Nine expected to counter Ten's cricket bid June 3, 2013 - 9:12AM Channel Nine is taking steps to match rival Network Ten's $500 million bid for cricket broadcasting rights by finalising a $300 million deal with buy WIN TV stations, reports say. Nine is expected to announced its decision today on whether to match Ten's offer and continued its coverage of a sport it had broadcast for more than three decades. The television network has a last-rights clause in its seven-year deal with Cricket Australia that allows it to make the final offer over other bidders. Nine's chief executive David Gyngell was securing a deal to buy WIN's station in Adelaide, with an option to purchase its station in Perth, The Australian Financial Review reported. Last week, Fairfax Media reported that Nine's board had granted its senior executives clearance to match Ten's offer, which will result in a windfall for Cricket Australia whatever the result. Sources told Fairfax Media then the purchase of the WIN stations were not a requirement for Nine's retention of the cricket rights. BusinessDay