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There’s no stopping BAT Sports and Havant as the Southern Electric ECB Premier League Division 1 championship race heads for a photo-finish.A thumping nine-wicket win at Liphook & Ripsley keeps BAT in the box seat – a slender 2.67 points ahead of Havant, the defending champions, who won by five wickets at Andover.The top two clash at Havant Park on Saturday week, August 18.An unbroken second-wicket stand between Damian Shirazi (79) and Dave Carson (65) swept BAT home as the rain clouds threatened at Ripsley Park.The pair spurted BAT home in 41.4 overs with the Liphook spin attack coming under fearful fire from Carson in the gathering gloom – teenage left-arm spinner Toby Martin having 40 runs hit off his four overs.Hampshire YCs all-rounder Chris Wright (57) top scored for Liphook, with Jeremy Bulled (39) and latterly Duncan Berry (28 not out) in support.Dan Goldstraw (3-53) took his season’s wicket haul to 30 as Liphook reached 197-8 (Richard Dibden 3-63).Havant collected 20 points – one less than BAT – from a comfortable five-wicket win over Andover, still smarting from their midweek SEC Cup final mauling from Lymington.Andover progressed steadily after winning the toss, with Jerry Hayward (43), Stuart Summers (35), Martin Miller (34) and Roger Miller (25) the principal scorers in their 185-9 total.Havant maintained a steady rate, with Andy Perry (41) and Richard Hindley (28) establishing a platform for Paul Gover (44 not out) and Shawn Gillies (31) to set up a five-wicket win.Matt Godwin celebrated a career-best spell of 7-49 as Burridge ripped Bashley (Rydal) out for 116 before romping to an eight-wicket win.But for the run out of Richard Knowles, Godwin could have been on for a unique “all ten” as he clean bowled three of Bashley’s top four, including new signing Chris Sketchley, and then bagged the next three.Bashley’s innings, in ruins at 101-8 at lunch, was wound up for 116 soon afterwards.Burridge swept to victory on the strength of an unbroken third-wicket partnership between Paul Hawkins (49) and Dave Jackson (46).Frustration appears to be the name of the game for Bournemouth in all-day cricket.For the fourth time this season they dictated the proceedings – only for Calmore Sports’ to deny them victory with their last pair at the crease.Third-placed Calmore closed at 150-9 after Bournemouth had offered a generous declaration, ending their innings at 218-6 off 62 overs.Bournemouth batted consistently down the order, with Dorset teenager Chris Park (56) able to build on a half-century opening partnership between Andy Bell (24) and Tom Webley (24).Martin Miller (35) shared an 85 stand with Park before Geoff Warrington (22), Julian Cassell (22) and Jim Denning (18) moved the total on to 218-6.Park made a further impact, catching Calmore pair Tom Pegler and Paul Cass off the bowling of Peter Waite (2-45).From 7-2 and subsequently 38-4, Calmore were always battling to save the game and it needed a gutsy performance from James Hibberd to deny Bournemouth victory after Jo Wilson (4-41) had cut through the middle-order.Dave Kidner (2-24) did his bit, but it was Hibberd’s sensibly constructed 67 which enabled Calmore to hold out at 150-9.Hungerford’s prospects of improving their relegation-threatened position at the bottom dipped when the visit of South Wilts to the War Memorial Ground was abandoned at tea.Brendan Pauwells (57) had top scored in South Wilts’ score of 220-8 (Owen Dawkins 3-68). Hungerford did not start their innings.

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Leeds United revealed on Monday that talismanic centre-back Pontus Jansson will be missing for three weeks with the knee issue he picked up against Sheffield United on Saturday, and Whites fans have produced a surprise reaction to the news.

The Sweden international has been such a big player for the Yorkshire outfit ever since initially joining them on loan, and it has been no different this term as they have challenged in and around the automatic promotion places throughout the whole campaign.

Perhaps the lack of concern is because of the international break meaning he may only miss one game or, in many cases in the following comments, the chance that they will see another Elland Road favourite in Gaetano Berardi potentially returning to the starting XI.

Despite his questionable disciplinary record, it is no surprise that the United faithful like the Swiss defender given his never-say-die warrior-like attitude, and the fact that he filled in for Jansson so well earlier in the campaign means they shouldn’t be worried about him being named in the XI.

In fact, some of the Leeds fans that have had their on the setback are actually more concerned – and rightly so – about their side going forward, following another blank against the Blades at the weekend.

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Here is what they have been saying on Twitter…

Are fans being priced out of the Championship as well as the Premier League? The angry Bolton fan in the video below certainly believes so…

Canterbury continued their momentum towards a Shell Cup semi-final place at Whangarei today. But not without the occasional tremor and many sideways glances at an interesting red/brown Cobham Oval pitch with a tinge of green that coloured the surface and the batsmen’s complexions.The Northern Districts’ batsmen’s down glances were particularly baleful as Gary Stead won the toss and gave them first look at the vagaries kept under covers through overnight and morning rain that shortened the match to 43 overs a side.A rollicking start by Daniel Vettori and Mark Bailey, picking 42 off six overs in the wake of Simon Doull’s early departure via a messy run out, was no sign of things to come. From 46 for one after eight overs, the tone of the match was set. At the end of 12, Northern were 49 for six and, despite a 37-run seventh wicket partnership between Grant Bradburn and Hamish Marshall, they were never likely to produce a total that was defendable even on a pitch whose holding qualities made scoring difficult.They reached 134. Bradburn, bowled for 47 off the last ball of the innings, and Daryl Tuffey added 30 for the last wicket but it was the sort of hit-and-miss batting that could hardly be described as setting an example to the top order.The Canterbury bowlers naturally enjoyed themselves, none more so than this season’s new international Chris Martin. His nine overs produced three for 18 and at times he seemed unplayable. A couple of run outs did not help the Northern cause.Some of the Northern bowlers had a happy time too. And certainly the Canterbury batsmen had as much trouble with the pitch as their Northern counterparts. In a similar pattern to the Northern innings, Canterbury went from 52 for one to 63 for four in the space of four overs as Daniel Vettori and Alex Tait complemented the good work Daryl Tuffey contributed at the start of Northern’s bowling effort.But they never had enough to defend. Chris Harris with an unbeaten 43 righted the innings and, despite a couple of glitches at the other end, Canterbury got home with a couple of overs and four wickets to spare.Vettori demonstrated that he is coming back, taking two for 23 off his nine overs. Tuffey took two for 14 off seven. Tait and Bradburn chimed in with a wicket each. Between them they forced Canterbury to fight all the way for the two points that take them into the top three of the Shell Cup.Gary Stead, commenting after the match on the conditions, said, “We’ll take the two points but it is an absolute disgrace that two teams with such proud one-day records should be subjected to playing on such a pitch.”

Kenya have announced their 15-man squad for next month’s Twenty20 World Championship and the side contains few surprises.The only two new faces from the squad that took part in the World Cup are both 19-year-olds, Alex Obanda and Elijah Otieno.Obanda’s inclusion is not surprising as he has been considered one of the most promising young batsmen for some time. He represented Kenya at Under-17 level while still only 14, and earlier this year he was one of the successes of Kenya’s participation in Zimbabwe’s Logan Cup, scoring 386 runs at 38.60 including a maiden first-class hundred. That won him selection for the Africa XI in the Afro-Asia Cup in June, but he struggled in two outings against India A this month, making three ducks in four innings.Otieno, a medium-pace bowler who gets surprising bounce from the pitch, also played in the Logan Cup but in three outings took only 1 for 166, although he was considered extremely unlucky as he beat the bat more than anyone else. He has no pretensions as a batsman – all his career runs came in the same match, and his seven first-class outings include five ducks.Kenya Steve Tikolo (capt), Rajesh Bhudiya, Jimmy Kamande, Tanmay Mishra, Alex Obanda, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Collins Obuya, David Obuya, Thomas Odoyo, Peter Ongondo, Lameck Onyango, Elijah Otieno, Maurice Ouma (wk), Tony Suji, Hiren Varaiya.

Division One

Warwickshire were indebted to a blitzkrieg knock of 76 from Timothy Groenewald and a more sedate, watchful fifty from Moeen Ali on the first day against Durham at Chester-le-Street. The visitors, moving along nicely at 139 for 2, lost a flurry of wickets and were stumbling precariously at 188 for 6 before Groenewald’s savage innings. In the space of 46 balls, he smashed 13 fours and cleared the boundary twice, as Warwickshire were eventually dismissed for 314. Buoyed by their late spurt of runs, their bowlers then nipped out three Durham wickets who went to stumps 261 runs behind.Nottinghamshire ended the first day on top against Kent owing to hundreds from Stephen Fleming and David Hussey who took the hosts to 381 for 5 at Trent Bridge. Nottinghamshire were in a spot of trouble after Fleming, the captain, chose to bat as Kent reduced them to 61 for 3. Fleming and Hussey were resolute, however, staging a fighting fourth-wicket partnership of 164. It was Hussey’s fourth hundred of the season, and he remains unbeaten on his highest score thus far, 156.

Division Two

A magnificent unbeaten 188 from HD Ackerman led the way for Leicestershire on the opening day at Northampton against Northamptonshire. Choosing to bat, Leicestershire soon lost both their openers and were struggling at 48 for 2. Enter Ackerman, who received excellent support from John Sadler (69), the 24-year-old left hander. The pair put on 180 for the third wicket before Monty Panesar removed Sadler and, four balls later, Darren Maddy too. Paul Nixon batted with his customary steadfastness, remaining unbeaten on 70 at the close as the visitors closed on 383 for 4.In a western encounter at Taunton, Gloucestershire restricted the hosts Somerset to 315 for 6 thanks to a couple of wickets apiece for Jon Lewis and Alex Gidman. Matthew Wood, the Somerset opener, was cruising along smoothly before Lewis made the breakthrough – quite literally, bowling him. And though there were contributions from the middle-order, most notably 71 from James Hildreth, no batsman could capitalise.

Kumar Sangakkara en route to his ninth Test century © Getty Images

On scoring a century in front of his home crowd
It was always a dream of mine to get a hundred in Kandy and it was also asituation which the team needed runs. It was a great team effort today.There was a lot of joy at reaching my hundred as the last three innings Ihave played were great personal disappointments. Once I got a start here myonly ambition was to stay out there as long as possible and work as hard aspossible. It was one of the hardest-working hundreds that I have scored andit was in a situation where we needed to score over 300 to win the game.This is right up there with my other hundreds.On the pitch
I thought it was a difficult wicket but it was slightly easier for theleft-handers as the soft spots were outside the right-handers off stump. Butit was a challenge and I enjoyed it very much.On his technical changes before this innings
No matter how many runs you score cricket is about keeping things simple andin the last few innings that is something I have forgotten to do. One of thethings that I realised was that I was not focusing enough on the ball andthat was one of the changes I did before this innings and it worked.On his non-selection for the World XI Test squad for the ICC Super Series
Selectors like God move in mysterious ways, but as long as I do a good jobfor my country then it does not matter what comes after that. Therecognition that comes from being selected for teams like that is somethingthat comes after doing your job for the side. Selection is still up for grabs and it is just aboutperforming day in and day out on the field.On the state of the game
We were looking for something over 250 and anything over 300 would be abonus. Right now, we are just going to try and bat them out of the game.

ScorecardNathan Astle boosted the New Zealanders to 326 for 7 on the opening day of their tour match against Leicestershire at Grace Road. Astle scored 93, and added 94 with Stephen Fleming, who scored 56. David Masters took three wickets to haul Leicestershire back, but a late cameo innings from Brendon McCullum gave New Zealand the honours.Michael Papps was given a chance to impress in the absence of the rested Mark Richardson, but he lasted only two balls, caught at first slip by Darren Robinson off Jon Dakin for a duck (0 for 1). Fleming and Astle then got in some valuable practice ahead of the second Test at Headingley next week.Fleming cracked five fours and a six for a quickfire 56 before he was also caught by Robinson, off Charlie Dagnall (95 for 2). Scott Styris continued his poor form on the tour when he was caught by Tom New off David Brignull for 2 (104 for 3). Astle added 94 with Craig McMillan before Masters dismissed both of them, McMillan for 43.Masters then pegged New Zealand back further with the wicket of Chris Cairns first ball, caught by New (207 for 6). However, McCullum showed signs of his good form from the first Test with 65 from 70 balls until he was trapped lbw by Dagnall. Gareth Hopkins was unbeaten on 40 at the close, with Daniel Vettori offering good support on 21 not out.

Is it right that we should be playing cricket while a war rages in Iraq? I have agonised over this and come to the conclusion that we should not allow the war-mongers to disrupt normalcy, wherever possible. It weakens their power to hold the world to ransom.I am glad that the Sharjah tournament is going ahead though I am disappointed that South Africa has chosen to opt out because of “security concerns.” South African players would no more have been in danger than the players from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Kenya.”Security concerns” is too general and too glib. New Zealand used it to avoid playing in Nairobi and was only too keen to accept the advice that was given to it by the US Embassy. In the end, it were New Zealand themselves who paid the price for their timidity. England refused to play in Zimbabwe for political reasons, the same Zimbabwe that has been persuaded to send its team to play in England this summer.In agreeing to tour England, Zimbabwe has taught a lesson to England that sports should be kept out of politics. England’s main concern, of course, was money. Had Zimbabwe cancelled the tour the ECB would have been out of pocket by several millions pounds. Thus this can be considered as aid in reverse.Pakistan has been a victim of “security concerns” and the Australians refused to tour Pakistan and the series, both Tests and one-day had to be played at neutral venues. Ironically, the one-day series was played in Nairobi, a venue that New Zealand considered too dangerous.The Indians have now formally cancelled their tour of Pakistan. One would like to know why the ICC is being so timorous? India is a member of the ICC and if it continues to flout its decisions, surely the ICC is bound to examine whether India should continue to remain a member of ICC. But even more important is the seeming indifference of the Indian cricket public to what is a wholly political decision.India and Pakistan played each other in the World Cup and the heavens did not fall. India beat Pakistan and there was rejoicing in India and there was disappointment in Pakistan. That’s about all. By not playing cricket against Pakistan, outstanding disputes between the two countries are no nearer being resolved.It is not Pakistan cricket that is being hurt but Asian cricket. The Asia Cup had the potential of becoming one of cricket’s most prized tournaments, second only to the World Cup. The Asian Test Championship too had got off to a good start and has all but been abandoned.The World Cup showed how the people of the cricket world could be brought together. All the security measures taken, at great cost, proved to be unnecessary. The final of the World Cup was played when the war against Iraq had started, two contrasting image. We know which was the enduring one and the hopeful. The Indian cricket board must try harder and must put more pressure on its government to resume cricket ties with Pakistan.The absence of South Africa devalues the Sharjah tournament somewhat but it provides Kenya a chance to show its mettle. And in a way, it provides the new-look Pakistan team a relatively easy passage though it will still be up against Sri Lanka. Given our preoccupation with the war in Iraq, I am not certain how closely the cricket will be followed.Pakistan’s poor performance in the World Cup has almost been forgotten though occasionally an article appears or a letter in a newspaper. It is just as well. The decision of the PCB to ‘rest’ senior players has been well received though the implication that they were somehow responsible for Pakistan’s grief in the World Cup remains unsubstantiated and is a bit rich.I have written this before but the average age of the all-conquering Australian team is in the vicinity of 30-years and Australia has brought back Steve Waugh and Justin Langer. By the time that the next World Cup will come around in 2007, almost all of the present Australia team will be replaced.But Australia is not likely to make the same mistake that had the West Indies. The West Indies sacked their senior players in one fell swoop and it has not been able to re-build. The West Indies have tried several captains including Richie Richardson, Courtney Walsh, Brain Lara and Jimmy Adams, finally settling for Carl Hooper.Team building or re-building has to be undertaken in phases, on a case by case basis. Rashid Latif’s deputy is Yousuf Youhana. Youhana is an outstanding batsman but surely we do not consider him to be captain material? The opportunity may have been lost to groom a future captain.There is a school of thought that believes that the best player is not necessarily the best captain. India tried Sachin Tendulkar and the West Indies Brian Lara and in the not-so distant past, England had tried Ian Botham and David Gower.A captain needs to have some special qualifications. In a team that had Hanif Mohammad, Fazal Mahmood and Imtiaz Ahmed, Pakistan’s captain was Abdul Hafeez Kardar, arguably the best captain that Pakistan has ever had.I really have no idea which player in the re-built lot is a future Pakistan captain. I had fancied Abdul Razzaq in the role but his own form has taken such a nose-dive that his own place in the team is in doubt. But without seeming to be disrespectful to such a talented cricketer,I don’t see Youhana as a future captain. Perhaps, it is just well that we keep this on hold, otherwise we might find the prospective candidate being undermined. It’s known to have happened. Perhaps, when the team is selected for the short tour of England in the early summer, this matter will be given some serious consideration. While building a new team, we should be grooming a captain. The two go together.

Cove could return to their old Thames Valley League haunts next season with the Southern Electric Premier League Division 2 championship under their belts.Relegated at the end of last season, the Farnborough club are suddenly in the thick of the title race, although their decision to quit the SPL in September means they will not be promoted back into the ECB accredited competition.Surprise defeats for Portsmouth and Lymington – by Old Tauntonians & Romsey and Lymington, respectively – has thrown the Division 2 race wide open.And Cove, with both their rivals still to play at Grasmere Road, could easily win it !Portsmouth sank to a two-wicket defeat after a topsey-turvey affair at St Helen’s, where Matt Scott’s unbeaten 51 spared the team’s blushes after Mukesh Morjaria (4-35) and latterly Stuart Tulk (4-19) had reduced the overnight leaders to 126-8.Scott’s undefeated half-century took Portsmouth to 174 all out – a total which appeared way out of OTs reach when the visitors reply dipped to 79-7 (Richard Rapley 32).But Mike Trodd (40) and Australian Cameron Sterling, with a match-wining 45 not out, turned the match on its head and carried Old Tauntonians to an astonishing two-wicket win at 175-8.A blistering half-century by West Indian Tim Subnaik, which included two huge sixes over the Stoneham Lane fir trees, swept Trojans to a five-wicket win over Lymington.The New Forest club were quite satisfied after Brian Clemow (57) and Ben Craft (47) had posted 191 (Paul Douglas 5-39).But Trojans, uncertain at 74-3 (Christian Pain 2-26), went into overdrive with Subnaik crashing 59 and Simon Williams (29 not out) and Jamie Donaldson (21 not out) taking the winning reply to 194-5.Cove, meanwhile, enhanced Hambledon’s relegation fears with a comfortable six-wicket win at Ridge Meadow.In-form United Services notched a sixth win in seven matches, overhauling Sparsholt’s 204 all out to win by six wickets.Sparsholt’s total was built around Rob Savage (60) and Carl Nichols (43), but US were always on course for victory once Mark Toogood (69) and John Geoghegan (47) had established themselves.But still nothing goes right for Old Basing, whose relegation fate is virtually assured following a 12th successive defeat by Easton & Martyr Worthy.Mark Stone (4-17), Steve Green (3-19) and Andy Birch (2-9) struck as Old Basing tumbled to 103 all out – a total Easton polished off, with Dave Birch hitting 57 not out.

Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks would be interested in a move to Southampton this summer, transfer insider Dean Jones has claimed.

The Lowdown: Winks’ playing time

Since the arrival of Rodrigo Bentancur at the end of January, the former England international’s playing time with Spurs has decreased significantly. In the Lilywhites’ last five Premier League games, the 26-year-old has played just 17 minutes of football.

As a result, reports have claimed that both Crystal Palace and Southampton are keen on signing the midfielder in the summer transfer window.

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The Latest: Jones’ claim on Winks

Jones believes that a move to St Mary’s would be the best option for Winks, who could jump at the chance to join the Saints.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the journalist claimed: “If everything comes together for them, I think he would be interested in it, so I think Southampton are on the right path.”

The Verdict: Lack of midfield options

Southampton have a limited number of options in the midfield department. Whilst James Ward-Prowse and Oriol Romeu have been leading the charge, the only other senior option in the engine room is youngster Ibrahima Diallo.

Therefore, a player with Winks’ experience in the top flight (124 Premier League appearances) would surely be of great use to this Saints side, as it would allow for more frequent rotation.

Having described a number of the 26-year-old’s performances as “amazing”, former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino once compared the player to the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi in the midfield, illustrating his calm presence on the ball.

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Therefore, with limited game-time expected under Antonio Conte, a move to Southampton could be the best option for Winks’ career, and Jones seems to think it is very much viable.

In other news: Dan Sheldon has criticised one Saints player during the 1-1 draw at Leeds