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Sensible fast bowling from Carl Bulfin and innocuous, but accurate, medium-pace from Matthew Walker and Paul Hitchcock carried Wellington to its victory over Otago in Auckland.No matter the batsmen, Bulfin managed to pin them all down with tight control and he had the same figures in both innings, two wickets for 11 runs from his two overs.Walker, a bowler of bulk, managed to get through the defences consistently while Hitchcock had a happy knack of picking up wickets at just the right time.Bowlers came back in the Otago first innings and Wellington’s second innings to halt what seemed to be runaway scoring trains. Andrew Hore’s 45 in Otago’s first innings was a continuation of the form he showed in Westport when he hit Otago to a victory over Canterbury to qualify for the semi-finals.But once he was dismissed, just after having scored the shot of the match, a straight-lofted six out of the ground, there was little else of substance in the Otago batting and the Wellington bowlers Bulfin, Walker and Hitchcock closed the game right down.Wellington started at a similar rate in its second innings, although it suffered dearly after Roger Twose was given not out by the third umpire Dave Quested to what looked to be a neat piece of catching at point by Neil Rushton. Twose was on four at the time and playing out a difficult over from Karl O’Dowda who conceded only one run in the over.Twose then blasted three Max shots over the long on-long off fence, one a four and two sixes, before Craig Pryor bowled him. When Chris Nevin departed two balls later, the momentum was lost and two other strong hitters, Richard Petrie and Grant Donaldson were forced to graft more than they would have wanted.But if Wellington’s bowlers were tight in the first innings, they were more impressive in the second and Otago was squeezed out of the game. Bulfin (1-11), Walker (2-10) and Hitchcock (2-14) off their two overs were outstanding.

Rangers have been dealt a big injury setback over Ibrox central midfielder John Lundstram…

What’s the latest?

Gio van Bronckhorst has revealed that the Englishman has picked up a knock ahead of the club’s Scottish Cup quarter-final clash today.

In his pre-match press conference, the head coach admitted that “we have a couple concerns with Lundstram’s ankle” and this could see him miss out on the squad.

Rangers take on Dundee FC away from home in the cup before travelling away to Serbia to take on Red Star Belgrade in the second leg of their Europa League clash.

Livid

Van Bronckhorst will surely be livid with the ex-Sheffield United man’s injury as his absence will come as a major blow to the side.

Lundstram has been excellent in recent months after a tricky start to life at the club and losing him for any period of time would be a big setback for the Gers as they would be missing out on his quality performances in the middle of the park.

Through July, August and September – Lundstram failed to average a SofaScore rating higher than 6.9 as he settled in after his move to the club on a free transfer from Sheffield United. From October to the end of February, the midfielder averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.0 or higher in four of the five months for the Gers.

This suggests that he has been able to step up to the plate after a difficult start to the campaign. He was unable to hit the ground running at Ibrox but has now found his feet and is showing that he has the quality to be a big player for the club moving forward.

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Lundstram has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.90 in the Premiership this term overall. In 22 appearances, he has completed an impressive 90% of his attempted passes whilst making 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game. He is reliable in possession and capable of winning the ball back on a regular basis, which is why van Bronckhorst will be livid with this injury.

Hopefully, it is not a long-term issue and, at worst, he will only miss this clash with Dundee FC in the Scottish Cup. Losing him for an extended run of matches would be disastrous for the Gers given his recent form the Dutch head coach will be crossing his fingers over the midfielder’s fitness.

AND in other news, GvB must now unleash Rangers’ “wonderful” £4.5m-rated “leader”, time is running out…

	Niranjan Shah: “Franchises will be given a preference to pick U-19 players from their own catchments” © Getty Images

Each of the franchises in the Indian Premier League will get the first option for picking Under-19 players from their own catchment areas, the Indian board has said. The decision comes in the wake of franchises voicing concerns over player-poaching, with local players being lured by other teams.”Under-19 domestic cricketers will not be allowed to join any team on their own and franchises will have to go through the BCCI,” Niranjan Shah, the board secretary, said. “Franchises will be given a preference to pick players from their own catchments and it’s only the spill-over players that will be available for the rest.”We will give each franchise a certain time-frame to pick their players. It’s only after that period that others can try for them.”Delhi and Jaipur had raised concerns that their local catchment players are being “poached” by the rival teams. The Jaipur team even sent a letter to the IPL council. The BCCI’s move was welcomed by some of the franchises.”One of the reasons for this exercise was to develop young talent across the country and that can only be done by giving franchises a choice of picking their local players,” TA Sekar, cricket operations chief of GMR Holdings, the owners of the Delhi Daredevils, told Cricinfo. “Imagine if a franchise develops three or four players through the junior ranks, only to see them play for another team because they are being offered more money. The purpose is defeated.”VB Chandrashekar, the selector for the Chennai Super Kings, and Fraser Castellino, the CEO of the Jaipur franchise, were also upbeat but wished the ruling covered U-22 players as well, instead of being limited to U-19.The process is likely to take place in the beginning of March, with the board not keen to “distract” India’s Under-19 cricketers currently taking part in the World Cup in Malaysia.One-year contractsTo counter the rising concern over young cricketers being paid so much money early in their careers, the board decided Under-19 cricketers would be eligible only for a one-year contract.The board had earlier instructed all junior domestic cricketers to not sign up on an individual basis after many franchises complained about player-agents getting involved, demanding higher sums even after the cricketers had agreed on a figure. The board was also concerned that a few agents had landed in Malaysia to tie up with India’s U-19 cricketers.

North West Frontier Province-Baluchistan defeated Sind by nine wickets on the third day in their Pentangular Cup third round match here at the National Stadium, Karachi.Shakeel-ur-Rehman tore through the Sind batting line-up by grabbing six wickets for only 57 runs as the Sind team capsized for a paltry 149.Needing 53 to win the match, KRL achieved the target in just 9.1 overs with the loss of Test opener Yasir Hameed for 14. Shoaib Khan remained not out on 21 while Adnan Raees scored 8.Earlier, Sind resumed on their overnight score of 41 and lost their third wicket with the addition of only two runs. A fourth wicket stand of 52 between Shahid Qambrani and captain Faisal Iqbal threatened a decent lead but Sind never really covered as soon as Faisal was dismissed for 17. Qambrani did top-score with 69 and shared a 25-run eighth wicket partnership with Mohammad Sami (10), but the other batsmen failed to provide any support.Along with Shakeel’s heroics, Faisal Irfan accounted for three Sind batsmen while Nasir Jalil picked up the remaining wicket.Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) ended day three of their Pentangular Cup match against Punjab on 382 for the loss of eight wickets, still 151 runs behind Punjab’s total, at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex.Resuming on their overnight 104 for no loss, Azhar Ali and Saeed bin Nasir added another 66 runs before allowing Punjab their first breakthrough. Azhar Ali scored a well-deserved century before being dismissed by international Rana Naved while Nasir managed 88 and was picked up by Imran Khalid.None of the other batsman bar Bilal Asad could capitalise on the good start as wickets fell at regular intervals. Asad, on the other hand, held one end together and scored 82 before becoming the second of Khalid’s four victims. Mohammad Wasim, captain and former Test player, could only manage six as Shehzad Butt and Akhtar Ayub managed an unbroken partnership of 20 to see out the day without further damageImran Khalid remained the pick of the Punjab bowlers and took four wickets for 81. Rana Naved claimed a brace while Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Hafeez got one wicket each.

Graeme Smith, after missing the final Test against Australia, could miss the opening Test of South Africa’s series against New Zealand © Getty Images

Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, hasn’t yet fully recovered from the finger injury which kept him out of the final Test against Australia last week and might miss the first Test against New Zealand next week.Haroon Lorgat, the national convenor of selectors, announced a 16-man squad on Saturday for the three-Test series which gets underway on April 15 at Centurion.”We have retained the same squad of players following the tough Castle Test Series against the world’s number one team,” Lorgat said.”We believe that the experience will stand them in good stead, and they deserve another opportunity against New Zealand. We will, however, monitor performances carefully as we seek to build a successful Test team”.Smith is due to see a specialist in Johannesburg on Tuesday; his chances of playing are rated “50-50”.South Africa squad to face New Zealand
Graeme Smith (capt), Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Mark Boucher (wk), Shaun Pollock, Nicky Boje, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Boeta Dippenaar, Andrew Hall, Garnett Kruger, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn

Griqualand West 53 for 3 trail Border 240 (Makalima 73, Kreusch 68, Swanepoel 4-19) by 187 runsBorder made a good start to the UCB Provincial Cup final at the De Beers Diamond Oval in Kimberley, by first scoring 240 and then reducing Griqualand West to 53 for 3 at the close of play on the first day.Having won the toss, Border made steady progress with Justin Kreusch, who made 68 and was involved in two half-century partnerships, one with Gareth von Hoesslin (21) and the second with Michael Matika (40). Dumisa Makalima and Murray Ranger put on 74, with Ranger only contributing 15.At 222 for 5, Border was set for a high total but a collapse of five wickets for 18 runs left them all out for 240, with Makalima top-scoring with 73. Adriaan Swanepoel was responsible for the collapse as he took 4 for 19 in 18 overs.The Griqualand West innings started disastrously as they lost their top three batsmen for 49 runs. At the close they had moved to 53 for 3, with Jason Brooker on 12 and the nightwatchman Elton Tsamaisi at the crease.

Victoria 9 for 381 dec and 2 for 208 (Hodge 111*, Elliott 79) drew with Queensland 7 for 605 7 dec (Love 300*, Hopes 97, Perren 95, Seccombe 57
Scorecard

Martin Love acknowledges the crowd on reaching 200 … but he was far from finished © Getty Images

Martin Love became the first player to score a triple-century for Queensland, smashing an unbeaten 300 as the match against Victoria at Melbourne ended in a tame draw – and both captains expressed concern with the flat track at Melbourne’s Junction Oval.The pitch yielded 1194 runs for only 18 wickets, and Love, Queensland’s captain who smacked 300 not out, was less than impressed. “It needs to have a bit more in it for the bowlers,” he said. “It’s certainly weighted in favour of the batters, but even from a batting point of view it’s still hard work. The ball doesn’t come onto the bat, it’s a bit of variable bounce, you really have to spend a lot of time at the crease to score your runs.” Junction Oval has yielded 30 three-figure individual scores in 26 first-class games, including five 200s and now Love’s 300.But it will be wholly forgettable for team-mate Stuart Law, who was fined 25 per cent of his match fee. Law’s fine is understood to be $800, after he pleaded guilty at a post-game hearing for making an audible obscenity soon after his dismissal for 5 on the third day.Queensland gained two first-innings points after declaring at 7 for 605, and Victoria batted out the rest of the day, with Brad Hodge making 111 and Matthew Elliott 79 in their 2 for 208.Victoria coach David Hookes added he hoped the pitch had more life when his side hosted Western Australia next week. “It would be extremely disappointing for us if we had another bland draw next week,” he told reporters, “and therefore our first two home games were draws, regardless of where the two points go.”Queensland declared one ball after Love reached his triple century, with a single off a cover drive. “It’s just relief I got there – if I was on 298, we were still declaring at the end of that over,” Love said. It was his highest first-class score and broke Peter Burge’s 40-year record of 283 as the highest score for the state.Love scored the first triple century in the Pura Cup since Dean Jones’s 324 not out for Victoria against South Australia in 1994-95. But it was also the slowest Cup triple ton, with his 610 minute vigil surpassing the 561 minutes South Australian Jack Badcock took in 1935-36.Love knows this innings will not be enough to force his way back into the Test team, but chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns would have come away from watching this game impressed with his concentration. “If you bat for a long time you show the selectors you can concentrate for long periods and I think that’s what is required at Test cricket,” Love said. Apart from the Man of the Match award, Love also won the special Spirit of Anzac Medal, struck because this game started on Remembrance Day.Meanwhile, Victoria will test injured allrounder Jon Moss on Saturday morning ahead of Sunday’s one-dayer against the Bulls at the MCG. Moss is in doubt with a groin injury he suffered while batting two days ago. Queensland’s Ashley Noffke and batsman Lee Carseldine will miss the match with back injuries.

Saeed bin Nasir and Hasan Raza stole the limelight as Karachi Whites batsmen put Sargodha bowlers to the sword on the second day of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade-I clash at KCCA Stadium here Tuesday.Saeed, one of the brightest kids on the block, churned out a brilliant century, his third of the season, while Hasan Raza fell 10 short of his 15th career hundred during the third-wicket partnership of 180 in 166 minutes that helped their side reach 363 for six in reply to Sargodha’s 169.Saeed and Hasan came together after stand-in skipper Ghulam Ali fell to a fine rebound catch by Misbah-ul-Haq at slip at his overnight score of 20 off the final ball of the day’s first over.Saeed, who resumed at 35 in Whites’ 69 for one, completed his fourth century in a first-class career that began in 1997-98 shortly after lunch in 204 minutes off 158 deliveries with eight fours. On the way he reached 1,000 runs for the season with his 65th run. However, he was beaten to the magical figure by Hasan, who needed only 20 at the start of his innings. Of the two, Hasan, who became the youngest Test player on his debut at 14 years and 27 days four seasons ago, was the more aggressive.After striking four fours and a brace of sixes in his 138-ball knock, Hasan was bowled through the gate by a ball that kept low.Saeed was finally out for a career-best 133 when he flicked lazily medium-pacer Umair Hussain down square-leg’s throat. The 22-year-old slim right-hander in faced 213 balls while staying at the crease for four hours and 27 minutes.Faisal Iqbal, the Test right-hander, was understandably circumspect in his first game at this level for a while. He made a watchful 33 in exactly two hours before falling to a catch in the covers.

Carl Crowe took a career best 4 for 55, and coupled with Vince Wells 4 for 54 it led Leicestershire to an unexpected victory after Hampshire had directed much of the play in the morning session.The early days luck soon deserted the home side, as they lost by 61 runs by 3:20 to stay bottom of the PPP healthcare County Championship Division I.Requiring 120 for victory after lunch, Hampshire soon lost the disappointing Laney who took a leading edge to offer up a return catch to Crowe. The prime wicket of Robin Smith fell soon after; when with an attempted drive at the off-spinner was caught at the second attempt. Adi Aymes who had led the way in Hampshire’s first innings battled out 55 minutes for 6. He was seventh out at 190, and the worm had turned against the home side.Dimitri Mascarenhas offered up some lusty blows, but his partners all fell, Stephenson edged Wells to the wicket-keeper, Udal was lbw to the same bowler playing back, and Alan Mullally proved why he is number eleven, with a second ball drive that was gobbled up by Ian Sutcliffe, to the glee of the Leicestershire side.This defeat was not the preparation Hampshire required before their biggest game of the season again Warwickshire in the Nat-West Semi-Final on Saturday. Robin Smith will have to pick up his teams morale, as they travel to Birmingham by coach.

Kevin Campbell has claimed that it is a “make or break” few months for Rangers star Aaron Ramsey’s footballing career, reacting to the news that the Ibrox man drafted in his own doctors behind the scenes.

The Lowdown: Ramsey’s injury woes

The Wales international has always been renowned for his injury woes over the course of his career, rather than being remembered for his undeniable talent.

In total, the 31 year-old has missed 153 games due to various issues across his career, with Transfermarkt’s list of injuries for him spanning three pages.

Even across the 2021/22 season, the midfielder has suffered five separate spells out; one of which has kept him out of action since Rangers’ emphatic 4-2 at Borussia Dortmund in February.

However, the 31-year-old recently returned to Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s matchday squad as an unused substitute in the Light Blues’ 1-0 win over Aberdeen.

The Latest: Campbell reacts…

After it was revealed that Ramsey had spent £30,000 on flying specialist physios into Glasgow behind the scenes, Campbell, who regularly features as a pundit for Sky Sports, claimed that the remainder of the season could be huge for the Welshman’s football career.

Speaking with Football Insider, whose headline claimed this is a potentially ‘career-ending period’, he said:

“This has been Rambo’s problem for a while now.

“It’s been very difficult to keep him fit. That’s always been the case with him, I don’t think anybody could question his talent though. 

“To show consistency of performance you have got to be available. Let’s be honest, the availability hasn’t been there.

“People are always going to question you and say things if you are not available.

“Aaron Ramsey needs an injury-free run until the end of the season now. It’s make or break time.”

The Verdict: Big few months ahead

Having played just 94 minutes of football for Rangers, Ramsey’s redemption move has certainly not gone to plan as of yet.

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Whilst he is on loan with the Scottish side, the Glasgow club have the option of making the deal permanent in the summer, but it is hard to see Ross Wilson and co committing to a permanent move given his troubles so far.

Rangers are currently preparing for tomorrow night’s round 16 Europa League clash against Red Star Belgrade, so summer transfers are likely the last thing on the supporters’ minds at the moment, but what a shame it would be to miss out on a player of Ramsey’s ability due to his lack of availability.

In other news: Rangers: Chris Jack concerned about potential summer exodus