in November last year when she picked up 3 for 16 to help New Zealand beat Pakistan despite putting only 118 runs on the board. Then too Kasperek was missing from the XI with a badly broken finger. It’s been that kind of season for the 25-year old. Prior to the T20I against Australia, she last played for New Zealand in March 2016.Kasperek is scheduled for surgery next week but she is expected to recover in time for the Women’s World Cup in England in June and July. Meanwhile, New Zealand are set to play the second of three T20Is against Australia in Geelong on Sunday. They have to win to stay alive in the series.

علّق خوان لابورتا، رئيس نادي برشلونة الإسباني، على إمكانية تعاقد ريال مدريد مع الفرنسي كيليان مبابي مهاجم باريس سان جيرمان.

وينتهي عقد مبابي مع باريس سان جيرمان بنهاية الموسم الجاري، ومن المنتظر انضمامه إلى ريال مدريد في صفقة انتقال حر.

وسُئل لابورتا إذا كان يحسد ريال مدريد على التعاقد مع مبابي، وأجاب في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “لا على الإطلاق”.

وأضاف رئيس برشلونة في تصريحاته: “كما أنني لا أعرف إذا كانوا سيفعلون ذلك أم لا (التعاقد مع مبابي)، سوف نرى”.

اقرأ أيضًا | فابيان رويز: برشلونة نادٍ عظيم.. ومبابي سيواجههم بحماس خاص

وعما إذا كان لديه معلومات بشأن تلك الصفقة، أردف: “لا، لدي حدس، لديهم مشكلة هناك، عليك بيع لاعب (إذا وصل مبابي)، أليس كذلك؟ لأنهما لن يلعبا في نفس المركز، كما أنهما لاعبان مميزان للغاية”.

وأتم: “وبالحديث عن الأرقام التي ستكون هناك (يقصد رواتب اللاعبين)، فهذا يشوه غرفة خلع الملابس بالتأكيد، هذه ليست هدية”.

Tottenham Hotspur are also eyeing a move for Juventus defender Gleison Bremer amid their reported talks for other centre-backs, according to news out of Italy.

Who will join Spurs this summer?

Spurs have already sealed deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who joins from Empoli for £17.4 million, and England international playmaker James Maddison in a £40 million move from Leicester.

Ange Postecoglou will be thrilled by the start his new side have made, but with months of the transfer window remaining, the Lilywhites must not rest on their laurels and keep pursuing quality.

Reports suggest that Spurs are looking at signing a central defender as well this summer, coming after a 22/23 which saw Tottenham concede more league goals than any other side above 15th in the table.

Going by the numbers, Spurs have a glaring achilles heel which needs to be resolved, leading to rumoured transfer talks for Bayer Leverkusen defender Edmond Tapsoba and Wolfsburg star Micky van de Ven.

Fellow names on Tottenham's reported shortlist of defender targets include Palace's Marc Guehi, Wolves' Max Kilman, Manchester City treble-winner Aymeric Laporte, Roma's Roger Ibanez and Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

According to Corriere dellon Sport, via Sport Witness, another centre-back attracting Tottenham's interest is Bremer – just a year after he joined Juventus from Torino.

Spurs, alongside Newcastle United and Aston Villa, are named as the clubs targeting him this summer with this report relaying his price appears to have dropped from €80 million (£69m) to €50 million (£43m).

However, bizzarely, the discounted price tag still "seems to scare" Levy and co – so if Tottenham want to do a deal – they may need to put this aside or negotiate an even lower fee.

What's been said about Gleison Bremer?

As per WhoScored, the Brazilian marked himself out as one of Juve's best-performers per 90 last season, with Massimiliano Allegri handing him 30 league starts as an undroppable.

In that time, he averaged an impressive 90.2% passing accuracy out from the back and made more clearances per 90 than any other Juve player (WhoScored).

Bremer would be a solid option for Spurs, with CBS commentator Matteo Bonetti calling him "shockingly good" and "world class" during the player's Torino days.

"Bremer was *shockingly* good at Torino," said Bonetti on Twitter.

"Obviously not on the radar of many casuals because the team didn't draw many viewers, but my goodness, some of the games he had against the top strikers in the league… Genuinely looks world class."

The majority of Quetta Gladiator’s overseas contingent have opted not to travel to Lahore for the PSL final

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2017

The majority of Quetta Gladiators’ overseas contingent have opted not to travel to Lahore for the PSL final.Kevin Pietersen, Luke Wright and Tymal Mills all tweeted about leaving the tournament, while former New Zealand offspinner Nathan McCullum will also not travel. Rilee Rossouw, the South African batsman, had been considering playing in the final on March 5, *but he too wrote on Twitter that he was leaving the tournament. “Its with a sad heart that I must announce that i will not be taking part in the final.”Wright, the England allrounder, tweeted: “It’s with a heavy heart I will not be coming to Lahore. I have a young family and for me a game of cricket is just not worth the risk. I’m sorry as I know how much it means to you all and hopefully in the future the safety will not be in doubt to come play there.”Pietersen signed off from the tournament with 40 from 22 balls, as Quetta stole a one-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi, taking his tally to 241 runs. Rossouw is currently their top scorer with 255 runs at 42.50 and a strike-rate 123.18.Mills took seven wickets from five matches, while Wright played just one match and McCullum did not feature.One-off payments, ranging from USD 10,000 to 50,000, are being offered to foreign players should they agree to play in Lahore. That, as one foreign player considering taking part in the final pointed out, brings its own complications. “What is the difference in me playing in Lahore under a security threat and a Pakistani player doing so?” he said. “In any attack both are at risk. And physios and masseuses? A life is a life, mine or a Pakistani player’s.”Teams who end up severely shorthanded can rope in a pool of nominated foreign players. The list, initially of 54 names, has now grown to above 60, and is said to be composed of those who were not picked in the draft last October, as well as additional names from outside the draft, who are willing to travel to Pakistan.Each franchise will nominate five to six players from the long list and hand it to the PSL, who hope that ultimately, accounting for common names that appear in multiple lists, they have a shortlist of 12 to 15 waiting on standby to participate in the final.