Birmingham Phoenix gave themselves a healthy boost in their quest for the top three with a fantastic win against Northern Superchargers in The Hundred at Edgbaston on Tuesday.Phoenix dominated with the ball, blowing the visitors away for just 83, before knocking off the fastest chase in the history of the The Hundred men’s competition thanks to Ben Duckett and Moeen Ali.Northern Superchargers won the toss and chose to bat, with much excitement at the return of England Men’s Test captain Ben Stokes.Unfortunately for Stokes, he made an inauspicious start: made to wait 20 deliveries at the non-striker’s end before being bowled first ball by one that nipped back through the gate from Tim Southee.Birmingham’s Kiwi pace attack set the tone for Phoenix’s victory. Southee took a wicket with his first ball to dismiss Matt Short, before Adam Milne got rid of the dangerous Nicholas Pooran.Captain Harry Brook attempted to rebuild from 19 for 3, with Adam Hose, but even Brook found the pitch tough going as he succumbed to Chris Wood with the score at 36 for 4 halfway through the Superchargers’ innings.Superchargers’ cause wasn’t helped by a superb run-out from Duckett to remove Hose 10 balls later. Southee completed his sublime spell with 3 for 15 and his partner Milne 3 for 20 with the visitors bowled out for a meagre 83 – the second-lowest total in the Men’s Hundred competition.Duckett continued from where he left off for Phoenix on Saturday, racing to 43 from 20 balls, alongside opening partner Moeen, who was similarly speedy for his 37 from 21.Phoenix’s 10-wicket win dents Northern Superchargers’ hopes of making The Hundred Eliminator, while Moeen’s team have put themselves in the mix for the latter stages of the tournament as they leapfrogged their opponents into third after five matches.Meerkat Match Hero Southee said: “We assessed conditions reasonably quickly and the seamers hit a good length that proved difficult to play. It was a pretty clinical performance all round.”This is a great team to be a part of and I’m enjoying my time here. That goes a long way, and it is nice to chalk up another win.”A win like that can only do wonders for the confidence going into our next games, but we know we are heading to a different ground and different opposition, so we have to start again. There are no easy teams in this tournament so we should have another good couple of matches coming up.”
It is far from a secret that Celtic are in the market to add to their options in the wide areas before the summer transfer window slams shut at the start of September.
The Hoops lost Portuguese forward Jota to a long-term knee injury in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, which means that he is not going to be available in the opening months of next season.
Losing the forward, who arrived on a permanent deal from Rennes for a second spell at Parkhead in January, came as a blow to Brendan Rodgers, because he had hit the ground running upon his return to Glasgow.
Jota produced four goals and two assists in 11 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, despite only starting seven of those matches, in the second half of the season, before his injury.
Celtic are now in the market to bring in a left winger who can plug the gap that his injury has created, whilst also having the potential to compete with him for a starting berth in the future.
One left-sided attacker who has emerged as a reported target for the Scottish giants this summer is Royal Antwerp star Michel-ange Balikwisha.
The latest on Celtic's pursuit of Michel-Ange Balikwisha
Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri recently reported that the Hoops are in talks with the 24-year-old wide man over the possibility of a move to Glasgow in the coming weeks.
The journalist claimed that talks are already underway and that the right-footed wing wizard is keen on securing a transfer to Parkhead before the end of the window.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha against Porto in the Champions League.
Tavolieri did not mention how much money it would take for Royal Antwerp to part ways with their star forward, but The Scottish Sun revealed, in April, that he is valued at £5m by the Pro League outfit.
Balikwisha’s performances in the Pro League in the last two seasons suggest that the potential is there for him to be a value-for-money signing at £5m for the Hoops, as he has showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
Starts
27
12
xG
6.46
2.65
Goals
7
4
Big chances created
6
7
Key passes per game
1.5
1.6
Assists
5
3
As you can see in the table above, the Celtic target has racked up 11 goals and eight assists in 39 starts in the division, outperforming his xG in both campaigns, which speaks to his efficiency in front of goal.
These statistics suggest that he could replace the goals and assists that the Hoops have lost through Jota’s injury, if he can translate his performances over to the Premiership at Parkhead.
At the age of 24, Balikwisha would also arrive in Scotland as a player who could have his best years ahead of him, with time to develop and grow, and this could make him an interesting long-term addition, as well as a player who could replace Jota in the short-term.
A fee of £5m would be a decent outlay for the winger, but the Hoops already have a number of forwards who are worth significantly more than that, including Japanese forward Daizen Maeda.
Celtic have hit the jackpot with Dazien Maeda
The Scottish giants initially signed the Japan international on loan from Yokohama F. Marinos in the January transfer window at the start of 2022, before they snapped him up on a permanent basis that summer.
Their decision to sign him permanently has turned out to be a blinder because the versatile attacker has gone to become an incredibly valuable player, both in terms of his market value and his value to Rodgers and the team.
Celtic star Daizen Maeda.
Maeda has racked up 62 goals and 28 assists in 158 appearances for the Hoops to date, and remains a regular starter in the attack after three-and-a-half-years in Glasgow. This shows that he has provided consistent quality as a threat at the top end of the pitch during his time in Scotland so far.
His form in the 2024/25 campaign was particularly impressive. The 27-year-old star ended the season with an eye-catching haul of 33 goals and 12 assists in 51 appearances for Rodgers’ side, whilst playing as a left winger and as a centre-forward.
Maeda’s sublime form in the top-flight earned him the Premiership Player of the Year award, which shows that he was deemed to be the best player in the entire division.
The Japanese speedster’s market value has soared as a result of his fantastic performances on the pitch for the Scottish giants, so much so to the point that he is now worth around £8m more than reported target Balikwisha.
Jan 2022
£1.5m
June 2022
£3m
November 2022
£3.5m
December 2022
£4.5m
June 2023
£5m
December 2023
£5.5m
May 2024
£6m
October 2024
£6.5m
December 2024
£7m
March 2025
£9.5m
June 2025
£13m
As you can see in the table above, Maeda’s value has soared by a whopping £11.5m throughout his time in Scotland, to the point where he is now worth £13m, as per Transfermarkt.
He is the most valuable player in the Celtic squad, ahead of the likes of Nicolas Kuhn, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Arne Engels, and Reo Hatate, which speaks to how impressive his valuation of £13m is.
Daizen Maeda
Celtic have hit the jackpot with the Japanese marksman, who has been the subject of reported interest from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, because they struck gold by signing him when he was valued at just £1.5m.
The forward has developed into the most valuable member of the squad, and the most prolific after a haul of 33 goals this season, as illustrated by him being worth a whopping £8m more than reported target Balikwisha.
Their next Kuhn: Celtic reach agreement to sign "dangerous" star
Celtic have agreed a deal to sign a “dangerous” wide attacker for around £1.7m, so here is why he could be the Hoops’ next Nicolas Kühn.
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Hopefully, the Scottish giants will be able to retain his services ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, and he will continue to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.
Tottenham Hotspur chiefs have been informed that they could sign a high-earning star for below £30 million this summer, with chairman Daniel Levy expected to seek out good-value deals amid the looming threat of a ‘sell to buy’ summer.
Ange Postecoglou preparing for crunch Europa League final
While Spurs face off against Aston Villa in the Premier League this afternoon, all eyes are instead on their looming Europa League final against Man United next week.
Levy personally wants '40 goals a season' striker at Tottenham next season
The Spurs chairman is a particular fan.
By
Emilio Galantini
May 15, 2025
The less said about Spurs’ dismal domestic campaign, the better – following a season of record-breaking lows where Ange Postecoglou’s side surpassed the club’s record for most Premier League losses in a single season (20).
Instead, the Europa League represents a major potential saving grace at the end of what could be Postecoglou’s final term in charge.
Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League
Average match rating
Son Heung-min
7.05
Pedro Porro
6.98
James Maddison
6.98
Dominic Solanke
6.88
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
David Ornstein is among the media sources to report that Postecoglou is highly likely to leave Tottenham, even if they win the European final in Bilbao on May 21, but sealing the Lilywhites’ first piece of major silverware in 17 years would be a more-than-ideal send-off.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou applauds fans after the match
Victory against Man United would also work wonders in terms of attracting Spurs’ top transfer targets, as a place in the Champions League group draw for next season would undoubtedly come as a major pull, even after their struggles domestically.
One of the key items of their agenda, in terms of recruitment, is signing a new striker. Richarlison is expected to be up for sale at Tottenham this summer, and in the event Brazil’s number nine departs N17, Spurs or any new manager would need a replacement for him.
Tottenham are believed to be among the contenders for Ipswich striker Liam Delap, who could leave for just £30 million, thanks to a release clause tied in with their relegation from the Premier League.
Levy is also keen on re-negotiating cheaper terms for Mathys Tel’s permanent deal, according to reports in Germany this week, but it is unclear what the 20-year-old’s long-term role would be in the squad right now.
Tottenham informed they could sign Dusan Vlahovic for under £30 million
Now, as per GiveMeSport, Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic is another centre-forward who could be made available for an affordable transfer fee.
The Serbia international, rumoured to be on around £320,000-per-week in Turin, hasn’t exactly lived up to his “superstar” reputation during the second half of 2024/2025 – scoring just two Serie A goals this calendar year.
Juventus' DusanVlahovicduring the warm up
With his contract expiring next summer, and no extension in sight, GMS now report Tottenham have been made aware that Vlahovic could be sold this summer.
It is also claimed that, while Juve ideally want around £35 million, the Old Lady may even green-light his sale for just £20 million – largely due to his sub-par form lately and the fact he’s about to enter the final 12 months of his deal.
This could be a major opportunity for Levy, who’s been linked with a move for Vlahovic in past seasons.
The 25-year-old scored 21 Serie A goals during his best season at Fiorentina, and 16 top-flight goals for Juve just last season, so Vlahovic can be a devastating player when at his very best. The trick for Spurs’ potential new manager next season is getting it out of him.
Leeds United have a crucial summer on the cards over the next few months, needing to invest well to prevent being relegated from the Premier League next season.
Daniel Farke’s side ended their two-year stint in the Championship after a 6-0 win over Stoke City a couple of weeks ago, before claiming the title with a triumph over Plymouth Argyle on the final day.
The German has a huge task on his hands to build a side capable of maintaining their top-flight status, whilst also doing good enough in the role to avoid losing his own job.
It’s unclear how much money he will have at his disposal during the off-season, but it’s pivotal that the board backs the 48-year-old in his quest to build an excellent side.
His task of doing so has already been a little bit harder, with it unclear if one player will remain at Elland Road upon the conclusion of the current campaign.
The latest on Junior Firpo’s future at Leeds
Left-back Junior Firpo has been a crucial member of the Leeds squad throughout 2024/25, making 32 appearances in the league and registering 14 combined goals and assists.
However, his excellent form within attacking areas may be his final contributions to the club, with his current deal in Yorkshire set to expire at the end of June – with no new contract on the horizon.
During the club’s title-winning bus parade on Monday, teammate Ethan Ampadu was heard chanting Real Betis in relation to the full-back, with the Spanish side just one team touted with a move for his signature.
He was also present on Jayden Bogle’s Instagram livestream, with the 28-year-old making a comment to chairman Paraag Marathe about a new deal at Elland Road.
However, it remains to be seen whether he will remain at the club ahead of next season, with Farke potentially needing to delve into the transfer market to land an adequate replacement.
The player who could be Leeds’ Firpo replacement
Left-backs in the modern game are extremely hard to come by, with Leeds having a challenge to replace the Dominican international should he depart the club.
Such a problem could’ve been solved had they kept hold of Ipswich Town defender Leif Davis, who was sold to the Tractor Boys in the summer of 2022, leaving the Whites for a reported £1m.
However, three years on, the 25-year-old has taken his career to the next level at Portman Road, notching 34 assists and helping Kieran McKenna’s side claim back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.
Undoubtedly, fans must wish they had kept hold of David, but could rekindle interest in another talented English star in the form of Archie Brown, who has previously been on their radar.
The 22-year-old Gent full-back, who came through Derby County’s academy, has impressed over the last few years, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur previously in the race for his signature too with a £15m deal mooted.
Archie Brown for KAA Gent.
He’s featured in 45 games across all competitions in 2024/25, playing a total role in the club’s ambitions of claiming the Belgian Pro League title in the coming weeks.
When comparing his stats to those of Firpo, the Englishman has managed to better him in numerous key areas, further showcasing why the Whites should once again pursue a move for his services.
Games played
27
32
Goals & assists
4
14
Progressive carries
4.4
2.2
Carries into final third
3.7
1.6
Shot-on-target accuracy
36%
35%
Blocks made
1.4
0.8
Interceptions made
1.3
1.2
Take-ons completed
1.3
0.4
Aerials won
67%
58%
Brown, who’s been labelled “complete” and “fast” by Gent’s former head of recruitment Samuel Cardenas, has managed to complete more progressive carries and more carries into the final third – showcasing his direct nature with the ball at his feet.
He’s also completed more take-ons per 90, along with a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – handing the club the added attacking threat in the Premier League.
However, Brown has also thrived defensively, making more blocks and interceptions per 90, whilst also winning more aerial duels – handing Farke’s side the defensive solidity they will need in the top-flight.
Losing Firpo would be a massive blow to the side given the levels he’s produced this season, but with his contract rapidly ticking down, the hierarchy need to draw up a list of replacements.
Whilst Brown hasn’t been on their radar in recent months, the club should look to return to such a deal, with the youngster the perfect player for the role – subsequently having the potential to improve further down the line given his tender age.
Even better than James: 49ers line up move to sign Viduka 2.0 for Leeds
Leeds United could be about to land a top attacker if this deal gets over the line.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has held talks with the agents of a “dream” target for manager Mikel Arteta, and the Gunners know exactly what is required to convince the player to make a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Andrea Berta set for "big" first summer at Arsenal
The Italian was officially announced as Arsenal’s new director in late March, with Arteta since tipping Berta to have a “big” first summer transfer window at N5.
£200k-per-week Arsenal star "looking" to quit despite Real Madrid "masterclass"
He produced a truly excellent display against Los Blancos.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 9, 2025
Arteta candidly expressed his excitement over Berta’s appointment, and the 53-year-old could even orchestrate a summer spend of up to £300 million on seven key signings, according to GiveMeSport.
Brentford (home)
April 12th
Ipswich Town (away)
April 20th
Crystal Palace (home)
April 23rd
Bournemouth (home)
May 3rd
Liverpool (away)
May 11th
The north Londoners are plotting serious changes to Arteta’s squad across the board, defensively, in midfield and further forward, with Berta expected to target a new back-up keeper, full-back, midfielders, a left-winger, an alternative to Bukayo Saka and, of course, a goalscoring number nine (GMS).
The wide positions will be a key area of improvement, with uncertainty surrounding the long-term future of Leandro Trossard as the Belgian begins to enter the final 12 months of his contract.
Leandro Trossard scores for Arsenal
Saka was a dear miss when the England star was sidelined through injury, which undoubtedly played a role in Arsenal falling miles behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, and Arsenal could move to bring in a proven back-up.
According to credible recent reports, that man could be Athletic Bilbao starlet Nico Williams, who’s capable of playing both on the right and on the left. Arsenal have also held very recent talks with Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane over signing as a free agent, but as things stand, the German favours remaining under Vincent Kompany.
With a move for Sane looking less likely, and Williams expected to push for a Bilbao exit, it is believed that Berta reached out for talks with the 22-year-old’s representatives last week.
The Spain international’s contract contains a tempting £48 million release clause, but the real issue will lie in his wages.
Nico Williams makes £250k-per-week demand to join Arsenal
Following talks with Berta last week, it has now been revealed by GiveMeSport that Williams will demand a salary of around £250,000-per-week to join Arsenal or any other interested club, which would make him the club’s third-highest earner behind just Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
Arsenal’s wage bill is currently massive, and Berta will be eager to avoid skyrocketing it even further amid PSR and FFP regulations.
That being said, Williams is definitely worth the effort to prise away from Bilbao, if Arsenal can reach a compromise on his pay packet expectations. He bagged 19 assists in all competitions last term and played a starring role in Spain’s triumph at Euro 2024, leaving little surprise that GMS have also reported the winger is a “dream” target for Arteta.
“Nico is unique, wonderful,” said José Mourinho recently.
“During the European Championship, people were focused on Lamine Yamal, who is obviously another wonderful kid, but personally, I prefer Nico. He’s a fantastic player, and you can’t think that a Turkish club could sign him. I hope he ends up with Real Madrid.”
All the key highlights of a remarkable Test career as R Ashwin enters the 500-wicket club
S Rajesh16-Feb-2024In 147 years of Test cricket only eight bowlers had reached the 500-wicket landmark, but with R Ashwin there was a sense of inevitability that he would get there, long before he actually dismissed Zak Crawley for wicket number 500. The fact that he is the second-fastest to achieve the milestone – in terms of matches and deliveries – demonstrates just how successful a career he has had. You can point to his record in India (347 wickets at 21.22) and to the helpful conditions at home for spin, but nothing can take away from the expertise, consistency, hunger and the ability to improve and pick up new skills that he has shown over a career that has already spanned more than 12 years.ESPNcricinfo LtdSince Ashwin’s Test debut in November 2011 only Nathan Lyon has taken more wickets than him. Lyon’s 509 is only nine more than Ashwin’s current tally, but he has played 26 more matches. In fact, only two other bowlers – Stuart Broad and James Anderson – have more than 360 wickets in this period, which indicates just how colossal Ashwin has been as a Test bowler.
The first three years of Ashwin’s Test career were a mixed bag: fantastic numbers at home (95 wickets in 15 Tests at 24.12) were dampened by a disappointing away record (19 wickets in eight Tests at 58.47). At the end of 2014, he already had 114 wickets from just 23 Tests, but the average was only marginally under 30.Since then, though, Ashwin has been unstoppable. His numbers at home have improved even further (252 wickets at 20.13), while his relentless pursuit to add more variations to his bowling armoury has resulted in much better stats overseas – 134 wickets at 25.85. Even outside Asia, his average has improved to an impressive 27.41 from 23 matches; in fact, South Africa is the only country where he averages more than 33. The overseas wickets count is relatively low at 153, but that is also because he often misses out on away Tests to Ravindra Jadeja – only 40 of his 98 Tests have come away from home.
Not only is Ashwin the leading wicket-taker in Tests since 2015, his average of 22.11 is up there too. With a 150-wicket cut-off, only Jasprit Bumrah and Kagiso Rabada have done slightly better.
Hostile at homeThe aspect of Ashwin’s career that stands out more than any other is obviously his record at home: 347 wickets in 58 Tests at an average of 21.22. Three more wickets will make him just the fifth bowler to take 350 home wickets, after Muttiah Muralidaran, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Anil Kumble. In terms of averages too, he is bunched together with the very best.
It’s true that the pitches in India have been spin-friendly over the last few years, but even so, Ashwin has exploited the conditions better than most other bowlers. Compared to his average of 21.22, the other bowlers have averaged 33.32 in the home Tests that he has played. That’s a difference of 12.09. Only two bowlers – Muralidaran and Glenn McGrath – have a higher difference in average than Ashwin. Shaun Pollock and Kumble round off the top five, with a cut-off of 200 home wickets. (The difference in average for his partner in crime in home Tests, Ravindra Jadeja, is 12.23, but he just misses the cut with 199 home wickets.)ESPNcricinfo LtdThe matchwinnerAshwin’s peak as a bowler has coincided with a phase when the Indian team has had astounding success, especially at home. India have won 42 out of 57 home Tests he has played in, and 56 of his 97 Tests overall (excluding the ongoing Rajkot Test against England). Among Indians, only Sachin Tendulkar (72), Virat Kohli (59) and Cheteshwar Pujara (58) have been involved in more wins, while current coach Rahul Dravid finished his career with 56 wins.Ashwin’s contributions to those wins have been enormous: in the 56 wins, he has taken 346 wickets at 19 apiece; only four bowlers – Shane Warne, Muralidaran, McGrath and Anderson – have more wickets in wins, and among them only Muralidaran has a better average. (Incidentally, going into the Rajkot Test, Ashwin’s wickets tally in wins was exactly the same as his total wickets at home.) Ashwin’s 28 five-fors in wins is next only to Muralidaran’s 41. In home wins, Ashwin climbs up to third place in the wickets tally – his 275 is bettered by Muralidaran and Anderson.
There have been so many series-defining performances by Ashwin in his 12-year career that he has won a staggering 10 Man-of-the-Series awards; only Muralidaran, with 11, has done better. Eight of those are at home; the two away awards were in Sri Lanka in 2015, and in the West Indies the following year. Ashwin has played more than one Test in 29 series so far (excluding the current one), which means he has a rate of 2.9 series per award. In those 10 series, Ashwin has played 33 Tests, and taken 236 wickets at an average of 16.88. (The corresponding numbers for Muralidaran in those 11 series are: 29 Tests, 243 wickets, 15.52 average.)
A nightmare for left-handersOf Ashwin’s 500 Test wickets, 249 are of left-hand batters. No other bowler has dismissed left-handers as many times, or has such a high percentage of left-handers in his total dismissals. Anderson is next in terms of total left-hander wickets, but his 217 contributes only 31% to his total tally of 696. They are the only two bowlers to dismiss left-hand batters 200 times in Tests. In percentage terms with a 200-wicket cut-off, Graeme Swann’s 47.8% (122 out of 255) is next best, followed by Zaheer Khan (42.8%), Trent Boult (42.6) and Morne Morkel (39.2).
Ashwin’s average of 19.52 is the best for any bowler with at least 50 left-hander dismissals since the start of 2002. It’s not surprising, therefore, that the three batters he has dismissed most often are all left-handers: Ben Stokes, David Warner and Alastair Cook. There’s also a fourth, Tom Latham, in the top six. Among these four, Cook is the only one who averages more than 20 against Ashwin.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
New-ball masterAshwin has opened the bowling 50 times in Test cricket – 45 times in Asia, a couple of times each in England and Australia, and once in South Africa. In these 50 innings, he has taken 165 wickets at an average of 19.36, and a strike rate of 41 balls per wicket. The only other spinner with 100-plus wickets when opening the bowling in Test history is Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath, who has 104 wickets from 27 innings, at an average of 17.32.These numbers, though, are in innings when the spinner opened the bowling attack; the wickets themselves may have come later in the innings. A better marker of a spinner’s efficacy with the new ball is his wickets tally and average in the first few overs of an innings (though the fact that he has taken the new ball in so many innings is itself an indicator that he does that job well). Ashwin shines on that parameter as well.
In the first 10 overs of an innings, he has 47 wickets at an average of 18.89; in the first 15 overs, he has 79 at 21.26; in the first 20, the tally goes up to 121 at 20.94. In fact, Ashwin is one of only three bowlers to take 100-plus wickets in the first 20 overs of an innings since his debut in November 2011 – the other two are Broad and Anderson. Rarely has a spinner demonstrated so much expertise and skill with the new ball.
The unstoppable duoIndia’s dominance at home over the last decade has been built around this spin couple. In the 50 Tests that they have played together, Ashwin and Jadeja have collectively taken 511 wickets at a combined bowling average of 21.69. In those games, the other Indian bowlers have collectively taken 380 wickets at 27.63, which means Ashwin and Jadeja have accounted for more than 57% of the team’s wickets in the Tests they have played together. In the 41 home Tests they’ve played together, their numbers improve marginally: 439 wickets at 21.32, and contributing almost 59% of India’s bowler wickets. Overall, India have a 35-5 win-loss record when these two have played together, and 30-3 at home.
Only eight bowling pairs have taken more wickets in Tests together, but none of them are all-spin pairs. The next-highest among spinners is Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, who took 501 wickets at 30.23 in the 54 Tests they played together. In wins alone, the Ashwin-Jadeja pair moves up to No. 5, with 404 wickets at 18.85.
Images of the Indian players and six-month-old Fatima became the source of great happiness on social media
Annesha Ghosh07-Mar-20220:24
Maroof – ‘My mother and daughter were here, so it was very special’
India vs Pakistan is always special, but this Sunday at the 2022 Women’s ODI World Cup was more so, thanks to a six-month-old member of Pakistan’s touring party.On the field, it was a dominant 107-run win for India, with Pooja Vastrakar, Sneh Rana and Rajeshwari Gayakwad calling the shots. Off it, it was all about Fatima. Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof’s daughter became the centre of attention after the game when the Indian players – Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur among them – just couldn’t have enough of the toddler.In no time, visuals of the interaction were all over the internet.
So much fun with the players trying to get our little Fatima to look into the camera.
Happy that I got to share and immortalise these moments#CWC22 #BackOurGirls pic.twitter.com/ofkBOdGMn2
— Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi (@ahsannagi) March 6, 2022
Fatima, and her mother, had attracted attention even before the game. Photographs of Maroof entering the stadium in Mount Maunganui with her daughter cradled in one arm and one of her team-mates pushing the baby’s cradle became an instant source of delight. The images also spoke of women’s cricket breaking new ground. Maroof, after all, had become the first beneficiary of a bespoke maternity policy for players in the subcontinent, and Sunday’s fixture was her first competitive match since returning from maternity leave.”Overall, it was a really different feeling coming back, in a World Cup, and playing a match,” Maroof said when asked how it felt to be back in the middle, this time as a mother. “I think I was a bit emotional. My mother and daughter are there. It was a special moment for me. I really want to make it count this tournament, because they both are here.”That 30-year-old Maroof was able to travel to New Zealand with her daughter – as well as her mother, Fatima’s carer – was also down to the PCB’s maternity rule, which provisions the mother “to travel with a support person of her choice to assist in caring for her infant child”, with travel and accommodation costs shared equally between the board and the player.Bismah Maroof and her daughter became a source of delight well before the game started•Phil Walter/ICC/Getty ImagesWriting on Instagram, Mandhana said, “Coming back post pregnancy in 6 months and playing international cricket is so inspiring. Bismah Maroof setting an example for sportswomen across the globe. Lots of love to baby Fatima from India and I hope she picks the bat just like you bcoz lefties are special.”As such, the two teams, whether the women or the men, rarely play each other because of political differences between the two countries. They meet only at multi-nation tournaments, but as Nida Dar said after the game, the off-field camaraderie between the players has only grown over the years.”We get very few matches against India. But when the two teams do get to meet each other, we usually catch up and have a lot of good conversations between us,” Dar said. “Sometimes we chat about the match. Many of the players [from both teams] are good friends, too, so they talk among them about things beyond the matches as well.”But the fact is, we have always shared a good bond between us, a good relationship between us, and we try to keep it that way and hopefully will do so in the future, too. Match side [The contest has its place, our friendship has its place too]. But we’ve always had healthy conversations.”It felt very good when they [the Indian players] came over and spoke to us, and we chatted after the game, especially [about] Bismah’s baby, who loves being pampered and she does get pampered a lot. So she enjoyed [the attention], and so did we, the players.”
The Dodgers' superstars showed up when it counted most.
Los Angeles entered this weekend's series against the Padres on a four-game losing streak and just 10-14 since the All-Star break. San Diego had risen to the top of the division, with a chance to extend its lead during the series.
Instead, the Dodgers stepped up and swept the Padres to reclaim the division lead. On Sunday, former MVPs Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, who have both dealt with slumps this season, rebounded from their woes to lead the Dodgers to their third victory of the series.
Freeman hit a three-run home run in the first inning to give the Dodgers an early lead. The Padres tied up the game by the top of the eighth inning, but Betts responded with a home run of his own to give the Dodgers the final 5–4 lead, and ultimately, the win.
Betts had not logged a hit during the series until that home run, and has been hitting a career-low .242 this season, but came through during the clutch against Padres All-Star closer Robert Suarez.
"It's about time I did something," Betts told Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA after the game. "It's been all year, I'm just glad I was able to help the team win. … It felt great. I really haven't been driving the ball, last couple of games have been a lot better, hopefully we can turn the corner."
"I think Mookie's been very good for a couple weeks now," Freeman said following the win. "Anything he can take with confidence-wise, that was huge. 2-0 fastball, and he was able to stay through it, backspin the ball and hit it over the fence in a big situation. … Mookie Betts is gonna be Mookie Betts, and no one here is worried about him. Good to see him get some results, he's been working hard."
Sunday's performance should provide an added boost of confidence for the veteran stars, but the Dodgers' division lead is far from secure. They will need the momentum to carry through to next weekend, when they play their final series of the regular season against San Diego. That series will take place on the road at Petco Park, and winning it could go a long way for the Dodgers to try to claim the National League West.
Sydney Thunder’s huge total of 200 for 6 has secured their second consecutive win in the WBBL and put the winless Brisbane Heat’s finals hopes in grave danger.Thunder opener Tahlia Wilson secured her second consecutive player-of-the-match award to inspire a 41-run. Wilson’s 79 off just 51 deliveries was the foundation for the 200-run total after being asked to bat by the hosts at Allan Border Field on Friday.The Heat were never in the hunt, despite a swashbuckling innings by South Africa international Nadine de Klerk (43 off 27 deliveries), and were bowled out for 159 in 19.1 overs.Wilson’s knock was just four runs short of her best-ever total of 83 and followed on from her unbeaten 55 against Perth Scorchers two days earlier.The 26-year-old drove the ball straight down the ground and through the off-side with precision and played an array of flicks through the leg-side, striking eight boundaries and clearing the rope twice.Wilson said opening the innings suited the way she wanted to play after taking her game to a new level.”I think being back at the top of the order has been a good thing for me,” Wilson told AAP. “I can go out there early, time the ball and get full value. I have expanded my game this year and I’m glad it is paying off.”In pre-season, I worked on trying to hit down the ground a lot more. A lot of girls know I do like to hit it square, but adding that gives me that option to go straight down the ground, particularly in the power play.”The Heat were without key batters Grace Harris (calf) and India’s World Cup star Jemimah Rodrigues, who had to return to India for a personal commitment.After 10 overs, the Thunder were 99 for 1, with the only joy for the Heat coming when their captain Jess Jonassen trapped her former Heat teammate Georgia Voll (21) in front attempting a reverse sweep.Thunder captain Phoebe Litchfield played an assortment of ramps and lofted off drives in her entertaining 31 off 19 balls, which included six boundaries.It was an attempted ramp that brought Litchfield’s downfall with Nicola Hancock rattling the stumps.Former Heat master blaster Laura Harris had no joy against her old team, holing out for her second golden duck in a row.The Heat’s WBBL campaign is on the rocks with no wins in four matches. Last year’s finalists will need to win five of their remaining six games to have a chance of figuring in this year’s finals series. The Thunder have found form with back-to-back wins after starting the season with three losses.
In a contest cut to 26 overs by rain, India couldn’t recover from early trouble against the new ball
Tristan Lavalette19-Oct-2025
Josh Hazlewood struck early to remove Rohit Sharma•Getty Images
Mitchell Marsh spoiled counterpart Shubman Gill’s ODI captaincy debut after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggled in their much-anticipated comeback to international cricket.On a damp day at Optus Stadium, the series-opening ODI was reduced to 26 overs per side with India making 136 for 9, after a series of rain delays frustrated the crowd of 42,423, having slumped to 45 for 4 against impressive new-ball bowling, particularly from Josh Hazlewood.The weather did improve later in the day as Marsh’s unbeaten 46 off 52 balls powered Australia past their revised target of 131 runs in the 22nd over. ODI debutant Matt Renshaw finished 21 not out – almost nine years after he made his Test debut.Related
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There was an expectation that Marsh and fellow opener Travis Head would come out aggressively, but batting was not easy in seaming conditions under lights. Head’s recent patchy form continued after slashing left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh straight to deep third, raising India’s hopes.Marsh played against type initially, scoring just a couple of singles off his first nine deliveries, until muscling Arshdeep for six over the leg-side. With his eye in, he took the aerial route to good effect and was in total command apart from copping a blow to the helmet from a Mohammed Siraj short ball.It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Australia with Matt Short unable to make the most of his chance at No. 3, tamely succumbing on 8 to left-arm spinner Axar Patel who was the standout performer for India with a strong allround effort.Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe did grab his opportunity with a rollicking 37 from 29 balls in his return to the ODI team after four years having earlier performed well with the gloves.It was a disappointing ODI return for India since their Champions Trophy triumph in March. Their batting order was not helped by numerous rain delays as the covers were used for the first time at Optus Stadium since the ground opened in 2018.During the brief passages of play, their top order struggled to handle the back of a length bowling from Australia’s trio of quicks. Much to the disappointment of the many fans wearing blue shirts in the terraces, Rohit made a scratchy 8 while Kohli fared even worse after falling for an eight-ball duck.Josh Philippe made a good impression on his return to the side•Getty ImagesHazlewood utilised the bouncy conditions to menacing effect, bowling 35 dot balls in his brilliant spell of 2 for 20 from seven overs. Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann, who was required to operate at the death with Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc bowled out, and ODI debutant Mitchell Owen also claimed two wickets.With menacing clouds forming above, a rarity for cricket games in usually sun-baked Perth, Marsh had no hesitation to bowl despite very little grass on the surface.Kohli has particularly fond memories of Optus Stadium having produced one of his greatest Test tons on the ground in 2018 and he also made his final Test century there last year.Having shown no signs of rust during India’s net session ahead of the match, Kohli was pinned down by the accuracy of Hazlewood and Starc, who suckered him into a drive to catch the outside edge that was brilliantly caught at backward point by Cooper Connolly.In likely his last game in Perth, Kohli received a standing ovation from some fans on his way to the sheds as India slumped further after Rohit had earlier been deceived by Hazlewood’s sharp bounce and nicked to second slip.KL Rahul top-scored for India amid the rain•Getty ImagesA lean looking Rohit had showed off his fitness with a quick single to get off the mark. However, other than a gorgeous straight drive, he looked sluggish much like his struggles in recent days in the nets.The pressure fell on Gill and hopes were high that he could replicate his outstanding start to his Test captaincy, which has yielded five tons from 13 innings.Less than a week after leading India in their Test win over West Indies, Gill showed trademark class to punch a boundary down the ground off Hazlewood before having to fight hard against probing new ball bowling.Having seen off Starc, Gill’s debut captaincy knock ended with a whimper on 10 after he tickled down the leg side to gift Nathan Ellis a first ball wicket.India were probably relieved by the persistent drizzle and for the first time since 1983 an ODI in Perth was shortened due to rain.During a brief resumption, Shreyas Iyer gloved a well-directed short delivery from Hazlewood to the alert Philippe to leave India 45 for 4.Further rain delays truncated the overs as Axar and KL Rahul on resumption had no choice but to stand and deliver. The pro-India crowd, muted for much of the day, suddenly came alive until Axar holed out to hand Kuhnemann his first wicket on home soil.Despite consecutive sixes from Rahul, India fell away at the back end other than a very late flourish from Nitish Reddy in his ODI debut but it proved not nearly enough.