Lancashire chased down a revised 18-over target of 161 to beat Derbyshire in a thriller at Blackpool and significantly boost their hopes of qualification for the knockout stage of the Royal London One-Day Cup

ECB Reporters Network12-May-2017
ScorecardStephen Parry helped Lancashire sneak victory [file picture]•Getty ImagesLancashire chased down a revised 18-over target of 161 to beat Derbyshire in a thriller at Blackpool and significantly boost their hopes of qualification for the knockout stage of the Royal London One-Day Cup.Rain affected this North Group clash between two mid-table sides both hoping to seal a top-three berth.Derbyshire, invited to bat, initially posted 132 for 2 from 21.3 overs before their innings was ended by the weather shortly before 3pm.When play resumed at 5.30pm, the Lightning’s task was a stiff one. But Stephen Parry was their hero with 22 not out off nine balls as he helped take 27 off the last two overs, winning by three wickets with a delivery to spare.The Lightning have now won three on the bounce, and two more wins will see them qualify.Alex Davies and Karl Brown got Lancashire’s chase off to a flyer with an opening stand of 42 in 5.1 overs. Davies hit two boundaries in the first over from Ben Cotton before Brown hoisted the same bowler over long-on for six as 39 came off the first four overs.But Shiv Thakor, who had earlier hit a powerful 38 off 33 balls, then made the breakthrough when he had Davies caught at deep midwicket for 21.Liam Livingstone hammered a four and a six, over wide long-on, off the leg-spin of Jeevan Mendis early in the eighth over, but the Sri Lankan got his man as he miscued a catch to the same area.The hosts, who needed 96 off the last 10 overs, lost their third and fourth wickets in the 10th and 11th as the score fell to 81 for four, handing the hosts the definite advantage. Dane Vilas hammered a return catch to Thakor and leg-spinner Matt Critchley bowled Brown for 39.Mendis, who later left the field with a nasty looking hand injury, claimed his second, Jordan Clark stumped, as the score fell to 95 for 5 in the 13th. The target then became 60 off the last five: Derbyshire looked slight favouritesRyan McLaren hit a couple of sixes to take that to 32 off the last three before being bowled by Thakor.Haseeb Hameed was run out two balls later as Lancashire fell to 135 for 7. But Parry and captain Steven Croft, unbeaten on 26, dramatically turned the tide, with Parry hitting three boundaries in three balls off Hardus Viljoen in the penultimate over.Earlier, opener Ben Slater, fresh from scores of 30, 72, 43 and 82 in his last four innings in this competition, added a run-a-ball unbeaten 60 for the Falcons.Lancashire’s bowlers were put under pressure either side of two rain delays before the third came midway through the afternoon.Slater reached 50 in as many balls, but only after he had lost opening partner and captain Billy Godleman caught at long-leg off a short ball from Clark, leaving the score at 59 for 1 in the 12th.Clark later left the field with a suspected side injury, something which did not prevent him from batting.Thakor hit Clark and James Anderson for two huge leg-side sixes out of Stanley Park to really boost the visitors. But he was stumped off the off-spin of Croft in the 22nd over as the score fell to 128 for 2.Only two more balls were bowled in the innings. Derbyshire are now unlikely to qualify with two games remaining, although they are not mathematically out.

ScorecardIt was a memorable match for Liam Norwell•Getty Images

Gloucestershire picked up their first Specsavers County Championship victory of the season by beating Leicestershire by an innings and six runs at The Brightside Ground in Bristol.Having scored 466 for 8 declared in their first innings, Phil Mustard’s side bowled out Leicestershire twice, inside two days, with Liam Norwell returning match-winning figures of 10 for 99.The win will certainly go some way towards softening the blow of last week’s heavy defeat at the hands of Kent. For Leicestershire, however, there is little or no consolation. That’s two chastening defeats in as many games.Resuming on 165 for 6 on day three, the visitors soon found themselves in trouble at the hands of Norwell, who bowled very well indeed from the Ashley Down End. The Dorset-born seamer sent back Clint McKay in the first over of the day to celebrate his 200th first-class wicket.To their credit, Ned Eckersley and Richard Jones proved what was capable with an ounce of application and a genuine appetite for the fight, as they added 89 for the eighth wicket. Unfortunately, for the visitors, it was never likely to be enough to help the Foxes avoid the follow on and subsequently, another disappointing loss.Eckersley led the way with 88 off 103 balls, having passed 50 off 66 deliveries. However, when he departed, bowled by Norwell, at 255 for 8, Leicestershire were still well short of their initial target of saving the follow on.Gavin Griffiths became Norwell’s fifth victim of the innings, four runs later, and with Colin Ackermann unable to bat after retiring hurt on day two, their innings came to a close on 259 for 9.Unfortunately for Leicestershire, whose second innings progressed to 6 for 0 at lunch, the afternoon session was every bit a disappointing. And it was that man Norwell who was once again responsible.Bowling in tandem with David Payne, Norwell ripped the heart out of Leicestershire’s top and middle order. After Payne had kicked off the session by having Paul Horton caught by wicketkeeper Mustard for 6, Norwell sent back Harry Dearden, Neil Dexter and Mark Pettini during a seven-over spell that saw him return the impressive figures of 3 for 19.When Payne added his second wicket, that of Mark Cosgrove at 51 for 5, the game looked as though it would be all over by tea.Thankfully, for Leicestershire, Eckersley knuckled down to the task in hand and added 86 with Ben Raine for the sixth wicket. Having helped himself to a first half century of the summer in the first innings, Eckersley was unbeaten on 53 at tea, having passed 50 off as many balls, with eight fours. The pair had looked in little trouble until Raine carelessly ran himself out for 42.McKay’s cameo – 29 off 39 deliveries – once again held up Gloucestershire. However, when Norwell had the Australian caught in the slips by George Hankins, shortly after tea, the end was nigh.Mustard picked up a wonderful catch to send back Richard Jones in Payne’s next over and though Eckersley batted beautifully for 85, he finally holed out to Jack Taylor on the point boundary off the bowling of Norwell. A fitting end for the bowler who deservedly received a standing ovation from those who saw it.

Chelsea are readying themselves to "push again this week" for midfielder Moises Caicedo and are in "direct conversations" with Brighton & Hove Albion over a potential deal, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Is Caicedo joining Chelsea?

Stamford Bridge has been a chaotic place in recent weeks. As players scramble over one another to find the exit door, new boss Mauricio Pochettino still doesn't know what his squad will look like next season.

One thing the Argentine is sure of is that he would like Caicedo to join him, with Chelsea ramping up their interest in the young Ecuador midfielder.

The 21-year-old has consistently shone at Brighton since he broke into the starting lineup and will be imminently granted his wish to leave the club this transfer window.

Caicedo is Chelsea's number one target, but there is still the issue of ironing out the financial details with Brighton before a move can be finalised.

According to Romano, there is nothing concrete yet between the club despite Caicedo and Chelsea being close on personal terms, but the Blues are continually pushing for the South American.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano stated: "For Chelsea it is an important week in terms of contacts for Moises Caicedo because, guys, it's also not easy as a journalist to tell you about this deal because it's a particular deal with the two clubs.

"Chelsea and Brighton are in direct contact, as I explained to you many times, and this is why it is not easy to see in the media many reports about this story for Caicedo. It's not a daily bid, a daily proposal from Chelsea to Brighton and an answer from Brighton to Chelsea. It's a daily exchange between the two clubs, so it's a direct conversation."

He continued: "I can guarantee to you that the conversations are ongoing. Chelsea will push again this week. So, it's not easy to speak about terms of the deal because it's an available conversation, not an official conversation, but for sure this is still ongoing and this week they will work again on the deal – Chelsea and Brighton for Moises Caicedo.

"And the player is still hoping and pushing to join Chelsea because he has an agreement almost done as we know very well with Chelsea on the personal terms. So, the player is not a problem, the player said yes, and now it's on the clubs."

Romano adds that Pochettino hopes to bring Caicedo in as soon as possible, with the Blues heading on their tour of the United States in mid-July. Ironically, they face Brighton on said tour on July 22, but it remains to be seen for which side Caicedo may feature.

Caicedo made 37 Premier League appearances for Brighton last term and helped the Seagulls to a sixth-placed finish and European qualification for the first time in the club's history. Meanwhile, Chelsea slumped to an embarrassing 12th-placed finish, only ten points above relegated Leicester City.

What is Caicedo worth?

The major stumbling block between Chelsea and Brighton at present has been the Seagulls' incredibly high valuation of Caicedo.

Despite having only made 45 Premier League appearances in total, Brighton have slapped a hefty £100m price tag on Caicedo. Chelsea are not keen on paying that much for a player who is relatively experienced, especially given they forked out £106.8m for Enzo Fernandez in January.

The Blues are hoping to compromise, suggesting around £80m, but Roberto de Zerbi's side are holding firm on their appraisal.

Since Todd Boehly's arrival as Chelsea's new owner, the club have spent approximately £500m across two transfer windows and their spending shows no signs of slowing down having signed Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson for a combined £83m.

Admittedly, they have brought in £188m through player sales so far, with more to come, but Caicedo may still eat up a large chunk of any remaining budget.

Everton will soon see further investment from MSP Sports Capital 'rubber-stamped' at Goodison Park as the deal is 'essentially done', according to journalist Paul Brown.

What's the latest news involving potential investment in Everton?

According to iNews, Everton are in 'advanced talks' with private equity firm MSP Sports Capital over potential investment into the club to help with their Financial Fair Play issues and the building of their new stadium located at Bramley Moore-Dock.

Nevertheless, a source close to the situation has revealed that there is 'no timeline' on when a deal will be concluded as it is a 'very complex' procedure to complete.

The Toffees reached an exclusivity agreement with the firm back in May, putting an end to speculation over a potential takeover from 777 Partners and leaving the path clear for MSP Sports Capital to help finance the Toffees, as per BBC Sport.

The holding company involved with the construction of the new stadium, Everton Stadium Development Holding Company Limited, were given a loan totalling around £40 million to help keep the project moving forward without a hitch, as per The Athletic.

Everton fans have long been dissatisfied with owner Farhad Moshiri and protests were widespread last campaign as the team eventually scraped their way to retaining their Premier League status on the final day thanks to a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, as per BBC Sport.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Brown is confident that a deal for further investment in Everton will be 'rubber-stamped' before too long.

Brown stated: “It’s difficult to say when any announcement will be made. The deal is essentially done for these investors to come in.

“They've raised significant money earmarked to go into the club that will help. Everyone is expecting this to be rubber-stamped, signed, sealed and delivered in the near future.

“These things sometimes take time, but I believe we're close to seeing it completed and that there will be some good news for Everton fans in the near future.”

What next for Everton?

Everton will be keen to land some new signings as Sean Dyche drastically looks to improve his thin squad ahead of the new campaign commencing.

According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, free agent Ashley Young looks likely to be the first name through the door this summer, as the Italian stated: "Medical completed and contract signed. Ashley Young becomes new Everton player. Here we go, confirmed."

Sport Italia via The Sun detail that Leeds United wideman Wilfried Gnonto may be set to join Young on Merseyside and is closing in on a £19 million move to Goodison Park.

The Toffees have reportedly beaten off competition from Aston Villa, Manchester United and Arsenal to snap up the Italy senior international.

In a potential shock move, Arnaut Danjuma is believed to be at the centre of talks with Everton and the Blues are seeking to bring in the Netherlands international just six months after he famously changed his mind at the 11th-hour to join Tottenham Hotspur on a loan deal in the January window, as per TEAMtalk.

There will be plenty of twists and turns to come in the transfer window and Everton supporters will hope that they can strengthen with some exciting arrivals ahead of this season starting competitively.

كشف محمد أسامة رئيس الجهاز الطبي لفريق الزمالك، موقف يوسف إبراهيم أوباما، بعد الجراحة التي خضع لها، على خلفية إصابته بكسر في الفك، خلال مباراة مودرن فيوتشر الماضية.

وانتصر الزمالك أمام فيوتشر مساء الأحد الماضي بنتيجة 2-1 في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما في ذهاب ربع نهائي الكونفدرالية.

قال محمد أسامة في تصريحات لبرنامج “زملكاوي” عبر قناة الزمالك: “أوباما تعرض لكسر في الفك، وكان يرغب في استكمال مباراة مودرن فيوتشر رافضًا فكرة استبداله، وهو ما رفضته تمامًا حفاظًا على حالة اللاعب”.

طالع.. مران الزمالك | ناصر ماهر يواصل التأهيل ونزول الحمل البدني للاعبين

وأضاف: “أوباما يشعر بالحزن نتيجة غيابه عن مباريات فريقه، إلا أن حالته النفسية تحسنت كثيرًا خلال الساعات الماضية”.

وأتم: “أوباما سيعودلتدريبات الزمالك بعد 10 أيام من الآن، على أن يخوض تدريبات الكرة مرتديًا واقي الرأس لتفادي الاحتكاك القوي مع أي من زملائه خلال التدريبات”.

Wolverhampton Wanderers may revisit a target from the past, as Chilean winger Daniel Osorio could become available this summer.

The teenager was linked to Wolves during last summer’s window, with Sport Witness relaying news that suggested the teenager was all but a player at Molineux.

Fast forward to this transfer window, and the 19-year-old is once again circulating in news regarding the Midlands club, with the Express and Star linking the teen with a move back in May.

The saga doesn’t quite end there, with Molineux News relaying reports from Chile that the youngster is likely to be sold this summer, due to a dip in form at Universidad de Chile.

With a reported price tag of £7.5m and West Ham United also circling the winger, it could be now or never to finally bring the Chilean to Molineux.

What could Dario Osorio offer to Wolves?

Having sold Nathan Collins to Brentford and Ruben Neves to Al-Hilal, Wolves will be eyeing signings to balance the departure and arrival ratio, with Joao Moutinho, Diego Costa and Adama Traore departing at the expiration of their contracts.

In Traore's departure, Julen Lopetegui will lose some firepower in his attack, with the Spaniard averaging in the top 5% of wingers in the Premier League last season in terms of successful take-ons, averaging 2.95 per 90, via FBref.

Despite being a threat 1v1, Traore has lacked in the final third in situations where ultimately Wolves were crying out for him to deliver.

The Old Gold ended the campaign scoring just 31 goals in 38 games, cementing themselves as the league’s lowest-scorers.

In a total of 157 appearances in the Premier League for Wolves, the Spaniard netted just ten goals, via Transfermarkt, highlighting that his threat can indeed be replenished on the flank following his exit.

Lopetegui could find himself with an adequate heir to the former Barcelona man in Osorio, who shone last season in Chile.

Hailed as a “talent” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Osorio has shown glimpses of the player he could be, hence interest from the English top tier.

Last campaign in the Primera Division, the "flamboyant" teenager – as dubbed by scout Jacek Kulig – scored seven goals in just 16 starts for Universidad de Chile, deployed as a left-footed right-winger.

The youngster's energy in the final third is something that Lopetegui could benefit greatly from, as well as signifying that he could add more in front of goal than the player he could replace in Traore.

While his seven goals were impressive for a player of just 18 at the time, the Hijuelas-born gem acted as a live wire whenever in possession, as supported by his numbers.

As per Sofascore, the teenager averaged one successful dribble per game, as well as 1.4 shots, despite averaging just 58 minutes per game.

Another element that the Chilean could bring to Lopetegui’s attack in addition to his threat on the ball, is his distribution and eye for a creative pass, as highlighted through his average of 1.1 key passes per game last season, with Traore averaging 0.7 this term.

With West Ham also circling the teenager, Wolves must act fast if they are to finally end the saga between Osorio and Molineux.

Tottenham Hotspur have Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo "high" on their list of targets for the summer, according to journalist Alasdair Gold.

Which defenders are Tottenham signing?

In a recent update on Twitter, Gold confirmed that Adarabioyo is one of Tottenham's key defensive targets for this window, saying:

"Understand Tosin Adarabioyo remains high on Spurs' list of potential central defender moves this summer after some extensive scouting last season."

However, the Fulham defender is not Spurs' only potential target, as detailed by Gold in his report for Football London, with Bundesliga duo Edmond Tapsoba and Micky van de Ven also said to be on their list of targets.

The Lilywhites are looking to overhaul their defence ahead of next season, and talks are ongoing over a deal for Tapsoba, who Gold has previously highlighted as the club's "main target".

Van de Ven remains an option if Tottenham are unable to get a move for Tapsoba over the line, with the Dutch centre-back expected to leave Wolfsburg this summer, according to journalist Ryan Taylor.

In the aforementioned Football London report, Gold claims that Adarabioyo ticks plenty of boxes, as he is a homegrown player, and his contract is set to expire at the end of next season, meaning he could be available for a knock-down fee.

The £37k-per-week defender's performances last season have earmarked him as a strong possibility for Ange Postecoglou's defence, however, Spurs will have to fend off interest from elsewhere, with the likes of Inter Milan and AS Monaco also interested.

Is Tosin Adarabioyo leaving Fulham?

With some top clubs from across Europe interested in the centre-back, it would not be a surprise if he seeks pastures new this summer, and some of his displays in the 2022-23 campaign indicate he could be a solid signing for Tottenham.

Having previously been hailed as "magnificent" by former Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, the Englishman has now started to prove himself in the Premier League, averaging 5.5 clearances per game last term, the highest amount in the Fulham squad.

The former Blackburn man received a match rating of over 7.0 in eight of his final ten games for Fulham last season, putting in a very solid display despite a 1-0 loss at Liverpool, making eight clearances and one interception.

Adarabioyo had a very strong end to the 2022-23 campaign, and he could now be ready to take the next step his career by making the switch to Tottenham.

Sean Dyche is looking to bolster his attacking options at Everton ahead of next season, as the former Burnley manager doesn’t want another nerve-shredding campaign like the previous two that the Goodison Park faithful have had to endure.

With this in mind, the 52-year-old is keen on signing Villarreal star Arnaut Danjuma during the summer transfer window.

Who is interested in Arnaut Danjuma?

According to The Athletic, the Goodison Park side are looking to secure the Dutchman on a loan deal ahead of the 2023/24 season as Dyche looks to strengthen.

The £52k-per-week winger is attracting plenty of interest from elsewhere however, with Fabrizio Romano providing a further update.

He tweeted: “AC Milan have entered the race for Danjuma. He's in the list while Feyenoord and Everton are also in discussion with the player.

“Understand has met with Sean Dyche and Arne Slot whilst Milan speaks with his agents. Big days for Danjuma, decision expected soon.”

New signings on the flanks appear to be high on the agenda for Dyche and co at present, with the club also said to be in talks regarding a move for Manchester United's Anthony Elanga.

Will Everton sign Arnaut Danjuma?

The Toffees have lost a few attacking players recently, with Moise Kean, Andros Townsend and Ellis Simms all leaving Merseyside, while winger Demarai Gray is also attracting interest from elsewhere, Dyche could find himself extremely short of attacking options with just a few weeks to go before the start of the Premier League season.

Danjuma already has some experience in the English top flight, having spent the second half of last season on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, yet he failed to truly display his talents, registering only two goals from 11 appearances, although he only started one game for the club – not really getting an opportunity under Antonio Conte.

During the 2021/22 season however, he shone both in La Liga and in the Champions League, scoring ten and six goals respectively for Villarreal and although his scoring rate dipped last term, he could be an upgrade on Gray, especially if he does move on from Everton this summer.

Indeed, last season, Danjuma registered more shots per 90 (2.36 to 2.05), succeeded with a higher percentage of successful take ons (42.9% to 35.9%) and had more shots on target per 90 (0.97 to 0.79) than Gray, scoring only three times fewer domestically than the Jamaican international.

This is despite enduring a poor season compared to the heights he hit during 2021/22 for the Spanish side and during that campaign, he registered more goals than Gray (ten to five) and succeeded with a higher percentage of successful dribbles (54% to 52%), suggesting that if Dyche could get him back to his best, there is no doubt he could pose a greater danger in the final third than the current Everton winger.

There would no doubt be a great deal of excitement if the Merseysiders were able to snap up Danjuma alongside the aforementioned Elanga, with the £10m-rated speedster also able to help offer increased quality on the flanks.

Despite having provided just two assists in 26 games in all competitions for the Red Devils last term, the 21-year-old does boast the experience of having netted away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League back in 2022, having previously been branded "amazing" by pundit Paul Robinson.

A player comfortable playing on either wing, the promising Sweden international – who has eight goals and assists to his name in 55 outings for the Old Trafford outfit – could dovetail nicely with Danjuma on the opposite side, ensuring that the likes of Gray could be swiftly forgotten about.

Once lauded as a “nightmare for defenders” by Kevin Phillips, the Villarreal ace could be a shrewd signing for the Toffees, especially on a temporary deal and if given the time to get back to his best, he could well be terrorising defenders in the league before long.

Nottinghamshire nightwatchman Luke Fletcher fell eight runs short of a maiden century when he slipped in mid-pitch and was run out

Paul Edwards at Chester-le-Street15-Apr-2017Durham 162 and 162 for 5 (Jennings 62*) trail Nottinghamshire 305 (Fletcher 92, Pattinson 59, Rushworth 4-54) by 19 runs
ScorecardLuke Fletcher swopped bowling duties for the innings of his life•Getty Images

Nottinghamshire’s burly nightwatchman Luke Fletcher fell eight runs of a maiden first-class hundred when he was run out in desperately unfortunate circumstances as Nottinghamshire built a sizeable advantage against Durham at Emirates Riverside.Fletcher earned Nottinghamshire a formidable 143-run lead and they strengthened their position by taking four prime wickets before the deficit had been cleared and that of Paul Coughlin for a breezy 36 once it had.The home side’s hopes of recovery rest largely on the slim shoulders of Keaton Jennings, who composed a polished 62 not out in the 47-over evening session. But if this game ends as now expected sometime on the third day Durham will be a mere 89 points behind their current opponents. They do, though, have a game in hand.At Papplewick and Linby, the Nottinghamshire club where Fletcher first learned his cricket, they may have been raising a glass to their former player on the second evening of this game after his beautifully-constructed 209-minute innings had played the major role in establishing his side’s superiority in this game.There will also be talk of the disaster that befell him when his maiden century was in sight.Pattinson played the ball into the off side where Keaton Jennings effected a fine stop. By then, Fletcher had come two thirds down the wicket but was sent back by his partner who had at first made as if to run.Fletcher slipped onto his backside with the sort of thud that shifts tectonic plates. He got up without his bat and galloped back to the bowler’s end like a frightened shire horse yearning for its stable. But he failed to beat Jennings’ accurate throw and the bails were whipped off by Paul Collingwood with the batsman out of his ground. Fletcher had made 92, thus equalling his highest first-class score. He may well have got home if he could have stretched a bat out.Forget, please, the condescension often attached to nightwatchmen’s innings: this was a proper knock in which Fletcher made the most of his ability to drive through the covers and clip the ball off his legs. He defended the good balls with unruffled precision and took advantage of Durham’s curious willingness to feed his best shots.After Samit Patel was caught at slip off the seventh ball of the morning, Fletcher lost nothing by comparison with either Riki Wessels, who was leg before for eight when wafting across the line to Mark Wood, or Chris Read, bowled for 17 when playing loosely at a Paul Coughlin delivery which nipped back a shade.He dealt phlegmatically with a scoreboard malfunction which gave him extra runs and led to him twice being warmly applauded by admittedly hypothermic home supporters for reaching his fifty when he had not, in fact, done so, and then not at all when he actually achieved his fourth first-class half-century in 121 innings. Fletcher’s team mates on the balcony made good the deficiency in acclamation; they knew the value of this innings.Undefeated on 51 at lunch, the mighty megalith contemplated a yet loftier goal in the afternoon. With James Pattinson offering sound support, it seemed possible that his first century for Nottinghamshire was in range after a decade of wholehearted trying.Three fours in a Ryan Pringle over took him into the nineties, a position from which, so the former Kent batman Trevor Ward frequently asserted, all that is needed is “two good hits”.Ward, alas, was oft dismissed when attempting to put fine theory into rough practice and Fletcher, too, was denied his longed-for glory.Nottinghamshire’s seventh-wicket pair had put on 108-runs. After consoling his partner, although “Sorry, mate” may not have done the needful, Pattinson reached his own fifty and had extended his team’s advantage to 139 when he skied an attempted pull off Graham Onions to a scuttling Stuart Poynter behind the stumps.Already the Australian looks like one of the signings of the season. He has scored 148 runs in two innings and by the end of the second day here he had taken 13 wickets, a haul he completed when he removed Coughlin and Collingwood, the latter quite brilliantly snaffled one-handed by a leaping Wessels at first slip after making 40.In the first three overs of the innings Jake Ball had accounted for Stephen Cook and Jack Burnham, both of whom edged good balls to the cordon and Fletcher then enjoyed more joy when he had Michael Richardson leg before for eight. Down the road Chester-le-Street drew their match although Durham’s Adam Hickey made 58 and took three wickets for his new club. Across the land cricket is beginning and good coaching being done. On such a Saturday April’s cruelties seem well hidden.

Zaheer Khan said he would not fault his batsmen’s approach in their disastrous chase on Saturday night; they were just doing “what had been working” for them, but this time it didn’t come off

ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-20171:54

Now we have to play fearlessly – Zaheer

Zaheer Khan has put Delhi Daredevil’s record-breaking defeat to Mumbai Indians down to “just one of those days where we couldn’t get going”. He could not find fault with his batsmen’s approach, he said, nor was he pessimistic about Daredevils’ chances of making the top four after Saturday night’s rout.”It was a good Delhi wicket to bat on, you could see. Today also we thought it was going to be a 200-run game,” Zaheer said after Daredevils’ 146-run loss, the biggest margin of defeat by runs in IPL cricket. “Basically, once a team gets 200, you know as a batting unit you have to do the things that work for you, which had been working for us in the last couple of games, which is just play freely and go for it. So I don’t think there was anything wrong in terms of the approach.”Daredevils inserted Mumbai, who piled up 212 for 3. In their previous match, Daredevils, at the same venue, the Feroz Shah Kotla, had chased 209 against Gujarat Lions with seven wickets and 15 balls to spare. Rishabh Pant had tonked 97 off 43 in that game, while opener Sanju Samson hit 61 off 31. Against Mumbai, though, both batsmen were out for ducks as Daredevils slumped to 35 for 5 in the Powerplay. Given the dew around, and their performance against Lions, Zaheer said such an outcome was farthest from their minds before the chase began.”Given another chance I would probably go with the same combination. The wicket played really, really well. There was dew around the sixth over when we were bowling, you know, so we felt that dew will work for us,” Zaheer said. “It’s just that those first six overs in such run chases are critical. You look to get 55-60 runs, set that platform, not lose too many wickets, and when things go wrong, this is what happens.”But in terms of approach if you ask me, the approach was absolutely fine, we were going for it, we all felt we could get these runs. It was just losing wickets in bunches meant we were always lagging behind in the game.”Daredevils’ next match is on May 10, against Lions in Kanpur. After that they have games against Rising Pune Supergiant and Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 12 and 14 to conclude the group stage. To progress, they will have to win their remaining three games and hope other results go their way. Zaheer said they would not be stressing over the various permutations, but just look to play their best and take points of each of those three games.”Definitely, the chance is still there, the important thing is we have to win,” he said. “That’s all you can think of, and to get that you have to play good cricket. Our focus will be to regroup as quickly as possible. We have three days break now, so regroup, stay positive, get in that mindset again, and play good cricket. That’s all we are hoping for, and that’s all we’re going to try and do.”This result, meanwhile, kept Mumbai at the top of the points table and sealed their spot in the playoffs. Much of the credit for the victory would have to go to the big-hitting Kieron Pollard, who thumped 63 off 35 to build on his West Indies team-mate and Mumbai opener Lendl Simmons’ 66 off 43. Pollard’s knock came after a promotion to No. 3, and, speaking to Simmons after the game, in an interview on the IPL site, he joked that batting so high up made him feel like a proper batsman.”Great feeling, felt like a Test batsman there, walking out to bat at No. 3,” Pollard said. “Was very much surprised [to bat at No. 3]… I’m going back to the hotel, I’m going to get my white clothes ready, you know, put it under my Mumbai Indians clothes, so when I come out my technique will be right when I come out at No. 3.”