Promotion-chasers extend lead before bad light gives Glamorgan reprieve

ECB Reporters Network10-Sep-2024

Tom Clark helped to build Sussex’s lead•Getty Images

Skipper John Simpson became the first Sussex batter for ten years to score five Vitality County Championship hundreds in a season as the second division leaders took charge against Glamorgan at Hove.Simpson also passed 1,000 runs in his unbeaten 112 as Sussex responded to Glamorgan’s under-par 186 with 407 for 5, a lead of 221.With promotion rivals Yorkshire and Middlesex in position to win their games, it is crucial that Sussex do the same and apart from a careless hour before lunch, when they lost four wickets for 25, they were in control at the 1st Central County Ground.Simpson has so far added 194 for the fifth wicket with Tom Clark, who played his part with an unbeaten 73, and just before bad light intervened at 4.20pm the pair took 19 off ten balls to ensure Sussex collected a fourth batting point.Ed Joyce – who also left Middlesex to move to the south coast – was the last batter as prolific as Simpson has been in what is his first year with Sussex, and not for the first time this season he made sure his team didn’t squander a good position.At the start of the day Daniel Hughes and nightwatchman Henry Crocombe extended their second-wicket stand to 78 and their only alarm came when Dan Douthwaite put down a tough chance at midwicket when Crocombe was on 25.Hughes looked on course for back-to-back hundreds but on 83 (14 fours) he chipped a straightforward catch to midwicket off Douthwaite, who was Glamorgan’s best bowler on a tough day. Crocombe forced Douthwaite through the covers for his seventh boundary to bring up a maiden first-class fifty before he was taken at short leg attacking off-spinner Ben Kellaway.The ambidextrous Kellaway, who later in the day switched briefly to bowling left-arm spin, had Tom Alsop caught at slip pushing forward and James Coles, the only right-hander in Sussex’s top seven, wafted at a ball he could have ignored in the last over before lunch to give Douthwaite his second wicket.Clark’s fifty was only his third of a difficult season and here he was tied down early on by Kellaway in particular. He didn’t score a boundary until his 58th ball when he cut Kellaway through backward point but with Simpson counter-attacking at the other end Clark grew in confidence and Sussex assumed control.Glamorgan only bowled eight overs of seam with the new ball before Kellaway was back on again at the sea end and the 20-year-old from Newport, who is playing only his fourth first-class match, impressed with his control on a surface offering some turn.But as the sixth-wicket stand prospered the only question was how many batting bonus points Sussex could secure in 110 overs. Simpson took two boundaries off Kellaway, the second of which took the left-hander to his 15th first-class hundred, as ten came off the 109th over and a pulled six off Ned Leonard from the first delivery of the next followed by three singles took them to a fourth point with two balls to spare.By then the light was fading and shortly afterwards umpires Nigel Llong and Sue Redfern took the players off but with two days left and a good forecast Sussex will feel they have enough time to press home their advantage and secure a seventh win of the season.

Thomas Frank will be the next Tottenham Hotspur manager to try and catapult the club back into a Premier League title battle over the next couple of seasons.

The Dane will certainly come under scrutiny if he’s unable to push the Lilywhites up the league table, needing to right the wrongs endured under former boss Ange Postecoglou.

However, the Aussie did secure the Europa League title, handing his successor the chance to build on the triumph and be competitive in the Champions League throughout 2025/26.

A balance will need to be struck if the club are to be a success in various competitions, subsequently allowing the new manager to be an instant hit with the supporters in the coming months.

If the Dane is to thrive in North London, he will need quality and depth in certain key areas to help balance the quest for success in Europe and domestically.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Mohammed Kudus has been a player who’s been firmly on Spurs’ radar over recent days, with the Lilywhites submitting a £50m offer, but it was swiftly rejected with the Hammers demanding a hefty fee for his signature.

He currently has an £85m release clause in his contract, but it’s been reported that he could be available for a lower fee, but it remains to be seen if the player himself would be keen on a move across London.

However, they could be about to make a move for another Premier League star in the form of Fulham full-back Antonee Robinson, according to journalist Paul O’Keefe.

He confirmed earlier this week that the Lilywhites are closely monitoring the American international, who featured in all but two league games last season.

O’Keefe also confirmed that the 27-year-old is seen as a key option for Frank this summer, after he registered ten assists in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.

Reports earlier this year suggested Fulham would be open to letting him leave if they received a £40m bid.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be a more important signing than Kudus

There’s no denying that a move for Kudus would bring added excitement to the fanbase, ahead of what’s set to be a new era under the guidance of Frank in North London.

Given the other targets this summer, it’s evident that the Dane is targeting attacking reinforcements, with the likes of Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo also being linked with a move to the club.

However, given the side’s tally of 64 league goals last season, they clearly have the firepower to cause problems for multiple sides in the division, potentially leading them to future success.

As a result, the new boss should look to prioritise a move for new defenders, with Robinson just one player who would be a more important addition than Kudus this summer.

Spurs currently only have one senior left-back in the form of Destiny Udogie, but the Italian has also had his injury struggles, missing 13 league games in the 2024/25 season.

Right-back Djed Spence has subsequently had to operate out of position at times to cover for the Italian, highlighting the need for depth in such a department this summer.

When delving into Robinson’s stats from last season, he’s managed to star at both ends of the pitch, handing Frank the talent that he craves during his first season at the helm.

Games played

36

Goals & assists

10

Pass accuracy

81%

Chances created

1.3

Dribble success

53%

Tackles won

1.7

Duels won

5.8

The full-back, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by journalist Toby Bryant, created 1.3 chances per 90, along with a 53% dribbling success rate – having the tools to get forward areas in North London.

Out of possession, he was just as impressive last campaign, winning 1.7 tackles per 90, whilst winning 5.8 duels per 90 – handing the side the added defensive quality it needs in 2025/26.

It’s unclear how much a deal would set the hierarchy back this summer, but from the stats produced in recent months, it’s evident that he’s coming into the prime years of his career.

He would be a phenomenal pick-up, undoubtedly handing Frank an excellent star in a position that has undoubtedly been one of the hardest to fill over the last couple of years in North London.

Frank's answer to Bale: Spurs make "generational" £70m ace their top target

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be putting their focus on a deal to land one attacking star.

2 ByEthan Lamb Jul 3, 2025

Whether through signing them or bringing them through the academy, Arsenal have a proud history of developing some incredible youngsters.

A few years ago, it was the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka who were breaking through the ranks; now it’s Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, and in the next couple of years, it could be Max Dowman.

While Mikel Arteta is sometimes labelled as a manager who doesn’t play youth, the last few years have proven that wrong.

Moreover, the club now have their eyes on another seriously exciting talent, who could be a future Viktor Gyokeres, whom they’re also close to finally signing.

Arsenal close in on the present and future Gyokeres

While the signings of Martin Zubimendi, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard, plus the soon-to-be additions of Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera, are certainly exciting, they don’t feel like they’ll be as consequential as Gyokeres.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Arsenal fans have been crying out for a prolific number nine for years now, and with 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games last season, that is what the Swedish striker is.

Moreover, while it’s not a cheap deal, it’s not going to require a record outlay either, with most reports now claiming that the initial fee will be around £55m, with some easy-to-achieve add-ons still to be decided upon.

Appearances

50

52

Minutes

4169′

4248′

Goals

43

54

Assists

15

13

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

1.28

Minutes per Goal Involvement

71.87′

63.40′

However, to ensure a club the size of the North Londoners can remain successful long into the future, the board also have to invest in the future, which seems to be what they are currently looking to do.

At least that is according to a recent report from the Daily Mail, who suggest the Gunners have agreed a deal to sign Salford City wonderkid Will Wright.

They report that Arsenal have seen a £200k bid accepted by the EFL club, as the Gunners hone in on signing one of the country’s top young talents.

The Londoners are set to fend off competition from Liverpool to secure his signature, with the Reds having lodged their own bid of £100k.

It is a lot of money to spend on someone so young, but it could prove to be a masterstroke in years to come, especially if Wright is a Gyokeres in the making.

Why Wright could be a future Gyokeres

Okay, so the first thing to make clear is that we know it’s quite a leap to suggest that a 17-year-old youth prospect could develop into a player akin to one Arsenal are about to spend big on, but we have our reasons.

First and foremost, the teenage sensation has already proven that, when given the chance, he can score bags and bags of goals.

In fact, he didn’t just score 20, or even 30 for Salford’s youth side last season; he managed to score a whopping 40 goals, which might not be the same as the Sporting man’s 54, but it’s not far off for a youngster.

On top of his prolific nature in front of goal, the young forward shares the Swede’s raw desire to score goals, as exemplified by the fact that at the start of last season, he was averaging 4.6 shots a game, compared to the 27-year-old’s 4.08 shots a game across the last year.

Moreover, one of the ways the former Coventry City star gets himself into so many goalscoring situations is because he’s excellent at running in behind opposition defences, which, according to Total Football Analysis, is one of Salford City gem’s biggest strengths.

However, he’s not a one-dimensional striker, and like the Stockholm-born ace, he’s also more than capable of playing a quick passing game with his teammates to create space and chances for himself or his teammates.

Finally, despite being just 17, the highly-rated youngster is the same height as the soon-to-be Gunners star, coming in at 6 foot 2, and it’s evident in clips that he’s comfortable using his stature to ride challenges before breaking away with a burst of pace and putting the ball in the back of the net.

Ultimately, there’s still a long way to go until he’s playing in the first team, but as things stand, Wright looks like a serious talent, and someone who could well be spoken about in the same way as Gyokeres is today.

Madueke upgrade: Arsenal set to start talks to sign "world-class" £43m star

Arsenal could sign an upgrade on Noni Madueke.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 17, 2025

Chelsea could be very busy in these final few weeks of the transfer window.

Chelsea plan offer for "world-class" new target in bid to hijack AC Milan

The west Londoners are not done this summer.

ByEmilio Galantini Aug 1, 2025

Earlier this week, Enzo Maresca was backed with the signing of Ajax left-back/centre-back Jorrel Hato, who will provide cover for Marc Cucurella whilst also bolstering the heart of Chelsea’s defence.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

In traditional Chelsea fashion, the Netherlands international has agreed a long-term seven-year contract and is undergoing a medical today, before the club announce him as their next major signing of the summer.

Meanwhile, talks remain ongoing for RB Leipzig playmaker Xavi Simons, which is taking longer than initially thought.

A report from The Sun, via GOAL, claims that Chelsea have offered multiple players to Leipzig, including Carney Chukwuemeka and Armando Broja, in an attempt to sweeten negotiations, offload players and lower the Dutchman’s overall asking price.

Super agent Ali Barat is heavily involved in these discussions as he tries to facilitate Simons’ potential move to Stamford Bridge, and according to other reports, Chelsea could still move for Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho.

A swoop for the Argentine, who Ruben Amorim’s side are actively trying to sell, is believed to be independent of the Simons deal, with Chelsea in the market for another left-winger after Jamie Gittens (talkSPORT).

This is backed up by The Telegraph’s Matt Law, who’s shared a detailed update on Garnacho to Chelsea this week.

Chelsea expected to bid for Alejandro Garnacho

Accordong to Law, Chelsea have completed extensive background checks into the 21-year-old’s personality profile, and they have zero concerns over his attitude, despite Garnacho’s questionable conduct at Old Trafford.

Chelsea are expected to make a bid for Garnacho too, and Simons’ potential arrival won’t shut the door on him as BlueCo look to tempt the former Atlético Madrid academy ace with a move to London.

Personal terms shouldn’t be an issue either, with Chelsea believed to be Garnacho’s “first choice” destination should he leave Manchester.

United are under some pressure to sell the winger as we enter the final weeks of this transfer window, with reports suggesting that they’ve slashed his asking price from £70 million to £40 million.

Garnacho racked up 11 goals and 10 assists in 58 appearances for United last season, and won the 2024 Puskas award for a stunning overhead kick against Everton at Goodision Park the year prior.

“He has a lot of personality, he doesn’t give up, and he’s always on the ball. He never gives up in one-on-one situations,” said former Argentina international Javier Saviola at the end of 2024/2025.

“Now he’s adding goals to his game, something he was lacking a bit before, and he’s appearing closer to the box.”

The single one-dayer will act as preparation for the Champions Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Nov-2024Australia will play two Tests in Galle on their tour of Sri Lanka from late January, which could be vital in deciding who reaches the final of the World Test Championship, while an ODI has been added to the trip as preparation for the Champions Trophy.Depending on how the five-match Border-Gavaskar series plays out, the series may be crucial to both side’s hopes of reaching Lord’s in June.Related

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The Tests will be held from January 29-February 2 and February 6-10. The ODI will then take place on February 13 at a venue still to be confirmed with the teams then scheduled to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.The last time Australia visited Sri Lanka in 2022 the Test series was drawn 1-1 with the visitors winning in dramatic style in the first game before Prabath Jayasuriya claimed 12 wickets on debut to level it up in the second.There is a chance Australia could be without captain Pat Cummins for all or part of the tour due to the birth of his second child.”We’ll see what that looks like closer to the time,” head coach Andrew McDonald said. “We’ve got a couple of players in Mitch Marsh and Travis Head taking paternity leave at the moment. So we respect that if that was to unfold for that particular time and if he wants to miss a Test. If he’s got bigger things to take care of than a Test match in Sri Lanka, then that’s fine with us.”Australia are due to arrive on January 20 which means those in the squad with BBL deals may be available until close to the end of the regular season.McDonald and chair of selectors George Bailey have suggested they will select players specifically for Sri Lankan conditions. Glenn Maxwell is in contention for a return while left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann could be an option to supplement Nathan Lyon given the success of left-arm orthodox spinners in the subcontinent.Former Australia spinner Steve O’Keefe has urged the selectors to prioritise red-ball preparation for the spinners selected to support Lyon even if he comes at the expense of playing in the BBL.”I think if we’re really going to be serious about the young spinners going over there, whoever is going to accompany Nathan [Lyon], is the Big Bash the best preparation?” he told ESPNcricinfo. “I’d be encouraging the selectors to let these spinners be going earlier and then I’d be encouraging those spinners to practice with a red ball in between Big Bash games.”

Fabrizio Romano has shared an intriguing transfer update involving Tottenham, with the Lilywhites now making contact over signing a big name.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank has been dealt a couple of killer blows ahead of their blockbuster UEFA Super Cup clash against PSG, both of which emphasise the need for Daniel Levy to reinforce his squad.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Firstly, the north Londoners waved an emotional goodbye to former captain and club legend Son Heung-min last Sunday, with the 33-year-old playing his last-ever game for the club in a friendly against Newcastle in Seoul.

Son was given a guard of honour and a standing ovation as tributes poured in for the winger, following his announcement that he would be leaving N17 this summer, and it was hard for him not to burst into tears.

“It was a perfect moment,” Son told Tottenham’s official website, via ESPN.

“Sharing these beautiful moments are something that I will never forget and I will always appreciate it – from the fans, the players and the gaffer. He understood my situation and was always on my side. He always listened to me and asked what I wanted to do. I have a huge respect and am very grateful.”

“I wish them all the best. There are five competitions ahead, and I hope they win all the five competitions. That’s my wish. Spurs will always be in my heart and the boys will always be in my history books. It was incredible.

“They’ve gone so fast, the 10 years. I can only think about the beautiful moments, amazing moments.”

Frank now faces the task of finding a replacement to somehow fill Son’s shoes, with the former Bayer Leverkusen star securing a £20 million move to the MLS with Los Angeles FC – where he’ll represent a city with the largest population of fellow Koreans outside South Korea itself.

On the same night they lost Son, star playmaker James Maddison also returned to the treatment table after suffering a serious injury to the same knee which kept him out of the Europa League final.

The England international now faces another lengthy spell on the sidelines, with Spurs now confirming Maddison is set to undergo surgery for a ruptured ACL that will keep him out for the majority of the season.

Frank has been left very short of attacking options in what is a dire situation, making this last three weeks of the window absolutely vital.

Tottenham make contact over signing Man City winger Jack Grealish

Levy needs to find a replacement for both Son and Maddison before the transfer deadline on September 1, after they unceremoniously missed out on a deal for Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White last month.

As per Romano, Man City outcast Jack Grealish is among their potential targets.

The 29-year-old’s stock has fallen dramatically since being a key member of Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning side in 2023, and Grealish has been training away from the City squad this summer as the Blues seek to find a new home for him.

City have put a £40 million price tag on the ex-Aston Villa captain’s head if any side wishes to strike a permanent deal, but the most likely outcome right now appears to be a loan deal, considering Grealish’s sky-high wage packet of around £300,000-per-week.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano claims that Tottenham phoned City to make an enquiry over Grealish “in recent days”.

However, Everton are now in active talks for the Englishman, so if Levy wants to advance on a deal, he’ll need to hurry.

“Everton are working on a deal to sign Jack Grealish,” said Romano.

“There was a call also from Tottenham in recent days to understand the situation of the player, but it was just a call – no advanced negotiations.

“From what I’m told now, Everton approached Manchester City after speaking to the agent of the player last week. Now, Everton are in talks with Manchester City for Jack Grealish – they want to try for a loan. Let’s see the conditions of this loan, let’s see what Jack will decide to do – but Jack Grealish is the dream target now for Everton.”

Grealish actually came close to joining Tottenham for £25 million around seven years ago, and he admitted to being disappointed after missing out on a move.

“Of course, there’s going to be disappointment there,” Grealish told The Telegraph about his failed Spurs switch in 2018.

“You’ve just got to look at what Spurs have done this season. They’ve beaten Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford, they’re playing Barcelona in the Champions League next week.

“I felt that if I’d gone there, I could have maybe been in the England squad by the end of the year. I would never have gone there just to make up the numbers.”

حقق منتخب مصر للشباب تحت 20 سنة، الفوز على نظيره نيو كاليدونيا بثلاثة أهداف نظيفة في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم الإثنين، فى البروفة النهائية لكأس العالم للشباب.

ويستعد منتخب مصر للمشاركة في بطولة كأس العالم تحت 20 عامًا المقرر إقامتها في تشيلي من الفترة 27 سبتمبر الجاري إلى 19 أكتوبر المقبل.

جاءت أهداف منتخب مصر، فى الشوط الثاني عن طريق أحمد نائل ومؤمن شريف وسيف سفاجا فى الدقائق 55 و66 و80.

وكان منتخب مصر للشباب قد فاز وديًا على الفريق الأول بنادي سان لويس بخمسة أهداف نظيفة منذ يومين.

طالع | مواعيد مباريات منتخب مصر للشباب في بطولة كأس العالم تحت 20 عامًا

وجاء منتخب مصر في المجموعة الأولى من بطولة كأس العالم للشباب، بجانب منتخبات تشيلي واليابان ونيوزيليندا.

ومن المقرر أن يبدأ منتخب مصر مبارياته في بطولة كأس العالم للشباب أمام اليابان، في الساعة الواحدة صباحًا يوم 28 سبتمبر 2025.

India are unfazed by the recent form of their senior spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, their captain Rohit Sharma has said. On a slow, dry Pune pitch, India’s spin trio, which included Washington Sundar, was outbowled by New Zealand’s as India suffered their first Test series defeat at home since 2012.”I mean, see look, there is too much expectation on those two guys,” Rohit said of Ashwin and Jadeja. “Every game they play, they are expected to take wickets, they are expected to run through the team, and they are expected to win Test matches for us. I don’t think that’s fair, it’s the responsibility of all of us to make sure that we get Test match wins, not just the two guys.”After having conceded 94 runs in 16 overs for just one wicket in the second innings in Bengaluru – his worst figures, in terms of economy rate, in a Test innings where he has bowled at least ten overs – Ashwin went at almost four runs an over in the third innings in Pune. He had started well in the second Test by turning his fifth ball and having Tom Latham lbw for 15 in the eighth over. However, when the New Zealand batters brought out a variety of sweeps, Ashwin struggled to provide India with the control that he is usually known for, especially in these conditions.Related

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Jadeja also struggled to counter New Zealand’s aggressive approach. Despite India posting a short third and deep point, Devon Conway, for instance, kept sweeping and reverse-sweeping with attacking enterprise. Such shots not only messed with the lines and lengths of the senior spinners but also the fields that Rohit had set.At various stages, the India captain was forced into having extra protection on the boundary. Jadeja ended up with just three wickets in 37.4 overs across both innings – two fewer than Ashwin’s match haul of five wickets. In contrast, Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand left-arm fingerspinner, came away with 13 for 157, the third-best figures by any visiting bowler in India.Rohit refused to read too much into these numbers and said it was natural for even Ashwin and Jadeja to have off days.”Of course, by their standards, they know where they stand and what they haven’t been able to do or what they haven’t done really well,” Rohit said. “But again, both of them have played so much cricket here and have such huge contributions to our success of having that home streak of 18 series [wins]. These two have played a major role in that. A couple of series, I am not going to look into too much, especially with those two guys.Ravindra Jadeja took three wickets in the second Test•AFP/Getty Images

“They know exactly what happens and sometimes they are allowed to have some bad games here and there and not go by that expectation that this is the opportunity for me to take wickets and run through the opposition. That’s not going to happen every time. So you got to be ready with the other guys also to step in.”Rohit was also against putting too much pressure on Ashwin and Jadeja and called for the responsibility to be shared among the other spinners.”Like we keep talking about with the batters it is not the responsibility of a few individuals, it is the collective batting unit that needs to come together,” Rohit said. “So it’s the same with the bowling unit as well. If Ash doesn’t do well, it’s Jadeja who needs to come to the party or Washy [Washington Sundar] or Kuldeep [Yadav] or Axar [Patel], those guys.”Washington did step up in the first innings in Pune, marking a serendipitous return to Test cricket after three-and-a-half years with career-best figures of 7 for 59. He took four more wickets in the third innings, which perhaps influenced his selection for the upcoming Test series in Australia.”Washy had a great game, I am really proud of that,” Rohit said. “He is proud of that and we are happy with his performance. He bowled so well.”

Cristiano Ronaldo was less than impressed when a star-struck fan rushed over to take a selfie with him at Portugal's team hotel.

Ronaldo shoved fan awayHis entrance was met by screams of 'Cristiano!'Portugal face Armenia in World Cup qualifier at 17:00 BSTFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ronaldo shoved the fan away as security intervened to stop the man, who had rushed over to take a selfie with the Portugal superstar on his arrival, with footage of the incident going viral on social media. The sight of the 40-year-old was met with screams of 'Cristiano!' from other supporters. According to O Jogo, Ronaldo wasn't happy with the situation and told the fan to "get out of here." Portugal face Armenia in their World Cup qualification fixture at 17:00 BST, with Ronaldo starting through the centre for Roberto Martinez's side.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

While such interactions are unfortunately likely to be commonplace for a global star the size of Ronaldo, he will have been disappointed by how the fan was allowed to get to close up to him as he attempted to get in the zone ahead of the fixture with his national team. Security were slow to react to the situation, meaning Ronaldo ended up taking matters into his own hands by shoving the intrusive fan away.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ronaldo will make his 222nd appearance for Portugal against Armenia, having scored 138 goals for his nation. The Al-Nassr captain and former Real Madrid and Manchester United icon will hope to compete at what is surely to be his last World Cup at the age of 41 next summer.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Ronaldo will hope to shine for his nation as they face Armenia and Hungary over the international break with the aim of securing qualification for the World Cup next summer. Should the Portuguese and Argentina star and long-time rival Lionel Messi both appear in the tournament, the pair would both break an all-time record by becoming the first ever players to compete in six World Cups. The pair are known as two of the greatest of all time for a reason.

Injuries to Healy, Vlaeminck make defending champions’ win bittersweet

Firdose Moonda11-Oct-2024

Ashleigh Gardner picked up all of her four wickets at the death•ICC/Getty Images

Australia 83 for 1 (Healy 37, Perry 22*, Sadia 1-17) beat Pakistan 82 (Riaz 26, Gardner 4-21, Sutherland 2-15, Wareham 2-16) by nine wicketsAn Australian side struck by two injuries marched to a third massive win over a depleted Pakistan team, who slumped to the lowest total of the tournament so far. The result leaves Pakistan all but out of knockout contention while Australia are now almost certain to qualify into the final four.Pakistan were without their captain Fatima Sana, after the passing of her father, and senior seamer Diana Baig, who has not recovered from the leg injury that saw her leave the field after bowling one ball in their tournament opener, and they missed the pair’s enthusiasm and experience. Only one of their batters, Aliya Riaz, scored more than 20, while there were five scores of single figures, two ducks and no partnerships worth more than 19.All that happened after Australia lost their quickest bowler, Tayla Vlaeminck – who was playing her first T20 World Cup match since 2018 – before she had even bowled a ball. Vlaeminck dislocated her shoulder while tumbling at short third in the first over of the game trying to cut off a boundary, and there’s a cloud over her participation in the remainder of the tournament.Her absence did not stop Australia from making run-scoring difficult for Pakistan. They found the other six bowlers tough to get away, only scored their first boundary of the innings in the ninth over, and hit just four fours in all. Australia had struck that many by the third over of their innings. Alyssa Healy was responsible for five of them and seemed set to take Australia to victory but retired hurt in the 10th over, as she hobbled to complete a second run off Aroob Shah. Healy gingerly headed to the dressing room with a foot injury.Related

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Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner polished off the total in 11 overs, which has taken Australia’s net run-rate up to 2.786, leaving them almost assured of a final-four place. Their last group match is against India in Sharjah on Sunday. Pakistan face New Zealand on Monday.Schutt shoots to the top Megan Schutt had an exceptional first two matches in Sharjah, where she established herself as the most economical bowler of the tournament so far, but was also able to take wickets on a surface that offered very little assistance. She’d have been delighted to get to more helpful conditions in Dubai and started with two testing overs as she shaped the ball away from Muneeba Ali and into Sidra Amin. Schutt was given a third over in the powerplay, where she played with her lengths, and eventually drew Sadaf Shamas into a drive and Healy was convinced Shamas had hit it. She reviewed, successfully, to give Schutt her 144th T20I wicket – which took her to the top of the overall T20I wicket-takers’ list. Schutt overtook one of the players in the opposition, Nida Dar, who had to come to the crease with Shamas’ dismissal. Pakistan were 18 for 2 after five overs and 23 for 2 at the end of six.Alyssa Healy hobbled off with a foot injury•ICC/Getty Images

Awesome Ash GardnerPakistan were starting to rebuild – but only slightly – between the 10th and 16th over courtesy a 19-run stand between Iram Javed and Aliya Riaz though they always looked close to being separated. Gardner should have had Javed stumped on 10 when she came down the track and swung at a length delivery but Healy missed the chance.It didn’t take too long for Gardner to get her own back. In her next over, she tossed one up and Iram could not resist going for a big one. She skied it towards deep mid-wicket where Georgia Wareham was completely unfussed by the ring of fire and took a good catch. Gardner’s final over was the innings’ penultimate and Pakistan had to go in search of runs. Off the second ball, Healy made no mistake when Tuba Hassan came down the track, swung, missed and was stumped. Aroob Shah hit Gardner’s second-last ball to Beth Mooney at mid-wicket and Nashra Sandhu was given out lbw off the last ball which turned past her inside-edge to hit her on the pad. Gardner finished with 4 for 21, her second-best figures in T20Is.Healy, Mooney race awayAustralia started their reply with eight runs off their first 11 balls, none of them boundaries. That was all they needed to see and began to cash in thereafter. Healy drove Dar through the covers to register Australia’s first boundary and the fours kept coming. Beth Mooney hit three off Sadia Iqbal’s opening over, demonstrating her strength through the offside and Healy followed up with two more off Sadaf Shamas. Australia were 36 without loss in the fifth over when Mooney hit Iqbal to Aliya Riaz on the edge of the inner ring at mid-off but the horse had bolted. They won with 54 balls remaining, and their excellent NRR means they’d have to lose by 61 or more runs against India to be displaced from No. 1.