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Old Tauntonians & Romsey have one hand on the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 championship trophy after beating St Cross Symondians by 20 runs in their top of the table clash at Romsey.The victory means OT’s are within six points of the title, which they ought to wrap up at Gosport – who are still in deep relegation trouble – on Saturday.OT’s recovered from the shock of losing Charles Forward, their prolific left-hand opener, to Stuart Charman’s first ball and went on to post 222-7.Raj Niak (86), who scored eight boundaries and a plethora of one’s and two’s, shared a significant second-wicket partnership with Jodey Brown (49), and added useful runs with Max Smith (20) and Ian Tulk, who hit a quick-fire 18.Will Mariner (4-36) bowled St Cross back into the frame – only for a top-order batting failure to cost the visitors dear.The combination of Jeremy Ord (5-28 and wicketkeeper Keith Trodd, who snapped up four victims, had St Cross rocking at 23-3, and later 99-7.But Marc Rees (48) and Stu Charman (51) almost turned the match on its head, adding 73 for the eighth wicket as OT’s were forced on to the back foot.But the return of Ord, who celebrated his first SPL five-wicket haul, reduced St Cross from a threatening 172-7 to 185 all out.Sparsholt threw themselves a lifeline in the danger zone with a 30-run win at now-relegated Purbrook – but they still need to beat Burridge on Saturday to make sure of safety.The win lifted Sparsholt above Gosport Borough and United Services, who were both beaten.Sparsholt’s positive 53-0 became an uncertain 62-3 after a miserly 3-19 new ball spell by Wayne Musselwhite.Nick Boxall (50) did much to boost Sparsholt’s prospects and received useful lower-order support from Jez Lawson, Ollie Kelly and Andy Lang (20 not out) before the visitors were dismissed for 192.Lang, who finished with 4-33, made his mark with a couple of early blows – Purbrook slipping to 47-4 before Mike Hennessy (51 not out) gave the innings some substance.But last year’s Premier 3 champions continued to lose wickets regularly and were dismissed for 162, Lawson finishing with 3-45.Lymngton’s 54-run win at United Services – created by a superb individual performance by Glyn Treagus – certainly helped Sparsholt’s cause.Treagus, who hit 152 for Dorset against Wiltshire the previous weekend, hit 100 and took 3-32 for Lymington.He shared a 151-run second-wicket stand with Danny Peacock (84) before Ben Craft’s unbeaten 61 helped Lymington post a formidable 288-6.Pete Andrew, playing his first match of the season after returning from Royal Navy duties in the Gulf, held US together with a battling 76, scored out of 114-6.Only Paul Barsby (67) made much of a fight of it thereafter as US closed at 234-9.Neil Cunningham hit an unbeaten 113 and enjoyed a 162-run second-wicket romp with Dave Jackson (70) as Burridge piled up 268-4 (Paul Friedrich 44) against Gosport Borough.Only Andrew Watkins (69) and Stewart Magee (45) responded as Friedrich (3-36) and Andy Ford (3-66) kept Gosport to 217-8.Easton & Martyr Worthy’s top three ran amok at The Quarters, where Hursley Park finished 16 runs short chasing a formidable 266-9.Shaun Green (70), Francis Gill (64) and Ashley Spencer (51) had 215-2 on the board before Hursley’s bowlers started making any inroads.Spinner Sandip Halder (3-60) did his bit before helping Adrian Aymes (84) put Hursley in a decent position at 171-3.The Park needed 110 off the last 20 overs and appeared on course until Halder (51) was run out at 229-8.Ross Cambray hit out before Hursley were dismissed for 250 with ten balls still remaining.

Jonty Rhodes, who will be joining the South African one-day squad in Australia in the New Year, took 65 off the Eastern Province Jumbos to steer the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins towards a four-wicket victory in the Standard Bank Cup on Wednesday night. At SuperSport Park, Northerns Titans beat Free State by five wickets.Rhodes shared in a 78-run third wicket stand with Ahmed Amla (39), as the Dolphins made light work of a Jumbos’ total of 180 all out in just 43.4 overs. The victory takes the Dolphins to the top of the Standard Bank Cup log.At SuperSport Park, Martin van Jaarsveld’s unbeaten 73 enabled the Titans to overcome amid-innings wobble to cruise to victory over the Free State Eagles with more than three overs to spare.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has been included on a nine-man shortlist drawn up by Paris Saint-Germain as they look to replace Mauricio Pochettino after their Champions League exit.

The Lowdown: PSG’s ex-Spurs boss

Current PSG boss Pochettino joined the Ligue 1 giants at the start of 2021 after taking a year-long break from management, following his departure from Tottenham.

The Argentine was a key figure in Spurs’ emergence as a consistent top-six side, after he joined the north London club in 2014 following 18 months in charge at Southampton.

The 50-year-old remained at Spurs for five-and-a-half years before being relieved of his duties due to a poor start to the 2019/20 season.

Since arriving in the French capital, Pochettino has won the Ligue 1 title and the French Super Cup. However, due to PSG’s woes in the Champions League, recently exiting at the hands of Real Madrid, club officials are looking for a replacement to come in over the summer.

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The Latest: Interest in Conte

According to a report by French sources at L’Equipe (via Daily Mail), PSG have drawn up a shortlist consisting of candidates who could succeed Pochettino at the club, and Tottenham boss Conte has been included as a potential replacement.

Other names mentioned include Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Juventus’ Massimiliano Allegri, Ajax’s Erik ten Hag, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone, Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi, Spezia’s Thiago Motta and former Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.

The Verdict: Losing Conte would be a huge blow

According to Spurs insider John Wenham, Conte was Fabio Paratici’s number one target to secure as Tottenham manager, so this news would come as a huge blow to the Italian.

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Therefore, if Conte were to leave the club, it would not at all be surprising to see Paratici follow suit.

This would then be monumental for Spurs chief Daniel Levy, who has taken a step back from the footballing side of operations. Simultaneously having to find a new manager and club director would prove to be a mammoth task, which could end very poorly for the north London side in a summer where things need to go perfectly.

In other news: Tottenham Hotspur: Paul Robinson makes Dejan Kulusevski claim

ScorecardDawid Malan’s impressive form continued but England’s batting slumped•Chris Whiteoak

Pakistan A set up a series decider against England Lions with a six-wicket victory in the fourth one-dayer in Dubai. They cut off a promising England start to dismiss them for 181 then survived a batting wobble of their own to reach the target with more than three overs to spare as Asif Zakir hit an unbeaten 68.Pakistan A’s spinners combined effectively after England had made a flying start with an opening stand of 60 in less than 10 overs between James Vince and Dawid Malan. But the next-best stand was 36 between Malan and Liam Dawson as the innings ended with five-and-a-half overs unused.England hit back through some impressive pace bowling as Craig Overton and Jake Ball removed the openers before Dawson and Tom Westley made further inroads to leave Pakistan A 66 for 4.But then the bat started to dominate again as Zakir and Zohaib Khan formed the best stand of the match by adding an unbroken 116 to hunt down the target. Zakir hit the one six of the match when he dispatched Dawson having gone to fifty off 78 balls.It was again a run out that had sparked England’s problems when Vince was found short for the second innings in a row when he chanced a third to fine leg then Westley fell for his second duck of the series. Malan, who missed the third match with illness, continued his fine form with a fluent half-century but when he was fourth out the innings fell away – the last six wickets going for 62.Bilal Asif took 2 for 35 while Mohammad Nawaz was miserly as he collected 2 for 22 in 9.3 overs.

Muttiah Muralitharan wants to be at his best over the next two Tests © Getty Images

One issue shadows Muttiah Muralitharan every time he visits Australia and no amount of goodwill, outstanding sportsmanship or law changes can stop it. While the rest of the cricket world adores Murali, some Australians have taken his action as a personal insult since Darrell Hair called him for throwing on Boxing Day 1995.They will be the ones in the crowd shouting no-ball each time he delivers from his mesmerising armoury. Sadly, they will never appreciate him. The taunts and criticism hurt Murali but he does a wonderful job of smiling it away. He is an amazing man and a treasured bowler.The treatment has led to him playing only two Tests for Sri Lanka in Australia and is one reason why he desperately wants to prove himself during the series beginning in Brisbane on Thursday. Murali boycotted his country’s previous Test tour in 2004 after John Howard, Australia’s prime minister, copied the view of many of his subjects by questioning the action.Wild cheering and support for Murali in the tsunami charity match in 2005 softened the bowler’s view on the country but unfortunately the lingering distaste remains. At a pre-Test lunch in Brisbane Murali was greeted warmly by a crowd of more than 600, but a call of no-ball still came when he was introduced.Asked about his experiences in Australia he said: “I had a bad tour in 1995 and I want to forget that because that was the start of everything,” he said. “I’ve gone past that.”In three Tests in Australia Murali has eight wickets at 63.12, which is more than 40 runs above his career mark, and he wants to prove himself to the Down Under sceptics. “I want to play in Australia and show myself,” he said. “Hopefully this time, before I retire, I can do something.”The home players are determined to counter Murali and have the added incentive of delaying the nine wickets he needs to move past Shane Warne’s Test record of 708. Murali knows the Australians play him best and Matthew Hayden was confident they could diffuse the threat.”We’ve faced him in pretty much all the conditions in the world and we’ve handled him pretty well,” Hayden said. “In a situation where he’s got a lot of incentive, our job is to keep him out of play and we’ve definitely got the skills to do that.”Murali has never appeared in a Test at the Gabba and will rely on his experience from five one-day internationals at the ground. Hayden expects the extra bounce to suit Murali. “He’ll exploit that nicely.”On stage Murali was in a bright mood, remembering the first time he bowled to Allan Border, who thought he was a legspinner and could not work out why he was playing and missing. Murali also said the Sri Lankan team would not copy the on-field verbal tactics tried by India during the one-day series last month.”We want to play decent cricket … not like the Indians,” he said before laughing. “We want to play our game, try to challenge Australia and have a good game.”Chaminda Vaas, the opening bowler, agreed with his team-mate. “We’re not Indians, we’re not going to play like the Indians,” he said. “But when it comes to cricket you have to play aggressive cricket and we are here to play good and smart cricket.”Sri Lanka did not use Murali during the tour game against Queensland but he spent a lot of time in the nets and drew a crowd whenever he bowled. His name (even if there isn’t universal agreement on how to spell it) deserves to be on the trophy Australia and Sri Lanka will battle for over the next two Tests.

Gayle: Pakistan was disappointing for me. No excuses, it was a good experience © Getty Images

Well this is the grand finale. It has been a long time on the road and it comes to an end as all things must come to an end. It’s been a long, hard fight on the road, three and a half months, but unfortunately the tour ended on a disappointing note.We started well in Malaysia, then went on to India and finished here in Pakistan. First of all, to touch on the last couple of Pakistan games, it was disappointing in both forms but I think it was a good experience. India and Pakistan may be neighbours but it’s a different environment.You get English conditions here, it’s a bit cooler and it’s been a while since we’ve played in those conditions. In the last game we came up a bit short defending 238. I think we should have got more runs on the board, it was a flat pitch and Pakistan came out easy in the end with a lot of wickets in had.I thought the team played well in the one-dayers. Marlon (Samuels) got a century and came back to his own and it is good to see him get an opportunity to prove himself at the top of the order. Shiv (Chanderpaul) came up in the end with another century. After missing the first two games he came back well and got a half-century and a century.Once this continues and everyone contributes it will be good for the team. The bowlers did well in Pakistan -Jerome (Taylor), (Corey) Collymore, (Daren) Powell in his first game and (Dwayne) Smith played a good part as well.If we continue to play the sort of cricket we have been playing, we will find ourselves struggling going into the World Cup. The chopping and changing is going to be difficult for us and put us on the back foot.Personally, from my point of view, things can be handled right within the team with the selections on a whole. It’s about time we have a steady World Cup squad … there is no time to experiment now.On a personal note, I started with a good one-day series in Malaysia and then continued on in India on a high and then came to Pakistan and it was a disappointing tour for me in both forms. No excuses, it was a good experience; I will use it to gain more experience. In the bowling department, I think I have been underused on most occasions. I am not a scapegoat bowler in this team to be used only when things are difficult.Things can be handled a bit better in that scenario. I have to wish my fans and everyone a merry Christmas and happy new year when the new year arrives. I hope everyone keeps supporting the team, we have a lot of cricket to play next year and, hopefully, we will start the new year on a high note.This Christmas is not going to be a party Christmas for me but you can find me in the club most of the times.

Gibbs makes a welcome return for South Africa © Getty Images

Herschelle Gibbs has been passed fit and has been included in South Africa’s one-day squad to face New Zealand.Gibbs received the all-clear on Monday after two months out due to a knee injury. He went straight into the squad for Friday’s Pro20 match at Johannesburg and the first three of five ODIs that follow.The South African selectors made only one change to the one-day squad that trounced West Indies 5-0 earlier this year, leaving out Justin Ontong. Albie Morkel, the Titans allrounder, has been drafted in for the Pro20 match but will not figure in the ODIs.South Africa squad Graeme Smith (capt), Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis (vice-capt), Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel (Pro20 only), Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince.

Maurice Odumbe arrives in court last July© AFP

A report in The Standard claims that the five-year ban handed down to Maurice Odumbe was recommended by presiding adjudicator Ahmed Ebrahim, a retired Zimbabwean supreme court judge, and not, as first thought, by the Kenyan Cricket Association.Odumbe was banned following a hearing in July which found him guilty of associating with known bookmakers. At the time it was widely reported that the KCA had pressed for the punishment. But The Standard published Ebrahim’s confidential report.”Far from shouldering this responsibility [ as Kenya’s captain], Odumbe has shown himself to be dishonest and devious in his behaviour in relation to the game of cricket,” Ebrahim said in his findings. “He has been callous and greedy in the way he has conducted himself. There is no suggestion that he was in desperate straits and in dire need of money because of some serious difficulty which may have befallen him.”Odumbe has exhibited no remorse. He has not indicated any intention to mend his ways. Instead, he has chosen to cast doubts on the honesty and integrity of people who have despaired of his behaviour. The penalty provided for his `illegal’ conduct in terms of the ICC Code of Conduct is a minimum ban of two years or a maximum of a life ban.”He has not been found guilty of `match-fixing’ but, as I have indicated, his conduct was outrageously reprehensible,” concluded Ebrahim. “In my view, a five-year ban would meet the justice of the case and I so recommend.”The ramifications of the evidence given by Katherine Maloney, Odumbe’s estranged wife, continue. It was her testimony which proved so damning to Odumbe, and which resulted in ICC Anti-Corruption officials again visiting Nairobi last week as part of an ongoing investigation.

John Wright was quick to stress on Thursday that the conditioning camp for the 36 probables would be no picnic. He was talking to the media after having briefed the players on the objectives and methods of the preparatory camp.”We want to make it challenging, hard-working and also fun,” he said. “We will take the opportunity to spell out plans and goals to achieve in the coming season.”After testing the probables’ fitness over the first two days, the 36 would be divided into four groups to promote a healthy spirit of competition. Wright said that he would be working in co-ordination with Andrew Leipus, the physio, and Gregory King, the newly appointed trainer from South Africa, to ensure that all the boys were up to speed by the end of the fortnight.

© AFP

The third day’s play at Bloemfontein has seen the Indian bowlers putup a much-improved display. Javagal Srinath, in particular, wasimpressive, but with South Africa having gained a handsome lead, Indiawill have to fight the good fight if they are to get on top again.Many of India’s woes stem from the fact that the Indian captain andhis bowlers were unimaginative on a placid wicket on Sunday. After aheroic and magnificent innings from Sachin Tendulkar and VirenderSehwag, I had expected the Indian bowlers, who have usually done wellabroad, to rise to the occasion. But Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan, twoof the four frontline bowlers, disappointed hugely.Srinath, in contrast, bowled a good line and length, but then again, Icould not understand why he did not come round the wicket whilebowling to Gary Kirsten. After putting 379 on the board, Indiarequired quick breakthroughs, but Srinath’s hesitancy to come roundthe wicket meant that Kirsten batted with minimum fuss. The seniorSouth African opener went on to play another of his efficient inningsbefore throwing his wicket away to an uncharacteristically loose shot.

© CricInfo

Herschelle Gibbs, for his part, was at his belligerent best. The youngSouth African opener has great hand-eye co-ordination and is one ofthe finest of natural stroke-players around today. If Sachin lent thesparkle on Saturday, it was Gibbs who shone on Sunday.A century partnership at the top of the order is always a huge boostto any team, and the fact that Gibbs and Kirsten have put on threecentury partnerships in the last three Tests has definitely helpedtheir side in posting huge totals. I cannot help but speculate howmuch it would help India to have a opening pair like theirs.With the regular Indian bowling proving to be bland, I was surprisedto see Sourav Ganguly take a long time before finally introducingSachin. The little champion is a minor magician with the ball and, asthe tri-series final at Durban proved, the South Africans also havegreat difficulty in reading him. On Sunday too they had theirproblems, handling the little champion’s brand of leg-spin. I onlyhope that Sourav shows greater faith in Sachin during the rest of thematch, for it might prove crucial on a pitch that is expected toassist the slower bowlers during the last two days.Talking about slower bowlers, India definitely misses Harbhajan Singha great deal. He was one bowler who could have taken the mickey out ofthe South Africans. The home team batsmen haven’t read him at all, and amazing bag of tricks and variations of flight wouldhave made a world of difference to the Indian attack.

© AFP

Let me then move on to the most pleasant task of talking aboutSachin’s great innings on Saturday. India were in the doldrums whenthe little master launched his brilliant offensive. Even a singlemistake from the great man, and a total of even hundred might havebeen beyond us. But Sachin kept his head, used his imagination,finding boundaries where none existed. It was a clever innings, andonly the genius of the man made it possible. I loved the way in whichhe deliberately kept guiding the ball over slips and to the third-manboundary. If you were to ask me, I would rate this knock as hisfinest, even above his great knock at Perth in February 1992. The factthat it gave India a chance to win the first Test of an away seriesmakes it a very precious knock indeed.I also liked the way in which Sachin guided Virender Sehwag. It wasgood to see him welcome the young man with a smile. Sachin also walkedup to Sehwag at the right moments during the magnificent partnershipbetween the two, and the young man gave his idol an attentive ear.

© CricInfo

Sehwag’s hundred proved that he was a worthy entrant to the ‘redhandkerchief club’. The courage and concentration that he showedduring his first innings would have pleased both Jimmy Amarnath andSteve Waugh, founding members of and, indeed, on the board ofdirectors of that exclusive club. Sehwag has a reputation for beingone of the most attacking batsmen in Indian cricket, but the way inwhich he picked and chose the balls to hit showed a maturity andadaptability that was laudable in an young man playing his first Test.When the Indians play their second innings, all the batsmen will haveto show a similar maturity and commitment if we are to make ourelectric performance on the first day count. The South Africans havealready built up a handsome lead and will be hoping to build on it andpile on the pressure. The remaining days are going to test thecharacter of the Indians and their ability to save the Test, if notwin it.