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Leeds United are ‘working hard’ to secure manager Jesse Marsch a new striker…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Sky Sports journalist Tim Thornton, who provided a fresh update on the state of play at Thorp Arch to GIVEMESPORT this week.

He revealed:

“They’ve been working hard on this, this is not something they’re suddenly shining a light moment where we need to get a striker in, they’ve known about it and have identified the targets.”

Marsch needs a striker

Indeed, the west Yorkshire outfit have been linked to an array of potential forwards in recent weeks, including Stade Rennes’ Martin Terrier, Arnaud Kalimuendo of Paris Saint-Germain and a proven Premier League talent in Che Adams from Southampton.

It’s been a busy summer of activity for director of football Victor Orta and chairman Andrea Radrizzani as they have overseen some major departures and as many as six new signings.

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Some of the Whites’ recent protagonists such as Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips have moved on, the latter signing for reigning champions Manchester City.

They have been replaced by Luis Sinisterra from Feyenoord and Marc Roca from Bayern Munich, whilst manager Jesse Marsch has sealed a plethora of his former players in Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen and Tyler Adams.

All of which add something considerable to Leeds – four of the six signings made their debut in the 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, only going to show their importance already and exactly why they were signed.

Now, the priority must be a new striker as both the American and his predecessor, Marcelo Bielsa, suffered from a lack of frontline options last season. That’s because of the persistent injury problems to Patrick Bamford, which limited him to only nine Premier League appearances.

Without an alternative, the burden fell on young striker Joe Gelhardt, who whilst undoubtedly talented isn’t ready for a regular starting berth, and diminutive winger Dan James, who is far from a leading striker in the big time.

Whether it be Terrier or Adams, the arrival of a new frontman could be Orta’s latest masterclass as it’s abundantly clear that the American is in dire need of another forward if Leeds are to avoid a fatal repeat of last season.

Bamford, who bagged a squad-high 17 goals a season earlier, needs competition and backup if the Yorkshire giants are to steer clear of the relegation zone this time around and as such, it would be an ideal seventh signing of the summer, whoever it may be.

AND in other news, Leeds have “definite interest” in £34m goal machine, he’d be a “real coup” for Marsch…

Everton have made an approach for Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez, according to journalist Cesar Luis Merlo (via EFC Daily).

The Lowdown: Rodriguez’s season

The defensive-midfielder enjoyed a strong campaign in La Liga last season; across 32 league appearances for Betis, the 28-year-old averaged three tackles, 1.6 clearances and one interception per game (via WhoScored).

In addition, the Argentina international made nine appearances in the Europa League and a further six features in the Copa del Rey, bringing his overall tally to 100 games for the Spanish outfit (via Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Everton make contact

According to journalist Cesar Luis Merlo (as shared by Toffees news channel EFC Daily), Everton are interested in signing Rodriguez this summer, and the Merseyside club have approached Betis over a potential transfer.

However, it is understood that a formal offer is yet to be made.

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The Verdict: Great signing

When looking at the Argentine’s underlying stats, it is easy to see why the Toffees are interested in bringing the midfielder to Goodison Park this summer.

Compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, Rodriguez ranks in the 92nd percentile for blocks, in the 89th percentile for tackles and clearances, and in the 82nd percentile for pressures (via FBRef).

Hailed by former Blues striker Kevin Campbell as “a brilliant midfielder who is combative, good on the ball, can play and is mobile”, it makes sense to see Everton linked with the 28-year-old, given his potential to partner Doucoure in Lampard’s midfield and allow the former Watford man more freedom to roam forward.

Former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell has delivered his verdict on the future of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Liverpool. 

The lowdown: Benchwarmer

The 28-year-old has had mixed fortunes since joining the Reds from Arsenal for £35m in 2017 (BBC), often thwarted by injuries including a lengthy layoff during most of the 2018/19 season due to a crucial ligament rupture suffered against AS Roma towards the end of the preceding campaign.

In spite of those issues, the midfielder has made 133 appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side, playing a part in the club’s most recent Premier League, Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and Carabao Cup successes.

Now into the final 12 months of his contract on Merseyside, following a campaign which saw the former England regular remain on the bench on 20 occasions, one intrigued onlooker has assessed Oxlade-Chamberlain’s chances of consistent game-time ahead of the 2022/23 campaign…

The latest: Campbell backs Oxlade-Chamberlain

Speaking to Football Insider, former Everton marksman Campbell suggested that the 35-cap ace can still play a major role in Klopp’s plans, after images emerged of his involvement in pre-season training.

The talkSPORT pundit said: “He is at Liverpool so he has got a chance. We all know that talent wise, he is brilliant. Nobody can question his talent.

“His availability has been the problem. When he does get a chance in the team he needs to take it. You have to. That is the level at Liverpool now.

“If you go in and coast, you are not going to chance. If you are not starting you are not realistically playing. The fact of the matter is, he has used his brain. He has gone into the close season, got super fit and is ready to start pre-season well.

“Why not have a right go at it. He has nothing to lose now. Have a right go at it and leave nothing on the side. If it doesn’t work out at least he can say he tried everything.”

The verdict: One last hoorah…

In truth, the £14.4m-valued Englishman’s availability was less of an issue than in previous years last term as the dynamic midfielder made the matchday squad 49 times, with 29 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing three assists in the process.

Whilst there is no doubting that on his day Oxlade-Chamberlain – who was branded ‘electric’ by football writer Liam Bekker in 2020 – can be an unstoppable force whose versatility makes him stand out from many amongst Klopp’s squad, all too often the fleeting performances haven’t been enough to warrant a prolonged run in the side.

That said, with another gruelling campaign ahead and a potential World Cup squad place still up for grabs, a fit and firing Oxlade-Chamberlain – who also has a new contract to play for – could be an exciting proposition for the Anfield faithful to behold over the next few months.

Rangers look set to make their second summer signing of the summer transfer window as Giovanni van Bronckhorst aims to strengthen his squad at Ibrox.

What’s the news?

According to Rangers Review journalist Jonny McFarlane, the Light Blues have triumphed in the race to sign a prodigious teenager from the English Football League.

The reporter tweeted: “Rangers have won the battle for Millwall’s Zak Lovelace. The 16-year-old forward was wanted by several teams but will now move to Ibrox. Made his Championship debut at only 15”.

The Millwall gem is set to become the second new arrival at Ibrox this summer, following on from defender John Souttar, and Van Bronckhorst will surely be aiming to bring in more new faces in the coming weeks.

Another signing

Souttar was initially signed on a pre-contract agreement in January from fellow Premiership club Hearts, but Lovelace becomes the first signing that the Dutchman has made since the 2021/22 season finished.

The Gers appear to have fought off interest from Premier League duo Brighton and Leicester City for the talented 16 year old, who only made his debut for Millwall last December. He became the London club’s second-youngest debutant and he appears to have a very promising future.

Rangers have a solid record when it comes to signing players below Premier League level in England, with Joe Aribo costing the club a mere £300k upon making the move to Glasgow from Charlton Athletic three years ago this week, and he is now valued at £9m.

Lovelace made four appearances in the Championship last season as he was eased into senior football by Millwall manager Gary Rowett.

The forward will link up with with Rangers in the next few weeks as the Ibrox club ramp up their pre-season training ahead of what could be a monumental first few weeks of the campaign.

They face a crucial Champions League third round qualifier on 2/3 August, with the return leg a week later. This is followed by the play-off round later in the month, in addition to Premiership matches from the end of July, and it’s clear to see why Van Bronckhorst wants to add fresh faces to improve squad depth.

Lovelace might just be the catalyst for a flurry of new arrivals at Ibrox over the next month or so; and considering the teenager’s potential to be entrusted with first-team football at such a tender age, the Rangers boss must be delighted to have now sealed his signature.

AND in other news, Journalist reveals worrying Rangers news which will disappoint supporters

Aston Villa are keen on signing Nantes left-back Quentin Merlin, according to The Sunday Mirror (05/06, p72), via Birmingham Mail.

The lowdown

Steven Gerrard has already completed four signings for the summer transfer window – Diego Carlos, Philippe Coutinho, Robin Olsen and Boubacar Kamara – but his recruitment drive shows no signs of stopping.

Indeed, The Athletic's Gregg Evans reported after the capture of Kamara that a left-back is on the agenda for the 42-year-old.

Merlin has been with Nantes since the age of 11 but only made his Ligue 1 debut this season. He would go on to start 21 of his team's top-flight matches, making seven more substitute appearances.

The 20-year-old, who can also operate as a left midfielder, is contracted to Nantes until 2026 and is valued at £4.5m by Transfermarkt.

The latest

The report from The Sunday Mirror (via Birmingham Mail) claimed that Merlin grabbed Gerrard's attention during a Ligue 1 scouting mission a few weeks ago.

The Villa manager travelled to the Stade Velodrome for a match between Marseille and Nantes on 20 April, intending to watch Kamara, but Merlin reportedly impressed him too.

The verdict

Merlin, who has been labelled a 'serious talent' by Jacek Kulig, looks like he could be a strong back-up to Lucas Digne and a potential long-term starter, with Matt Targett's Villa Park future uncertain.

The French youngster ranked in the 86th percentile among full-backs in the top five European leagues for shot-creating actions in 2021/22, notching three assists in addition to his two goals (via FBRef). With high volumes of progressive carries and dribbles too, he's clearly very active up and down the left flank.

He may only have played 20 minutes on the night that Gerrard was in attendance, but that speaks to the strength of his cameo against Marseille. Merlin won three of the four duels that he contested, completed two dribbles and was successful with eight of his 10 passes (via SofaScore).

He also shone against Paris Saint-Germain in February, scoring what sports journalist Josh Bunting called an 'incredible' goal, and he looks like an astute replacement for Targett if the latter has played his last game in a Villa shirt.

In other news, Matt Maher lays out his Villa transfer expectations

West Bromwich Albion failed to secure promotion back into the Premier League next season so it will now be up to Steve Bruce to put them in a better position to challenge again and now another transfer target has been linked with a move to The Hawthorns.

What’s the latest?

Football League World reported on Tuesday that West Brom were competing with Watford to secure the signature of Newcastle United’s Sean Longstaff who was initially out of contract at the end of the season.

The report suggested that his current club on Tyneside had offered him a new contract with the player facing many for next season with opportunities to gain extra game time.

However, with the midfielder now signing a new contract on Wednesday afternoon, it seems unlikely a deal will be forced through.

Should a move ever occur though, they could land a big upgrade.

Better than Livermore

Bruce is no stranger to Longstaff after managing him during his days at Newcastle United so will be more than knowledgeable on how to deploy him.

Although Longstaff’s game time has been limited in the Premier League this season, he still offers more on the pitch than Jake Livermore in the glimpses he has given for this current club.

According to SofaScore, has scored one goal and contributed one assist, was successful in the majority of his dribbles (55%) and made 2.3 tackles on average per game in 24 appearances.

The Magpies midfielder scored more goals, won more ground and aerial duels combined (50%), made more tackles and has a better pass accuracy (81%) on average per game in 13 fewer appearances than Livermore at West Brom this season.

The £23k-per-week ace who was hailed “immense” by Chronicle Live journalist Charlie Bennett, was chased in January by Everton but the bid was rejected ahead of contract talks with Newcastle after the negotiations broke down when Bruce was in charge almost two years ago.

Ultimately, if Bruce could secure the signing of Longstaff it would be a major coup for West Brom and add a fresh perspective in their midfield set up.

AND in other news: In talks: West Brom on the verge of landing 1st summer signing, Bruce will love him

Manchester City have seen many players come and go at the Etihad Stadium over the past few years, usually for significant sums of money.

As things stand in their current season, the Citizens are four games away from potentially securing the Premier League title once again.

Should the club manage to do that, it would be the only trophy they would get their hands on this season after getting knocked out of the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and, this week, the Champions League.

Now that the summer transfer window is on the horizon, it seems as though a big clue has emerged regarding what sort of business could be done behind the scenes at the Etihad this time around.

What’s the news?

According to a recent report from The Telegraph, City are preparing to “refresh their squad this summer amid hope Pep Guardiola will extend his contract with the club.”

It has also been claimed that City “are expected to sign the Norway striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for the £63m release clause in his contract regardless of what happens with the manager’s longer-term future.”

The report added that the Citizens “want to bring in another midfielder, with Fernandinho due to leave at the end of the season, and doubts surrounding the futures of at least five other senior players.”

Focusing on their potential swoop for Haaland, the fact that City have missed more big chances (58) than any other team in the Premier League this season shows that they could do with having a clinical striker like the Norwegian in their line-up.

Having scored 85 goals in 87 games for the Bundesliga giants, it’s safe to say that the 21-year-old could be a crucial signing for City if he can replicate that same sort of consistent goalscoring form in England.

Taking all this into account, it seems as though the hierarchy at the Etihad could be set for a busy summer period in terms of securing deals for players potentially moving into and out of the club once again.

This would surely be great news for City supporters who will be hoping that whatever business gets done in the summer will put their team in with a great chance of winning every competition in which they are involved next season and beyond.

In other news: Behind-the-scenes transfer development emerges, it’s bad news for Man City

England’s greatest batter picks off more landmarks in his march towards the summit

Vithushan Ehantharajah29-Aug-2024Joe Root had never spent more than five balls stuck on 99. But as he inside-edged over his stumps, wore one on the front pad and found fielders instead of gaps, a palpable anxiety swelled around Lord’s.The crowd “ooohed” and “aaahed” through 12 balls of stasis. Some were for the sake of it, others genuinely fearful this could be an insurmountable bump in what had been an otherwise smooth road. It had the feel of a pantomime, all told. But with typical impish nonchalance, Root showed the only thing behind him was the deep-third boundary, which he found with a neat dab through a thinly stretched cordon for his 33rd Test century.If your tally of hundreds equals your age, you’re not just doing something right, you’re doing something great. Considering Root had just 17 when he turned 30 on December 30, 2020, it has been quite the run of form. Not since Michael Caine became a staple of Christopher Nolan’s work has someone looked so at ease embarking on a blockbuster run in the latter part of their career.As with all of Root’s centuries, the ensuing celebration offered context. There’s always a clenched fist involved, but his other antics tend to reflect the circumstances in which he’s just delivered. When that fist is extra tight – pumped at first, then swung overhand and back to himself once more – you can tell he’s just produced a slump-busting knock. When he’s turned the tide of a contest with one of his worldies, there’s often a skip involved. And then there’s the more subdued pump before raising his helmet and bat to the balcony with barely a smile across his face. That’s when you know there’s more business to tend to.This time, it was different. A single hand in the air as he ran towards the Pavilion as those two overs’ worth of tension were broken with some serene timing and a hint of “what you worried about?” It looked like he was playing to the gantry. But Root was worried, too.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”I was a little bit twitchy,” he admitted at stumps. “You can’t not hear the crowd. It was there, definitely… but there is an element of relief once you cross the line and you can concentrate on what’s important.”What was important was giving England their strongest position, which was going to take a bit of work given how things had begun. The top three’s donation of their wickets to Sri Lanka was unnecessary. Dhananjaya de Silva neither looked up at the blue skies nor down at the freshly shaved pitch when he decided to bowl first. It looked a peculiar choice, before Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett gifted him varying degrees of vindication, all of which Root steadily had to reclaim.He did not think much of being out there in the 10th over at 42 for 2. Or rather, he saw it as no extra burden or a situation requiring a hero. He never does. Throughout his career, his work has come with a sense of civilian duty.But, of course, it’s different with him. Just as Clark Kent can do all the things Superman does without having to ditch his spectacles, Root can hit world-class levels without shedding his everyman disposition. It felt prescient that even as Duckett, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith showed their qualities alongside Root in stands of 40, 48 and 62, respectively, the newer kids on the block were left to admire the master in their midst scale peaks they will probably never reach. Peaks Root did not even consider possible when he started out back in 2012.”I just remember walking out in my first Test thinking ‘if this is my one and only opportunity to play for England, I’d be extremely proud’,” Root said. “It’s nice to be sat here having achieved what I’ve achieved, but I feel like there’s still quite a lot more to do. At some point I’m sure I’ll look back on it all and try to take it all in, but there’s more to come hopefully.”That Root equalled Alastair Cook’s tally of 33 centuries and jumped ahead of his former captain’s volume of runs in England felt particularly valuable on this occasion. Thursday’s near-full house did not seem to know what to expect and buzzed accordingly, almost indifferent to what was unfolding in front of them until Root offered them this latest slice of history.Root kept his innings simple as England shipped wickets in the first half of the day•Getty ImagesSri Lanka’s valiant performance in the first Test, while welcome, felt like their ceiling. This place usually hums with idle conversation, but those seemed a little louder and more distracted once the early tuts had subsided. It was the breaking for the odd “Roooooooooot” to mark his 18 boundaries that kept them involved.Root did not just provide comfort for the dressing-room and those at the other end – Gus Atkinson being the latest example with a maiden Test fifty that could morph into something greater on day two – but he served the masses his usual brand of entertainment, which is bankable at this ground. His name will now feature on the honours board for a sixth time.Root’s longevity is reflected in the fact that since that first cap at Nagpur in December 2012, he has played 145 Tests – more than anyone else, and 30 more than Stuart Broad in second. Of course, England do play the format more than anyone else – to a fault, really – but it is as much a measure of his mental and physical robustness as his talent.The three runs from Atkinson’s tuck down to fine leg that took England to 301 was down to Root’s willingness to sprint in the 75th over. And his dismissal was, ultimately, down to his desire to shift up a gear before the close. The only shame was that Root’s demise came through the infamous ramp shot.Milan Rathnayake was there to been taken advantage of, particularly with the shorter hit over the shoulder, down towards the Allen Stand. The stickers met the ball rather than the middle, with Pathum Nissanka taking a straightforward catch at point.The new ball was 2.3 overs away. Sri Lanka were weary. What were you thinking, Joe?”Look, I’ve got out to it a few times and I know you look a bit silly but it brings a lot of runs. We were in a period of the game where they’ve got three seamers. If you can put one of them under a huge amount of pressure going into that second new ball, it makes life very difficult for the last hour.Related

• Sri Lanka's tail shouts into the void as top-order failings invite humiliation

• Gus Atkinson stays grounded as maiden century shows head for batting heights

• Kamindu fights for Sri Lanka but England seize control after Atkinson hundred

• Dhananjaya wants county exposure for SL batters

• Root 143 repels Sri Lanka before Atkinson 74* turns screw

“I tried to look at things as an opportunity, not as a threat, and if it goes for four or six then it’s on for the last hour to cash in.”Thankfully, Atkinson and Matthew Potts did just that. Their unbroken stand of 50 has England coming back on Friday on 358 for 7, still on course for a bumper first-innings total.No doubt there will be plenty bemoaning the shot, a week after he sconed himself in the helmet with a similar effort in Manchester. But he does seem at peace with the failures. “Sometimes you get a good one and you have to take it on the chin!” he joked at first when addressing the dismissal.More pertinently, Root is on the cusp of becoming the standout batter in English history, and he has his sights set on more. “It’s nice to be sat here having achieved what I’ve achieved but I feel like there’s still quite a lot more to do.”Discourse never dies, but brilliance endures. And Root wants to endure.

His comeback may have come too late for a realistic chance of selection, but his 3 for 27 showed why he remains a compelling option

Sidharth Monga18-Aug-20222:32

Chahar: ‘I’m continuing from where I left off before the injury’

India’s head coach Rahul Dravid was the India A coach before he took up the job. During his stint, he coached most of the players who play for India now. One of the players he was highly impressed with was Deepak Chahar. It wasn’t just the skills. Chahar has had to deal with more than a few injuries, but he has always bounced back. Dravid says that whenever Chahar played for India A, it was an education for the other fast bowlers in the group, in how professional, deliberate and particular he was with how he looked after his body.Chahar’s ability to come back from injury has been tested at a particularly delicate time in his career. He was building up solid momentum towards his first World Cup appearance when he tore his quadriceps during a T20I in February this year. It turned out be his last competitive game of cricket before his match-winning return against Zimbabwe on Thursday.Related

High stakes for KL Rahul and Deepak Chahar in Zimbabwe

Chahar, Dhawan, Gill lead India's rout of Zimbabwe

At the time of his injury, Chahar was a frontrunner for the new-ball role in India’s T20 side. He also brought value with the bat down the order. He had worked on his death-bowling skills too, and had proved it when playing for Chennai Super Kings. While rehabbing following the quadriceps tear, Chahar did his back in, which kept him out of the IPL and the tours of England and the West Indies.Had Chahar been ready for the five T20Is against the West Indies, he could have presented a case for a World Cup spot, but now that he is not part of the Asia Cup squad, it is perhaps believed that his body has recovered a touch too late.It pays to be professional and philosophical about these things and do the best you can when you get whatever games you get. Chahar was not happy with the landing area when he began his new-ball spell, but his attention to detail was apparent. He was not taking any chances on his comeback. By over two, he felt comfortable and was on the money with a new ball that surprisingly swung for all seven overs of his first spell.In these moments, it’s not about selection for World Cups but enjoying the rare day when the conditions are helping you.Tadiwanashe Marumani sways away from a Deepak Chahar bouncer•AFP via Getty Images”That [World Cup selection] is not in my hand,” Chahar said when asked if he felt he was back to where he was six-and-a-half months ago vis-à-vis the World Cup spot. “Skill-wise, though, I have worked really hard. There I can say I have probably started where I had left off. After the first over [when I had the run-up issue], rest whatever I bowled, I was happy. It was a seven-over spell, so the fitness is good.”However, Chahar did feel the pressure of having to reclaim his place in the side after the long break. “You have to make your space again in the team,” Chahar said. “Because when you are away for a long time, others come in and perform well and make their place in the side. To make your place in the side again, you have to give good performances. So that pressure is always there on a returning player. I had the same expectation that I will do well when I come back because that is all a player has in his hand.”Other than that, Chahal will be the first one to say his outing in Harare – late swing each way, full attacking lengths, early wickets – didn’t tell viewers anything they didn’t know about Chahar. “My plan is always simple,” Chahar said. “When the ball is swinging, try to bowl fuller length and take as many wickets as possible. When the ball is not swinging, then there is a Plan B or Plan C. Today when I bowled, it swung for six-seven overs, so I had a simple plan: bowl full, mix the swing and confuse the batsmen.”The question really is not about Chahar’s skill or his utility when it comes to World Cup selection. It’s about his fitness – which he was happy with having bowled 10 overs in the practice matches he played before returning, and then this seven-over spell – and the timing of his return. Do the selectors think it is too late to disrupt a combination that they might have settled on before Chahar’s return?As Chahar said, that is not in his hands. So let’s just enjoy the early swing and look forward to Plans B and C for the rest of this series.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spinners take their side to first win of the season

Umar Farooq09-Nov-2020Northern register second consecutive win
Captain Nauman Ali’s match haul of ten wickets helped Northern beat Sindh by 128 runs at UBL complex in Karachi. Northern had the upper hand throughout the match. They had a 111-run lead in the first innings and then set a target of 423, making 311 for 6 declared, thanks to centuries from Sarmad Bhatti (108) and Hammad Azam (100*).Sindh made a sloppy start to their chase of the big target, losing four of their batsmen for 77. Saud Shakeel was the bright spot for Sindh as he gave them hope with an innings of 174, but his contribution went in vain as Nauman ran through the rest of the line-up, bundling them out for 294.This was Northern’s second successive win and they are currently second on the table with 52 points, with Southern Punjab leading with 55 points.The contest was marred by unsavoury incidents, though, with Sindh captain Sarfaraz Ahmed being fined 35% of his match fee for using inappropriate language against an umpiring decision, and senior batsman Asad Shafiq fined 20% of his match fee for showing dissent towards an umpire’s decision.Spinners give Khyber Pakhtunkhwa first win of the season
Southern Punjab were undone by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spinners Khalid Usman and Sajid Khan, who combined to take 15 wickets to lead their side to a 75-run win at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex in Karachi.When Southern Punjab were set 263 to win in the fourth innings, Usman and Sajid didn’t let them settle down on what was a spin-friendly track, and skittled them for 187. It was KP’s first win of the season, after a loss to Balochistan and a draw against Sindh.It was a game of fine margins until the endgame. Mohammad Abbas took his 11th ten-wicket haul as KP went on to take a slender lead of 16 runs in the first innings, and when the contest entered the final day, Southern Punjab required another 250 runs with all ten wickets at their disposal. They were dealt an early blow, though, with captain Hussain Talat, who scored 131 in the first innings, dismissed by Sajid cheaply, and Umar Siddiq’s 56 was the only half-century in the innings. In the absence of a partnership, the two spinners continued to make inroads and intensify the pressure, ultimately condemning Southern Punjab to a defeat.Azhar Ali hits 95* as Central Punjab draw against BalochistanWith 55 required to win in the last hour at the National Stadium in Karachi, and with Azhar Ali at the crease and three wickets remaining, Central Punjab ended up pulling off a draw against Balochistan. The captain spent over 250 minutes in the middle and missed a century to cap what could have lifted his side, who are sitting at bottom of the table with two defeats.Earlier in the game, Amad Butt’s 6 for 57 helped Balochistan to a 55-run lead in the first innings after Central posted 306. Central bowlers had a better outing in the second innings, bowling Balochistan out for 213 with left-arm spinner Ahmed Safi Abdullah picking 4 for 31. Central Punjab had nearly three sessions to chase down a target of 269. Azhar being around would have given them some hope, but as three wickets quickly fell in the final session, the captain batted cautiously with the tail and finished with an unbeaten 95.