The 27-year old allrounder, looking to make a return to the national set-up after being omitted from NZC’s annual contracted players’ list, ends a seven-year tenure with Otago
ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2018James Neesham, the New Zealand allrounder, has signed up with Wellington for the upcoming domestic season, ending a seven-year tenure with Otago. The 27-year-old is seeking a return to the national side after he was one of the notable omissions from the annual contracted players’ list announced by New Zealand Cricket earlier this month.Neesham said his relationship with the Wellington coach Bruce Edgar convinced him to make the move. “Me and Bruce always had a good relationship from back when he was a national selector,” he told . “When he knew I was looking at other opportunities, he had a good chat with me about Wellington. I liked the look of the set up and I flew down to meet a few of the lads, and it seems like it will be a great fit for me. I’m 27, I’m reaching the time when an all-rounder comes into his peak. This is a good chance to show it.”Auckland was the other team Neesham was looking at. However, his equation with Edgar, as well as a proud record at the Basin Reserve, eventually influenced his decision. Neesham has played six first-class matches at the venue and averages 42.72 with the bat. He also struck a career-best 137 not out against India in February 2014, in the same Test where Brendon McCullum became New Zealand’s first Test triple-centurion.”Jimmy is a quality player who will add a lot to our middle order with the bat and complement a pace attack who have done pretty well in recent seasons,” Cricket Wellington said in a statement. “We think that will make him an asset to our squad and he’s been very clear that a return to the national side is part of his focus and a strong incentive to contribute to the Firebirds this coming summer.”Neesham made his international debut in December 2012, in a T20 international against South Africa in Durban. He has since played 12 Tests, 41 ODIs and 15 T20Is. However, the previous season was marked by a dip in form, particularly with the ball, leading to his falling out of favour with the selectors.
With the 2024 MLB Trade Deadline on Tuesday, July 30, World Series favorites Los Angeles Dodgers fortified its roster by way of adding prized right hander Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers. The Dodgers, littered with talented pitchers, have been dealing with injuries throughout its starting rotation and want to leave as little holes in the roster as possible in hopes of winning the World Series this fall.
The Dodgers odds continued to shorten on the news that the team landed Flaherty, who was sought after by several contenders ahead of the deadline. Meanwhile, teams like the Philadelphia Phillies had a quieter deadline, seemingly satisfied with the current roster.
The Yankees were quiet at the actual deadline, but did land Jazz Chisholm over the weekend, who is off to a scorching start in pinstripes, belting four home runs in three games with his new team.
New York’s AL East rival, Baltimore Orioles, bolstered its starting rotation with Zach Eflin from the Rays and are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with slugger Eloy Jimenez from the White Sox.
Teams further down the odds board were busy, most notably the Astros, who landed Yusei Kikuchi from the Blue Jays, and the Mets, who landed a hoster of different depth pieces to both their rotation and lineup.
Here is where the current World Series odds stand at FanDuel Sportsbook following the end of trade season.
2024 World Series OddsLos Angeles Dodgers: +300Philadelphia Phillies: +500New York Yankees: +550Baltimore Orioles: +600Atlanta Braves: +1200Houston Astros: +1300Cleveland Guardians: +1800Minnesota Twins; +1800Milwaukee Brewers:+2400Seattle Mariners: +2900San Diego Padres: +3000Arizona Diamondbacks: +4500Kansas City Royals: +5500Boston Red Sox: +5500New York Mets: +6000Texas Rangers: +6000St. Louis Cardinals: +800
After flirting with relegation last season, West Ham United have been one of the surprise packages of the season. David Moyes' side have simply picked up where they left off after their Europa Conference League win, and now sit just six points away from the Premier League's top four after nine games, despite a disappointing performance last time around.
Given that they lost Declan Rice to Arsenal in the summer transfer window, some may have expected the Hammers to once again struggle near the foot of the table, but their wise spending has put them on course for a comfortable campaign. That start however has not stopped those at the top of the club from being forced into preparing for life after Moyes.
David Moyes could leave West Ham in 2024
For some time, Moyes' future at West Ham was uncertain, as his job security was at risk after a run of disappointing league results in the previous campaign. Now, the idea of being without Moyes may leave some at the London Stadium panicking, such is the impressive turnaround that he has overseen this season and in Europe. All good things must come to an end, however, and the latest Moyes contract news suggests that the conclusion of his West Ham spell may well be nearing.
According to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, the West Ham board are poised to start doing due diligence on finding a replacement for their current manager, whose contract comes to an end next summer. Neither Moyes or the club are in a rush to begin talks over a new deal, with a decision set to come at the end of the season, according to reports.
If this is to be Moyes' final season at the club, then his focus will be ending on a high, and ensuring that whoever takes the position next has a squad capable of reaching new heights in the Premier League.
Potter, Hasenhuttl, Lampard or Conte could replace Moyes
Of course, it is worth noting that it is still early days when it comes to discussions over West Ham's next manager, given that Moyes will be in charge until at least next June. That said, a look at the current free agents provides some potential options for the Hammers. As things stand, Graham Potter, Ralph Hasenhuttl, Frank Lampard, and Antonio Conte are all available.
If that remains the case come next June, then West Ham will not be limited when it comes to options if Moyes leaves. Whoever takes the job next will need some time to adjust, that's for sure – Moyes has been in charge of the club since 2019 after his first stint came to an end in 2017, meaning that he has more than left his mark on the London Stadium.
Coming away with a European trophy, the former Everton manager should look back on his time at West Ham as a great success, and perhaps the most impressive spell of his managerial career. For now, though, he will undoubtedly be focused on the task at hand, which is guiding the Hammers to a comfortable campaign in the Premier League and another European berth.
It’s fair to say David Moyes divides opinion in East London. Some West Ham fans love him for leading them to their first European trophy in decades after winning the Europa Conference League in 2022/23, and some just don’t rate him.
Regardless, he has done a good job of steadying the ship at a time when the club looked destined for the drop, and the 2023 summer transfer window looks like it has been a massive success. Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus are two great deals, with the latter certainly starting to settle at the London Stadium.
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Moyes and West Ham in the transfer window, however. Football FanCast takes a look at the Scottish manager’s ten worst West Ham signings.
10 Patrice Evra (Free)
Free transfer, 2018
Veteran leftback Patrice Evra was signed in the summer of 2018 to bring his invaluable experience to the club. His time at Manchester United had proven he was one of the best in his position in the world, but he was known to be a little unpredictable.
By the time he joined West Ham, he had stopped caring. He may constantly be telling people how much he “loves this game”, but it’s clear he didn’t care for the club. Evra would make just five appearances for the Hammers.
Sir Alex Ferguson's last Man Utd XI – where are they now?
The final XI of Ferguson’s career have gone down very different routes over the past decade.
ByFreddie Taylor Oct 15, 2023
His contract expired the next summer and he left. After no satisfactory offers for his services were received, he decided to retire from football.
9 Joao Mario
Loan from Inter, 2018
It may have only been a loan, but Moyes’ signing of Joao Mario was hailed by many as a real coup. He was impressive during his time at Sporting CP and had secured a move to Inter.
Unfortunately for him, opportunities in Italy dried up and it was decided he had to go out on loan. West Ham were amongst a number of clubs looking to secure his signature, and in January 2018, he put pen to paper.
He made his debut just two days later, coming on as a substitute against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup – a game West Ham would lose 2-0. After that, he never really made a mark. He did score in a 3-0 win against Southampton, but he returned to Inter the following summer after an underwhelming spell. He has since become a massive player for Benfica.
8 Alex Kral
Loan from Spartak Moscow, 2021
Following the huge success of the signing of Tomas Soucek, Moyes once again fancied a look at the Czechia national squad. This time he came across central midfielder Alex Kral, who had just signed for Russian side Spartak Moscow.
He wasn’t a goalscorer; in fact, he’s only scored a single league goal throughout his entire career, but he was a runner. West Ham signed him on loan with the option to make it permanent.
Kral would go on to make six appearances for the club before the loan ended. He’s still technically contracted to Spartak Moscow but has been on loan in Germany since his West Ham move, firstly with Schalke, and now with Union Berlin.
7 Jordan Hugill
£10m from Preston North End, 2018
West Ham have had some awful luck with strikers. In recent years they’ve had to deal with Simone Zaza, Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate, just to name a few. Jordan Hugill has to be counted among them.
The Hammers paid £10m for his services, potentially predicting that they were going to go down and would need a solid Championship striker, which Hugill was at Preston North End. It was a move that infuriated fans, just when they needed someone to lead the line.
It’s not his fault he’s on this list, though. Hugill was given just 22 minutes throughout the entire second half of the 2017/18 season to prove to the fans that he was the man to lead them – an almost impossible task.
After numerous Championship loans, he’s now found a home at Rotherham United.
6 Nikola Vlasic
£34.5m from CSKA Moscow, 2021
Nikola Vlasic for West Ham.
This transfer just goes to show that one good international tournament does not a good player make. Vlasic impressed for Croatia at Euro 2020 and had a number of teams after him. West Ham finally got him for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £34.5m once add-ons had been factored in.
Throughout his career, he had played regular football, and although he did have the opportunity to prove himself, he was never consistently in the first team. His first goal contribution came in the form of an assist in the Europa League, and his first goal came in the Premier League in a 4-1 win against Watford.
Vlasic was then sent out on loan to Torino, a move that the Italian club would make permanent in August 2023 for an undisclosed fee. Perhaps West Ham didn’t want the world to know how much money they lost on him.
5 Gianluca Scamacca
£35.5m from Sassuolo, 2022
West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca.
Young Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca came to West Ham with a big reputation. He was, and still is, one of Italy’s best young forwards. Since bursting onto the scene at Sassuolo, the hype began to generate, he just wouldn't live up to it at West Ham.
Injuries were the main reason he didn’t make it in east London, despite looking like someone who would love it there. He only scored eight goals in 27 appearances for the club, with a lot of them being as a substitute.
Both parties decided to call it quits after a single season. He’s now back in Italy with Atalanta and has gotten off to a fine start. Perhaps, like Sebastian Haller, he’ll be one that got away for West Ham.
4 Danny Ings
£15m from Aston Villa, 2023
West Ham striker Danny Ings.
Consistently scoring goals in the Premier League is a very hard thing to do, and Danny Ings deserves a lot of credit for doing just that, but at West Ham, it’s been disappointing. The form he found at Burnley and Southampton seems to have escaped him.
West Ham bought him for an initial £12m, which rose to £15m after avoiding relegation in the 2022/23 season. Ings played his part – he scored twice against Nottingham Forest to help secure top-flight football.
Without going as far as saying that Danny Ings has been a flop, he certainly has the ability to turn it around, he’s just unlikely to be given that chance. He’s still at West Ham, but they’re reportedly looking to move him on.
3 Flynn Downes
£12m from Swansea City, 2022
It's pretty heartbreaking to be putting Flynn Downes on this list. The midfielder is a massive West Ham fan, he’s living the dream he had as a young lad in playing for the club. Sadly, he hasn’t had much of a chance to represent them.
Downes made a name for himself with Swansea City in the Championship, and West Ham came knocking. A reported £12m fee was agreed, and he put pen to paper, just as any fan would.
He made 21 league appearances for the club he loves, and helped them to their first trophy in 43 years. If you’d have told him he’d do that at the start of his career, he’d have surely snapped your hands off.
He’s currently on loan at Southampton, and will no doubt be hoping he’s given another opportunity soon enough.
2 Maxwel Cornet
£17.5m from Burnley, 2022
West Ham United forward Maxwel Cornet.
Players need time, and Maxwel Cornet will surely get that, but his West Ham career has been underwhelming thus far. He signed in the summer of 2022 from Burnley for a fee thought to be around £17.5m, and has since failed to impress.
He’s the type of player that is always going to have moments. A piece of skill here, beating a player there – he just needs to do it more often. To be fair to Cornet, Moyes isn’t exactly known for letting his attacking players express themselves.
Cornet is perhaps best known for his controversial disallowed goal against Chelsea last season. VAR deemed Tomas Soucek’s very slight touch on Mendy to be a foul, and denied him what would have been his first and only league goal for West Ham.
1 Thilo Kehrer
£10.1m from Paris Saint-Germain, 2022
Thilo Kehrer
There is a bit of a running theme here; most of the players on this list just haven’t been given much of a shot. Moyes is an old-school manager, he knows his best XI and he sticks to it. It’s an important thing to do when you’re fighting at the bottom of the table more often than not. Kehrer is another player that’s happened to.
When the German centre-back made a big money move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, it was for a fee of around £32m. After four years at the club, West Ham signed him for £10.1m.
He was meant to be their centre-back for the future, and since he remains at the club, he still could be. He’s just fallen down the pecking order behind the likes of Kurt Zouma and Nayef Aguerd.
Kehrer is now 27 years old, so he’s entering his prime as a defender. At some point, he’s going to want to be playing more regular football, whether that’s with West Ham or not.
The Premier League is harsh, most of Moyes’ signings at West Ham have actually proven to be very good deals – Jarrod Bowen and Jesse Lingard, for example.
Moyes knows the club inside-out, but the grass isn’t always greener.
USMNT and Nottingham Forest star Matt Turner has spoken out after the Premier League club were docked four points leaving them in the relegation zone.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Nottingham Forest docked four pointsBreached Profitability and Sustainability rulesTurner says Forest must "take it on the chin"Getty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?
The Premier League have announced that Nottingham Forest will be docked four points due to breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules. The deduction drops the club into 18th place in the league table, one point behind Luton Town.
AdvertisementWHAT TURNER SAID
Speaking to the media, Turner has reacted to the news: "The points deduction, we have to take it on the chin and keep moving forward. Points deduction aside, we've been our own worst enemies in a lot of ways this entire season. We have all of it in our control. Some of the games that we have coming up are teams around us. If we can control those games and get back some wins, then hopefully the point deduction shouldn't really matter. Hopefully, we can, like I said, take it on the chin, stick together and keep moving forward."
Getty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The American goalkeeper joined the club earlier in the season after leaving his role as backup keeper at Arsenal. The 29-year-old goalkeeper has struggled, making high-profile mistakes in several games, so much so that the club signed Matz Sels from Strasbourg in the January window. Turner has made his way back into Nuno Espirito Santo's starting lineup and will hope to play a pivotal part in their attempt to beat relegation to the Championship.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
WHAT NEXT FOR NOTTINGHAM FOREST?
The club are expected to appeal the points deduction, particularly having seen Everton see a 10-point deduction reduced to six on appeal. Nottingham Forest have two weeks to file a formal appeal to the Premier League.
Celtic, barring a recent slip-up against Kilmarnock, have remained on course to win their third consecutive Scottish Premiership and their first since the return of Brendan Rodgers. Some at Celtic Park may have been fearing the beginning of their side's capitulation following their recent league defeat, but a 2-1 victory over Feyenoord in the Champions League has put an end to any concerns.
As things stand, the Hoops sit five points clear of Rangers, having played one more game. With the title still very much in the balance, Celtic may turn to the January transfer window to fix any glaring issues in Rodgers' squad. And that could see one specific winter target arrive.
Celtic transfer news
The exits of Ange Postecoglou and Jota stole the headlines in Scotland this summer before Celtic reacted by welcoming Rodgers back with open arms. The former Leicester City boss instantly hit the ground running too, creating some breathing room at the top of the league. As we head into the second half of the campaign, however, Rodgers arguably has some issues to address – ones that the transfer window could solve. When the winter window swings open, the Scottish champions could act once more.
Celtic stars Matt O'Riley and Luis Palma.
According to The Daily Mail's Stephen McGowan, there's a strong possibility that Celtic sign Estoril left-back Tiago Araujo. McGowan told PLZ:
"Tiago Araujo is a very strong possibility for Celtic in January. I suspect that is one that might happen."
It's no surprise that Celtic are looking to add defensive solidity to their side in January, given their firepower at the other end will be missing due to Kyogo Furuhashi potentially missing up to a month whilst playing for Japan at the Asia Cup. Given that Rangers could be as little as two points adrift of Celtic if they win their game in hand, Rodgers will want to ensure that his side remain solid in the Scottish Premiership – something that Araujo may help with.
Araujo would be an "instant upgrade"
Still, only 22 years old, Araujo is on the up and likely to get even better to potentially hand Rodgers an ideal upgrade. Araujo's stats show that he's already keeping up with current Celtic left-back Greg Taylor's stats in some areas, which could leave him in good stead if he secures a January move to Scotland's top-flight.
Player
Expected Assists
Take-on Success
Total Duels Won Per Game
Ball Recoveries Per Game
Tiago Araujo
0.90
40%
3.5
5.6
Greg Taylor
0.57
37%
4
5.8
Araujo's impressive numbers make the praise that he has received no surprise, with Celtic Way writer Stewart Ross describing in his scout report, via X:
It certainly seems as though the "flamboyant" left-back – as he was described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – could be an ideal addition to Rodgers' side in January and as the window swings open, we may well see the deal take place if McGowan's claim proves accurate.
Aston Villa have made an excellent start to the campaign and are now looking ahead to next summer, with an ambitious transfer pursuit reportedly lined up.
Aston Villa continue to exceed expectation…
Incredibly, Aston Villa marked their transformation since being relegation conteders in the first half of last campaign by defeating Tottenham Hotspur in N17 last weekend, which has placed the Villans fourth in the Premier League table with 28 points from 13 matched played.
Sitting two points off the top of the pile, there is optimism growing in the West Midlands that Unai Emery's men could look to mount a challenge for Champions League qualification, with some even talking about a potential push to try and win the English top-flight title.
One man who has come in for hefty praise after his weekend heroic is Villans goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who pulled off some fantastic saves against Ange Postecoglou's men, giving his side a platform to claim three points on the day.
Speaking to BBC Sport, former Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic lavished praise on the Argentina international's contribution in conversation with BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily, stating: "He can rub people the wrong way but his performances speak for themselves."
"He’s been really solid and taken his game to a new level. He really kept his team in the game and made some big saves [against Tottenham] at crucial times, which is what top goalkeepers do."
Far from the only player to play a heavy role in Aston Villa's success this term, Martinez and company will hope they can keep up the good work when Legia Warsaw come to town in the Europa Conference League on Thursday evening.
Aston Villa fixtures – all competitions
Competition
Opponent
Venue
Europa Conference League
Legia Warsaw (H)
Villa Park
Premier League
Bournemouth (A)
Vitality Stadium
Premier League
Manchester City (H)
Villa Park
Premier League
Arsenal (H)
Villa Park
Europa Conference League
Zrinjski Mostar (A)
Stadion pod Bijelim brijegom
Turning their attention to the market, Aston Villa now look to have a marquee pursuit lined up; however, they will have to wait until the summer to try and entice the man in question to Villa Park.
Aston Villa want Kieran Tierney
According to FootballTransfers, Aston Villa are keen to try and sign Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney next summer after previously holding admiration toward his talents earlier this year, once he returns from his loan spell at Real Sociedad.
Mikel Arteta is believed to want him back at the Emirates Stadium for the 2024/25 campaign. At the same time, Real Sociedad are keen to make his move permanent, which is not something Arsenal are believed to be opposed to either come 2024.
Tierney, who has previously been labelled a "warrior" by Ashley Cole, has made five appearances for the La Liga outfit this term in all competitions amid a littany of injury issues in the Basque Country (Tierney statistics – Transfermarkt).
Nevertheless, the Scotland international carries a wealth of Premier League experience and plenty of trophy winning nous from his time at Celtic, making him an appealing option to potentially add to the left-back slot for Aston Villa.
Latest Aston Villa transfer news: Unai eyes £40m deal; Saudi club want star
It’s a huge summer for Aston Villa and Unai Emery as they prepare for the Champions League.
Liverpool return to Europa League football this evening as Jurgen Klopp's side look to maintain their perfect continental record this season with victory in France against Toulouse.
While the Reds have been impressive this season following a drastic summer rebuild in midfield, last week's disappointing draw away to Luton Town reminded supporters that this is a squad still in construction.
Nonetheless, Liverpool are third in the Premier League and just three points behind imperious table-toppers Manchester City, who welcome the Merseyside outfit to the Etihad Stadium later this month.
And a win tonight could all but confirm the English side's first-place finish in Group E, enabling further rotation across the final two games of the group stage.
Liverpool team news vs Toulouse
Klopp is forced to contend with a spate of injuries and absences ahead of the trip to the Stadium de Toulouse, with captain Virgil van Dijk not travelling due to illness and midfielders Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch both missing out due to respective setbacks.
This shouldn't be too big a concern for the German manager, however, with heavy rotation expected to combat the relentless schedule; Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez should both be benched.
On a more sombre note, Andy Robertson and Spanish midfielders Stefan Bajcetic and Thiago Alcantara remain sidelined, with the trio not expected to return to competitive action any time soon.
Harvey Elliott's statistics this season
Given the multitude of midfield absences, it's almost certain that Harvey Elliott will find his name back on the starting teamsheet, though the 20-year-old would probably have received a starting berth regardless.
After playing such an important role last season, making 46 appearances, Elliott has been pushed further toward the periphery following the summer additions and has only played one Premier League match from the outset.
Despite this, he has showcased his qualities terrifically and is starting to combine the cogs, having produced the looping assist for Luis Diaz's late equaliser at Kenilworth Road and played every minute of Liverpool's European campaign so far.
Harvey Elliott.
As per FBref, the £40k-per-week ace ranks among the top 14% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 11% for progressive passes and blocks and the top 6% for progressive carries per 90.
His playmaking prowess will be crucial against Toulouse, and could boost the exploits of exciting teenage talent Ben Doak ahead of him, who will perhaps earn a start with Salah probably moving to the bench.
Why Ben Doak must start vs Toulouse
The obvious factor behind Doak's potential role from the opening whistle is Salah's need for rest, but, more to the point, the Scottish 17-year-old has belied his tender years to make three appearances this season and has already started in the Europa League, playing 61 minutes against LASK.
Described as a "prodigy” by reporter Keifer MacDonald, Doak is diminutive in stature – 5 foot 8 – but capable of running at breakneck speed and possesses deceptive strength and a deft weaving motion that is courtesy of his low centre of gravity.
Ben Doak for Liverpool.
Doak's electric presence down the right flank could cause all sorts of problems for the French opposition and could be nicely charged by Elliott's creative support behind.
Having been hailed for his "explosive" presence by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Doak is a frightening prospect and Klopp clearly values him highly, eager to provide him with opportunities to continue his integration into the first team.
Liverpool are in a good position and can afford to make rotations in this manner at this stage, but Doak is not just a number and could truly announce himself to the major stage with a convincing performance tonight.
Julian Nagelsmann is on Borussia Dortmund's shortlist should they part ways with Edin Terzic, adding to a long list of suitors for the German manager.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Dortmund considering Nagelsmann as Terzic replacementMan Utd, Newcastle also interested in hiringGermany boss not guaranteed contract beyond Euro 2024WHAT HAPPENED?
The German manager is expected to be on the market this summer, after overseeing the national team at Euro 2024. His next job, though, has been a topic of debate, and Dortmund have now entered the race, according to .
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT JULIAN NAGELSMANN SAID
In an interview with , the Germany manager spoke openly on his sudden sacking from Bayern Munich last March. "I was signed by Bayern with the proviso that I would change things,” he said. “There are clubs that give you time. Jürgen Klopp was at Liverpool for five years before he became champion there for the first time. Pep Guardiola only won the Champions League title with Manchester City after seven years. The coaches at Bayern Munich don’t get as much time to develop something."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Man Utd are yet to make a clear decision on the future of Erik ten Hag, but the former Ajax boss is in the hot seat after Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed a partial takeover of the club. Terzic's job, too, is under scrutiny, with Dortmund currently fourth in the Bundesliga.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR JULIAN NAGELSMANN?
Nagelsmann's future seems to be up in the air, with a handful ofclubs chasing his hiring. His immediate focus will be the German national side, with friendlies against France and the Netherlands scheduled for the international break.
Tom Westley moved Essex closer to the next stage but Sussex have found no immediate benefit from the return from IPL of Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer
ECB Reporters Network03-Jun-2018 ScorecardEssex are still in the hunt for a place in the knockout stages of the Royal London One-Day Cup after they chased a target of 282 to beat Sussex by four wickets at Eastbourne.Victory over Kent on Wednesday in a day-night game at Chelmsford could be enough, although they may need other results to go their way.The architect of their victory was Tom Westley who continued his impressive form with his fourth half-century in this season’s competition.He had some luck along the way. Chris Jordan put down a difficult chance at slip when he had scored one and he was also dropped on 68 at long off by David Wiese, also off Danny Briggs.The 29-year-old made the most of those reprieves with 88 from 89 balls including five fours and two sixes, adding 84 with Dan Lawrence to take Essex to within 35 runs of victory.There was a wobble when Westley was unnecessarily run out after being sent back by Lawrence when he was halfway down the pitch and Jofra Archer bowled Lawrence for 36 later in the same over. Ravi Bopara was pinned by David Wiese but by then Essex were only six runs short of their target which they reached with 12 balls to spare.Earlier, Laurie Evans had held Sussex’s innings together with an unbeaten 107 – his second List A hundred. The Sharks were in trouble on 46 for 3 in the 11th over when he joined Harry Finch to put on 113 in 22.5 overs.Against generally accurate Essex bowling it was never easy for the pair to accelerate on a slow wicket and they were forced to rebuild again when three wickets fell for six runs, including Finch for 56 who was stumped by Wheater off a wide, the first of two wickets in successive balls for Zaidi who then deceived Michael Burgess with an arm ball.Sussex were 174 for 6 with ten overs to go, but Evans found excellent support from Jordan and Archer as 107 were plundered off the last ten overs.Jordan made 35 at a run a ball before Archer hit out spectacularly with 33 from 15 balls including three sixes and two fours to the delight of a crowd of more than 4,000.Evans reached his century in the final over when he belted Sam Cole to the mid-off boundary for his eighth four. He also hit two sixes and faced 117 balls.Wheater and Varun Chopra gave Essex’s reply a good foundation with 86 in 14 overs before Jordan pinned Chopra for 33. Wheater looked in good touch, hitting eight boundaries in his 60 off 62 balls and it was a surprise when he missed a reverse sweep at Briggs.Archer had Zaidi caught behind in the 38th over but Essex were well ahead of the required rate by then and on their way to an important victory.