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Everton have made contact regarding a deal to bring Corinthians striker Yuri Alberto to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Yuri Alberto?

Alberto is a Brazilian international who arrived at the Neo Quimica Arena back in January on a free transfer from Zenit St. Petersburg following a successful loan spell in the opening half of the campaign, as per Transfermarkt, and to date, he’s made 53 appearances across both periods in the Serie A.

Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s forward has started seven out of eight league games this season so has been a regular feature in his homeland, and despite his contract not expiring for another four years, his impressive performances have seemingly caught the eye of Sean Dyche.

The Goodison Park outfit failed to sign a single player at the start of the year, but the club will know that attacking reinforcements will be needed to keep them away from the drop zone moving forward, and the 22-year-old appears to have been identified as an ideal target on Merseyside.

Are Everton signing Alberto?

According to Goal Brasil (via Sport Witness), Everton have “got in touch” with the representatives of Alberto to “get some information” about what it would take to get a deal over the line this summer. The Toffees are “evaluating the possibility” of submitting an official offer for the attacker, though with any transfer being very much in the “early stages”, it’s “hard to imagine” what price Corinthians would demand for their prized asset.

Everton will be aware that Alberto is starting to make a real name for himself at Corinthians having been handed his professional senior debut for Brazil back in March, so it’s unsurprising that he’s been the subject of an enquiry from the Blues, and it could be a massive coup should the hierarchy be able to secure his services.

The Nike-sponsored centre-forward, who earns £13k-per-week, has 11 goal contributions (six assists and five goals) to his name in 25 appearances across all competitions this season and has recorded 14 shots since the start of the term which is the second-highest total throughout the whole of his squad, as per FBRef.

Corinthians’ “clinical” striker, as lauded by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, also has the ability to operate out wide on both the left and right flanks and even in midfield alongside his usual role through the middle so would provide the boss with some welcomed versatility, possibly making this a smart deal to wrap up, should the opportunity present itself.

Jack Leach spun Somerset close to a two-day victory with the ECB pitch inspector looking on but they will have to return on the morrow after Rikki Clarke and Chris Wright finally fashioned Warwickshire resistance on a turning surface

ECB Reporters Network07-Sep-2016
ScorecardChris Rogers top-scored with 58 to give Somerset the edge•Getty ImagesRikki Clarke and Chris Wright produced an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 70 as Warwickshire set up the prospect of an exciting third-day finish to the Specsavers County Championship match with Somerset at Taunton.The visitors closed day two on 131 for 8, needing a further 53 for victory, having been 61 for 8 at one stage, chasing a target of 184. Left-arm spinner Jack Leach claimed 5 for 33 from 18 overs.Clarke was unbeaten on 42 and Wright 38 not out, having come together with their team on the verge of defeat. Both hit sixes in a defiant and positive partnership.Brown rues ‘soft’ dismissals

Dougie Brown, Warwickshire director of cricket: “Rikki Clarke and Chris Wright have shown what is possible on this pitch if batsmen are prepared to apply themselves. Again there were too many soft dismissals in our innings. The wicket has been tricky to bat on but by no means unplayable.”
Jack Leach, Somerset spinner: “It was a great day for me because first I went past 50 first class wickets for the season, then 50 Championship wickets, before ending up with a five-for. It has been a crazy two days of cricket and Rikki Clarke and Chris Wright have batted really well. The ball has tended to do more for the bowlers in the morning sessions.”

Earlier, Jeetan Patel had finished with 5 for 86 as Somerset, from an overnight 41 for 1, were bowled out for 211 in their second innings, skipper Chris Rogers top-scoring with 58, the only half-century of the match so far.After 21 wickets had fallen on the first day, ECB Cricket Liaison Officer Phil Whitticase was sent to view the second day’s play.It was batting errors, rather than any great terrors in the pitch, which accounted for the vast majority of wickets. There was assistance for seam and spin bowlers on both days, but also a large number of soft dismissals, which both sides will reflect on with regret.Somerset led by 13 runs when play began and had progressed their second innings to 70 when Marcus Trescothick, on 25, had his off stump uprooted by Patel.James Hildreth made only a single before falling lbw to a Chris Wright delivery that nipped back off the seam. But from 75 for 3 Somerset prospered, Rogers reaching a 123-ball half-century, and Peter Trego hitting sixes off Patel and Josh Poysden.The home side looked well placed at lunch, which was taken with their score 128 for three. But Patel began the afternoon session by gaining lbw verdicts against Trego (31) and Rogers after a fourth-wicket stand of 55.Leg-spinner Josh Poysden weighed in with 3 for 52 as only Dom Bess (25) offered much lower order resistance.Although the ball was turning, Warwickshire would have fancied their chances when their second innings began.Instead a mixture of good bowling and inept batting saw them slump to 49 for 6. Leach ripped the heart out of the innings by sending back Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell for a combined contribution of five runs before having Alex Mellor caught at short-leg for 22.Bess removed Sam Hain and Keith Barker, both pouched by Marcus Trescothick, who with the second dismissal equalled the record number of catches in first class cricket by a Somerset outfielder, 393, set by Jack White during a career that ended in 1937.But just when it seemed Somerset were sure to wrap up victory, Clarke and Wright produced the biggest stand of the match, putting the state of the pitch firmly in perspective.

The recently crowned 2023 Europa Conference League champions are riding the crest of a footballing wave; European success and the mouth-watering prospect of more memorable conquests across the continent for West Ham.

As a result of his monumental triumph, David Moyes could be awarded a lucrative transfer budget to prepare his squad for a third-consecutive season of European football.

With the impending departure of club captain Declan Rice on the horizon, the club will need to reshape its midfield, and Conor Gallagher has emerged as a possible target.

What’s the latest on Conor Gallagher to West Ham?

According to a recent report from Football Transfers, the Chelsea player, alongside James Ward-Prowse and Scott McTominay, have been tipped to fill Rice’s void.

In a previous report by talkSPORT, the Englishman has been valued at around £40m, which would leave the Hammers with a healthy segment of the £120m they are expecting from their captain's sale.

Gallagher’s season has divided many opinions, but a move to the London Stadium could reignite his stuttering career.

What can Gallagher bring to West Ham?

The 23-year-old was in formidable form when he was on loan at Crystal Palace last season. In 34 appearances for Patrick Vieira, the £50k-per-week star registered 11 goal contributions and the highest average rating (7.09) of any Eagles player, as per WhoScored.

Although he has been described as looking like a “fish out of water” during his time at Chelsea, his energy, work rate, and athleticism are infectious, and when his confidence is high he has a keen eye for goal.

This is showcased by the fact that the six-cap international ranks within the top 19% In Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for progressive carries and touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, as well as the highest 23% for tackles per 90, according to FBref.

This displays his contribution at both ends of the pitch and an unrelenting willingness to constantly be involved.

His tendency to find himself in offensive positions means he could formidably link up with Jarrod Bowen, who wrote his name into folklore thanks to his last-gasp winner against Fiorentina.

It was Bowen’s 40th goal in a West Ham shirt, which is nicely complimented by his 32 assists, and he has emerged as a fountain of productivity and an indispensable component of the progression under Moyes.

As Gallagher largely outstrips Rice in attacking areas, with the Hammers skipper scoring five times this season, this could benefit the winger as the Epsom-born talent will undoubtedly offer him more support going forward.

Described as “fantastic” by his former manager Graham Potter, Gallagher has already proven his top-flight pedigree and deserves a chance in East London to shine alongside his fellow countryman.

With less than a week to go before the start of India’s first Test against England, the BCCI and ECB have not signed the Memorandum of Understanding

Nagraj Gollapudi03-Nov-2016With less than a week to go before the start of India’s first Test against England, the BCCI and ECB have not signed the Memorandum of Understanding, a standard agreement that details various aspects of bilateral series.The main reason for the delay in signing the MoU is that the BCCI is awaiting directions from the Lodha Committee. A big part of the MoU says the BCCI will bear all the costs pertaining to the England team during the tour. Normally the BCCI would directly approve such expenses, but because of the order passed by the Supreme Court on October 21, the board has to get approval from the Lodha Committee, which has been appointed to oversee all financial transactions of the BCCI.In its response to the BCCI, however, the Lodha Committee said forming cricket policy was not part of its remit, but that directions regarding payments could only be given after the BCCI provided more information about the transactions. The committee has given the BCCI five days to respond with details of various contracts the board said it needed to finalise in the next year to avoid disruption of daily business.But before proceeding with the matter of existing and future BCCI contracts, including the MoU with the ECB, the Lodha Committee reminded the board that an unequivocal undertaking was required from the president Anurag Thakur that the BCCI would implement the court order of October 21.  The court had asked Thakur and board secretary Ajay Shirke to file affidavits in two weeks from October 21 and appear before the committee. As of November 3, Thakur had not given such an undertaking and he and Shirke had not met the committee either.BCCI and ECB officials were not available for comment about whether an unsigned MoU could jeopardise England’s tour of India, but an official from another board said an international tour could still proceed without it. An MoU is only used in case of a dispute between the two boards involved in a bilateral series.In an email on Thursday to BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke, the Lodha Committee asked the board to obey the three orders the Supreme Court passed on July 18, October 7 and 21. “To avoid any hindrance to the cricketing calendar and to ensure the continued enjoyment of the sport by its aficionados, the BCCI would be well advised to comply with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its orders dated 18th July 2016, 7th October 2016 and 21st October 2016,” the committee e-mail said.On October 21, the Supreme Court had directed the BCCI not to distribute funds to state associations until they agreed to comply with the Lodha Committee’s recommendations, which the court had approved in an order on July 18. The court also asked Shirke and Thakur to meet the Lodha Committee by November 3 and placed several restrictions on the board’s ability to enter into contracts.The committee had already sent Thakur an email reminder earlier this week and it told Shirke on Thursday: “The requirement for such an undertaking is not a mere formality. In the absence of the undertaking, the Committee finds it difficult to implement the order of the Supreme Court by issuing necessary directions to BCCI.”On October 28, Shirke had sent an email to the committee, asking for intervention on a “priority basis” because failing to do so would “severely prejudice” cricket operations. Shirke told the committee that decisions concerning a lot of important contracts had been left pending.Among the contracts mentioned was the postponed IPL tender, finalising vendors for the IPL and international and domestic cricket, and title and shirt sponsorships for the India men’s team. Shirke also said the BCCI needed clarity regarding the “threshold value”, above which the contracts needed to go through the Lodha Committee as mandated by the Supreme Court order. The court also asked the committee to appoint an independent auditor to oversee the BCCI’s transactions.Shirke said that since the court had appointed the Committee as the “custodian of revenue and finances” of the BCCI, it should act immediately. The board, Shirke said, feared that the “uncertainty” might have already “devalued” the size of the bids expected for the IPL television and digital rights.In its response today, the committee told Shirke that finalising vendors was not its job. “Please note that neither identification nor appointment of vendors or contractors is the task or function of the Committee. The Committee is only required to fix a threshold value and approving awards of contracts above such threshold value.”In order to “fix” the threshold value and appoint an auditor, the committee asked Shirke to provide details of the contracts such as the value, term, expiry date of existing contract, the nature of the tender process and so on. “It is only on examining the above that the Committee would be able to fix a threshold value and also assess the nature of work involved for appointing the independent auditor and formulating his terms of engagement,” the committee said.In another email, Shirke told the committee the BCCI had to give a commitment to the ECB regarding incurring expenses for England’s tour of India. He asked the committee to set the terms and conditions and the “manner in which” the agreement should be executed. Shirke had also written to the five state associations hosting the England Tests, asking if they had enough funds to stage the matches.The Committee, however, said that framing the MoU was not part of the court’s order. “The proposed MoU between BCCI and ECB concerns bilateral cricketing policy, the formulation of which is not a part of the mandate of the Committee. As far as payments are concerned, if they are to be made directly by the BCCI, no directions can be given by this Committee until relevant details are furnished by the BCCI.”It is understood that Shirke sent the committee the unsigned MoU via email late on November 3 evening, but despite being asked for details the email did not contain what the Lodha Committee wanted.

Newcastle United have been interested in Leicester City's James Maddison for an age and are now believed to be leading the race for the England international.

What's the latest on James Maddison to Newcastle?

That's according to Sky Sports, who state that while Tottenham Hotspur hold a vested interest in the 26-year-old playmaker, Newcastle are the most likely destination for the relegated outfit's star man, who has just one year left on his current contract.

The Toon attempted to sign him in January and also failed with a £50m bid last summer, but the groundwork forged at this point could be enough to convince Maddison to join the thriving fold on Tyneside.

That same £50m fee could well be required once again, though, given the Foxes have fallen from the Premier League and Magpies technical director Dan Ashworth may be able to whittle the demands down as the transfer window rages on.

How good is James Maddison?

The ultimate testament to the "dangerous" – as hailed by John Bennett – Maddison's abilities is how he has emerged from Leicester's stricken season relatively unscathed, having still exuded confidence and reaped goals and assists in abundance despite relegation from the Premier League.

Scoring ten goals and supplying nine assists from just 28 starting appearances in the top-flight, the one-time Aberdeen loanee's steady flow as a playmaking conduit has affirmed his stature as a first-rate creator, having been hailed as "world-class" by England manager Gareth Southgate.

While he has predominantly operated as a No. 10 this term, occupying space between the bulk of the midfield and the frontline, Maddison's dynamism is perhaps one of the chief reasons manager Eddie Howe is so enamoured with him, having played a wealth of roles and been dubbed a "monster" by journalist Josh Bunting.

It's possible that, given Howe tends to utilise a 4-3-3 attacking formation at St. James' Park, the ace would be played deeper, not quite an orchestrator but perhaps adopting a similar profile to that of Manchester City phenomenon Kevin De Bruyne, who has posted ten goals and 31 assists from 49 matches across all competitions this season as his outfit completed a historic treble.

As per FBref, the "remarkable" – as praised by Pep Guardiola – Belgian ranks among the top 4% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals, the top 1% for rate of assists, the top 5% for progressive passes and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90.

Maddison, comparatively, ranks among the top 1% for rate of non-penalty goals, rate of assists and shot-creating actions, and the top 11% for progressive carries per 90, though it is worth remembering that his figures are inflated by his predominance to play further up the field.

Despite this, the "magician", as he was called by Statman Dave, clearly flourishes as one of football's most all-encompassing attacking midfielders, and at Newcastle, a burgeoning outfit now awaiting a return to the Champions League after two decades away, he can take the next step in his development and emerge as one of the globe's foremost footballing gems.

Knights opened South Africa’s domestic T20 season with a strong batting performance to derail Cape Cobras by 38 runs in Johannesburg on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Nov-2016
ScorecardFile photo – Marchant de Lange picked up the crucial wicket of Richard Levi•BCCIKnights opened South Africa’s domestic T20 season with a strong batting performance to derail Cape Cobras by 38 runs in Johannesburg on Saturday.Patrick Kruger top scored with a 49-ball 74 as Knights posted 184 for 8 after being sent in to bat. Marchant de Lange’s early strikes crippled Cobras, who were eventually bowled out for 146 in 17.2 overs. In a chase where they needed at least one batsman with a substantial score, the highest was Keegan Petersen’s 39.In comparison, Knights were driven by partnerships, none more important than the 72-run opening stand in 8.5 overs between Kruger and Rudi Second. The wickets of Second and David Miller in quick time raised hopes of a turnaround. But Knights were driven by cameos from Diego Rosier (12-ball 27) and de Lange (11-ball 22) that helped them score 69 off the last seven overs. Amid the carnage, Dane Paterson picked up three wickets, while George Linde and Jason Smith picked up two wickets apiece.In reply, Cobras lost three of their top four – Richard Levi, Cebo Tshiki and Justin Ontong – inside five overs. Kieron Pollard’s dismissal for 5 put more pressure on the middle order. Only Petersen and Linde made 30-plus scores, but by then the chase was all but over.Linde was the penultimate batsman to be dismissed in the 18th over. De Lange picked up three wickets, including that of Levi after he started briskly with four fours and a six, while Kruger took two.

Sachin Tendulkar has suggested that every Ranji Trophy game be played on two different pitches with two different balls to prepare the Test team for bigger challenges in overseas conditions

PTI03-Dec-2016Sachin Tendulkar has suggested that every Ranji Trophy game be played on two different pitches to prepare a better Test team for overseas assignments.He also suggested that bilateral Test series could be made more engaging by having back-to-back home-and-away rubbers so that the strength of two teams remains mostly constant but the varying conditions pose a bigger challenge.”I have thought a lot about neutral venues in Ranji Trophy [which is being tried this season],” Tendulkar said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in Delhi.”I have a suggestion which can be radical. When we go to places like Australia, New Zealand, West Indies and South Africa, we play with Kookaburra balls which swing early. Think about a young Ranji batsman playing with SG Test ball in India and then facing difficulty overseas.”Let us have the first innings on a greentop with Kookaburra balls, which would give openers a challenge. Even the bowlers will have something. Our spinners will also learn how to bowl with the Kookaburra on greentops.”Now let there be a pitch adjacent to the greentop which would be a rank turner. Now the second innings will be played on that track with the SG Test ball which would also help our batsmen play against quality spin bowling. We have been too focussed on playing pace in overseas conditions but we should not forget how to play spin bowling.”Tendulkar felt the use of two different pitches and two different balls would nullify the toss factor.”A captain would start thinking that winning the toss will give him only 10 percent advantage that is his right to choose first,” he said. “But if he chooses to bowl on greentop he should remember that he would need to bat on a turner in the fourth innings.”BCCI president Anurag Thakur was also among the audience.

Rangers face a battle to secure the signature of Jonathan Panzo this summer, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano revealing that several clubs are keen to add him to their ranks.

Is Jonathan Panzo going to Rangers?

The defender spent the 2022/23 season out on loan at Coventry, with the player unable to break into the fold at parent club Nottingham Forest. However, the short-term spell in the Championship worked a treat for Panzo, as he became a first-team regular and helped his side reach the play-off final. He played in a total of 29 league games for the side and even produced one goal and one assist along the way despite being a part of the Sky Blues' backline.

These displays have led to interest in signing the player from Rangers this summer, with the Scottish Premiership side looking to strengthen their ranks. Reports have suggested that negotiations are already happening over a potential transfer for the defender and that a deal could be worth £2.5m, with Michael Beale's outfit in pole position to land the player during the transfer window.

However, a new report from reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Rangers might not find it so easy to get a deal done for Panzo. That's because while he states that talks are indeed "ongoing," there is plenty of interest and plenty of competition for his signature this summer.

Not only are English clubs queuing up to try and sign him but there is also interest from Germany in the centre-back as well. The journalist said: "Understand Rangers have also asked for Jonathan Panzo again as new centre back, talks are ongoing — but there are also German and English clubs keen on signing him."

How does Panzo compare to other defenders?

When you look at Panzo's stats across the last year and amongst those in the same position as him in the Men's 'Next 8' competitions (that's the eight leagues after the typical big five) he ranks very highly.

Offensively, the defender is one of the best in his position when it comes to scoring and having opportunities to score, with his non-penalty xG rate per 90 of 0.08 putting him in the top 19% in his position in that area. Not only is he a potential set piece threat but his ability in playing the ball out from the back and having the ball at his feet also stands out. He has a progressive passes rate of 3.98 per 90 for example – putting him in the 83rd percentile – and he also has one progressive carry per 90 too, which puts him in the top 15% in that figure.

It means that Panzo likes to get the ball himself, even as a defender, and is well capable of driving his team forward either with an exceptional bit of vision to pick out a teammate or even by dribbling and driving it himself. With Rangers wanting to be a side who play on the front foot, he would therefore fit in nicely if he did sign for the Scottish club.

Liverpool, in the last week, have held talks with the camp of Gabri Veiga over the possibility of a move to Anfield this summer.

Who is Gabri Veiga?

It was an underwhelming 2022/23 campaign for the Reds who failed to get their hands on any form of silverware and were forced to settle for a fifth-placed finish.

And in the weeks since the campaign drew to a close, there has already been multiple changes made at Anfield.

Indeed, the likes of Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Nabby Keita have all left the club following the conclusion of their contracts.

However, they have already made a major move in this summer's transfer window through the addition of Alexis Mac Allister.

But it does not seem as if Klopp will be settling for just one midfield addition this summer with the Reds linked to a host of names already in the early stages of this window.

One of them being the 21-year-old midfield talent, Veiga, who is currently playing his football in La Lisa with Celta Vigo.

The Spaniard enters the summer window off the back of an impressive campaign with the La Liga side where he was able to wrack up 11 goals and four assists in the league alone (via Transfermarkt).

And speaking on his Here We Go podcast, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the Merseyside's have already held talks over a potential move:

"So these remain two names [Khephren Thuram & Manu Kone] into the list, but I would keep it open because sometimes you can find some opportunities some new name, for example, during last and this week, Liverpool had some conversations with people close to Gabri Veiga.

"He's more kind of quality player, but he's very electric player. I really like him honestly, I think he's one of the best talents in the world."

How much is Gabri Veiga worth?

It appears it is not just Liverpool who could be in the market to sign the talented youngster this summer with a number of other clubs also credited with an interest.

Indeed, it has been suggested Newcastle United are one of the clubs who could make a move for the Spaniard over the coming weeks.

Any club who is looking to land the 21-year-old this summer will have to pay in the region of £34m as the midfielder's contract holds a €40m release clause.

After all, this is a player who has been described as a "wonderful talent" by some in the media and it is clear to see why when he is returning double figure goal returns from midfield.

Over the last year, Veiga has ranked inside the top 12th percentile for successful take-ones and progressive carries (via FBref).

Across all competitions in 2022/23, Liverpool's highest scoring midfielder was Harvey Elliott with a mere five goals across all competitions; something Veiga could potentially provide a lot more of.

A round up of the Group C matches from day 2 of the last round of Ranji Trophy matches

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2016Harshal Patel’s five-wicket haul helped Haryana bowl Tripura out for 178 at the Eden Gardens. In response, Haryana, who are neck-to-neck with Andhra in the hunt for knockout qualification, were 239 ahead after posting 186 for 4 at stumps. Opener Nitin Saini hit 104.Tripura began the day on 70 for 4 and overnight batsman Smit Patel continued to lead the resistance in an innings where opener Bishal Ghosh (36) was the only other player to get into double figures. Smit batted with the lower order and scored 76 of Tripura’s 108 runs on the day as he brought up his third century of the season – and as a Tripura player – before he was the last man out. Harshal, who had already taken two wickets overnight, added three more on the day, starting with Yashpal Singh’s wicket in the ninth over.In their second innings, Haryana openers Nitin Saini and Shubham Rohilla (47) put on a 103-run partnership that came at nearly five runs per over. Saini then added 47 for the second wicket with Chaitanya Bishnoi (21), and 31 for the third with Rajat Paliwal (10*) before falling in the penultimate over of the day. His 104 came at a strike-rate of 88.88.Darshan Misal’s second first-class ton took Goa to 380 before Himachal Pradesh’s Prashant Chopra hit an unbeaten 144 to take them to 254 for 2 at stumps in Mumbai.Goa began the day on 260 for 6, and Misal brought up his century as he put on 49 for the eighth wicket with Srinivas Fadte, after overnight batsman Shadab Jakati was out early. After Misal’s dismissal – caught and bowled to Mayank Dagar – Fadte added 46 runs for the ninth wicket with Rituraj Singh before the team folded on 380. He remained unbeaten on 38.In reply, HP looked to play aggressively and lost opener Ankush Bains in the third over with the score on 25. A 60-ball 66-run stand between Prashant and RI Thakur (26) followed, before Prashant brought up his century in 70 deliveries as he stitched together an unbroken 163-run partnership with Sumeet Verma (70*). HP’s run rate was 5.64 at the end of the day.Inclement conditions held play till after lunch in Lucknow, where Andhra’s bowlers restricted table-toppers Hyderabad to 81 for 5 at stumps.Hyderabad began the day on 10 for no loss, having bowled out Andhra for 190 on the first day. They lost Akshath Reddy in the second over of the day, and S Badrinath shortly after. Paidikalva Vijaykumar took both those wickets, before his opening partner D Siva Kumar took two quick wickets – Tanmay Agarwal and B Sandeep – to reduce Hyderabad to 36 for 4. B Anirudh (26*) then added 45 runs with Himalay Agarwal (22), before the latter was run out in the last over the day.In Gwalior too, play started only after lunch as Chhatisgarh were bowled out for 370 against Jammu & Kashmir on the back of a 135-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Ajay Mandal and Sumit Ruikar. In response, J&K were 33 for 2 at stumps.Chhatisgarh resumed on 217 for 6 and lost overnight batsman Ashutosh Singh (41) off the first ball of the day. This brought Mandal (74) together with Ruikar (62) and the two left-arm spinners put on 135. Samiullah Beigh – who went wicketless on the day – finished the innings with 5 for 94.J&K lost opener Imran Haroon and No. 3 Pranav Gupta (22) in their response. Shubham Khajuria (9*) and Mohsin Mufti (0*) were at the crease.