While Liverpool have already got their transfer business underway after sealing the signing of Alexis Mac Allister, there is also seemingly work to be done with regard to outgoings, with promising youngster Fabio Carvalho among those looking set for a departure.

As per journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Merseysiders have already rejected a bid from RB Leipzig for the 20-year-old, with the club only said to be willing to allow the former Fulham starlet to move out on loan this summer.

That uncertainty surrounding the playmaker's future comes following a frustrating debut campaign for the Portuguese gem at Anfield, with the 5 foot 7 ace having been restricted to just 13 Premier League appearances – only four of which came from the start.

Despite being hailed as a "big talent" by Jurgen Klopp earlier in the season, Carvalho has seemingly been unable to totally earn the faith of his manager, with the German previously stating that while the forward has done "nothing wrong", the team have simply been in need of "different skills".

As such, it is, therefore, no surprise that the Portugal U21 international could be on his way sooner rather than later, with Klopp already having a a wealth of young talent at his disposal who can quickly replace the £5m man in the first-team set up.

Among those who are particularly catching the eye is the Reds' teenage duo of Kaide Gordon and Ben Doak…

Who are Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon?

The two youngsters have both been recruited by the Merseysiders in recent years, with Gordon having been snapped up from Derby County back in 2021, while Doak joined from Old Firm giants, Celtic in 2022.

While it is still early days in their development, the pair have already sparked notable interest, with RedMen TV's Ste Hoare – in an interview with Football FanCast – stating that the attacking duo could fight it out to seal a regular place in the senior ranks, ahead of Carvalho.

The respected insider stated:

"I would be more excited about Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon being one of those to be the sixth option as a forward. So [Mohamed] Salah, [Darwin] Nunez, [Cody] Gakpo, [Luis] Diaz, [Diogo] Jota. And then I do think – obviously [Roberto] Firmino's left – so they're looking for, I guess, a sixth person in that rotation.

"And it'd be interesting to see who comes out on top because they're both very exciting young players that are different in their skill sets. But I think one of those we might end up seeing as the sixth forward option especially, again, if Carvalho leaves the club like It looks like he might."

As Hoare alluded to, 17-year-old Doak – who typically operates on the right flank – enjoyed a real breakthrough campaign this season after notably bagging 11 goals and eight assists in all competitions at youth level as well as making five first-team outings, having been described as a "huge talent" by journalist Barry Anderson.

Gordon, meanwhile, has been hampered by injury over the last year or so, although the 18-year-old – who is also a right winger by trade – has already made four appearances for the first-team, scoring against Shrewsbury Town back in January 2022.

With the two wonderkids only on the cusp of the senior ranks at present, the departure of Carvalho could allow at least one of them the chance to establish themselves as a part of Klopp's forward line next term.

قاد جناح نادي طرابزون سبور، محمود حسن تريزيجيه، فريقه للفوز بهدف نظيف على أضنة ديمير سبور في الجولة السابعة والعشرين من بطولة الدوري التركي.

واستضاف طرابزون سبور على ملعب “بابارا” منافسه أضنة ديمير سبور وسط حضور جماهيري بقيادة الحكم، بوراك سيكير.

اقرأ أيضًا.. رسميًا | يوسف عطال ينتقل إلى الدوري التركي هدف تريزيجيه في مباراة طرابزون سبور وأضنة في الدوري التركي

وسجل تريزيجيه هدف طرابزون سبور والمباراة الوحيد في الدقيقة 21 من عمر الشوط الأول، وهو الهدف السابع له هذا الموسم في الدوري التركي.

وحاول طرابزون سبور تسجيل الهدف الثاني على مدار ما تبقى من المباراة ولكن الحكم ألغى هدفًا للمهاجم، أنيس برادهي، بداعي التسلل بعد مراجعة تقنية الـVAR.

بهذا الفوز، يرتفع رصيد طرابزون سبور إلى النقطة 46 بالمركز الثالث في ترتيب الدوري التركي، في حين أن رصيد أضنة ديمير سبور تجمد عند 32 نقطة في المركز الثاني عشر.

Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani and his firm Aser Holding Company being involved in a deal to buy a stake in Sampdoria may speed up a sale of the Whites to 49ers Enterprises, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

What's the latest news involving Leeds United and Andrea Radrizzani?

As per BBC Sport, Radrizzani, as part of consortium Aser Holding Company has agreed a deal to buy Italian side Sampdoria and has also apologised to Leeds United fans due to their relegation to the Sky Bet Championship.

The 48-year-old said: "I am sincerely sorry for how this season has unfolded. We have made significant investments to try to keep Leeds United in the Premier League, but in working hard to improve the club, we have also obviously made some mistakes. We are reflecting on the decisions that we have taken to ensure we learn the lessons to improve our club and make progress in the future."

Sky Sports report that Leeds United owner Radrizzani remains in 'advanced negotiations' to sell the club to 49ers Enterprises and their takeover is still set to be completed regardless of the Whites' relegation to the English second-tier.

Leeds United are also in the hunt for a new manager following news that Sam Allardyce has ended his short spell at Elland Road, as per BBC Sport.

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that Radrizzani's involvement in a deal to purchase Sampdoria may provide a clearer picture of when Leeds United may change hands at ownership level.

Jacobs said: "Sampdoria is an interesting one, that offer that's been accepted, or, let me rephrase, that agreement that is in place is the first step towards acquisition and I think that's really important to understand. So, what Radrizzani and Aser have done is fought off competition and agreed on something in principle to proceed, but now there has to be due diligence at Sampdoria, now there has to be talks with banks around debt refinancing and Radrizzani has to build a fuller consortium, of which I understand QSI, the owners of PSG are a part of as well. From there, probably by early July, something is likely to be completed and then in these months, it will become a lot clearer as to what the roadmap is for 49ers Enterprises to take over at Leeds United."

What now for Leeds United?

While the ownership situation will continue to dominate the landscape at Elland Road, there is also the matter of identifying who will be trusted to lead the club forward as manager of Leeds United next term.

The Guardian report that former Leicester City boss and ex-Chelsea coach Graham Potter have emerged as two candidates in the frame for the job; however, it is unclear whether they would be willing to drop into the Sky Bet Championship to manage Leeds United.

West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan is also a contender for the vacancy alongside Andoni Iraola as the search for Allardyce's replacement begins to take shape in Yorkshire, according to The Daily Mail.

Leeds United also want a new sporting director to replace Victor Orta, indicating that there could be a major sea change at the club this summer as they look to bounce back in 2023/24.

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.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details2:29

Compton: England walk away with psychological advantage

On a day that Alastair Cook scored his fifth Test century in India, the most by a visiting batsman, he came desperately close to registering an unlikely Test win, but his opposite number Virat Kohli and R Ashwin saw India through with a 14.2-over partnership after England needed six wickets in 25.2 of the minimum of 49 overs they had given themselves to win the Test in. As England bowled their overs quickly and got 52.3 of them in, Kohli, digging in, having a go at the team mascot for returning the ball too soon, casting rueful glances at his departing partners, hitting boundaries to eat up time, rescued India when they nearly threw it away through no experience of batting when to save Tests.As much as Kohli’s resistance, the lower-order runs in the first innings and some tight bowling at times, India could thank umpire Chris Gaffaney’s interpretation that Ashwin was playing a shot when his bat would be hidden behind the pad and about a foot wide of the line of the ball. It arguably earned India nine overs.Ashwin went on to survive 53 balls to go with Kohli’s 98 to finish a Test that he will count as a good one despite taking only three wickets in the whole match. England, though, will consider it as a moral victory. Ashwin had to bowl 61 overs for third of those wickets after he had struck with the last ball of the first session of the Test. His match figures of 3 for 230 were keeping in with his overall average of 53.4 against England.On the final day, Ashwin felt the need to bowl with a changed action, getting more side-on, rocking back on the right foot, which resulted in more pace and more rip, but all that it got him was economical figures. He conceded 31 runs in 13.3 overs, which might have had a part to play in the slightly conservative declaration: the asking rate for India was over six an over.Having come so close in the end, England will wonder if they could have declared earlier – when the asking rate reached five perhaps – but only those who have worked extremely hard to get into lead will know the risks involved in giving a chance to an opposition that had won 12 last home Tests not affected by weather. They would have also taken into the equation the pitch, which was turning square in the end but when England batted it did so from the rough and not from the centre, which is what concerns most batsmen.Adil Rashid look threatening in the final session•Associated Press

There will be those criticising the pitch, but they will do well to look at the number of missed chances that rose to 11 with Zafar Ansari dropping a tough chance from M Vijay and Stuart Broad shelling a dolly from Cheteshwar Pujara. Any of those wickets, coming at the back of Gautam Gambhir’s duck, would have opened the Test up. Staying unbeaten would have helped Gambhir’s case on a day that KL Rahul returned to first-class cricket. As he looks to revive his Test career, Gambhir did himself no favours by giving second slip catching practice after having played all around a straight delivery in the first innings.Vijay and Pujara then calmed India’s nerves for a bit before they got into an unusual drive fest against the spin of Ansari. Vijay had lofted him down the ground beautifully in the first innings, but this time got too close to one and failed to get the elevation. Drilled back at Ansar, this half chance hit the index finger of the right hand and popped out. The next offering, in the 11th over, went to Broad at point at about one-fifth the pace but popped out again.By the time Pujara got out lbw to Rashid’s legbreak that hit him in front of middle, which should mean that on a fifth-day pitch this had to be pitched outside leg, England had lost 5.4 valuable overs. Pujara’s partner, Vijay, didn’t help matters by looking away as opposed to being alert to a possible review.This was just before tea. Soon after the break, Vijay was done in by Rashid’s drift; playing at a delivery that pitched outside leg and came back to take his inside edge for a bat-pad catch. Ajinkya Rahane saw a short ball, shaped up to pull and exposed his stumps, and then ended up looking to cut as this Moeen Ali offbreak cramped him up. He was bowled off the pads, and you wondered if India – not the best at batting out draws – would mess this up too.Either not trusting their defensive games or mindful of bouncing balls going to hand if they defended, Kohli and Ashwin too kept playing their shots. Except in one particular over when Ashwin exploited the umpires’ leniency towards batsmen pretending to play at balls. On three occasions he was hit on the front pad well in front of and straight of the bat. On all three occasion, Gaffaney ruled not-out because he reckoned Ashwin played those balls. As much was confirmed when England challenged the middle call.The DRS playing conditions have no room for the third umpire to overrule the on-field umpire on whether the batsman played a shot or not. Gaffaney told third umpire Rod Tucker Ashwin had offered his bat in his opinion. The replays returned an umpire’s call here, but the other two were hitting the stumps flush.Finally, though, India’s need to attack got the better of them and Ashwin drove Ansari to short cover after having hit three fours in an Ansari over. India still had a minimum of 10 overs to survive. Wriddhiman Saha came out charging at the spinners, and was applauded by Kohli when he lofted one over mid-on. The charge got him soon as he offered a return catch to Rashid. This brought back memories of Adelaide when India had come close to an improbable target, but lost in a collapse triggered by Saha’s forays down the wicket.Kohli, though, stayed firm as the Test grew tenser in the last 10 overs. England tried everything. They brought all the fielders in, their reserve fielders sat the edge of the boundary to save time should India hit boundaries. One such boundary, hit by Ravindra Jadeja, bisected the two reserve fielders, but was returned promptly by Dharamveer, a specially abled man who travels to India matches and is allowed to watch from the boundary edge. Kohli let his annoyance known.Kohli saved the match in his own way. He used his wrists to keep the ball down but kept driving hard at balls. In he 46th over, it nearly got him out as he looked to whip a sharp offbreak to midwicket. The ball, fortunately for him, fell straight of forward short leg. In his own way, Jadeja kept hitting boundaries with Rashid spinning the ball into him, and ended up with 32 off 33.England will still be happy they pushed India after their batsmen had made the pitch and the bowling look easy. Cook became only the fourth visiting batsman to score 1000 runs in India, Haseeb Hameed registered the highest score for an England teenager but fell 18 short of what would have an emotional debut century in front of his family, and the promoted Ben Stokes scored a run-a-ball 29 to facilitate the declaration, but as it turned out England didn’t have enough time in the end.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in sealing a move for Stuttgart defender, Hiroki Ito, as Ange Postecoglou looks to bolster his defensive ranks this summer.

What is the latest on Ito to Tottenham?

A report from 90min last week suggested that the new Spurs boss had approved the club's search to find a new centre-back addition, with the likes of Harry Maguire and Aymeric Laporte having been mooted as potential targets.

According to Japanese outlet, Sponichi, however, the ex-Celtic man could be opting to make a more left-field move with the signing of the aforementioned Ito, with the 24-year-old having spent the last two seasons with the Bundesliga outfit.

The report suggests that the north Londoners are 'interested' in signing the 6 foot 2 ace ahead of next season, with the former Jubilo Iwata man – who made the move to Germany on an initial loan deal in 2021 – having just two years remaining on his current contract.

Who is Hiroki Ito?

The nine-cap Japan international has caught the eye due to his standout form for Stuttgart over the last two years, having praised as having an "unbelievable" left foot by the club's former sporting director, Sven Mislintat.

With the versatile rock having the ability to feature at both left-back and in the centre of the defence, the £9m-rated ace could potentially prove a dream upgrade on long-serving Tottenham man, Ben Davies, amid reports that Postecoglou and co are willing to listen to offers for the Welshman this summer.

As pundit Gabby Agbonlahor suggested, the 30-year-old seemingly "just isn't good enough anymore", hence the need to bring in a figure like Ito to take his place ahead of next season.

The difference in quality between the pair was particularly evident in the most recent campaign, with Ito illustrating his ball-winning brilliance after averaging 1.3 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game from his 30 league appearances, while Davies averaged just 0.9 and 0.6 per game for those same two metrics, respectively.

While both Davies and Ito created four big chances in the league in 2022/23 as a sign of their attacking intent, it does appear to be the latter man who offers a greater creative outlet, as he ranks in the top 5% among his European peers for progressive passes – with the current Spurs man ranking in just the top 20% in that regard.

Equally, with the former Swansea City ace having been described by Agbonlahor as being "so poor on the ball" during a recent encounter, Postecoglou could ditch the £80k-per-week liability by bringing Ito into the fold.

With the former Yokohama F Marinos boss having utilised his knowledge of the Japanese game to acquire the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda during his time at Parkhead, the 57-year-old could well repeat that masterstroke with the addition of the Stuttgart sensation.

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah this summer as they look to issue a rebuild after a lacklustre campaign.

What's the latest on Jonathan Tah to Tottenham?

That's according to Sport BILD, who claim that Tah could leave for just €18m (£16m) due to an exit clause within his contract, and Spurs are among the interested parties.

The 27-year-old has been a dependable defender in the German Bundesliga over the past several years and Tottenham could benefit from clinching his services, with only five Premier League outfits shipping more than their 63 goals this term.

With Clement Lenglet reportedly returning to Barcelona this summer after his loan spell in north London, space is indeed opened up for someone of Tah's ilk to forge a prosperous career with the Lilywhites.

Should Tottenham sign Jonathan Tah?

After pipping Arsenal to Champions League qualification in the dying embers of the 2021/22 campaign, the Lilywhites looked to be on the up under the tutelage of Antonio Conte, but as the recently-concluded campaign raged on, Spurs fell further and further into the abyss.

Two wins from their past eight matches resulted in a miserable slump away from Champions League contention into an eighth-placed finish, meaning caretaker manager Ryan Mason's side will not play in Europe next term.

There is now an opportunity for a carefully drawn-out rebuild, and Tah could certainly contribute towards the bolstering of the leaky backline, having been hailed as a "battleship" by former teammate Christoph Kramer when signing for Die Werkself eight years ago.

Ryan Mason is not expected to lead from the dugout next year and among the managerial candidates, Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou's name rises to the fore, with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy hoping to enter negotiations after the Hoops' Scottish Cup final.

Having been dubbed a "genius" by pundit Frank McAvennie, the 57-year-old likes to dominate possession and play a positive, fluid game – which warrants the inclusion of centre-backs more than capable with their passing skills.

Tah is one of the most astute ball players of any defender in the game, ranking among the top 10% of positional peers throughout Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, as per FBref.

Once praised for being "quick, technically gifted but still robust” by former Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler​​​​​​, his composure and aptitude for sweeping danger away – Tah averaged 3.5 clearances per game in the Bundesliga this term (as per Sofascore) – has drawn comparisons to Liverpool phenom Virgil van Dijk, who has been one of Europe's superlative centre-backs since signing for the Reds from Southampton for £75m in January 2018.

Indeed, his former Leverkusen head coach Peter Bosz once said:

“I certainly see parallels between Jonathan and Virgil van Dijk.

“I know Van Dijk well because he comes from the Netherlands. He has taken steps, but he too has had to master the aggressiveness in defence. I’m sure Jonathan will succeed in that too."

Van Dijk has been heralded as the "best centre-half of all time" by former Liverpool star Michael Owen and contributed enormously to his club's illustrious success under Jurgen Klopp's tutelage, winning the 2019 Best Player in Europe award; also gleaning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, among other honours.

The 31-year-old Dutchman has made 4.2 clearances on average in the Premier League this term and completed 91% of his passes, and while he boasts far superior aerial dominance to Tah, winning 74% of his aerial duels as opposed to the German's 55%, Tah could cement a commanding role at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium regardless.

Tottenham need to bridge the gap to England's top outfits next term and could entice Tah with a central role in the reshaping of the club, and with Postecoglu potentially at the helm, it could be a match made in heaven.

Sri Lankan legspinning allrounder Jeevan Mendis has signed for Derbyshire for the first half of the 2017 season

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Oct-2016

Sri Lankan legspinning allrounder Jeevan Mendis has signed for Derbyshire for the first half of the 2017 season.Mendis’ arrival continues the emphasis on legspin for next season with Mendis due to be replaced after the ICC Champions Trophy at the end of June by South Africa’s experienced leggie Imran Tahir.He will feature in the first-half of the Specsavers County Championship and also the group and knockout stages of the Royal London One-Day Cup.Mendis has played 70 limited-overs matches for Sri Lanka since making his debut in 2010. Derbyshire’s director of cricket, Kim Barnett, said: “He is an experienced match-winner who will also help our talented youngsters.”Meanwhile, John Sadler, who was Derbyshire coach during a disastrous 2016 campaign, which included a winless Championship campaign in Division Two, has left the county by mutual consent.Sadler’s departure became likely after Barnett announced a comprehensive restructuring of the coaching department. John Wright, the former India and New Zealand coach, has already been named as a specialist T20 coach – the first such appointment in county cricket.

When Tottenham Hotspur reached the Champions League final in 2019, it was supposed to be a watershed moment for the ambitious London outfit.

Mauricio Pochettino had crafted one of the most eye-catching and fluid teams in the Premier League and, despite the loss on that fateful day by the hand of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, the rich pool of talent tantalised green pastures over yonder.

Instead, the dismissal of Antonio Conte this year was the fourth permanent manager discarded in as many years, and the failure to qualify for European football this term has underscored the issues that the club is currently beset with.

Ange Postecoglou has now been appointed and supporters will eagerly anticipate how the Australian will bolster the squad this summer.

One of his first moves could be to seal a swoop for Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie, who has been linked with a departure from Camp Nou after just one season and has been reported by Spanish publication AS to be of interest to the Lilywhites.

As per the report, a fee of €35m (£30m) could be required to prise him away, and given his imposing physicality and tendency to progress play with his barging presence, he could suit English football and Postecoglou's system to a tee.

Should Tottenham sign Franck Kessie?

Dubbed a "warrior" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 60-cap Ivory Coast international won Serie A last term and LaLiga this season, making 43 appearances for Xavi's outfit but only starting seven times in the league, consequently discontented with life in Catalonia and ostensibly seeking an exit, with Spurs all too willing to enrich their ranks.

If he is managed aptly, Kessie could be moulded as Tottenham's next version of Dele Alli, with the England international suffering misfortune and a plummet from prominence over the past several seasons but unequivocally one of the most prodigious talents to ever grace Premier League soil.

Alli plundered 67 goals and 61 assists from 269 appearances for Spurs before losing his spark and being shipped out to Everton at the midpoint of the 21/22 campaign, having now completed an unsuccessful season-long loan move with Turkish Super Lig side Besiktas.

At his resounding best, Alli was lauded as a talent with the "world at his feet" by Frank Lampard and "very special" by Xavi – two former stars who know a thing or two about how to succeed as a first-rate midfielder.

The one-time MK Dons youngster was best suited to an attacking role deployed behind the all-encompassing talisman Harry Kane, almost a shadow striker at times, and wreaked havoc with his unflinching approach and devastating offensive potency.

Praised as an "amazing player" by former Spurs 'keeper Paul Robinson, Kessie can emulate this; he ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for both touches in the attacking box and progressive passes received per 90, as per FBref, driving forward just like the 37-cap England ace.

And while the former AC Milan gem has been a peripheral figure with La Blaugrana this year, 19 goals across his final two seasons in Serie A, complemented by clinching the Scudetto last term, illustrates a goal-scoring prowess and a "devastating" danger, as remarked by Antonio Cassano, to match Alli's – who posted 37 strikes across his first three top-flight campaigns.

Kessie's possible transfer to Tottenham could well be an unmitigated success, with Kane's superlative skill as one of football's most creative striking focal points – ranking among the top 10% of strikers for shot-creating actions and the top 4% for progressive passes per 90 – providing Kessie with the perfect platform to unleash the full might of his attacking arsenal.

Forging a battle for top four and a confident domestic cup run is imperative next year and with Kessie's signing, the return to the former free-flowing football that left the Spurs support in raucous rapture could return to cast aside the cobwebs of the 22/23 term and drape the curtain irrevocably on the recent woes.

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.