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A stampeding Powerplay by Evin Lewis and Lendl Simmons set up an insurmountable total from St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, who defeated St Lucia Zouks by 58 runs on Sunday afternoon at Warner Park

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jul-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA stampede in the Powerplay by Evin Lewis and Lendl Simmons set up an insurmountable total for St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, who defeated St Lucia Zouks by 58 runs on Sunday afternoon at Warner Park. The pair propelled the hosts to 69 for 0 in six overs after being sent in, and Lewis kicked on for a top score of 73 in the Patriots total of 203 for 7.The Patriots had only advanced to 22 after three overs, but Simmons doubled that total in the fourth when he targeted Canada allrounder Nitish Kumar’s offspin for three sixes and a four. That spurred Lewis to take on Darren Sammy in the fifth as the left-hander smashed the Zouks’ captain for four consecutive boundaries through the off side.The stand was broken two balls into the seventh over by Derone Davis, when Simmons skewed the left-arm spinner to Shane Watson at short third man for 30, but Lewis had no intention of slowing down and brought up his fifty in 28 balls off Davis in the ninth, before continuing his onslaught with three sixes in four balls against Kristopher Ramsaran in the tenth over.Watson eventually intervened to remove Lewis in the 12th, but Devon Thomas’ surge in the 18th and 19th overs ensured the Patriots would get past 200 as he carted Watson and Morne Morkel for four sixes and a four on his way to 48 off 27. Watson dismissed Thomas, and snared Carlos Brathwaite too, in the final over but by then the damage was done.Watson and Johnson Charles seized on the small boundaries at Warner Park to give the Zouks hope of overhauling the target, motoring to 90 after nine overs of the chase. Samuel Badree’s intervention dashed that vision though, as he had Charles caught at midwicket for 40 to start the tenth over. Watson brought up his fifty off 26 balls two deliveries later, but mistimed a drive off Badree to long-on two balls into the 12th for 55. From there, the Zouks stuttered through their final eight overs – typified by Michael Hussey’s 22 off 28 balls – adding just 45 runs to end on 145 for 5.The Patriots have a day off before facing Barbados Tridents at Warner Park on Tuesday while the Zouks have eight days off before their next contest in Providence against Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the Premier League sides who could potentially look at James Ward-Prowse as a midfield option in the summer.

How much would Ward-Prowse cost?

The north London side's midfield has been decimated by injuries this season which has seen both Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma miss a lengthy period of time.

In their absence, Spurs have had to heavily rely on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg with Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr also playing a role in the middle.

However, the Danish midfielder has come under fire in recent weeks over his performances as the results leave Spurs adrift in the race for the top four.

Ahead of the summer window, Spurs have been linked with a potential attacking midfield option in Leicester City's James Maddison.

And another midfielder who they could potentially compete for over the coming months is Southampton's main man, Ward-Prowse.

The Saints are in serious danger of relegation with just several games remaining in the season and it is believed he would be a certainty to leave if they do go down.

This is all according to journalist Toby Cudworth who has been speaking on the Talking Transfers podcast where he noted the interested clubs in the £100k-per-week midfielder:

(34:55) "If [they] go down he's almost certain to leave the club now. Southampton probably could still command a very hefty fee for him. We talk about prices, Southampton probably seeking still around £50m we'd have thought because he's that valuable to them.

"And he has clubs who like him. Newcastle we've mentioned they're looking to strengthen their midfield looking to strengthen in a number of positions; left-wing/forwards, potentially another defender as well. James Ward-Prowse is a player who we think is capable of playing European-level football.

"So Newcastle like him, Tottenham also admire him, Aston Villa, who are now creeping up on Unai Emery. They like James will perhaps as well. So it could be a bit of a Premier League battle for him."

Would Spurs be a good move for Ward-Prowse?

Ironically, the 28-year-old has been hailed as a "machine" by journalist Alfie House and he has an incredible record against the north London side with three goals and three assists to his name in their last five league meetings (via Transfermarkt).

The midfielder even scored the equalising penalty in their most recent clash on the south coast to complete an impressive comeback for the league's bottom side.

He is a player who is renowned for his stunning free-kick ability but he has also provided an impressive return of 3.48 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes this season (via FBref).

However, he has also provided more tackles (1.74) per 90 minutes than Hojbjerg (1.61) has this season as well as more than 14 times as many crosses per game than the Dane (via FBref).

But with a valuation of around £50m, that is a big price to pay for a player who may not necessarily fit into the plans of the new manager.

It is unknown who will become Antonio Conte's successor and, therefore, the formation which Spurs will play next season is yet to be seen.

Potentially, Spurs could play with just two midfielders again and when Rodrigo Bentancur returns it could mean a potential spot in the XI for Ward-Prowse may not be there on a regular basis.

After all, Bissouma arrived in north London with the tag of one of the best midfielders outside the top six and he has failed ot make an impact on the Spurs side.

Arsenal transfer target Michael Olise, who currently plays for Crystal Palace, is not interested in a summer move to the Emirates Stadium, according to a recent report from The Sun.

What's the latest on Michael Olise to Arsenal?

Football Transfers have exclusively revealed that Olise is a target for Arsenal this summer, with Mikel Arteta believing he ticks all the boxes, in terms of age, likely cost and resale potential, viewing him as a perfect back-up option for Bukayo Saka. Crystal Palace would apparently demand at least £40m for the winger, as he still has three years remaining on his current contract, but if the right offer arrived in the summer, they would be willing to let him go if there was significant pressure from the player.

However, it does not appear as though that will be the case, as a recent report from The Sun details the 21-year-old is ready to snub a move to north London, despite growing interest in his signature.

The Eagles midfielder is said to have attracted the interest of multiple Champions League giants, but he is settled at Selhurst Park, and wants another season under his belt to develop and get more consistency before making a big move elsewhere.

Should Olise be kept on the shortlist?

While the youngster may not be interested in leaving Palace this summer, the Gunners should continue to monitor his performances, as he could still be a fantastic signing at some point in the future.

Hailed as "magnificent" by members of the media, the right winger has two goals and eight assists to his name in the Premier League this season, having seriously impressed in the recent match against Leeds United, setting up three goals and receiving a 9.7 Sofascore match rating.

Pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor has also spoken favourably about Arsenal signing the youngster, claiming he would "fit perfectly" into Arteta's side, particularly as a back-up for Saka, who does not currently have a great deal of competition on the right.

It is disappointing news for the Gunners that the seemingly has no interest in joining at present, however there is always a chance that could change in the summer, as a move to a club playing in the Champions League would be very difficult to turn down. As such, we feel Arteta should still come forward with an offer for Olise this summer, and £40m would be a fair price, judging by his performances this season.

Newcastle United have sent scouts to watch Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Kokcu to Newcastle?

Eddie Howe is reportedly looking to bolster his ranks with a couple of new central additions following Jonjo Shelvey’s permanent move to Nottingham Forest in January, and has identified the 22-year-old as a player he’d like to bring to St James’ Park. The Turkey international won’t be out of contract in Rotterdam until 2025, but being Arne Slot’s overall best-performing player with a match rating of 7.34 (as per WhoScored), he has caught the Toon manager's eye.

The Eredivisie star is also the captain of his side, who are currently at the top of the table and eight points clear of Ajax, which shows that he’s more than capable of leading his team towards success – an attribute that is no doubt extremely attractive to Howe.

According to De Telegraaf (via Sport Witness), Newcastle, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are all “in the picture” to sign Kokcu ahead of the 2023/24 term. The Magpies have already “sent their scouts” to watch him in action, with the top-flight trio “regular visitors” when it comes to being in attendance to assess their target.

Feyenoord’s skipper recently admitted that he thinks the Premier League is “really great” and “one of the best” in the world, which could give them an advantage, but with Benfica also interested in completing a deal, the three English suitors “have to be wary” of their fierce competition.

Should Newcastle go all out for Kokcu?

Feyenoord will be in a very strong negotiating position given Kokcu’s contract situation, so his required price tag remains to be seen, but looking at the qualities he possesses going forward, we think Newcastle should definitely do what they can to get a deal over the line.

The two-footed ace is naturally a central midfielder but is extremely strong in the attacking aspect of his game, having posted 15 goal contributions (12 goals and three assists) in 37 appearances across all competitions this season.

Dubbed a “leader” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the £5.8k-p/w playmaker ranks in the 99th percentile for shot-creating actions and most progressive passes among players in his position at a similar level for the past year, showing that he’s always looking to make things happen in the opposition box.

Kokcu also has the versatility to play in central and attacking midfield alongside roles out wide on either flank, so he would add plenty of flexibility and depth to Howe's squad at St James' Park.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui has been handed a boost in his pursuit of Bristol City midfielder Alex Scott, who has reportedly expressed his desire to join the ranks at Molineux.

What's the latest on Alex Scott to Wolves?

The Telegraph's John Percy reported in January that the Old Gold were indeed interested in the flourishing starlet, but a move did not materialise due to The Robins' £25m asking price, a figure Lopetegui and co were reluctant to pay for an untested Championship commodity.

And now, according to the Express & Star's Lewis Keen, Scott favours a move to Wolves above all else, reigniting the hopes of the Old Gold that a deal could be struck this summer.

Keen said: “I think Spurs and Everton have been mentioned. There’s a few other rumours as well. But as far as I understand it, the player likes Wolves. He would be keen on the move to Wolves. It’s whether they can make it happen, and whether another club turns his head."

A dream partner for Ruben Neves?

Wolves have clearly completed their homework on City's most coveted asset, and should the cogs fall into place over the coming months, a move might indeed be forthcoming.

The revelations that Scott's interest has been piqued over a move to the Premier League outfit is will be sweet music to Lopetegui's ears, but whether his stance, or indeed Bristol City's, will change as the summer transfer window opens remains to be seen.

But in the "fearless" prodigy, as dubbed by Henry Winter, Wolves could nurture one of English football's brightest talents into a devastating phenom, with Scott having started 35 of his outfit's 36 league matches all term, scoring one goal and supplying four assists.

As per Sofascore, the dynamic ace has recorded an average match rating of 6.9 this season, completing 80% of his passes, making one key pass per match and exhibiting the combative nature of his game by forging 2.1 tackles and 0.9 interceptions per outing.

And having taken to the field in an arresting display during Bristol City's recent 3-0 FA Cup defeat at the hand of Manchester City, earning a match rating of 7.0 after succeeding with four of his five attempted dribbles and winning 11 of his 15 attempted duels, he was even hailed a "top talent" by City's £100m man Jack Grealish after his impressively stoic performance.

With a transfer, he could be the perfect partner for the established Ruben Neves, who has been the centrepiece of Wolves' engine over the past five years following his £15m transfer from Porto in 2017.

Neves is an assiduous and tenacious midfielder, having scored five goals in the Premier League this term – a joint high in the squad – completed 85% of his total passes and made 2.4 tackles per game, as per Sofascore.

This level of rock-solid assurance to provide Scott license to roam and instigate promising openings will only enhance the collective fluidity and energy of Lopetegui's outfit, and despite concerns over the price, Wolves must swoop.

Indeed, the thought of the young Championship ace battling alongside Neves is truly mouthwatering one.

Tottenham Hotspur were widely considered to have sealed a ‘massive coup’ in appointing Antonio Conte as the successor to Nuno Espirito Santo but things could have taken a very different path…

How close was Paulo Fonseca to the Spurs job?

Among the candidates to get the job before the Portuguese was appointed was Paulo Fonseca and according to the 49-year-old himself, Spurs had agreed to hire him before new sporting director Fabio Paratici pulled the plug as one of his first pieces of business at the club.

“The agreement was done. We were planning the pre-season and Tottenham wanted an offensive coach. It wasn’t announced but we planned pre-season players,” he told The Telegraph.

“But things changed when the new managing director arrived and we didn’t agree with some ideas and he preferred another coach.”

The Lilywhites’ managerial saga would rumble on before finally settling on Nuno, who was a free agent after departing Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of the season.

He would then only last 17 matches before the Italian arrived.

How is Fonseca doing at Lille?

But has Paratici blundered in not giving Fonseca a chance?

The Portuguese, who previously managed AS Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk, has done a great job at Ligue 1 outfit Lille, who hired him in June.

Whilst they sit sixth in the standings, Fonseca has won over half of his 27 matches in charge, playing a brand of football that is certainly appealing, with CBS Sports pundit Thierry Henry the latest name to wax lyrical.

“What the coach is doing is extraordinary, once again,” he said (via Tuttomercatoweb).

“This four-man defence, which turns into a three-man defence. Timothy Weah gives width on the left side, [and] Bamba on the right. They play, they press, [and] they score, but on the other side there were monsters. When the monsters wake up, it’s a little harder.”

Under Fonseca, Les Dogues average of 1.89 goals scored per game and those are far more lucrative attacking returns than what Conte is managing with players like Heung-min Son, Harry Kane and Dejan Kulusevski at his disposal.

The 2021 champions have even gone toe-to-toe with Paris Saint-Germain, who have a front three of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, in recent outings, having lost 4-3.

Supporters around N17 have grown tired of Conte’s defensively-minded tactics and system, particularly as they are still conceding plenty of goals most weeks, so they would have surely welcomed a progressive, exciting style – one that Fonseca would’ve brought to the club.

As such, Paratici’s decision to snub the 49-year-old is looking worse and worse by the month, even more so with Conte likely to leave north London in the summer.

AND in other news, Spurs in race to sign £118k-p/w “special talent”, it’s bye-bye “nightmare” Pochettino flop…

As a club with a rich history of promoting young talent – from the famed Lisbon Lions right up to current skipper, Callum McGregor – Celtic appear to constantly be churning out up-and-coming stars who can go on to thrive either at Parkhead, or beyond.

One such youngster who is currently creating a lot of buzz in Glasgow at present is promising teenager, Rocco Vata, with the highly-rated 17-year-old – who is the son of ex-Hoops defender Rudi Vata – having already forced his way into the first team.

The gifted playmaker – who has been attracting interest from clubs across Europe in recent times – was notably handed his senior debut by manager Ange Postecoglou back in December despite his youth, with that a marker of just how highly-regarded he is by the Old Firm outfit.

A player with an “exciting future ahead”, according to talent scout Jacek Kulig, the playmaking Irishman was also involved in the club’s Sydney Super Cup voyage during the World Cup break, after previously earning a place in the pre-season friendly trip to Austria.

Although there may be fears that the Glasgow-born gem could follow the likes of Ben Doak in securing a move to the Premier League, with both Manchester City and Arsenal reportedly keeping tabs on his progress, the hope will be that he can go on to make further strides under Postecoglou moving forward.

The 5 foot 9 dynamo has certainly showcased his attacking flair in the youth ranks of late, having already scored 11 goals in all competitions so far this season, including nine goals in just 15 Lowland League games for the club’s ‘B’ team.

Such quality has notably seen Vata earn comparisons to current Chelsea and England star, Raheem Sterling from talent scout Jake McGhee due to his ‘dribbling and flair’, with that an indication of the possible diamond that Postecoglou currently has on his hands.

The fact that the youngster has been described as a player who “has a fantastic ability to beat people and create chances”, according to youth coach Darren O’Dea, appears to showcase just why those Sterling comparisons ring true, with the experienced Englishman also possessing such dynamic traits.

That is evidenced by the fact that the 28-year-old – who, like Vata, can feature all across the forward line – ranks in the top 3% in Europe among his fellow forwards for progressive carries as well as in the top 7% for successful take-ons, thus illustrating his innate knack for breezing past opposition defenders.

The 82-cap speedster is no doubt an impressive figure to be likened to, having most notably racked up 131 goals and 95 assists in 339 games during a glittering spell at the Etihad, while also being described as “frightening” by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino last year.

To be able to emulate what is arguably a “world-class player” – according to ex-Everton boss Frank Lampard – will take some doing as far as Vata is concerned, although it bodes well for the career that he could go on to enjoy to have been compared to such an elite attacking talent.

Chelsea are one of several big clubs who are interested in signing Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries, whose agent has been in contact over a possible move, according to a transfer report from Italy.

The Lowdown: Dumfries shines at World Cup

The 26-year-old has impressed at the last couple of major tournaments for the Netherlands, catching the eye at both Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, with three goal contributions in each of those.

In Qatar, Dumfries registered two assists and also chipped in with a goal against the USA, being hailed as a ‘brilliant’ player by Micah Richards and a ‘breath of fresh air’ by Rio Ferdinand.

It could be that the Dutchman’s future lies away from Inter Milan as he looks for a fresh challenge, which is where Chelsea come into the picture – along with other prospective suitors.

The Latest: Chelsea contacted over Dumfries

According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Blues are interested in signing Dumfries, whose current deal at Inter expires at the end of the 2024/25 season.

Manchester United and Bayern Munich are also believed to be in the mix, in what looks like a strong battle for his signature, with all three clubs reportedly in contact with agent Rafaela Pimenta over a possible €50m+ (£44m) transfer.

The Verdict: Good competition for James

Dumfries could be a strong prospective signing for Chelsea, especially considering how often he has played as a right wing-back for both Inter and Netherlands in a 3-5-2 formation, a system that Graham Potter has used a few times at Stamford Bridge already.

The £55k-per-week defender could provide good competition for Reece James, admittedly having to accept being likely second choice initially but potentially profiting from the Englishman’s ongoing injury problems.

A tally of seven goals and 10 assists in 68 appearances for Inter highlights his attacking quality, while also finding the net six times for his country.

Whether or not Dumfries is content with possibly being a squad player at Chelsea could be pivotal in deciding his next club, though, with James likely to be Potter’s first-choice when fit, having been a regular for the past two full seasons.

Liverpool target Matheus Nunes is “rated very highly” at Anfield, according to Ryan Taylor.

The Lowdown: Interest in Nunes

The Portuguese midfielder only arrived in the Premier League in the summer when he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers for a club-record £42.2m (via Sky Sports) from Sporting.

But following 22 appearances in all competitions for the Molineux side so far, he’s caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp, with Sky Sports reporting Liverpool’s interest in the 24-year-old at the beginning of the window.

However, the article claims a summer move is more likely with Wolves now valuing the player at over £50m amid interest from Manchester City as well.

The Latest: Taylor’s comments

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Daily Express journalist Taylor claims the Reds held interest in Nunes last summer before Wolves snapped him up and still hold that same eagerness to bring him to Anfield.

He said: “I think it’s clear at the moment that Nunes is actually a player that is rated very highly by Liverpool. I know the reports the other week came out of the blue, but if you rewind the clock to last summer, they were actually very interested in signing the player from Sporting.

“In the end, they decided to prioritise a striker to replace Mane, or forward as such in [Darwin] Nunez,”.

The Verdict: Midfielder reinforcements needed

Liverpool have endured a woeful season so far with them currently ninth and 10 points off the top four, with their struggles in midfield highlighted as an area needing bolstering amid the futures of a number of their current crop up in the air.

Midfielders Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Arthur Melo all see their current deals expire at the end of the season, with no extensions agreed for any of them so far.

This could leave them down to bare bones in the middle of the park in the near future, hence their interest in Nunes.

It could well be time for Klopp to hit the reset button on the midfield with Nunes an intriguing option. He ranks in the top 15% for touches in the attacking penalty area amongst midfielders in top European competitions over the past year, while he is also in the top 5% for progressive passes received (via FBref), showing his prowess in operating as an attacking option in midfield.

Having bought him so recently, the Old Gold are surely almost certain to want an advance on their £42.2m investment, especially if they survive relegation. Therefore, we believe Nunes won’t come cheap, and with the continued interest in Jude Bellingham amid an asking price of £130m, it could prove challenging to sign both in the same window.

Mikel Arteta has led Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table after a series of scintillating displays this season, and this form could benefit them in more ways than one, especially when it comes to dealings in the transfer market.

The North London side’s current stature has seen them linked with a move for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice, who has counted Liverpool and Chelsea as recent admirers.

Any potential move for the 23-year-old will likely cost Arsenal £70m, with West Ham looking to cash in on Rice for a bumper fee.

Arteta would give the club a major boost if they were to pip the likes of Chelsea to his signing as he could add that extra bite to the Gunners’ engine room and improve their midfield options.

Rice’s performances over the last couple of seasons have led Gary Lineker to dub him as “magnificent” while he is also statistically similar to Real Madrid sensation Aurelien Tchouameni, therefore he could be an excellent addition at the Emirates.

According to FBref, the French midfielder is the sixth-most similar player to Rice across Europe’s top leagues, and considering just how wonderful a player Tchouameni is turning out to be following his move to La Liga, it isn’t a bad comparison to have.

This season has seen the two midfielders register similar statistics with regard to goal contributions (both two), pass success rate (92.4% to 89.2%), goal-creating actions (six to three), and tackles won (18 to 16).

Both Rice and Tchouameni excel at passing and ball interception according to WhoScored, therefore they are both excellent in the middle of the pitch and are adept at winning the ball back while circulating the ball on a consistent basis.

For a fee of £70m, sporting director Edu Gaspar should seriously consider trying to convince Rice to make the short move across London and join Arsenal.

Arteta is obviously building a side that is capable of dominating for the near future, with Rice only 23, he could be the focal point over the next few seasons, and with the player unlikely to win anything while at West Ham, the lure of glory could be difficult to turn down.

Forget Mykhaylo Mudryk or even Joao Felix, signing Rice could be the most important transfer Arteta will make this year.