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Rain is expected again in the afternoon in Port-of-Spain where India would want to assess the strength of the batsmen they employ at No. 4 and below

The Preview by Alagappan Muthu24-Jun-2017Match FactsJune 25, 2017
Start time 0900 local (1300 GMT)1:50

India will be pleased with Ajinkya Rahane being among the runs

Big PictureNine am starts in a bilateral series, after a world tournament has ended, with rain in the air, is asking a lot of a spectator. But for those die-hard fans who will still make the trip to the Queens Park Oval, be advised. Port-of-Spain is expected to receive thundershowers on Sunday afternoon, so don’t be surprised if you hit your head on a big red sign in front of the ground that says, “nothing to see here”. The sensible lot would take the time to sleep in, but the players don’t really have that luxury.India, for example, might not have anyone to grumble “five more minutes, coach,” to on this tour, but they do have a few rookies they’d want to get in shape. Left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav was handed a debut on Friday but he didn’t even step on to the field with the match being washed out. Uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was not in the XI, but considering the low stakes, it might be useful to give him as many starts as possible to see if he could fit in the 2019 World Cup puzzle.In any case, it is starting to seem like the only way India can check on a middle-order batsman is if they can promote him to open. Typically it is their top order that fetches the bulk of the runs in ODIs – on Friday, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane contributed 149 out of 199 before the rain came down.West Indies – from 39.2 overs of play – looked steady, and their bowlers were especially clever against Virat Kohli. Pitching it short of a length and outside off stump – on a surface that gave them a little extra lift – they forced the India captain to return with a strike rate of 68. He couldn’t get on top of the ball to bring his powerful wrists into play and he was rarely offered the drive as a means of escape. Take this attack lightly at your peril.Form guideWest Indies WLLLW (completed matches, most recent first)
India LWWLWIn the spotlightAt 20, Alzarri Joseph generates pace effortlessly, not unlike Kagiso Rabada, who already leads South Africa’s attack in all formats. But that is only an asset when combined with discipline, and some creativity in the form of variations. Joseph showed with his dismissal of Rahane – an offcutter the batsman simply did not see coming – that he is more than ready for modern cricket.The merits in retaining Yuvraj Singh, even though he is 35, become apparent when he is in form. A career-best 150 against England and a 29-ball fifty against Pakistan showcased the best of his timing. In fact, since his comeback in January 2017, he has averaged 45 and struck at 102.24. He might have to keep up that level of performance to ward off competition from the likes of Pant, Manish Pandey (injured) and KL Rahul (injured), though.Team newsConsidering the last match they played ended in a no-result, West Indies might want to persist with the same XI.West Indies (probable): 1 Evin Lewis, 2 Kieran Powell, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Jonathan Carter, 5 Jason Mohammed, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Devendra Bishoo, 11 Miguel Cummins,India came to the Caribbean with two uncapped players. One of them – Kuldeep – has debuted already and the other – Pant – would be looking forward to a first ODI cap as well.India (probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Ajinkya Rahane, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 R Ashwin, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Umesh YadavPitch and conditionsBefore the first ODI, Jeffrey Dujon described the pitch at the Queens Park Oval as a “tie-dye t-shirt” by Jeffrey Dujon, implying that it was difficult to assess. The one thing he was certain of was that it would spin in the first innings and flatten out later.Stats and trivia The average run-rate batting first at the venue across 66 matches is 4.86. That translates to an average score of 243. Dhawan and Rahane’s last five ODI partnerships read: 83, 125, 56, 112, 132 Jason Holder has 48 wickets as West Indies captain – the same as Courtney Walsh

Domestic cricket in Bangladesh should be scheduled during the cooler part of the year, and venues must have better facilities, the former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud has urged

Mohammad Isam22-May-2017Domestic cricket in Bangladesh should be scheduled during the cooler part of the year, and venues must have better facilities, the former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud has urged. Mashud has asked the BCB to make these changes after many players suffered in the ongoing heat wave across the country.In the 2016-17 season, the National Cricket League first-class tournament began in September but took a break to accommodate the Bangladesh Premier League T20 competition, which was held from November 8 to December 9. The NCL ended after a second phase that stretched from December 20 to January 6.The Bangladesh Cricket League, the four-team first-class competition, then took place from January 28 to March 8. The Dhaka Premier League, which began this season on April 12 and is likely to end in mid-June, has a history of scheduling delays as the major clubs want the top cricketers to participate in the List A competition. Since September last year, the Bangladesh team has been busy playing home or away, so it was hard for the BCB to make the clubs agree to start the DPL in March, when the top cricketers were in Sri Lanka.Mashud, who is also Prime Bank Cricket Club’s coach, said the major domestic competitions such as the DPL and the two first-class competitions must be completed by mid-April.”Implementing the domestic calendar during the season is everyone’s priority,” Mashud wrote in a Facebook post. “It won’t be possible to hold back the [Dhaka Premier] league this season but these concerns should be addressed ahead of the next season. I would urge the BCB to finish the longer-version and one-day competitions by mid-April. They can think of a T20 tournament when the weather gets hotter. I believe such a step will help Bangladesh cricket.”The temperature in Bangladesh touched 38 degrees last week. Mashud cited the examples of Gazi Group batsman Jahurul Islam and Prime Bank wicketkeeper Zakir Hasan, who suffered severe cramps during DPL matches. Zakir was particularly affected during Prime Bank’s May 21 match against Gazi Group Cricketers, suffering seizures despite being given an ice massage in the dressing room. He still hasn’t recovered from his cramps.The DPL has had to deal with other issues too. Avishek Mitra, the Mohammedan Sporting Club batsman, suffered a hamstring injury at the BKSP ground, where there was no ambulance to take him for treatment. In the end, the team had to improvise and use a cycle-van.Mashud also pointed out the effect of power failures, at the BKSP and Fatullah grounds, on players.”Like every other place in the country right now, power failure is also affecting the stadiums,” he wrote. “Cricketers don’t get adequate rest after returning from fielding for 50 overs. While there are generators in place for international matches, it is not the case for domestic games.”It is quite embarrassing to find such a situation in the only List A tournament in the country in which local and foreign stars participate. A bigger challenge awaits from May 24 when the Super League begins. Ramadan is also starting on May 27 which is a major concern for me as a coach.”

Manchester United are believed to be keeping tabs on Bayern Munich midfielder, Leon Goretzka ahead of a potential summer swoop, albeit with it currently unclear as to whether the German is open to leaving the Allianz Arena.

What's the latest on Goretzka to Man United?

According to Sky Sports Germany reporter, Florian Plettenberg, the Red Devils – as well as fellow Premier League side, West Ham United – are showing an interest in the 28-year-old, even though the 6 foot 2 ace is currently not seeking to leave the Bavarian giants.

Writing on Twitter, the transfer insider revealed: "Leon #Goretzka, internally he has made clear that he doesn’t want to leave FC Bayern this summer! His agents are not open for negotiations with other clubs at this stage. His agents are not open for negotiations with other clubs at this stage. Goretzka, dream target for West Ham.

"Tuchel is planning with Kimmich & Laimer at this stage. Instead, Goretzka will face the challenge."

This follows a recent report that suggested the 53-cap maestro has been deemed 'expendable' by manager, Thomas Tuchel, with the Bundesliga outfit potentially willing to cash in for a fee of roughly €50m (£43m).

Who is Goretzka similar to in Europe's top five leagues?

The former Schalke ace has enjoyed a stunning stint at Bayern since his arrival back in 2018, having won five successive league titles as well as claiming Champions League glory in that time, among other honours, while chipping in with 69 goals and assists in 179 appearances in all competitions.

Arguably "one of the best box-to-box players in Europe" – according to former boss Julian Nagelsmann – the towering, £298k-per-week titan has an "incredible goal threat" from his central midfield berth, ensuring he could offer a real attacking threat to Erik ten Hag's side.

While it may take some persuading in order to tempt the Bochum native to Old Trafford, if the former Ajax boss is able to strike a deal it could allow him to find a dream alternative to Adrien Rabiot, with the pair said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref.

United were notably close to signing the Juventus asset last summer only for talks to collapse over the Frenchman's excessive wage demands, while a renewed approach was again mooted this time around, only for the 28-year-old to opt to sign a new one-year extension with the Serie A giants.

To then find a potential carbon copy of the one-time Paris Saint-Germain ace – who is also an imposing figure at 6 foot 2 – in the form of Goreztka could represent an ideal scenario for Ten Hag, with that type of all-action midfielder seemingly the profile of player that the Dutchman is craving.

The comparison between the pair can be seen by their ability to provide a cutting edge in the final third, with Rabiot having chipped in with 17 goal involvements in all competitions last term, while Goretzka recorded 12 goals and assists across all fronts.

That desire to bomb forward is showcased by the fact that while the latter man ranks in the top 18% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for touches in the attacking penalty area, his Juve counterpart is only just ahead as he ranks in the top 11% in that regard.

Not just intent on impacting proceedings at the top of the pitch, the duo's defensive prowess can be shown by the fact that they rank in the top 9% and the top 17%, respectively for aerial duels won, providing a real physical presence in the centre of the park.

With Ten Hag having twice been unable to snap up Rabiot during his United tenure to date, the 53-year-old could forget about frustration by turning to Goretzka instead.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly interested in Manchester United outsider Donny van de Beek, as Julen Lopetegui bids to replenish his midfield this summer.

The Spaniard has raised close to £80m in sales already this window, and could now turn his attention to hiring additions to rebuild the squad to his liking.

Could Wolves sign Donny van de Beek?

As reported by 90min, Wolves were named as one of the clubs eyeing a summer move for the Dutchman, who has failed to make an impact at Old Trafford.

Van de Beek signed for United in 2020 for a fee in the region of £39m, however after three years of inconsistent game time and an insufficient loan spell, the former Ajax prodigy is now valued at just €13.3m (£11m), via FootballTransfers.

Contracted to the Red Devil’s until 2025 with the option of an additional year, it’s expected that the 26-year-old will endeavour on a new challenge this summer to avoid another season away from action.

Where could Donny van de Beek fit in at Wolves?

The past three years have been tough for the Nijkerkerveen-born gem, who left Ajax as one of the club’s most promising stars.

In three seasons, Van de Beek has made just 34 Premier League appearances for United, scoring two goals and recording one assist in a deeply disappointing period for the player.

Last January, the Dutchman was deployed on a half-season loan to Everton, in which he made just seven appearances for the Blues to mark another dull spell in the Premier League.

The start of 2023 was far from a fresh start for the United gem, who suffered a knee injury in January leaving him sidelined for a total of 38 games.

At 26, there’s plenty for the 19-capped Netherlands international, who could prove to be a perfect addition for Lopetegui’s side in transition at Molineux.

While the disconnect between United and Van de Beek is a mystery, the talent he possesses is not questionable, after a phenomenal rise to stardom at Ajax.

Once hailed as “sensational” by scout Antonio Mango, the midfielder could be revolutionary under Lopetegui, with the hope that he could reinstall the form he once displayed in the Netherlands.

In his final Eredivisie campaign in 2019/20, Van de Beek contributed to 13 goals in 23 appearances, scoring eight goals and registering five assists.

The Dutchman’s form that term was nothing out of the ordinary, with him contributing 19 goals and assists in 2018/19 and 17 goals and assists the season prior in Eredivisie for Ajax, via Sofascore.

A pivotal figure in midfield, Lopetegui could build the future of his squad from the middle of the park with two figures to take the reins from the departing Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho.

Signed from Flamengo in January, Joao Gomes could play a vital role in the Spaniard’s plans next season at Molineux, with the talent there to create an inspired duo.

A master in defensive play in the engine room, the Brazilian averaged a monstrous 4.00 tackles per 90 in his introduction to the Premier League last term, with attributes that could fuse to create the perfect pivot with the Dutchman.

Averaging 2.0 tackles per game in his final season in Eredivisie, Van de Beek is a balanced midfielder, however, could hand Wolves a more attacking side than Gomes, as highlighted by his average of 1.8 key passes per game that year.

In signing the United dud, Lopetegui could add class and competency to his midfield, in a renovation that could benefit Molineux for years to come.

Back-to-back defeats have stalled Daredevils after a good start, but to put that behind, they need to find a way past a Mumbai side that is reveling in its best-ever IPL start

The Preview by Akshay Gopalakrishnan21-Apr-2017Match factsMumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils
Mumbai, April 22, 2017
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)2:52

Hogg: Daredevils must bring Anderson and Nadeem back

Head to headLast season: Both teams won their respective home games – Daredevils by ten runs at the Feroz Shah Kotla and Mumbai by a thumping 80-run margin in Visakhapatnam, their second home.Overall: It’s a stalemate with both teams having met 18 times and won nine each.Form guide

Mumbai Indians (First): beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by four wickets, beat Gujarat Lions by six wickets, beat Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets

Delhi Daredevils (Fourth): beat Kings XI Punjab by 51 runs, lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by four wickets, lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 15 runs

In the newsAll of Mumbai’s wins have come while chasing, including their last game, where they made short work of Kings XI Punjab’s 198.Ambati Rayudu has returned to training after suffering a groin injury in Mumbai’s opening game, but is not yet available for selection. With Nitish Rana among the top run-scorers currently, it may be some time before Rayudu finds a spot again.The likely XIsMumbai Indians: 1 Parthiv Patel (wk), 2 Jos Buttler, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Rohit Sharma (capt), 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Mitchell McClenaghan, 10 Lasith Malinga/Tim Southee, 11 Jasprit BumrahDelhi Daredevils: 1 Sanju Samson, 2 Sam Billings, 3 Karun Nair, 4 Rishabh Pant (wk), 5 Shreyas Iyer, 6 Angelo Mathews/Corey Anderson, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Jayant Yadav/Shahbaz Nadeem, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Zaheer Khan (capt), 11 Amit MishraStrategy punt Two of Malinga’s three most expensive spells in T20 cricket have come in this IPL. While that raises the possibility of Tim Southee taking his place, if Mumbai do persist with Malinga, they may not want to bowl him in the slog overs. Malinga has gone at 8.80 an over in the Powerplay this season. It is significantly better than 11.47 in the slog – which is the worst he has fared in the last five overs across seasons. Malinga could also be used in the middle overs (7-15). Daredevils have a run rate of 7.33 in this period, the worst among all teams. There is a strong case for Daredevils to open with spin. Jos Buttler has scored at 7.23 an over against spinners this IPL, as opposed to 10.28 against fast bowlers. The numbers are starker for Parthiv Patel, his opening partner, who has scored at 9.36 an over against pace. Against spin, the number plummets to 5.55, along with four dismissals in as many innings.Stats that matter Wankhede Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for Daredevils, having registered only one win, and four defeats, including in the last three times they played here. Both teams have proven to be death-over giants in this edition of the IPL: Mumbai have the best run rate – 12.26 – in the last five overs, followed by Daredevils, who have scored at 11.44 an over. Kieron Pollard has hit Amit Mishra for ten sixes, the most for a batsman against a single bowler in the history of the IPL. In this edition, Sanju Samson has scored at 6.09 an over against spinners, which is significantly lower compared to his scoring rate – 10.24 – against pacers. However, against Harbhajan Singh, Mumbai’s most capped player, Samson boasts better figures, with 74 runs off 54 balls across all T20s at 8.22 an over without being dismissed even once. Despite losing three out of their five matches, Daredevils’ net run rate, 1.16, is the best among all teams so far. The next best, 0.71, belongs to the second-placed Kolkata Knight Riders

West Ham still have a good chance of signing Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes this summer, according to a key update from transfer expert Dean Jones.

Is Harvey Barnes off to West Ham this summer?

The Hammers are hopefully in the process of having an excellent summer in the transfer market, with last season a disappointing one in the Premier League, even though UEFA Europa Conference League glory was so memorable secured.

It is essential that a number of new faces arrive, in order to freshen up the squad, and the vast amount of money received through the sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal will surely generate more funds for incomings.

One player who has been linked with a move to West Ham a number of times in recent months is Barnes, who looks almost certain to leave Leicester sooner rather than later, following their relegation to the Championship back in May. The £40,000-a-week winger scored 13 times for the Foxes in the league in 2022/23, despite their struggles as a team, and it would be a big surprise if he wasn't representing a top-flight team next term.

Now, a new update has emerged regarding the Englishman's current situation, as West Ham look to get a significant piece of business over the line.

What's the latest on Harvey Barnes to West Ham?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones claimed that there is still plenty of work to do regarding West Ham's pursuit of Barnes, but generally spoke positively about the moving coming to fruition:

"I think very quickly we'll start to see that move forward very quickly in terms of finding out how much he will cost and whether he's willing to commit to a move to a club like West Ham, or whether he's looking to keep his options open for a little bit longer."

Barnes really could be such an ideal signing for West Ham ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, with the one-time capped England international ticking so many boxes as an addition.

At 25, he is at a real sweet spot in his career, possessing plenty of experience but also have so many years ahead of him, and he has now racked up 35 goals and 25 assists in the Premier League, highlighting the productivity he could bring in the final third at the London Stadium.

Barnes' pace and directness have arguably been lacking at West Ham of late, and he would represent a different type of player than someone like Said Benrahma, for example, offering more runs in behind and stretching opponents in the process.

The Leicester star has been hailed as "unbelievable" by iconic Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, which is no mean feat, and if the Hammers can beat other clubs to his signature, it would feel like a statement signing for them before the campaign gets underway.

Newcastle are believed to be right in the mix, though, and their guarantee of Champions League football could understandably turn Barnes' head, but West Ham must do all they can to get their man this summer, ensuring he is part of a major squad build in the process.

Cricket Australia’s decision to re-sign Matthew Mott arrived before the team led by Meg Lanning prepared to compete for the 50-over World Cup in England later this year

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Apr-2017Matthew Mott has won a three-year contract extension as coach of Australia’s women’s team, taking him through until after they are the host team for the World Twenty20 tournament in 2020.Cricket Australia’s decision to re-sign Mott, who had previously coached New South Wales and Glamorgan, arrived before the team led by Meg Lanning prepared to compete for the 50-over World Cup in England later this year, with an Ashes series against England to follow.”I’m really excited to have re-signed as coach of this incredibly talented group of cricketers and am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve,” Mott said. “This group has tasted sustained success over a period of time and that’s a real credit to each and every player and their dedication to maintaining their position as the best team in the world.Having replaced Cathryn Fitzpatrick in 2015, Mott oversaw an Australian Ashes win in England later that year, the first time this had been achieved since 2001. Last year, Australia women were beaten finalists in the World T20 in India and also claimed the inaugural ICC Women’s Championship, which also qualified them for the World Cup this year.”It’s a really exciting time in women’s cricket both in Australia and internationally, with a number of countries making strong strides forward and we know we need to work as hard as we can to continue to improve,” CA’s team performance manager Pat Howard said. “It’s terrific to have Matthew on board for another three years and we’re excited to see what he and the Australian team can achieve over that period.”Matthew has a strong relationship with all the members of the squad and his record shows that he knows how to get the best out of his players. The next 12 months are huge for this group, they have the chance to continue their success in Australian sporting history and we believe Matthew is the person to make that happen.”

Manchester City are ready to pay to complete the signing of Achraf Hakimi, with Pep Guardiola said to be a big fan of the Paris Saint-Germain star, according to a report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Man City transfer news?

Man City are planning to spend big on West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, having submitted a £90m offer for the England international, although that proposal was swiftly rejected by the Hammers.

Central midfield is not the only position that needs strengthening, however, with Kyle Walker's future in doubt. A new right-back may be required, with the likes of Nahuel Molina and Hakimi being linked with moves to the Etihad Stadium.

It is detailed that Guardiola wants to build a side capable of competing on all fronts next season, with the PSG defender being identified as a player who could help them do that, and there has now been an update on City's pursuit.

According to a report from Football Insider, the Sky Blues are now "ready to pay" to complete the signing of the 24-year-old, as they hold a strong interest in his services.

Guardiola is said to be a big fan of the Moroccan, who features highly on Man City's shortlist of potential defender signings, but he would command a big fee. The Citizens' interest in the right-back comes amid doubts over the futures of Walker and Joao Cancelo, with the latter of the two set to leave this summer.

How much does Achraf Hakimi earn?

The PSG full-back is currently tied down to a £240k-per-week deal with the French champions, which is not due to expire until 2026, meaning his current employers will be in a very strong negotiating position this summer.

However, Man City are seemingly willing to spend big on the Morocco international, and there is every indication he could be worth it, given the threat he poses on the front foot.

In the past year, the former Inter Milan star has averaged 0.17 non-penalty goals per 90, placing him in the 93rd percentile compared to his positional peers, with a pass-completion rate of 89% placing him in the 98th percentile.

Any player operating in a Guardiola system needs to be an assured passer of the ball, and the right-back fits the bill in that regard, while he has also been hailed as "sensational" by journalist David Amoyal.

Hakimi could be a perfect long-term replacement for Walker, and Man City should now look to test the waters with an opening offer – showing that Guardiola is not messing around in the market with midfielder Mateo Kovacic set to become the first signing of the summer.

A round-up from the latest Plunket Shield round as the tournament resumes

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Feb-2017Chad Bowes followed up a two-ball duck in the first innings with a match-winning 149 against Wellington to take Canterbury to the top of the table. The seven-wicket win, chasing 324 at Basin Reserve, arrived during the final session of the match. This after Matt Henry’s four wickets (match haul of 9 for 137) helped dismiss Wellington for 269 early on the last day. Bowes’ 149 (25 fours, one six) took Canterbury to 236 before he was out, following which unbeaten knocks from Henry Nicholls (71) and Cole McConchie (47) steered them home.Canterbury overcame a first-innings deficit of 54 runs in their win. After half centuries from Michael Papps (76) – who also scored his 11,000th first-class run – and Hamish Marshall (69) helped Wellington to 297 in the midst of a Henry five-for, they returned strongly to bowl out Canterbury for 243. A lone hand from Peter Fulton (79) displayed some resistance for Canterbury in the first innings even as Anurag Verma’s four wickets crippled the visitors. Wellington’s 269 – Stephen Murdoch top scored with 56 – set Canterbury the stiff target of 324 to chase on the final day, but Bowes, Nicholls and McConchie were up to the challenge.Colin Munro was told by New Zealand coach Mike Hesson to return to the Plunket Shield and regain confidence after a difficult start to the year. He responded in magnificent fashion for Auckland at Colin Maiden Park, with barnstorming twin centuries, the 11th and 12th of his career: a first innings 146 off 109 balls followed by 142 off 103 deliveries. The opening day had been abandoned due to a damp area on the pitch and although Central Districts, who are at the bottom of the points table, tried to manufacture a result by declaring behind on the third day, the match petered out to a draw.But it was a memorable few days for Munro, who had made seven single-figure scores in ten previous innings in 2017. Though there was a T20 century included against Bangladesh, his lack of consistency had been highlighted by Hesson following a first-ball duck in the T20 against South Africa. When play began on the second day, Munro scored an 84-ball hundred and added 210 for the fourth wicket with Rob Nicol (86) to take Auckland to 385 for 5 declared. Central Districts fell to 66 for 5 in reply, but Tom Bruce’s unbeaten 127 enabled them to pull out 129 behind. Munro then got going again, racing to a 60-ball century and took his match tally to 12 sixes. The declaration finally came with a lead of 389 but less than two sessions remained and a result was never on.Anaru Kitchen followed up his 143 not out in the Ford Trophy against Northern Districts three weeks ago with another unbeaten century against them to take Otago to a five-wicket win in the Plunket Shield. This was Otago’s first win in the Plunket Shield and lifted them out of bottom place.Kitchen’s unbeaten 120 came in a chase of 289 that was set up primarily by BJ Watling’s 96 and Joe Walker’s 87 at No. 9, after Northern Districts had been reduced to 0 for 3 and, subsequently, 61 for 5 in their second innings. The pair put on 91 for the eighth wicket, and Walker then added 64 for the ninth with James Baker to lift them to 286.Otago’s bowlers all chipped in with wickets, although Nathan Smith followed up his first-innings five-for with only one in the second.This after Scott Kuggeleijn’s 5 for 68 had inflicted a collapse that saw Otago fall from 242 for 4 to 276 all out and concede a lead of 2. Kitchen struck 76 in the first innings and put on 138 for the fifth wicket with Derek de Boorder (89). De Boorder fell cheaply in the chase, but his wicket was followed by partnerships of 86 and 85, and opener Brad Wilson’s 74 played the supporting act to Kitchen’s 120 off 146, as they completed the win in the 74th over.

International cricket will remain Kagiso Rabada’s first priority even after a lucrative IPL deal, his father Mpho Rabada told ESPNcricinfo

Firdose Moonda20-Feb-20173:33

Rabada, Cummins fill a vacuum in the bowling department – Daredevils CEO

International cricket will remain Kagiso Rabada’s number one priority even after he secured a massive IPL deal, which has made him an overnight millionaire. The 21-year-old fast bowler was picked up for INR 5 crore (USD 750,000 approx) by Delhi Daredevils, an amount of almost ten million Rand, which may change his life financially but will not impact his focus for South Africa, at least not if his father has anything to do with it.”I am happy for him and supportive of him reaching his goals. His future can’t be summed up by bagging an IPL contract but more by longevity in the game at the highest possible level,” Dr Mpho Rabada, Kagiso’s father, told ESPNcricinfo. “His successful inclusion is one of the key significant milestones in his career. I think it will encourage him to raise his game and more importantly apply the skills in the national team. The national team is the pride and dream of KG [Rabada], thus remaining very important.”Rabada has already proved he is willing to put the national team first, after he opted not to enter the IPL auction last year and chose a county stint with Kent instead. “He came and spoke to me and Gordon Parsons (Lions’ bowling coach) and we decided that the main thing he needed to focus on was improving his skills,” Geoffrey Toyana, Rabada’s coach at the Lions franchise said about the bowler’s county stint last year. “And he knew it would be good preparation for the England tour that’s coming up.”South Africa play four Tests against England in July, after the Champions Trophy, and Rabada saw last year as the ideal time to get experience in those conditions. He knew that aiming to play county cricket in England this year, immediately before the series, would probably not be possible because of a narrow time-frame. Despite interest from the IPL, Rabada decided he needed to put personal development first, certain the chance for an IPL deal would come in the near future. “He felt that he was not ready last year and we were supportive of the decision after deliberations but now it has finally happened,” Rabada’s father said.Rabada’s first IPL will follow immediately after South Africa’s current tour to New Zealand, which concludes with three Tests in March, and will be cut short by preparations for the Champions Trophy. CSA is understood to be calling its players back on May 7. That means Rabada will have gone straight from a tour of Australia to a home series against Sri Lanka, to a visit to New Zealand, to the IPL and to England with precious little time off before beginning another summer. Rabada is only 21 and there will be fears of burnout, but Toyana believes he is strong.”KG is an athlete. He has a good, clean bowling action and so far, touch wood, he has not had any injuries,” Toyana said. “It will always be important for him to watch where he plays and how much he plays but I am not too worried about him. He knows himself and his body and he will know if it’s becoming too much.”As for the money, no one is quite sure what Rabada will do with it yet. His love of fashion, music and a newly acquired driver’s license may lead to speculation that the bowler could use at least some of it to spoil himself but Toyana has his doubts. “He is smart kid, so I’ll say he will probably look at making some investments,” he said. “I don’t think he will spend it on anything silly and he has his dad as a mentor.”