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The imminent return of Dale Steyn means Kyle Abbott cannot feel assured of his place in South Africa’s T20 starting XI

Firdose Moonda02-Mar-20161:00

Dale Steyn back for Australia series

After finishing as the joint-leading wicket-taker in two of South Africa’s last four T20 series, Kyle Abbott should feel assured of his place in the starting XI but the imminent return of Dale Steyn means he is not. With Steyn certain to play in at least two of the three matches against Australia to confirm his spot in the World T20 squad and space for only one other specialist seamer, Abbott could find himself carrying drinks and his progression halted.”I always feel like a bowler that needs to bowl a lot and get into rhythms. To play one game in a series is tough,” Abbott said. “To get an extended run has really built my confidence.”Abbott has played in South Africa’s last 14 T20 matches across six series but never with Steyn, who last played in the shortest format at international level in April 2014, at the previous World T20. South Africa have won three of those series and Abbott played a starring role in the victories. In Bangladesh, his four scalps led the wicket-takers’ list along with Aaron Phangiso. At home against England, Abbott’s five wickets was the most alongside Imran Tahir.Australia’s specialist keeper

While South Africa are looking to allrounders to fill their World T20 squad, Australia have gone old-school and sought a specialist in the shortest format. Peter Nevill, their Test gloveman, was chosen ahead of Matthew Wade or Cameron Bancroft and has been told he only has one job.
“I’ve been told what my role is going to be and that’s ‘catch the ball’,” Nevill said in Durban, where Australia are preparing for their three-match series against South Africa. “As a wicketkeeper, first and foremost your job is to do the work behind the stumps. I suppose we haven’t seen much of that [specialisation] to the same degree in T20. I’ve always been a believer that wicketkeeping is the most fundamental skill.”
Nevill is expected to bat at No. 8, which means that he is unlikely to be required to build an innings but may be called on for some finishing. Even in that role, he will defer to the batsmen in the side.
“We’ve got a lot of hitters in our team so while I am trying to find the boundary, I will also trying to get some of those guys on strike,” he said. “I know I have to keep well and make a contribution if needed at the bottom of the order.”

Abbott has proved himself in a range of conditions and situations, shown ability to swing the ball, threaten at the start and the death and lead an attack that typically includes Kagiso Rabada and allrounders Chris Morris and David Wiese. The problem is that Steyn is expected to do the same thing – albeit a little faster – and that would likely force Abbott out of the side.Steyn’s two-month, injury-enforced break has not dampened South Africa’s willingness to have him as their first-choice. In fact, it has only enhanced his status.”A hungry, fit, energised Dale is a massive plus for us,” Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach, said. “He hasn’t played for a long period of time now and he has come here with a great attitude. He is desperate to play, desperate to do well. He wants to win a World Cup. He wants to be involved in all formats of the game so his energy levels are right up there.”His skills are always going to be there. It’s about making sure the hunger and the passion is there and he definitely has that at the moment.”So the focus is on giving Steyn game time because he has not had any beyond a spell in club cricket last Saturday. “He needs to play some cricket at international level because there is a big difference between club cricket and international cricket,” Domingo said.And if Steyn needs any advice for getting back into the groove, Abbott has some. “Batting has progressed from a guy just standing still to trying to hit you out of the ground to hitting you for a six over the keeper. To keep up with the speed of the game is vital,” Abbott said.Abbott explained that T20 captain Faf du Plessis has instrumental in allowing the bowlers to stay ahead of the game by helping them make decisions about what to bowl, when. “Sometimes it’s just gut feel at the top of your mark. Faf is excellent with that – understanding what a batsman is going to do and then narrowing down our options of what to bowl,” Abbott said.But Abbott admitted that it becomes increasingly difficult when things gets heated. “It’s so short and quick, this format, that it’s sometimes hard to dissect it too much.” He may not feel the same way about his selection.

Newcastle star Joelinton may have put his name in the hat for miss of the season after spurning a gilt-edged chance against Chelsea.

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Newcastle host Chelsea at St James' ParkIsak and Sterling score in first halfJoelinton misses absolute sitter at 1-1Getty WHAT HAPPENED?

Alexander Isak smartly finished past Robert Sanchez in the 13th minute before Raheem Sterling equalised with a brilliant 22-yard free-kick 10 minutes later.

But Newcastle had a glorious chance to re-take the lead, only for Brazilian Joelinton to miss an open goal from inside the six-yard box, as he headed past the post.

AdvertisementSEE WHAT HAPPENED

Joelinton somehow missed from yards away.

PeacockGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

This is a big game for both teams but, arguably, for different reasons. Newcastle, who have their sights set on qualifying for the Champions League again next season, are five points off the top four, whereas Chelsea want to establish themselves as a force in the division once more, with the Blues currently a mid-table side still searching for fluency and cohesion. A win for either side would go a long way to helping them achieve their goals.

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WHAT NEXT?

After this match, Newcastle are back in Champions League action on Tuesday against Paris Saint-Germain whereas Chelsea host Brighton in the Premier League next Sunday.

After missing out on the MLS playoffs in 2023, who could be on their way to South Beach, and what are the club's needs heading into the offseason?

Inter Miami's summer transfer window of 2023 will go down in history. No window in MLS history will have been quite as important. It became immortal the moment Lionel Messi arrived in South Florida, and every moment since than has felt like something out of a movie for anyone following this club.

But, like all great movies, anticipation is building for a sequel. How can Inter Miami possibly follow up the most impactful transfer window of all-time? Can the club pull off more big swings in the months to come? And, most importantly, with Messi now leading the charge, what pieces can they put around him to turn all of these feel-good moments into a legitimate shot at an MLS Cup?

The process of answering those questions has already begun. Since Messi arrived, rumors have been swirling about the next big arrival to follow him, as well as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, to Inter Miami.

But who could Miami sign this winter? GOAL takes a look…

(C)Getty ImagesRules to follow

For those new to MLS, each team operates within a set of guidelines. Some clubs, infamously, play fast and loose with those guidelines, Inter Miami included. But as we head into the 2024 MLS season, we're not entirely sure what those guidelines will look like.

There have been rumors of some changes this winter, but until those are confirmed, we'll have to operate under the assumption that MLS rules will look roughly similar to how they did in 2023. As a result, Inter Miami will enter the season with three Designated Players, the maximum amount, on the roster: Messi, Busquets and Leonardo Campana.

The good news, though, is that the club will finally be finished with its punishment handed down by the league for playing fast and loose with roster rules. The club was caught underreporting salaries, most notably that of French star Blaise Matuidi, leading to a massive fine and a reduced amount of allocation money in 2022 and 2023, limiting how much the club could spend on its roster.

That's done now, meaning Inter Miami will enter 2024 on the same playing field as everyone else.

AdvertisementGettyLuis Suarez

If reports are to be believed, this is all but done. Here's what we know for sure: Luis Suarez is leaving Gremio this winter. The club has confirmed that he's on his way out, albeit controversially, after the striker's fitness dramatically improved once it seemed a switch to Miami with Messi became possible.

Here's what we also know: Messi and Suarez are essentially each other's best friends in the sport. Their families are close and they developed quite a bond, on and off the field, at Barcelona. During their time at Camp Nou, the two were essentially unstoppable, and Messi's relationship with the Blaugrana famously started to go downhill when Barca jettisoned Suarez unceremoniously.

Suarez looks bound for Inter Miami, although it remains to be seen what type of finances it'll take to make that happen. Alba, for example, took a cheap deal in order to play with his friends. Will Suarez do the same to bring yet another Barcelona All-Star to Miami?

Getty ImagesLuka Modric

If Suarez has been linked to Miami the most, Luka Modric finds himself in second place. Reports of the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner joining seven-time winner Messi have been so plentiful, in fact, that Carlo Ancelotti was forced to discuss the speculation, saying thatas things stand, there's no plan to let Modric leave Real Madrid in January. But things change quickly in this sport, don't they?

The question with Modric, though, isn't if Miami can sign him, but what would happen if they did. The midfield already has one ageing midfield star in Busquets cemented in; could Miami afford more older legs in a league like MLS? And if they do make that happen, is someone like Benjamin Cremaschi ready to do all the running needed to keep the midfield going?

Maybe we'll find out, maybe we won't, but the links to Modric probably won't be going away. If the club does pull it off, they'll have brought in another superstar who is still somewhat near the top of his game.

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GettySergi Roberto

Oh look, another Barcelona player linked with a move to Miami! Sergi Roberto isn't an iconic player like Messi, Alba, Busquets or Suarez, but the versatile midfielder has been a mainstay in Catalunya for over a decade, winning everything there is to win. At 31, he still has a few good years in the tank and could finally play a more regular role if he does come to MLS.

It may not happen this winter, though, as reports out of Spain say that Roberto is eager to lead Barcelona as its captain, having taken on the role following Busquets' departure.

Shikhar Dhawan and Eoin Morgan carried Sunrisers Hyderabad to 201 before their bowlers saw off a late burst from the Rajasthan Royals lower order for a seven-run win

The Report by Abhishek Purohit07-May-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details3:38

O’Brien: Royals could miss out on knockouts

Sunrisers Hyderabad took the call of leaving out both their star overseas fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Trent Boult for the first time this season. They shored up their notoriously thin middle order with the inclusion of Ravi Bopara, and then had their four overseas players bat in the top five. The result was a 200-plus total after being put in. David Warner provided the start, Shikhar Dhawan the middle-overs meat with 54 off 35, and Eoin Morgan the finish with 63 off 28, his fastest IPL innings.Rajasthan Royals lost Ajinkya Rahane and Shane Watson within the first four overs. Steven Smith made 68 off 40 but had too much to do with little support. There were late blows from James Faulkner and Sanju Samson, but with 57 needed from three overs, both fell to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Sunrisers seemed to have sealed the game. Chris Morris swung Praveen Kumar for three successive sixes to bring it down to 22 off nine, before the Kumars tightened up again.Starting strongly has not been an issue for Sunrisers, and Dhawan and Warner provided another solid base as they put on 48 inside five overs. Warner had issues with his back and took treatment in the middle, eventually nicking behind trying to hit a third successive four off Watson.Sustaining the momentum given by the openers has been Sunrisers’ problem area but though Moises Henriques struggled to get going at No. 3, Dhawan kept scoring at a healthy pace. There were his usual punches and pulls, and he also resorted to a few reverse-hits before another attempt resulted in him being bowled by James Faulkner.Sunrisers were 127 for 3 in the 15th over then, and have often failed to finish strongly from such stable positions. But Morgan was to finally do the job he has been picked for several times this season. He was on 18 off 15 in the 16th over when he suddenly accelerated full throttle. Six of his next eight balls went for either four or six as Morgan sped to his half-century in 23 balls. Targetting the straight boundary mostly, Morgan spoiled Pravin Tambe and Morris’ figures. The fast bowler came back with a tight last over but could not prevent Sunrisers from going past 200.The Sunrisers seamers were disciplined at the start of the chase. Even as batsmen kept falling at one end trying to force their way through lack of pace, Smith continued to keep Royals alive. His shuffling created angles and room the others did not have.After he missed one off Ravi Bopara in the 15th over, the lower order kept connecting with the boundaries right till the end. Two sixes off the last two balls could have forced a Super Over, but Morris managed a four and a single.

Sheffield United legend Billy Sharp has fired a fresh dig at Wrexham, claiming they “can have a documentary about” his FA Cup goal from last season.

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Blades legend settled dramatic cup tieRuffled a few feathers at the timeNot a fan of the Dragons' current bossWHAT HAPPENED?

The Blades icon helped to dump the Dragons out of one domestic cup competition in 2022-23, with his dramatic stoppage-time strike settling an epic fourth-round replay at Bramall Lane. Sharp aimed post-match jibes at Wrexham after that contest, and has done so again following the release of season two in the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALWHAT THEY SAID

Sharp – who is now plying his trade in MLS with the LA Galaxy – has told in a pot shot at the Welsh club and their Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney: “If they want to put me in the documentary, go ahead. I think people in Los Angeles probably know me now for scoring goals rather than knocking (Wrexham) out of the FA Cup. People don’t even know the real story. Wrexham will put out what they want to on their documentary, and maybe I’ll put out my own and tell them what really happened.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

He added on what happened during a fiery contest in South Yorkshire: “I scored the goal, which knocked them out, and a little scuffle happened in the changing room. I don’t really like their manager anyway from past experiences, and he probably doesn’t like me. It’s just one of those things in football where it sometimes gets very overheated…I know what they’re going to do; they’re going to show the clips that make me look like a baddie. That’s fine. I’ll wait to see what happens and have my say afterwards. The record book says we beat them in the FA Cup, so they can have a documentary about it if they want.”

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

While clearly not a fan of Wrexham or their manager Phil Parkinson, Sharp has joked that he could take the reins at SToK Racecourse in the future. He said when asked about his plans for retirement: “I’ll probably become Wrexham manager when Parkinson gets the sack.”

Sri Lanka’s new selectors will have to “start from the bottom”, chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya has said, after selection strategy between his two stints had set the team back

Andrew Fidel Fernando03-May-2016Sri Lanka’s new selectors will have to “start from the bottom”, chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya has said, suggesting selection strategy between his two stints had set the team back.Jayasuriya was chief selector from February 2013 to March 2015, before his panel was succeeded by one headed by Kapila Wijegunawardene. After that committee was ousted, Jayasuriya helped select the Test squad to England and is now back as chief selector, since May 1.”I did everything 100% for Sri Lankan cricket,” Jayasuriya told . “But if even a little was detracted from that work, then we would have had substantial setbacks because of that. Now what we have to do is start from the bottom. There is a bigger responsibility for me in this stint, than there was when I was first a selector.”Sri Lanka have defeated a Full-Member side only once this year, beating India in a T20I in Pune. During Jayasuriya’s first tenure, the team had won the 2014 World T20 and a Test series in England, before losing in New Zealand, and making a quarter-final exit in the 2015 World Cup. Jayasuriya said he accepted part of the “responsibility” for a poor showing in the World Cup, but suggested the situation had only worsened since then.”First we need to look at which players had been chosen in the past,” he said. “Sometimes you pick young players and then later, these players are dropped and fresh players are brought in. When fresh players are brought in, it takes them a while to succeed, and the players you had been investing in are ignored. That is what happened there.”Jayasuriya did not specify which players he believes should have been given a consistent run in the team. In the Test side, Kaushal Silva and Niroshan Dickwella fell out of favour during Wijegunawardene’s tenure, while legspinning allrounder Seekkuge Prasanna was largely left out of the limited-overs teams.However, Wijegunawardene’s committee had also handed debuts to players such as Milinda Siriwardana, Kusal Mendis, Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva, each of whom are currently in the Test squad Jayasuriya helped pick.”When a new selection committee comes, they should talk with the old committee and discuss the good things that we did. If we did good things for Sri Lankan cricket, those policies should be taken forward. That must not have happened at the time, for us to be in this position.”The Sri Lanka squad departs for the three-Test series in England, on Wednesday.

The club's campaign could be all-but over by the weekend as they prepare for a cup final and season-defining league games

When we look back at Inter Miami's season, Lionel Messi's first with the club, we'll likely look back at this week as the one that decided it all. The Leagues Cup triumph of the summer will ensure this season is a success, as will the seismic signing of Messi, but can they make it something even more? We'll likely find out over the next four days.

Miami face a massive period in their short history, beginning with Wednesdays U.S. Open Cup final against the Houston Dynamo. Comparisons are tough, given how new the Leagues Cup is, but, thus far, only 14 teams in MLS history have won a double, and it's safe to say none would be as absurd as Inter Miami's, who came out of nowhere to make two cup finals, led by one of the greatest players of all time.

The Open Cup is only the beginning, though. After Wednesday, Miami will have little time to celebrate or commiserate, as their miracle push towards the MLS playoffs continues this Saturday in a make-or-break match against New York City FC.

Their place in the standings makes things hard enough but, making matters worse, they'll likely have to do it without Messi leading the charge. An injury has the Argentine's status in doubt as Miami's season sits on the brink.

So can Miami produce another miracle, or will the magic finally run out? We'll find out soon enough…

GettyThe big injury

It has to be said: what Miami has accomplished this season has been nothing short of miraculous. On the field, off the field… all of it. The club has already built something completely unfathomable just a few months ago.

That Leagues Cup run was spurred on by Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who instantly turned a last-place team into a force. They weren't alone, as the club brought in plenty of young talent alongside them, but it was the ex-Barcelona trio that truly began Miami's shift.

Unfortunately for Miami, they could be without two of those three for the Open Cup final, and potentially longer. Messi has been dealing with an injury since the international break, forcing him to miss two of the club's last three games. His last appearance was cut short, too, as he lasted less than a half against Toronto FC before being forced off.

The same can be said for Alba, who, unlike Messi, has essentially been ruled out of the Open Cup final. "We will wait until tomorrow," coach Tata Martino said ahead of the match. "Jordi is difficult but with Messi we will wait until tomorrow."

"If it's not a final, we're not taking any risks," he added. "This is a final and it could bring you a title. It could take 90 or 120 minutes, but if it's another game we wouldn't risk it."

Added Busquets: “Clearly, it’s a handicap not having the best player in the world and the difference-maker on our team, but we will wait until tomorrow and hopefully there is a chance he can be there to help us. And if not, surely other players will step up and help us be the better team.”

AdvertisementGettyA costly mistake?

Since Messi walked off the field against Toronto FC, the question has lingered: should he have been there in the first place? Did Miami risk too much?

Hindsight, is of course, 20/20, which Martino admits. If he knew what condition Messi would end up being in, he probably would have held him out. The decision to play him may have come with the best intentions, but it may have also been the one to derail Miami's season.

"Sometimes it's difficult because between the medical staff, the player, the coaching staff, we all talk. He felt good in the 48 hours before the game, he did everything that was needed and finally what happened, happened," Martino said. "It's much easier to look back, but we don't know that in advance. Sometimes we get it right and sometimes we make mistakes."

The fact is that Miami have not lost when Messi has played, either as a starter or substitute. Their one defeat came against Atlanta in a match where Messi was unfit to play. So now, as they stare down the possibility of a cup final without their talismanic superstar, the question now becomes: can they do it without him?

GettyA trophy chance

As Martino says, cup finals are a bit different. They're the type of games that define a season, for better or worse. A bad season can turn into a success with some silverware involved, while a good season can be derailed if a club ends it all with nothing to show for it.

Miami already have one trophy in hand: the Leagues Cup. However, if they can capture a second? This season goes down in history.

In their way stands the Dynamo, a team that has undergone something of their own resurgence. The Dynamo have been, in head coach Ben Olsen's own words, "irrelevant" for the last decade. They've been perennial losers, having fallen off a cliff after being a true contender for the first decade of the new millennium.

Under Olsen, though, things are changing. The club sits fourth in the Western Conference, led by their star midfielder, Mexico international Hector Herrera. And, just as importantly, they've battled all the way to this cup final as they look to get their hands on the trophy for the second time.

Standing in their way will be Inter Miami, who will be desperate to get their hands on a second trophy of the season. Making the desperation even more real is the fact that this may just be their last chance to compete for silverware this season.

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(C)Getty ImagesThe playoff picture

There will be no rest for Inter Miami after Wednesday. The celebration, or the sadness, won't last too long into the night. There are bigger challenges just around the corner.

After Wednesday's cup final, Miami will have around 72 hours to prepare for their next task: a miracle push towards the MLS playoffs. As things stand, the club sits five points out of a playoff place with five teams ahead of them to leapfrog. The good news is that Miami have a game or two in hand on most of the teams above them; the bad news is that they'll have only five games of their own to make up the gap.

Any slip up can be, and probably will be, catastrophic. It begins this Saturday against NYCFC, the team currently holding that final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Then will come a visit to Chicago, one of the teams above them. By then, we'll likely know if this team is dead in the water or not ahead of a clash with Supporters' Shield-bound FC Cincinnati and a double-header with Charlotte FC to close the season.

The game against NYCFC could very well be the decider. A loss there will almost certainly end Miami's season. A draw, too, may not be enough to save them. The Open Cup is one test, a one-off game with a trophy on the line. But if the Herons want a chance to compete for a third trophy, the biggest of them all, MLS Cup, they'll need to survive what comes after.

Liverpool have been linked with an astonishing swoop to sign Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain after Real Madrid withdrew from the race.

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Reds linked with deal to sign MbappeReal reported to have pulled out Would be a hugely expensive dealWHAT HAPPENED?

Real have reportedly made the decision not to pursue Mbappe in the summer, when he will be available on a free transfer. They have pursued the France international for multiple windows, but believe that his contractual demands and the deal he is currently on make him unattainable.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

A new report from AS, via Sport Witness, claims that Mbappe wants as much as €35 million (£30.5m/$38m) per year after tax, which equates to a weekly wage of £586,000 ($728,000). He would also require around €100m (£87m/$108m) as a signing-on fee. Liverpool were linked with a move as recently as last summer.

DID YOU KNOW?

Mbappe has been a Real Madrid fan since childhood and one famous image of the striker as a boy shows him surrounded by posters of Cristiano Ronaldo in his bedroom. However, while it seemed certain that he would end up in Spain eventually, a move to England is also now on the cards.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

Mbappe is likely to be involved as France face Gibraltar and Greece in the international break. He will next play for PSG on November 24, against Monaco.

A round-up of the Asian Cricket Council Premier League matches that took place on May 1 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff01-May-2014Nepal got off to a bright start in the Asian Cricket Council Premier League, by beating UAE by four wickets with more than ten overs to spare in Kuala Lumpur. Put in to bat, UAE lost early wickets, but the innings was resurrected with a 72-run fifth-wicket stand. Swapnil Patil anchored UAE with 76, but they were bowled out in the penultimate over of the innings for 191. Sompal Kami and Mahaboob Alam shared six wickets between them. Chasing a modest total, Nepal lost Naresh Budaiyar in the third over, but the second-wicket pair of Subash Khakurel (71) and Gyanendra Malla (47) responded with a 66-run stand. Paras Khadka, the captain, chipped in with a 40-ball 30. Fayyaz Ahmed was UAE’s most successful bowler with 2 for 49.Afghanistan completed a clinical six-wicket win over Hong Kong in their first match of the competition. Hong Kong were asked to bat and the openers got the team off to a solid start with a 60-run partnership. Subsequently, they lost regular wickets which stemmed the flow of runs. Hong Kong’s top-order all got off to starts but none of them went on to make a big score. Babar Hayat struck six fours and two sixes in his half-century, which helped get Hong Kong to a respectable total of 216. Amir Hamza was the pick of the bowlers, with figures of 10-1-30-3.In reply, Afghanistan chased down the total with 41 balls to spare. All the batsmen contributed, with the most significant one coming from Usman Ghani, who made a quick 70. Ghani fell in the 26th over with the score on 128 for 3, but a 64-run stand between Hashmatullah Shaidi and Samiullah Shenwari took them closer.Oman convincingly defeated Malaysia by 74 runs, in a low-key affair. Oman were ahead of the game from the get-go, getting off to a fine start, after choosing to bat. Zeeshan Maqsood top-scored with 77 and along with handy contributions from Arif Hussain (44) and Aamir Kaleem (42), got Oman to a score of 269 for 6. Hassan Ghulam picked up four wickets but conceded 72 runs in his 10 overs.Malaysia’s captain, Ahmed Faiz made a good fist of the chase with 70 but none of the other batsmen did anything of note. At one stage, Malaysia required 164 off 180 balls with seven wickets in hand, but collapsed to 195 as they were eventually bowled out in the 41st over. Kaleem and Zeeshan Siddiqui picked up three wickets each.

Matt Coles starred with bat and ball as Hampshire returned to the top of Division Two by skittling Leicestershire for just 96 on the final day at Grace Road to complete a comprehensive 278-run win.

Press Association and ESPNcricinfo staff21-May-2014
ScorecardKyle Abbott started the Leicestershire collapse on day four•PA PhotosMatt Coles starred with bat and ball as Hampshire returned to the top of Division Two by skittling Leicestershire for just 96 on the final day at Grace Road to complete a comprehensive 278-run win.Coles, who joined Hampshire initially on loan in the second half of last season, plundered 30 more runs in quick time the final morning, then claimed 3 for 24 with the ball as the Foxes slipped to a first defeat of the season with the kind of batting collapse that blighted their 2013.Hampshire had briefly been replaced at the top of the table when Worcestershire completed a three-day victory over Essex on Tuesday, but leapfrogged their promotion rivals after claiming 22 points from this match.Leading by 342 overnight, Hampshire elected to bat on first thing on Wednesday morning, Coles striking some lusty blows to extend his tally to 83 – his highest first-class score since 2012 – and the lead to 374 before being stumped by Niall O’Brien off the bowling of Jigar Naik.That prompted visiting captain Jimmy Adams to declare, setting the Foxes 375 for victory from a minimum of 91 overs but more realistically the task of batting out the day for a draw. But they could manage only 31.4 overs as Danny Briggs took four wickets in his first Championship appearance of the season.Leicestershire took 21 from the first two overs but were quickly in trouble as Kyle Abbott struck twice in as many balls at the start of his second over. Angus Robson edged behind for a duck to a delivery that rose sharply, then South African Abbott trapped Ned Eckersley leg before first ball.Leicestershire captain Ramnaresh Sarwan made 15 before being deceived by James Tomlinson’s change of angle – the left-armer coming around the wicket and pinning Sarwan lbw.Briggs extracted sharp turn from the slowing fourth-day wicket – one ball spinning past first slip for byes – before Josh Cobb missed one coming forward to fall lbw for four.Coles then wrecked any remaining ambition the home side might have harboured by taking two wickets in the last over before lunch. First O’Brien fell to a brilliant return catch by the bowler, then Rob Taylor became the fourth player to be out for a duck in the innings when his thin edge down the leg side was taken by tumbling wicketkeeper Michael Bates.The procession of wickets continued after the break; Coles snaring opener Smith lbw for 39 and Briggs having Naik caught at second slip by James Vince.England left-arm spinner Briggs then bowled Anthony Ireland and Nathan Buck to wrap up proceedings and finish with figures of 4 for 13, leaving Leicestershire winless in the Championship since September 2012.