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Tottenham Hotspur transfer chiefs are reported to have their eyes on one division's "breakout star" who's been described as "key" for his club.

Will Spurs sign anyone in January?

Ange Postecoglou has officially overseen the best start made to a season by any new manager in Premier League history, emphasising the incredible work he has done since arriving from Scottish champions Celtic in June. Spurs' seven wins from a possible nine games is just that, but the Australian has also implemented a newly-exciting style of football which is very pleasing on the eye.

However, there could be a concern over a lack of depth behind Postecoglou's traditional starting eleven. Both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have stood out as pivotal members of Spurs' team, but an injury to either one would leave Tottenham reliant on outcast Eric Dier to come in, or youngster Ashley Phillips after his summer move from Blackburn.

As a result, there have been reports that the north Londoners are targeting the likes of Galatasaray defender Victor Nelsson, Juventus star Gleison Bremer, Bournemouth's Lloyd Kelly, Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba and Chelsea man Trevoh Chalobah. As well as in defence, there have been suggestions that a new attacker could come in, with the likes of Al-Ittihad winger Jota and Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy linked.

Nico Williams transfer update

Recently, it was suggested that one of Postecoglou's transfer priorities is signing an alternative to Dejan Kulusevski and cover for the Swede out wide. Jota is apparently on the list, but according to a new report from 90min this week, another option could be Athletic Club winger Nico Williams.

The 21-year-old has stood out as one of the finest young wingers in Europe recently, even being called one of La Liga's "breakout stars" by journalist Zach Lowy. He's also been described as a "key asset" for Athletic by 90min, who shared a transfer update on Williams concerning Tottenham. It is now believed Spurs are eyeing up a move for the Spaniard, and have already "checked in" on him and his situation. Williams' contract is set to expire next summer as things stand, meaning he could leave for free in 2024.

As well as Spurs, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Juventus are all registering their interest in the attacker who could well be an astute Bosman transfer if he doesn't renew. According to WhoScored, Williams has ranked as one of Athletic's best-performing players by average match rating this season; starting seven La Liga matches so far while registering two assists in that time.

Likes to dribble

Likes to cross

Likes to play short passes

His brother, Inaki Williams, has also heaped praise on the rising star; hailing his "incredible" fitness level.

"[Nico] is a great player, he is in incredible shape and I think he can give a lot to Spain. He has shown it by giving Morata a good pass and I am very happy for him.”

Manchester City and England goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck posted a cryptic story on her Instagram, amid continued rumours she is set to join Barcelona.

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Roebuck nearing City exitBarcelona move mootedGoalkeeper posts cryptic updateGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Lionesses star is yet to feature for City this season, having lost her place to teenager Khiara Keating at the beginning of the campaign. Keating has continued to impress and has cemented her spot as No.1, leaving Roebuck to assess her options. The Sheffield-born shot stopper has long been linked to the Catalan giants, and she further fuelled those rumours with a cryptic update on Monday.

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The England international uploaded an Instagram story of her shadow on some grass, alongside a clock emoji. This could infer that it is only a matter of time before her move to Barca is made official.

IG:ellieroebuck_GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Indeed, while that transfer has been mooted since as early as January, both Keating's success and a specific door being opened at Barca has intensified those rumours in recent weeks. Blaugrana shot stopper Sandra Panos announced like month that she would be leaving when her contract expires at the end of the season. Many see that as an opportunity for Roebuck to stake her claim at the European champions.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Roebuck's season to forget not only applies to club level, as she has watched Manchester United icon Mary Earps make the Lionesses No.1 shirt her own over the past year or so. A move to Barca, provided she can fend off competition from Cata Coll, could be the perfect springboard to reignite her international career.

Weston McKennie led celebrations as he and his USMNT team-mates raced to down cans of sparkling water after their CONCACAF Nations League triumph.

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McKennie leads messy dressing room celebrationsSquad shotgun fizzy water cans"We'll be back for more" vows star after three-peatUSA Today Sports WHAT HAPPENED?

The Stars and Stripes changing room was bedlam after a convincing win over their bitter rivals Mexico delivered a third straight win in the competition. Juventus star McKennie was at the heart of it all, challenging beer-goggled colleagues to a 'shotgun' challenge to gulp down fizzy water.

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"3 peat and we will be back for more," vowed McKennie, posting post-match scenes on Instagram, the third of which showing the drinks race.

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The United States have now won all three editions of the Nations League since its inception in 2019. Mexico will point to the fact that they have won two Gold Cups to the USMNT's one over the same period. But the balance of power between the two great rivals is as tight as ever, with the Americans holding the finest of leads in the FIFA Rankings as the pair build up to the 2026 World Cup.

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WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

Players and staff have a bit of time to bask in their latest triumph before returning to acton in July to prepare for the Copa America, staged in the United States this summer and open to several CONCACAF teams.

Crystal Palace are hoping to offer one of their first-team stars a new deal alongside Eberechi Eze, according to a reliable journalist and transfer insider.

Eberechi Eze contract update

The Eagles received a £60m offer from Premier League rivals Manchester City for Eze over the summer which they swiftly rejected, and despite attracting interest from the top-flight giants, Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman are reportedly confident that he will soon put pen to paper on fresh terms.

However, Roy Hodgson has nine players who will all be out of contract at the end of the season, including the likes of Jeffrey Schlupp, James Tomkins and Nathaniel Clyne (Crystal Palace contracts), so he might be forced to cash in on some of them should he not want to risk losing them for free upon the conclusion of the campaign.

Selhurst Park centre-back Marc Guehi still has just under three years remaining on his deal, but having recently emerged as a serious transfer target for Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, there’s a strong possibility that he is another who could be on the move.

Should he depart, Guehi will need to be the subject of a bid worth at least £50m which is the price tag that the hierarchy have set for their prized asset, but if they can help it, the 23-year-old is someone who they are hoping to keep in the building for the foreseeable future.

Crystal Palace want to keep Marc Guehi

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Dean Jones confirmed that Crystal Palace hope to retain Guehi by tabling him an improved contract with Eze. He said:

"Palace will want to tie him down [Eze]. We can see that this is a club who have little intention of letting players like him leave, same with Guehi. They want to build something at Palace. But the very least, if they're going to lose these players, then it has to be for top dollar.

"So you look to tie these players down, first and foremost, because you have got to protect their value and protect the club. But secondly, you want to also keep them so you can build something at Crystal Palace."

Standing at 5 foot 11, Guehi isn’t the tallest for a central defender but that hasn’t stopped him from being a rock at the heart of the backline this season where he’s currently averaging 4.6 clearances per league game for Crystal Palace (WhoScored – Guehi statistics).

The Abidjan native, who has been dubbed a “beast” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, is also extremely calm and composed in possession having recorded a 90.2% pass success rate since the start of the new campaign in the top-flight.

Furthermore, Guehi has the versatility to operate at left-back and right-back alongside his usual role, with his ability to provide cover in other positions making him a great option for the manager to have at his disposal (Transfermarkt – Guehi stats), so it’s vital that the board do everything they can to retain his services beyond January.

Bangladesh will have to travel to Dubai after the match to meet India in the Super Four on Friday, while Afghanistan will stay put in Abu Dhabi, where they will meet Pakistan

The Preview by Mohammad Isam19-Sep-20182:19

Should Afghanistan and Bangladesh rest key players?

Big PictureHaving already qualified for the Super Four stage after knocking out Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will play the last league fixture in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. The result of the match is truly inconsequential: no matter who finishes top of their respective groups, the tournament has been scheduled in such a manner that Bangladesh will face India in the first Super Four match on Friday, while Afghanistan will play Pakistan.This means Afghanistan can stay put in Abu Dhabi after the match, while Bangladesh will need to pack their bags after the match and head to Dubai to meet India the next day.Both teams could rest players, but the extra travel puts a greater strain on Bangladesh. They have some injury issues, so resting Shakib Al Hasan (finger) and Mushfiqur Rahim (rib) would make sense. It would also make sense for their captain Mashrafe Mortaza to rest on Thursday, instead of taking on the strain of back-to-back games for what is essentially a dead rubber. The likes of Abu Hider, Nazmul Islam and Ariful Haque will look to gain more exposure ahead of bigger challenges.Afghanistan will focus on a familiar template: bat steadily for much of their 50 overs and look up to their seamers to provide support to their in-form spinners.Rahmat Shah’s 72 off 90 balls against Sri Lanka in the previous match backed up a solid start from the openers and allowed the big-hitters to go after the bowlers in the end overs. Captain Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran, meanwhile, will look to make more substantial contributions with the bat, while Hashmatullah Shahidi, who made 37 against Sri Lanka, will hope to capitalise on such starts.But the key will be the three spinners – Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Nabi. Bangladesh had a hard time against Rashid in the three T20Is in June this year. Can they find a way past him in the UAE?It might be a dead rubber, but both teams will be keen to build momentum and confidence going in to the business end of the tournament.Form guideAfghanistan: WWLWW (last five completed games, most recent first)
Bangladesh: WWLWLIn the spotlightMohammad Mithun made a confident 63 against Sri Lanka and helped Mushfiqur push the total beyond 250. Mithun has plenty of domestic and A team experience, but can he be consistent in international cricket and secure his middle-order position?Rahmat Shah, who top scored with 72 against Sri Lanka, has played the Dhaka Premier League, and will be a familiar opponent for most of the Bangladesh players.Team newsIf Afghanistan look to rotate their squad, wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad and seamers Aftab Alam and Guladin Naib might get a break. Munir Ahmed Kakar, Samiullah Shenwari, Sayed Shirzad and Wafadar are options to replace them.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Shahzad (wk), 2 Ihsanullah, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Asghar Afghan (capt), 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi, 6 Mohammad Nabi, 7 Najibullah Zadran, 8 Gulbadin Naib, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 Aftab Alam, 11 Mujeeb Ur RahmanNazmul Hossain Shanto could open for Bangladesh in place of the injured Tamim Iqbal while Mominul Haque, Abu Hider, Nazmul Islam and Ariful Haque could get some game-time in place of the seniors.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Liton Das 2 Nazmul Hossain Shanto, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Mahmudullah, 6 Mosaddek Hossain, 7 Mohammad Mithun, 8 Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), 9 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 10 Rubel Hossain, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditionsDew was either not present in Abu Dhabi, or had no effect judging from the evidence of Afghanistan spinners’ total dominance over Sri Lanka.Stats and TriviaMashrafe Mortaza is four wickets away from becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to 250 ODI wickets. Overall, he will be the 17th fast bowler to the milestone.Bangladesh have won three out of the five ODIs against Afghanistan.Rahmat Shah is one match away from 50 ODIs. He will become the sixth Afghanistan player to the landmark after Mohammad Nabi, Mohammad Shahzad, Samiullah Shenwari, Dawlat Zadran and Asghar Afghan.Quotes”It is great to get off to a good start but what’s more important is that middle period; if you lose wickets in that period, then it really does hurt.”

The midfielder put in a superb performance at Anfield, and it was his pass that led to the Reds' Egyptian King netting the winner

Liverpool know they can avoid no slip-ups as they chase down the Premier League title, and while they fell behind early against Brighton, the Reds showed both character and class to secure a 2-1 win on Sunday.

Danny Welbeck fired the visitors into the lead after just 84 seconds as he lashed in a strike from the edge of the area, but Liverpool recovered well from that setback to haul themselves back into the game via a close-range volley from Luis Diaz.

Mohamed Salah missed a number of good chances to give Liverpool the lead during the first half, but it was not until midway into the second period that he finally found his shooting boots. He curled a low effort into the bottom corner after a fine pass from the magnificent Alexis Mac Allister.

Brighton pushed for an equaliser, but Jurgen Klopp's side held out to move back to the top of the Premier League table, at least for a few hours.

GOAL rates Liverpool's players from Anfield…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Caoimhin Kelleher (6/10):

Could do nothing about Welbeck's stunning strike, and had little to do thereafter until he palmed away Dunk's looping header late on. Comfortable with his distribution.

Conor Bradley (6/10):

Showed bundles of energy and helped create attacking overloads down the right-hand side. Did find himself out of position at times, but made a couple of key defensive interventions.

Jarell Quansah (6/10):

Brighton clearly looked to target the young centre-back, and Adingra's pace caused him plenty of problems. However, he improved as the game wore on and showed good composure.

Virgil van Dijk (7/10):

Took it upon himself to literally lead from the front and could regularly be found pressing high in Brighton's half. Characteristically solid throughout.

Joe Gomez (6/10):

Had a couple of hairy moments in possession but generally recovered well when he needed to.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Alexis Mac Allister (9/10):

Outstanding. Created so many chances with smart through-balls and dictated the tempo of Liverpool's attacks. Booked early but that didn't stop him from doing his defensive work, too.

Wataru Endo (7/10):

Another impressive showing from the Japan international as he swept up in front of the defence and looked to get the hosts moving forward.

Dominik Szoboszlai (7/10):

Was quiet in the first half but improved immeasurably after the break. Played his part in Salah's goal and pressed well in an energetic showing.

Getty ImagesAttack

Mohamed Salah (6/10):

Looked like he had left his shooting boots at home before he finally fired past Verbruggen midway through the second half. Not his best performance, but still the match-winner.

Darwin Nunez (6/10):

Struggled to link up with team-mates in the first half, but ran the channels well after the break and sparked a couple of dangerous counter-attacks.

Luis Diaz (7/10):

Fine volleyed finish got the Reds back into the game, and put Veltman under all sorts of pressure with his direct dribbling. Unlucky to have a second goal ruled out for a tight offside.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Harvey Elliott (N/A):

Added energy in his 10-minute cameo.

Cody Gakpo (N/A):

On for Diaz in the 89th minute.

Ryan Gravenberch (N/A):

Came on in stoppage-time

Jurgen Klopp (7/10):

Given the struggles he has had with Brighton in the past, winning is all that will matter to the Liverpool boss. Wasn't any kind of great tactical masterclass, though how some of his young players grew into the game is testament to how he has coached them.

Joe Root has warned that David Warner could face a “hostile environment” if he is a member of Australia’s touring squad to England in 2019

George Dobell29-Oct-2018Joe Root has warned that David Warner could face a “hostile environment” if he is a member of Australia’s touring squad to England in 2019.Warner briefly walked off the pitch while playing Grade cricket at the weekend having taken exception to comments made by Jason Hughes, the brother of Warner’s former team-mate Phillip Hughes, who died in a tragic on-field incident in 2014.But Root, the England Test captain, suggested English supporters may prove even more vociferous in their views of Warner if he is a member of either Australia’s World Cup or Ashes touring squads next year. Warner was sent home from England in 2013 after punching Root in a bar, is currently serving a ban for his part in the Cape Town ball-tampering debacle.”I’m sure he will have to accustom himself to what might be a slightly hostile environment from the English public,” Root said. “I wouldn’t wish that upon anyone, but time will tell as to what happens.”While Root said he had never considered walking off the field following a negative comment from an opposition player, he declined to criticise Warner for doing so.”It is something you don’t see very often,” Root said. “But unless you know exactly what went on out there you can’t say if it was a justified thing or not. You don’t know what was said and you don’t know what was involved and what happened out there.”

Newcastle United are one of the potential suitors to sign a "special" Premier League player in January, according to a fresh transfer story.

Newcastle's January business

The January transfer window will offer the Magpies a chance to bolster their squad midway through the season – something that may well be needed after Sandro Tonali's 10-month ban for breaching betting rules was confirmed earlier this month. A host of midfield players are being looked at by the Magpies, with Kalvin Phillips, Ruben Neves and N'Golo Kante all linked with moves to Newcastle in the same report, and plenty of others also being mentioned as options.

While midfield looks like the most pressing area for Eddie Howe to focus on, it could also be that he eyes up reinforcements in defence because of Sven Botman's injury-plagued season, and also further attacking additions with Harvey Barnes out long-term and neither of his strikers able to stay fit for a whole season.

With that in mind, a new update suggests that an exciting player in the final third could potentially make his way to St James' Park in the near future.

Newcastle linked with Emile Smith Rowe

Speaking to Give Me Sport, journalist Ben Jacobs claimed that Newcastle are eyeing a move for Arsenal youngster Emile Smith Rowe, admitting that a January exit from the Emirates isn't out of the question, partly because of injury problems:

"There are clubs looking at Smith Rowe. Newcastle are one of them, for example. Aston Villa have looked in the past as well. But Arsenal may be a bit more bullish about this and, before they agree to any kind of possible exit talks, they may first want to see whether the player can get fit in the second half of the season and then assess their options in the summer, rather than January.

"Smith Rowe may feel the same as well because it's all very well having your head turned by a possible move, but when you've been injured for this amount of time, stability can actually be the best thing to rehabilitate, build up your match time and then to assess your position within the Arsenal squad in the summer."

Smith Rowe has been linked with a move to Newcastle in the past and he could certainly add the depth that is needed, especially as he can play in midfield and attack, proving to be effective in central and wide areas. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher certainly rates the 23-year-old highly as a footballer, saying of him recently:

"He's so exciting, the pace, moving with the ball. He's a special talent. He can pop up in different positions, he has that ability to play all four positions up top and that's a real bonus."

Smith Rowe's chance of playing regularly for Arsenal look slim at the moment, considering some of the attacking options the Gunners have in his position, whether it be Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard or Gabriel Martinelli, so he could jump at the chance of testing himself at Newcastle, who have been 'goals by committee' this season rather than using an out-and-out Erling Haaland type number nine.

Callum Wilson

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Alexander Isak

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Anthony Gordon

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Miguel Almiron

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Sean Longstaff

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Technically-gifted and versatile, the Englishman still has so much of his career ahead of him, and Howe could feel that he can get more out of him than Mikel Arteta, utilising his versatility to pitch in with goals and assists from all over the pitch.

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing reinforcements to add to their attack in January, as Mikel Arteta and Edu bid to get the Gunners over the line in their charge for the Premier League title.

While it’s speculated that the midfield will be the primary area for adjustment this winter, a host of star forwards have already been linked as potential targets at the Emirates, with two forwards in particular having a strong claim to bolster Arteta’s squad.

Arsenal transfer targets – Strikers

One name speculated to be of interest to the north Londoners is Brentford talisman Ivan Toney, whose ban from football is due to expire in January.

A report from the Mirror claimed that the Bees have placed a £100m price tag on their striker, in the hope of warding off Arsenal’s expected interest to sign the Northampton-born gem in future windows.

Sadly for Thomas Frank, it looks as though the Englishman is hoping for a transfer, with a recent report from 90min claiming that the 27-year-old is ‘demanding’ a release clause to be introduced to allow a future departure to proceed without negotiation.

As well as Toney, Football Transfers have linked Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic to north London, stating that the Serbian is Arteta’s ‘preferred number nine target’, relaying in the report that the Gunners wanted to sign the 23-year-old in January 2022.

In Vlahovic and Toney, Arsenal could capture one of two verified hitmen, however the England international could be a better fit for the Emirates than the Serie A whiz.

Why Ivan Toney would be a better fit than Dusan Vlahovic

Admittedly, either striker would be welcomed with open arms in north London, with Arteta’s current options of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah far from the desired level of a prolific forward.

Recently, the Brazilian told news outlets in Brazil that scoring goals is not his “strong point”, while Nketiah has scored just 37 goals at senior level for Arsenal in 148 appearances, stressing the Gunners’ need for a reliable number nine.

Vlahovic is an assured goalscorer, with the 23-year-old having already scored 99 domestic career goals to showcase his proficiency in the final third.

Once lauded as “clinical” by Arsenal figure Eduardo Hagn, the Serbia international netted 21 Serie A goals in the 2020/21 campaign for Fiorentina, however his scoring prowess has not translated to Juventus, flagging warning signs for a potential transfer pursuit.

Last term, Vlahovic only scored ten goals in Serie A, suggesting that his clinical streak is not quite as transferable as first assumed, with him appearing to be struggling to adapt to Juve’s style of play.

Ivan Toney

Dusan Vlahovic

Eddie Nketiah

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In signing Toney, Arsenal could land a more reliable outlet in the final third than the towering Serie A gem, with the Englishman well-equipped to play in the Premier League, and has a consistent track record of high scoring throughout his career.

Last season, only Harry Kane and Erling Haaland scored more in the league than Toney, relaying his potency and calibre when leading the line in the English top flight.

Once dubbed a “lion” by Frank, the 27-year-old could be the no-nonsense presence craved at the Emirates in front of goal, with his assets far more threatening than that of Nketiah, as highlighted above.

Signing one of the league’s top goal-scoring talents could fire Arsenal to new heights, and fire the Gunners closer to their dreams of collecting their first Premier League title since 2004.

Albie Morkel’s 12-ball 26 on a sluggish surface helped Heat nudge ahead of the DLS par score; Abbott set it up with a four-for

The Report by Liam Brickhill21-Nov-2018AFPAB de Villiers warned before this game that Kingsmead was the type of ground where even he never really feels in. It rang true as batsmen from both teams struggled to impose themselves in a low-scoring, rain-reduced affair. It wasn’t until Albie Morkel and Khaya Zondo came together in a rapid 40-run stand that Durban Heat found their way in pursuit of Tshwane Spartans’ 139 for 9, and when the rain came down, Durban were seven ahead of the DLS par score. This soon translated into victory.There were a couple of new faces on either side, with David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen having returned from Australia, and Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza turning up from national duty with Zimbabwe. But Morkel and Zondo aside, even the seasoned internationals – de Villiers included – were undone by a testing surface. Kyle Abbott collected 4 for 27, while Lutho Sipamla picked up 3 for 22, and might have got a couple more had the rain not brought the game to a premature end.Coming together with the chase wobbling at 83 for 4 in the 13th over, Morkel and Zondo spanked six fours and three sixes in the space of three overs to push the home side well ahead of the par score. They were so far ahead that even Sipamla’s dismissal of both men in the space of three deliveries was not enough to bring Spartans back into the match.Sipamla had also started well, his third ball bringing a wild heave across the line and a thin edge off Morne van Wyk’s bat. Van Wyk had launched Durban Heat’s chase with a flurry of boundaries, taking four fours off Williams’ second over. After he fell Heinrich Klaasen and Hashim Amla managed to tick over at just better than a run a ball. Jeevan Mendis upset the balance with the quick wickets of Klaasen and David Miller, but Spartans just didn’t have enough runs to defend.Spartans had been put in after Durban captain Morkel won the toss, and they lost three top order wickets inside the first half of an innings that never really get going amid regular wickets. Those strikes included the big one of de Villiers, who top-edged Keshav Maharaj with the breeze for the only six of the innings but then missed a reverse sweep to be pinned lbw for 10 by the same bowler.At the other end, Gihahn Cloete rattled to his second successive fifty with a selection of big drives and mis-hits in testing conditions, but Spartans could only take 39 from the Powerplay. It wasn’t until a 39-run stand between Cloete and Sikandar Raza that they were able to lay platform.Raza endured a torrid time from Marchant de Lange, the fast bowler repeatedly targeting him with short pitched deliveries as he sought ways – sometimes ungainly – to survive and turn the strike over. Cloete went to a 37-ball fifty in the 14th over, but he and Raza then fell in successive overs as Spartans faded against Durban’s pace attack.Having got past Raza and Robbie Frylinck, Abbott closed things off by dismissing Rory Kleinveldt and Sean Williams in consecutive deliveries in the final over of the innings. His late strikes stopped any thoughts of a Spartans surge, ultimately keeping them to a total that set Durban Heat a gettable target amid the rain.