India kept their World Twenty20 campaign alive with a remarkable one-run victory against Bangladesh, following a manic final over in Bangalore

The Report by Mohammad Isam23-Mar-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:05

Agarkar: Bangladesh tactically good until the last three balls

How did it come to this?After 39.3 overs of a pulsating contest in Bangalore, Bangladesh seemed to have a first ever T20I victory against India in their grasp. Two runs needed off three balls, with Mushfiqur Rahim on strike. The game should have been done and dusted, and India were staring at an early exit in the World Twenty20 in their own backyard.However, Bangladesh proceeded to remarkably offer India a way back into the game, with Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah both being caught in the leg-side boundary off Hardik Pandya. Two needed off one, and suddenly, it was Bangladesh feeling the heat.Pandya ran in for the final delivery, bowled outside Shuvagata Hom’s reach, and MS Dhoni, who had earlier pulled off an outrageous stumping to dismiss the dangerous Sabbir Rahman, ran in 15 yards with one glove and ran out Mustafizur Rahman, who had only just walked into the cauldron.The one-run win keeps India in their hunt for a place in the last four, with a match against Australia coming up. Bangladesh were heartbroken, having done all the hard work, but falling short by a few inches, quite literally.Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled a superb third over after a poor start with the ball, gave away just six frantic singles in the penultimate over, leaving Pandya to defend ten runs, which he did only just.Mushfiqur blasted the second ball for a boundary through the covers after Mahmudullah took a single off the first ball. Mushfiqur then got a second four off his bat handle while attempting a scoop, but he was caught at midwicket off the next ball, with Bangladesh needing two to win off the last two balls. Mahmudullah, who changed ends, fell in similar fashion, betraying his coolness under pressure, but Ravindra Jadeja still had to do extremely well to hold on to the catch.The rest of the Bangladesh innings was just as frantic. Bumrah misfielded off the first ball and conceded a four; Tamim Iqbal, the batsman who hit the shot, had his eye on the ball and bumped into Ashish Nehra. Tamim needed medical attention and in the same over, he was dropped by Nehra off his own bowling.Mohammad Mithun holed out at long-on in the third over before Tamim got another life in the next, this time seeing Bumrah drop a sitter at short fine-leg. Sabbir crashed Ashwin soon after, and Tamim took four boundaries off Bumrah, whose line and lengths went awry. Tamim eventually was stumped for 35 in the eighth over. Sabbir, who added couple of more boundaries, was smartly stumped by Dhoni for 26 off 15 balls.Mashrafe Mortaza promoted himself to No. 5 and started off with a huge six over long-off but the gamble lasted just five balls. There was more madness to come – Shakib was dropped by Ashwin at the deep cover boundary on 8, and he made the most of the reprieve, nailing two sixes on the leg-side. Ashwin had the last laugh, though, getting him caught at slip in his last over. Shakib’s 22 off 15 balls was crucial but so too was his dismissal as he got out at a moment when he was timing the ball very well.Mashrafe seemed to have risen out of his distress over Taskin Ahmed’s suspension by bowling a superb four-over spell in which he did not concede a single four or a six for the first time in his career. His captaincy, to use sweepers on both sides of the wicket from the start and bowling changes, was also spot-on. He was backed wholeheartedly by Shakib’s four strong overs, while Mustafizur and Al-Amin Hossain took two wickets each.India could not get off to a good start after their openers were spooked by Shuvagata Hom’s initial turn. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan had to settle for singles before they struck a six each in the sixth over. Mustafizur had Rohit skying a flick which was caught at midwicket, in the same over. Shakib then trapped Dhawan, who was looking to sweep in the next over, meaning India had two new batsmen having to get settled on a tricky surface.One of those batsmen was Virat Kohli, fresh off a fine match-winning knock against Pakistan. Here, though, he stuttered through his run-a-ball 24, during which Al-Amin dropped a difficult caught- and-bowled chance in the 11th over. Suresh Raina, who top-scored with 30 off 23 balls, broke a boundary drought that lasted five overs, with a couple of sixes off Al-Amin in the same over.Kohli got his first six in the 14th over but Hom kept his nerve by bowling the next one full and on the stumps. Kohli missed, and Bangladesh were back in the game by getting India’s main man and breaking the 50-run third wicket stand.Pandya blasted 15 off seven balls before he was brilliantly caught on the square-leg boundary by a fully diving Soumya Sarkar. Al-Amin also accounted for Raina in the same over, ensuring India’s slog overs did not go to plan. The hosts managed only 34 runs in the last five overs, with the first 19 balls in that sequence going without a boundary.In the Asia Cup final, Dhoni had blasted 20 off the penultimate over to all but seal India’s win. India’s captain was not as explosive with the bat here, but his 13 crucial runs, cunning stumpings and cool run-out with one glove on, made the difference between the two teams.The night will be remembered in Bangalore for a very, very long time.

India’s limited-overs captain MS Dhoni has all but ruled himself out of batting up the order in the upcoming Asia Cup and as well as the subsequent World T20, starting March 8

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-20162:22

MS Dhoni: “l will try to give everybody a game because it is something as important as playing with a settled team.”

India’s limited-overs captain MS Dhoni has all but ruled himself out of batting up the order in the upcoming Asia Cup T20 and World Twenty20, starting March 8. Ahead of the team’s departure to Bangladesh, Dhoni backed a stable, in-form, top order, and said that he would consider promoting a big-hitter instead of himself if there was a big partnership at the top.”It is very difficult. In a normal scenario, I don’t see myself batting up the order because of the batting line we have got,” Dhoni said.This is a departure from Dhoni’s recent preference of batting at No.4, though in a different format. Dhoni had batted at No.4 in the second ODI against Bangladesh last year in Mirpur, for the first time since July 2012. Dhoni showed glimpses of his best form during the course of his 47, and later said: “I would like to bat slightly up in the order so I can play a bit more freely.”Ashish Nehra on…

Staging a comeback: “It is very difficult to make a comeback. I’ve always said comebacks are much more difficult than a debut. Even when I was out, injury or no injury, I always trained to play pressure cricket, not just domestic cricket. If you look to play only domestic cricket, you’ll realise that you are even out from that in six months to a year. If you have to bowl 10 balls in the ground, you have to bowl 30-40 balls at the nets. In the end, I got my result”.
Adjusting to the requirements of T20 bowling: “IPL has been a great help for us to play in the T20 format. I know my job and I’ve got experience to do all these things [bowling one-over spells]. The more you play, the better you get. I’ve learnt more than double in the last 3-4 years than the 13-14 years before that.”
Spearheading the bowling:”I don’t believe in that. In the end, it’s not that I can’t have a bad day. Everybody shares the same job. Being the senior bowler, I’ve got so much experience so on the field and off the field, I always try to talk to Hardik [Pandya] or [Jasprit] Bumrah. The team management has asked me to do that as well but I’m happy to take that job.”

Since that match, Dhoni has batted four times at No.4 in ODIs, scoring 134 runs.Dhoni, however, explained that the T20 batting line-up was settled, with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma opening; Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh form the middle order. Dhawan got bright starts against Australia in the T20s in Melbourne and Sydney and then set up India’s win against Sri Lanka in the second T20 in Ranchi with a rapid fifty, his first in T20 internationals. Rohit, on his part, hit back-to-back fifties in Melbourne and Sydney, before making 43 in Ranchi. Kohli stroked three successive fifties in Australia, tallying 199 runs in the three-match T20 series, before being rested for the Sri Lanka T20s. From the middle order, Raina and Yuvraj helped India seal a clean sweep against Australia in Sydney with an unbroken 53-run partnership in a tight finish.”Virat, he is at 3, Raina at 4, Yuvraj Singh at 5, I am 6, Jadeja, Hardik. We may try [a promotion] if there is good partnership; we may try one of the hitters to go up and express maybe from the very first ball,” Dhoni said. “But whether I see myself getting that promotion, I think it will be slightly difficult.”Dhoni also dismissed concerns about the No.6 and No.7 batting positions, feeling that they would not have much to do, especially if the top order clicked.”As of now it [No.6 and No.7] doesn’t seem like [a problem]. Usually six and seven won’t or should not get an opportunity. If the team is doing well, I don’t think No.6 and No.7 will or should get more than 10 balls or 12 balls and you will have to make the most,” he said.Dhoni said he was keen to “give everybody a game”‘ ahead of the World T20. India named the same team for all three matches in the recent home series against Sri Lanka. It meant Pawan Negi, a left-field selection for the Asia Cup and the World T20, has not played an international game yet.”I will try to give everybody a game because it is something as important as playing with a settled team,” Dhoni said. “It is important for everybody to have games under their belt. Against few of the sides we will really be able to give games to few of the other players who are part of the team but have not got a chance to play so far but still we will look to win games and that’s our top priority but the conditions will allow us to give a few games to others who have not played.”

Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is reportedly wanted by three different Premier League clubs ahead of a likely summer exit from Anfield.

The Lowdown: Ox on the move?

The 29-year-old joined the Reds back in the summer of 2017, making the move from Arsenal and looking to be a key part of the Jurgen Klopp revolution.

Unfortunately, Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered a cruciate ligament injury late in his first season at the club, robbing him of a chance of playing in the 2018 Champions League final.

Since then, injuries have continued to affect the Englishman and he has increasingly been a peripheral figure under Klopp, almost becoming something of a forgotten man.

This season, Oxlade-Chamberlain has only started four league games and only 17 minutes of action has come his way in the Champions League.

His current Liverpool contract expires at the end of this season, and with an extension highly unlikely to be signed, he will move on to pastures new.

The Latest: Three clubs keen on signing

According to Football Insider, Southampton, Brighton and Leicester City are all keen on acquiring Oxlade-Chamberlain’s signature during the summer transfer window.

It is noted that Saints are keen on bringing the midfielder back to the club where he initially made a name for himself, although relegation could scupper their chances of a move coming to fruition.

Meanwhile, Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi sees Oxlade-Chamberlain as a strong addition to bolster his midfield options, and Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers is also an admirer.

The Verdict: Reds career has petered out

It makes complete sense for the 35-cap England international to leave Liverpool this summer, with his constant fitness issues making a new deal a needlessly risky idea.

He turns 30 this summer, too, and is simply not the force he was prior to the serious knee injury five years ago, in terms of his dynamism and match-winning potential.

Klopp has hailed Oxlade-Chamberlain as a ‘spectacular’ player in the past but he will surely know his race is run, with younger, less injury-prone signings required in the summer.

He should be remembered for playing an important role during a legendary period at Liverpool, though, having won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and EFL Cup, among other trophies, scoring 18 goals and registering 15 assists along the way.

He can still do a good job for a lower-ranked Premier League team, and should they stay in the top flight, a return to Southampton would be the most nostalgic move for him.

Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo has admitted the players still use the trait of hard work which Marcelo Bielsa implemented during his time at the club.

Will Leeds survive the drop?

Prior to the international break, Leeds were able to take three huge points from their relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, which saw them rise to 14th spot in the table.

However, this is not to say they have climbed away from danger just yet, as only three points separate them and rock-bottom Southampton.

The difficulties experienced this season have seen Jesse Marsch replaced less than a year after taking over from Bielsa and Javi Gracia taking the role in the Elland Road dugout.

But speaking on the official club podcast, Firpo has admitted the players still have Bielsa's philosophy of hard work and covering every blade of grass ingrained in them:

"We are a team that we have our best strength – it's that all the team is running all the time. I think this is a theme that stayed over the years, it came maybe with Marcelo [Bielsa] or maybe before, I don't know, because I've been just with Marcelo.

"So this is a theme that stayed with Marcelo, after [when] Jesse Marsch as well was a coach, the same now Javi [Gracia's] more tactic [focused], but we still want to run, we still want to cover a lot of ground, and we're still able to do it. So I think this is our best strength."

Were Leeds better under Marcelo Bielsa?

The Argentinian manager certainly enjoyed some good times in Yorkshire after he ended the club's Premier League drought by gaining them promotion in 2020.

That being said, the 67-year-old also endured some struggles over the course of the 2021/22 campaign which saw him sacked in February last year.

Leeds were certainly headed for relegation issues with Bielsa in charge as their defence leaked goals from all over towards the end of his reign.

Conceding 20 goals in his final five games in charge didn't do his cause any favours, but there were some other potential reasons behind their demise.

On the back of scoring 17 league goals in their first campaign back in the Premier League, Patrick Bamford missed the large majority of the 2021/22 campaign through injury.

Adding to this, in the January transfer window before Leeds sacked Bielsa, the Argentinian was not handed any summer recruits to strengthen their survival hopes (via Transfermarkt).

Pep Guardiola once said back in 2018: "My admiration for Marcelo Bielsa is huge because he makes the players much, much better."

And there is certainly a case to be made that he got the best out of the Leeds side – Bamford being a key example – when he had his full squad available, while others have struggled since his departure.

Leeds – in their first season back to the top-flight – finished in a stunning ninth-place finish under Bielsa, with only three points separating them from a spot in the Europa Conference League.

Gracia is certainly showing signs of steadying the ship, however, there may be some regret from the Leeds board for not financially backing Bielsa in last year's January window.

CPL chief executive Damien O’Donohoe has said filling up the Central Broward Regional Park with 10,000 fans will be the primary factor in determining if the league returns to Florida

Peter Della Penna08-Apr-2016Caribbean Premier League chief executive Damien O’Donohoe has said filling up the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida, with 10,000 fans on four consecutive match days in July, will be the primary factor in determining if the league returns to Florida.O’Donohoe said a World T20 victory for West Indies will hopefully have spurred greater interest in the first CPL matches being played in the USA, from July 28 to 31 in Lauderhill.”Looking at American sports and looking at foreign sports coming in, what has always been a success is when the best players in the world are there,” O’Donohoe told ESPNcricinfo. “You look at the All Blacks, rugby is relatively unknown and yet they filled Soldier Field. Cricket is largely unknown but coming in with the world champions gives us a real leg up and I think it’s going to really turn the heads first of the Caribbean people and people of cricket nations but also hopefully it’s going to turn the heads of some US baseball fans to come.”The CPL’s arrival in Florida will be the second high-profile expedition in the US market in the last year, following the Cricket All-Stars tour in November 2015. High ticket prices – ranging from $50 to $325 in Los Angeles – meant that only the first game at New York’s Citi Field had more than 50% of seats filled.Sales in Houston and Los Angeles hovered at around 10,000 – in stadiums with capacity of 41,500 and 56,000 respectively – until 48 hours before each game, when organisers slashed prices for their remaining inventory by 50% and also gave away thousands of free tickets to help build up crowds.O’Donohoe said he observed the strategy used in the All-Stars tour and hoped the CPL experience would be better for fans, with two-thirds of tickets priced at $30 or less. Tickets for the Florida games went on sale on Thursday, almost four months ahead of the July slate – compared to the five-week period before the All-Stars tour.”I think with the Cricket All-Stars, you looked at New York and that’s always a market that can take a very high ticket price but with the other two venues it didn’t exactly work,” O’Donohoe said. “We’ve always been of the opinion, with the CPL, that we want to make it accessible to everybody and we don’t want to price anyone out because CPL can be enjoyed by people of all ages. That’s why we’ve gone with a very low entry price ticket for the US so that all cricket fans can be there.”O’Donohoe is also planning for players, including the six USA and Canada players who received CPL contracts this year, to visit local schools for cricket clinics and is also targeting cross-promotional opportunities with other local sports teams – such as having Chris Gayle and Andre Russell participate in a batting practice session with the baseball team Miami Marlins.”As part of our sanctioning fee, which we had to pay the ICC to play the games, every penny of that is going into local initiatives to promote cricket locally in the Broward County area,” O’Donohoe said. “Also, we do school visits as part of CPL, which has been a really successful initiative.”I think no matter what you do, if the stadium is not full, then you haven’t really done your job. We’re really putting our neck out there in terms of bringing these games to the US. It’s a huge investment from our side. We’re the first professional league to go in and we’re doing everything we can to make people aware that these games are happening. I really hope that we get the people to turn out and support what’s going to be a historic couple of days.”

MS Dhoni has said it was very important for India to not trip up in the final of the Asia Cup to hold the critics at bay, and to keep the team’s momentum intact leading up to the World T20. The unit is a balanced one ahead of the showpiece event, he said, with the only question mark hanging over seamer Ashish Nehra who might have to make way for Mohammed Shami.”India losing a final is a bigger headline than India winning a final,” Dhoni said after sealing an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in Mirpur with a six over midwicket. “It’s like putting in a lot at stake: if you win then they say ‘nothing really’; if you lose to Bangladesh, say people ‘oh, you lost to Bangladesh?'”You’re supposed to win. It’s like a game where a lot is at stake but when you win, you actually don’t take anything forward.”However, Dhoni added, Bangladesh’s recent top form at home – including a 2-1 ODI series victory over India in June 2015 – translated into this victory meaning a lot more. “Things have changed. It’s not like the 2004 Bangladesh team. They have a fantastic squad right now. They have improved a lot, and that’s what is showing in their performance on the field. So it was an important one to win.””As far as staying in the present is concerned, it always helps. If you start thinking about what happened when the last time we were here… of course you feel hurt, but what’s important is to forget all of that and concentrate on the present. You can’t do much about the past, you can only take the learnings from the past and that’s what we did today.”Dhoni said the focus now turned to the World T20 for his team, which is already “in the groove” for the tournament. “If you see the kind of performances that the team has given, they will carry a lot of confidence into the World T20. They know what has been really going well for them, what their strengths are.”While he is satisfied with how the XI is looking, Dhoni said, he is also still waiting to see how Shami’s recovery progresses; Nehra has “done very well” for the team but might be replaced by Shami if the latter can get fit in time. Shami was initially part of the Asia Cup squad, but was ruled out of the tournament after it was found he had failed to fully recover from a hamstring injury that had kept him out of the limited-overs series in Australia in January.”Whether Shami is fit or not, we’ll see. He still has a bit of time,” Dhoni said. “The only reason he was picked was because, he is someone who can deliver with the old and new ball, yorkers being his strength.”I think it’s very difficult to replace [Jasprit] Bumrah. He has the strength of bowling yorkers at will, and with the new ball also he has contributed. Nehra has also contributed. Few games ups and downs happen in T20. Hardik Pandya, he’s a fast-bowling allrounder. If Jadeja or him can bat No. 8 and they can give me three or four overs, then it looks like a better balanced side.”For Shami to replace [someone], it would be Ashish. Ashish is the only slot, but to replace Ashish would be very tough. The reason being he has done very well for us, he has moved the ball around. But Shami will have to prove his fitness in the warm-up games. If he does, he will stay ahead with the team.”Nehra was India’s joint second-highest wicket-taker at the Asia Cup, with six wickets at an average of 16.50. He was the most expensive of their specialist bowlers though, conceding 7.07 runs per over, with his poorest returns coming in the final where he took 1 for 33 in his three overs.

ESPN pundit Steve Nicol has suggested that Real Madrid could part ways with Carlo Ancelotti if they fail to win the Champions League – and that the Italian would be perfect for the Brazil job if he is available.

What's going on with Real Madrid and Ancelotti?

The Italian has been criticised at times despite his recent success with Real Madrid, with Los Blancos 12 points behind their rivals Barcelona, but they could still retain their European crown in the Champions League.

However, failure in Europe could spell the end of Ancelotti's second reign in charge, but the 63-year-old has been linked with the vacant Brazil role and this could be an option for him.

Speaking on ESPN FC, Nicol claimed that the Brazil job would be perfectly suited to Ancelotti's style of management.

"If they don't win the Champions League, then it seems likely that Real Madrid would move him on, and if that was the case, then I really don't see a better fit from a manager and a team's point of view than Ancelotti with Brazil," he stated.

"I mean, it seems like a match made in heaven. The guy who undoubtedly, in world football, would be the man to take over a team with established players, established stars, mature players.

"From my point of view, it just seems the perfect fit, Ancelotti with Brazil – he would go in there, all he would have to do is look after all the big stars, all the big egos. It wouldn't be about tactics or getting the team going, any of that stuff. It would be completely and utterly, in my opinion, about man-management. And I don't think there's a better man-manager in football."

Should Ancelotti take the Brazil job?

Given all he has accomplished at Real Madrid, and indeed in Europe, having won all the top five leagues as well as multiple Champions Leagues, this could be the perfect opportunity for Ancelotti to venture into international management.

Real Madrid stars Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Eder Militao all play for Brazil, and with superstars such as Neymar and Casemiro in the side, Ancelotti can use his experience in managing big names.

He has won titles with the likes of AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, having had to manage world superstars at many of his clubs, and if he can get the best out of the Brazil squad, he can help return glory to a nation which has disappointed on the big stage in recent years.

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss and managerial candidate Mauricio Pochettino would take the job if offered it, according to Sky Sports.

The Lowdown: Spurs draw shortlist…

Spurs and sporting director Fabio Paratici have already drawn up a shortlist of names to potentially replace current head coach Antonio Conte.

Even before his astonishing post-match Southampton rant, the 53-year-old had been tipped to leave the club at the end of this Premier League season, with his contract expiring in June.

Chairman Daniel Levy has the option to extend his stay by a further 12 months but this is currently not in the pipeline.

Conte could well be shown his marching orders before then as the Lilywhites identify Roberto De Zerbi, Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva, Thomas Frank and Pochettino as possible replacements.

The Latest: Pochettino would take Spurs job…

One of the most popular names by far to have been linked with the post is Pochettino, Spurs’ former boss who lead them to a Champions League final in 2019.

Sections of Tottenham’s fanbase have seriously campaigned for the Argentine to make a return and Sky have an update on the situation.

The broadcast giant claims Pochettino would take the job ‘if offered it’, stating on air:

“We understand that many of Tottenham’s squad have been in contact with their former manager, Mauricio Pochettino, they want him to replace Conte.

“And we also expect Pochettino would take the job if offered it. As things stand Pochettino will assess all of his options in the summer, he has had several approaches in the last eight months, none of them he felt were right.

“Tottenham also approached Pochettino in the summer of 2021 but his contract at PSG then meant he couldn’t talk to them.”

The Verdict: Perfect man for the job…

The former Southampton boss already has both a bond with members of the Spurs squad and large portions of supporters, surely making this a match made in heaven.

His status as a free agent also opens the door for Levy to make an approach with little obstacle in his path.

Pochettino would come back to Spurs with much more experience, having won a Ligue 1 title with Paris-Saint Germain last year.

The 51-year-old is also highly respected in other countries, especially Italy, with Serie A football expert Mina Rzouki telling BBC Radio 5 Live that Italians think he’s a ‘genius’ and ‘master tactician’.

Pochettino’s experience in England, where he is proven on limited resources, is yet another reason to make this move a reality.

Titans were crowned South Africa’s first-class champions after a 10-run win over Cobras inside three days. Titans, who topped the points table going into the final weekend, ensured they stayed there despite an early scare in Paarl.Cobras were bowled out for 164 in their first innings after Wayne Parnell, who took 12 for 105 against Dolphins last week, added another five-for this week. Parnell had assistance from right-arm pacer Dane Paterson, who took three wickets, while Vernon Philander bowled a typically strangling eight overs.For a while it looked like Cobras would squander the advantage as they slumped to 51 for 4, but Omphile Ramela, the captain, and Cebo Tshiki put on a fifth-wicket stand of 95, before Parnell added to his accolades with 59 to put Cobras in the lead. They were bowled out for 285, thereby taking a 121-run lead.Enter Heino Kuhn. After becoming only the sixth South African to record 1000 runs in a first-class season, he wiped out the deficit as his team-mates were outspun by Dane Piedt. The offspinner took 7 for 106, with the only other Titans’ batsman to cross 30 being Henry Davids, the captain. That set Cobras a target of 136, which they defended against the odds.Cobras would have fancied their chances even as they stumbled to 74 for 4. But when they lost Dane Vilas, Parnell and Philander in the space of two overs to slip to 87 for 7, the fight fizzled out. They were dismissed for 125, with Rowan Richards, who finished with 7 for 40, the hero of the second innings.Titan’s nearest challengers, Lions , who were in second place, all but bowed out of the race on the first day as they were bowled out for 68, with Sisanda Magala, the pacer, taking 6 for 25. They eventually lost by an innings and 101 runs to Warriors .Hardus Viljoen gave Lions the perfect start with a wicket off the first ball in Warriors’ reply, but their small total was always going to make things difficult. Although Viljoen ended with a five-for, half-centuries from Colin Ackermann, Somila Seyibokwe and Simon Harmer, the captain, ensured they took a 307-run first-innings lead.On the evidence of Lions’ first innings, Warriors would have felt confident of an innings win. With Lions 61 for 4 in reply, that confidence wasn’t misplaced. Nicky van den Bergh resisted with 52, but all they managed was to take the game into the third day. They were bowled out for 206 to give Warriors an innings and 101-run victory and a second successive win to end an otherwise barren summer.

Paris Saint-Germain could make a fresh move for Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech in the summer transfer window, a new update has suggested.

Is Ziyech a key man at Chelsea?

The Moroccan has had a frustrating season at Stamford Bridge, struggling to consistently become a key player under both Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter. The 30-year-old has only actually started six Premier League games in total, with another seven appearances coming from the substitutes' bench, and just one start has come his way in the Champions League.

Back in January, it looked as though Ziyech could depart Chelsea, with PSG looking to strike a deal to sign him late in the window. In the end, however, the transfer failed to go through and the Morocco international remained in west London for the remainder of this season.

Given his lack of playing time, though, it looks as though a summer departure could be likely, even though his current Blues deal doesn't expire until 2025. A fresh update further suggests as much, with PSG seemingly refusing to go away quietly.

Could winger be off to PSG?

According to Football Insider, the French giants are "set to rekindle their interest" in Ziyech this summer, as they look to acquire the services of a long-time target. Since the January move failed to come to fruition, PSG have "continued to monitor and stay in touch" with the Chelsea man and "they are on the lookout for cheaper deals", which is where he comes into play.

Todd Boehly is also thought to be looking to trim his squad once the summer arrives and Ziyech is someone who doesn't appear to be a key part of the club's plans moving forward. It's added that PSG are "preparing another bid" to sign the World Cup star.

There is no denying the 50-cap and 19-goal Morocco international's ability as a footballer – he has been described as "incredible" by his international manager, Walid Regragui – but moving him on at the end of this season does feel like the most logical decision by Chelsea.

He has become a bit-part player, flitting in and out of matches and failing to score in the league in 2022/23 to date, and he himself is surely keen on the prospect of a new challenge where he could be more of a regular starter.

Ultimately, Ziyech's time at Chelsea has been arguably adequate but little more, although there is still time for him to go out with a bang and help inspire the Blues to Champions League glory under Frank Lampard.