SA were cruising on 92 without loss in pursuit of 181, but eventually couldn’t get seven runs in the final over

Firdose Moonda26-Jul-2025

New Zealand won the T20I tri-series undefeated•Zimbabwe Cricket

Matt Henry defended six runs in the last over against South Africa as New Zealand claimed the Harare tri-series trophy, and remained the only side to successfully defend a total at this venue. In a thrilling contest, South Africa were cruising on 92 without loss in the tenth over in pursuit of 181, but lost 4 for 39 after that.That left them needing 50 runs to win off the last 29 balls. A 43-run stand off 25 deliveries between Dewald Brevis and George Linde put South Africa on the doorstep of victory, but both holed out in the final over as the pressure told, and New Zealand held on.Brevis was on 31 off 14 balls as Henry stepped up to bowl the 20th over, and could not get the first ball away. He lashed out at the second one, which was dug in short, and sent it towards Michael Bracewell at deep midwicket. Bracewell caught it just inside the rope, and the catch was deemed clean to send Brevis on his way.Corbin Bosch hit the first ball he faced in the same area, and a misfield from Bracewell allowed two runs before another aerial shot put Linde on strike. Linde sent Henry to long-on, where Daryl Mitchell took a good, low catch, and left it to Senuran Muthusamy to score four off the last ball. Henry took pace off, Muthusamy swung too early and found fresh air, and New Zealand’s 100% record in the series remained intact. Henry finished as the leading wicket-taker with ten in four matches.Lungi Ngidi got two wickets, and was economical•Zimbabwe CricketAfter comprehensive wins in the four games before this, New Zealand were properly tested in the decider, and will know they could have made things trickier for South Africa with a more challenging total. After Tim Seifert and Devon Conway put on 75 for the first wicket and laid a solid foundation for New Zealand, the subsequent partnerships did not kick on as well as they would have liked. South Africa pulled New Zealand back from 68 without loss in eight overs, and conceded only three boundaries in the last three overs. New Zealand’s innings ended with five wickets in hand.While Henry was the standout bowler of the series, Lungi Ngidi was South Africa’s best bowler. His four overs in the final cost just 24 runs, and across South Africa’s attack, there are still some areas to address. South Africa’s seamers sent down eight wides, totalling 13 runs.South Africa’s spectacular catchingNew Zealand were off to a rollicking start courtesy some poor discipline from South Africa’s seamers in particular. They scored 52 runs in the powerplay, 23 in the 2.3 overs that followed, and threw their bats at anything short and wide. Seifert, the series’ leading run-scorer, was on 30 off 27 balls, and there did not seem to be any way of stopping him – especially as he was using his feet well.Seifert advanced on a wide ball from Muthusamy but took his bottom hand off the bat as he tried to slice it over extra cover and did not get the elevation he wanted. Rassie van der Dussen, fielding there, reacted quickly as he dived to his left and pouched the ball between both palms. Seifert had to go.Tim Seifert and Devon Conway had a 75-run opening partnership•Zimbabwe CricketFive overs later, New Zealand lost Conway for 47, caught at short fine-leg off a top edge. But they were still progressing steadily at 127 for 2 in the 14th over. Ngidi took pace off to Mark Chapman, who played too early and dragged the ball down to deep midwicket. Rubin Hermann appeared to have over-ran the chance but then stood still and stretched overhead, where he plucked the ball from the sky as he fell backwards. Chapman was out for 3.Then, in the final over, with New Zealand pushing towards 180, Bracewell flogged Kwena Maphaka into the covers but didn’t see Linde. He got down low to his left to snatch the ball from close to the ground to snaffle a third stunning grab.Ravindra raids the leg sideWhile Seifert and Conway have been in the headlines for providing the big runs for New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra has more than done his bit – and did so with some flair in the final. He used his wrists to perfection, and punished anything on a leg-stump line. Ravindra scored 47 at a strike rate of 174.07, and threatened to take the game completely away from South Africa. The third ball he faced, from Bosch, was pacy, and was sliding down. But instead of powering it over midwicket, Ravindra guided it fine for four.When Nandre Burger erred with the same line, Ravindra was quicker on the ball, and hit over mid-on. But it was his takedown of Muthusamy which was the most impressive. Ravindra shimmied down the pitch to hit him over long-on, and then swept him strongly over deep-backward square leg to collect two sixes in the over. Two more fours came off Ngidi and Burger. before Ravindra toe-ended Burger to Brevis at deep midwicket.Lhuan-dre Pretorius hit his maiden T20I fifty•Zimbabwe CricketRavindra missed out on what would have been his second successive fifty in the series, and a third in T20Is this year. Against South Africa on Saturday, 38 of his 47 runs came on the leg side.Pretorius’ promise pays offAfter managing only 32 runs from his first four T20I innings, and being shifted from opening the batting to No. 5, all eyes were going to be on Lhuan-dre Pretorius when he was installed back at the top for the final. He started off with a piece of exquisite timing when he hit Henry past mid-on to open South Africa’s scoring with a four, but then faced serious challenges from New Zealand’s attack.Henry found Pretorius’ outside edge, Jacob Duffy hit him on the toe with an inswinging yorker, and Zakary Foulkes shaved the inside edge. Pretorius top-edged Duffy over Seifert with an ugly swing, couldn’t get Adam Milne away, and watched while his opening partner Reeza Hendricks collected 18 of his first 20 runs in sixes. After the powerplay, Pretorius showed his intent when he slog-swept Mitchell Santner for his first six. More convincing boundaries followed off Milne before Pretorius hit Bracewell over long-on to bring up fifty off 33 balls.Pretorius couldn’t get away with trying things for too much longer, and was caught behind as he tried to smash Bracewell out of the ground. But his 92-run opening stand with Hendricks put South Africa in a commanding position to push for the win.Jacob Duffy’s first two overs cost just 13 runs•Zimbabwe CricketDuffy shows why he’s No. 1Jacob Duffy, the recently-anointed leading bowler in the ICC’s T20I rankings, opened with a ball that surprised Pretorius. He only conceded a single in his first over to show why he has summited the rankings. Duffy changed up his pace in the second over and Pretorius could not get him away. He then had Pretorius top-edging, and only really erred when he put the last delivery of that over in Hendricks’ slot and was sent over the sightscreen for six.Duffy’s first two overs cost just 13 runs. He returned for the 16th over, just after Milne had van der Dussen caught at long-on, and dismissed Hermann in exactly the same fashion. Hermann simply did not get enough on it, and South Africa were suddenly in some strife. Duffy thought he had Brevis caught behind later in the over but the ball was called wide. He probably should have bowled the 18th, which cost Foulkes 15 runs and swung momentum South Africa’s way.When Duffy returned for the 19th over, his attempted yorkers went awry, and Brevis hit him for two sixes to put South Africa in a position of advantage. But they could not see it through in what may be put down to inexperience against New Zealand’s more seasoned hands.

da apostebet： West Bromwich Albion picked up a hard-fought win away at Norwich City on Wednesday night as Ryan Mason’s side momentarily got their stuttering Championship season back on track in Norfolk.

da bet7： Only four points off the top of the league now after narrowly securing the three points through a 1-0 victory, Mason will hope his promotion-dreaming team can push on and pick up some more early season wins soon, with games against Millwall and Preston North End up next in the second tier.

It was certainly a night to remember for Josh Maja, with a first start of the season for the usually injury-ravaged centre-forward resulting in his first strike of the campaign also quickly following.

It was a typical poacher-like finish from the ex-Sunderland man, with a tricky run by Samuel Iling-Junior thankfully not going to waste, as the experienced attacker enjoyed a great return to form versus the Canaries.

Maja's standout night

Aune Heggebo would fall to the substitutes bench as the experience of the 26-year-old was preferred over the promise of the new Norwegian recruit.

It was a smart call by Mason in the end, with West Brom having to be potent in front of goal to secure a slim away day win.

Maja’s performance in numbers

Stat

Maja

Minutes played

60

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Shots

1

Touches

19

Accurate passes

7/8 (88%)

Stats by Sofascore

Amazingly, Maja’s only shot of the night was the one that beat Vladan Kovačević in the Norwich goal, with the injury-prone forward also only needing a mere 19 touches of the ball to leave his mark on the contest.

Sky Sports’ Jobi McAnuff would sum it up nicely when labelling Maja as a player known for “making a difference”, as the clinical striker now aims to be free of the Hawthorns treatment room to try and match, or even, surpass his 12-goal tally from last season.

However, if it wasn’t for a stern defensive performance in Norfolk, West Brom might have well crumbled late on, with Josh Griffiths hailed as having a “coming of age” moment by journalist Lewis Cox when completing four vital saves in between the sticks.

He wasn’t the only very impressive figure at the back, however, with one defensive titan arguably putting in an even better display than the returning Maja.

West Brom star was even better than Maja

Come the end of the tense game, it was clear that the entire team picked by Mason all contributed to a gutsy three points being secured.

In particular, former Liverpool colossus Nathaniel Phillips stood out at Carrow Road, with the 6-foot-3 centre-back keen to make amends on the road after a late own-goal robbed his team of a win against Leicester City last time out on home soil.

Phillips’ performance in numbers

Stat

Phillips

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

77

Accurate passes

51/59 (88%)

Clearances

10

Tackles

3

Total duels

7/11

Stats by Sofascore

While Maja showed off his goalscoring prowess with an instinctive finish, before then waiting on scraps to come his way, Phillips shone throughout, winning seven duels and making ten clearances, keeping the likes of Josh Sargent for the hosts quiet.

Away from living up to his tag as a “monster” in the air that was handed to him by Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, the towering 28-year-old would also display a necessary composure on the ball in heated moments, with 51 accurate passes tallied up from his 77 touches of the ball.

Truthfully, minus that own-goal hiccup against the Foxes, Phillips has been very impressive in the demanding Championship so far this season, winning 5.8 duels per game, further reinforcing his no-nonsense approach.

Yet – as was visible at Carrow Road – he has also been unerring with his passes out from the back, as seen in an 89% pass accuracy being averaged as well.

Express and Star journalist Jonny Drury dished out a high 8/10 rating to the Baggies number 3 off the back of another assured showing, with Drury simply stating that the 28-year-old was “so solid” once more.

Mason will know he needs both Maja and Phillips to continue delivering, with West Brom’s chances of clinching promotion glory largely resting on the experienced pairing being able to grind out more results together like this 1-0 success.

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A free agent who has already proven himself in the Premier League earlier in his career could now be willing to make the move to Everton.

Garner reveals Everton's change in mentality

The Blues have won three of their opening three league games this season, with the early signs suggesting that positive times lie ahead under David Moyes.

Midfielder James Garner has impressed in the opening weeks of the campaign, scoring in the 2-0 win at home to Brighton, and he has spoken about a shift in mentality that has taken place at Everton under their manager.

“He said to us on day one that he’s not come here to take over a team that’s fighting against relegation – he said it again on day one of pre-season. He sets high standards and we know where we want to be.

“We’ve got a few more faces in over the summer and with the quality we have in the squad now, we all agree with the manager – if you want to achieve big things, then you’ve got to set your standards and your goals high. I think you can see it in us. There is a mentality shift. We’re playing with more confidence, going into games thinking how we are going to take all three points, it’s not just surviving.

“We’ve done that in these first few games. Obviously, the first game [against Leeds] felt like a blip, I don’t think we played well, but we’ve responded and now the aim is to keep building momentum. We want to keep winning and keep that winning mentality – that was the message in the changing room amongst all of us after the Wolves game.”

While Everton’s improvements this season are clear, it is also important that further quality is added to the squad, and they have now been linked with a move for a free agent.

"Brilliant" free agent could be keen on joining Everton

Speaking to Goodison News, former Toffees scout Bryan King talked up the idea of Everton signing left-back Sergio Reguilon on a free transfer, who could be “willing” to move to Merseyside.

“He’s a free transfer, so it would certainly be an option to look at. They’re a bit stretched across the whole defence at the moment, with Branthwaite’s injury concerns. I would imagine that Reguilon would be more than willing to go and join a club like Everton. It seems like Everton are moving in a forward direction, instead of being in a relegation fight.”

Reguilon could be a shrewd signing for Everton, especially with Vitalii Mykolenko picking up an injury prior to the international break, with the 28-year-old an experienced player.

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The Spaniard actually scored against the Blues for Tottenham in a 5-0 win back in 2021/22, and he has 81 Premier League appearances to his name.

Reguilon was once hailed as “brilliant” by Noel Whelan, and he could bring a good mix of defensive solidity and attacking thrust to Everton’s team, with a return to English football potentially appealing to him as he searches for a new club.

Stats highlights from the Group B match between India and South Africa at the MCG on February 22

Shiva Jayaraman22-Feb-20153:18

Insights: Dhawan’s impressive ODI record overseas

0 World Cup matches won by India against South Africa before this game. This was their first win against them in four matches.130 Runs South Africa lost the match by – the heaviest of their nine defeats while chasing in the World Cup, beating their 83-run loss to Australia in 2007.0 Number of times South Africa have won chasing a target of 300 or more against India in ODIs out of four attempts. Overall, South Africa have a win-loss record of 4-15 in such chases.137 Runs scored by Shikhar Dhawan – the highest individual score against South Africa in a World Cup, beating 134 not out by Stephen Fleming in 2003. Including Dhawan’s there have been only nine hundreds against South Africa in World Cups. This was also Dhawan’s highest score in ODIs. Dhawan had scored 216 runs on this tour in ten innings before the World Cup. He has already scored 210 in two innings in this World Cup.3 Number of India openers to start World Cups with back-to-back fifty-plus scores, including Dhawan. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are the others to do it. Ganguly scored 66 and 89 against Bangladesh and Bermuda, respectively, in 2007. Tendulkar had scores of 127*, 70, 90 and 137 in his first-four innings in the 1996 World Cup.85 Runs conceded by Wayne Parnell in this innings – the most by a South African bowler in a World Cup match, beating Shaun Pollock’s 83 runs against Australia in 2007. Parnell’s 85 runs were also the second-highest conceded by a bowler from a Test team against India in World Cups. James Anderson’s 91 in the last World Cup in the tied game are the highest.131.66 Ajinkya Rahane’s strike rate in his innings of 79 – the best by a No. 4 against South Africa in a World Cup innings of 50 or more. This was only the sixth fifty by a No. 4 against South Africa in World Cups.3 Number of century partnerships India’s second wicket has put together against South Africa in four World Cup games. Their last three partnerships have been 127, 125 and 130. Mohammad Azharuddin and Sanjay Manjrekar had added 78 runs in 1992, the lowest in the list.3 Number of times India have had two century partnerships against South Africa in ODIs including this match. Two of them have come in the World Cups. India’s first and second wickets put together century partnerships in the previous World Cup game against South Africa in 2011. Overall, there have been only nine such instances against South Africa, with the last three involving India.5 Centuries by India’s openers in ODIs in Australia including Dhawan’s in this match. Three of them have come at the MCG and two on this tour. Rohit Sharma also got a hundred against the hosts in the recent triangular series.307 India’s total in this match – the second-highest against South Africa in World Cups. Australia had scored a mammoth 377 for 6 against them in the 2007 World Cup, which is the highest.1 Wickets R Ashwin had taken against South Africa in ODIs before the match and had given away 216 runs in bargain. He took 3 for 41 in this game bringing his average down to 64.25 against them. This was only the second instance of an Indian offspinner taking three or more wickets in a World Cup match and both have come against South Africa. Harbhajan Singh took 3 for 53 against them in the previous World Cup.44 for 0 India’s score in the batting Powerplay – only four runs short of the best score by any team against South Africa during the overs 36-40 outside Asia since 2010. Sri Lanka had scored 48 for 0 against them in 2012.6 Number of openers who have been run out for a duck in World Cups, including Rohit Sharma in this match. The last such batsman was Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe against New Zealand in 2011 . Incidentally, of the six openers, three are from Zimbabwe and two from New Zealand.

Even in their current state, it’s not often that Manchester United struggle to welcome the world’s best players. Without Champions League football and off the back of finishing 15th in the Premier League, the Red Devils convinced Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens to join in a £200m spending spree.

Manager Ruben Amorim spoke about the attraction that Man United still have during the summer, shooting down any rumours that Cunha and Mbeumo joined the club because of the money offered.

It also almost goes without saying that the Red Devils rarely had trouble convincing players to join the club when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge. United were at the top of the food chain in English football at that stage and even lured the likes of Rio Ferdinand from rivals Leeds United in 2002.

The iconic manager is still seen as a man with influence at the club even to this day. His opinion is arguably the most respected that anyone could find at Old Trafford.

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The history that he created is the reason why Man United are still able to welcome the likes of Cunha and Mbeumo. Amorim even admitted in one of his first interviews after stepping into the technical area that he’d like to have dinner with Ferguson.

He is, in many ways, the ace up Man United’s sleeve that has paid dividends on so many occasions. But that’s not to say it’s worked its charm every time. Not even the Premier League legend could convince one player to join the club back in 2020.

Ferguson and Cantona made Man Utd Jude Bellingham plea

As revealed by the great Bryan Robson, Ferguson and Eric Cantona both pleaded with Jude Bellingham to join Man United in 2020, before he ultimately rejected the club in favour of a £25m move to Borussia Dortmund. Given how things turned out, it’s hard to blame the midfielder for turning the Red Devils down.

Since choosing Dortmund over United, Bellingham has earned a move to Real Madrid and become one of the best midfielders in the world. His debut season for the Spanish giants proved exactly why those at Old Trafford went all out for his signature.

The England star ended the campaign with 15 goals and 15 assists from midfield in all competitions, as he showed the rest of European football that the biggest stage is exactly where he belongs.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is pleased to 'put pressure' on their arch-rivals Real Madrid after a dominant win against Celta Vigo, featuring a strong yet explosive performance of Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick. However, Flick bemoans the "incredible" suspension of key Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who will miss the next fixture against Athletic Club after the international break.

Barcelona's character shines in Balaidos victory

Celebrating his 50th La Liga game in charge, Flick's side demonstrated a potent attacking display as they ran out 4-2 winners to cut the gap on league leaders Madrid to three points. The match saw three goals from Lewandowski and one more from Pedri for Barcelona, while Celta threatened with strikes from Iago Aspas and Jorgen Strand Larsen.

The win, which came with eight shots on target from 20 attempts, showcased Barcelona's attacking prowess, contrasting with Celta's four shots on target from six attempts. Despite conceding two goals, Barcelona's control in the second period was evident, maintaining 63% possession and achieving 95% pass accuracy.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFlick's focus on continued pressure on Real Madrid

Speaking after the match, Flick said: "Yes, of course, I'm happy. I think we made more mistakes in the first half than in the second. In the first half we were very good with the ball, and in the second half the team knew how to control the game.

"In football, the previous match doesn't matter, you always have to look ahead to the next one, but it's good to put pressure on the team above us. The second half gives us confidence. I'm happy for the team."

The Barcelona coach highlighted the strategic significance of the result, especially heading into the international break. "Pushing pressure on the opponent is good, we did it and I’m happy. Winning before the international break is also very good. I feel happy. We had to look out for ourselves and we applied the pressure well today." 

This result positions Barcelona on 28 points, three behind Real Madrid's 31, with both teams having played 12 matches.

Lewandowski's hat-trick sparks goalscoring resurgence

The undeniable star of the evening was veteran striker Lewandowski, who netted a hat-trick to take his La Liga tally to seven goals. The Polish international, in his fifth start, demonstrated his enduring quality despite being 37 years old. Flick expressed confidence in Lewandowski's form, avoiding speculation about his future beyond the current season.

"It’s too early to talk about Lewandowski’s next season. I can say that after his injury, I saw a different Robert, positive, confident. It’s very important for us that he scored three goals," Flick commented, acknowledging the striker's strong return to form. This performance is a significant boost for Barcelona's title aspirations, providing the cutting edge in attack they need to challenge Real Madrid.

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De Jong suspension a blow for Barcelona

While celebrating the victory, Flick voiced regret over the suspension of key midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman received two yellow cards during the match, resulting in a red card in the fifth minute of stoppage time, and will now miss Barcelona's next league fixture against Athletic Club. De Jong's absence will be keenly felt, given his crucial role.

"I think De Jong controlled the game and is very important for us," Flick noted. "He’s playing at an incredible level. It’s not good that he’ll miss the next game because he’s important for us, but we’ll have to manage it. When we return from the break, I hope to have Pedri, Raphinha, and Joan [Garcia] available. We’ll see."

De Jong’s influence on possession and pass accuracy is considerable, and his ability to dictate the tempo of games is vital for Barcelona. His suspension comes at a challenging time, especially with the team striving to maintain pressure on the league leaders.

The stage is set for one of the most memorable ends to a Rothesay County Championship season with the battle for the Division One title and relegation places still very much alive heading into the final round this week.Nottinghamshire put themselves in pole position to win their first title in 15 years after snatching a 20-run win over three-time reigning champions Surrey last week. It was a contest to highlight the very best of the Rothesay County Championship and leaves Notts needing a maximum of 10 points to be crowned champions when they host Warwickshire at Trent Bridge starting Wednesday.With excitement building in the east Midlands after their success at the Kia Oval, Notts captain Haseeb Hameed has warned they will still need to produce “four more days of quality cricket”.Related

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“We have to go into the game with that mindset and focus because Warwickshire are a really good team,” Hameed told ecb.co.uk. “I think you can see that across the whole County Championship this season – anyone can beat anyone. It has been a really tight and tough year and that’s probably why it’s so close at the bottom as well.”There are no easy wins in this division and we go into the final round knowing we have to play four more days of quality cricket.”Surrey have been the county to catch for the past four seasons as they have set the bar high for the chasing pack. They will draw on that culture of success as they look to become the first county, since the great Surrey side of the 1950s, to win four titles in a row when they travel to Hampshire.Rory Burns’ team know that anything other than a win will probably not be enough while Hampshire, who could welcome back talisman Liam Dawson from England duty, have plenty to play for themselves as one of five counties that head into the final round looking to avoid relegation.The south-coast club are just two points above Durham, who sit inside the relegation zone on 140 points, but the northern-most county do have their fate in their own hands as make the journey down the A1 to a Yorkshire team who need 10 points to be assured of staying up.Sussex and Essex both have 150 points and know avoiding defeat in their final-round matches against already-relegated Worcestershire and third-placed Somerset respectively would be enough to retain their place in the top tier.It sets the scene for an intriguing final round at both ends of the table and Hameed admits he’d have it no other way.”At the start of the season the goal of every team would be to put themselves in the position we’re in heading into the final round,” he said. “It’s a great position to be in, but there’s work still to be done and that’s the focus. There is going to be a bit of noise around and there will be some excitement I’m sure across the four days with everything that is going on at the top of the bottom of the division.”We just have to be ready to go on Wednesday morning and focus on doing what we’ve done in the 13 matches so far.”Hameed is not letting himself think about becoming a title-winning captain, after reviving his career since moving to Notts from Lancashire ahead of the 2020 season. The 28-year-old, who has 10 Test caps, scored 1235 runs when he helped Notts win promotion from Division Two in 2022 and could surpass that mark this week as this season’s second-leading runscorer.”I just want to lead from the front and do my job. I’ve been here five or six years now and it feels like home and I’ve enjoyed my cricket,” said Hameed, who also highlighted the influence of his opening partner Ben Slater, who could pass 1000 runs for the season this week.”It’s been great establishing an opening partnership with Slats. He’s had a great season and has loads of experience which is so important. But I come back to it – the whole team knows we have to focus on our job because Warwickshire are a quality team. I’d love to see a good crowd at Trent Bridge and hopefully we can make it a week to remember.”In Division Two, Leicestershire will head into the final round knowing the title – and a return to Division One for the first time in 22 years – is already assured. The Foxes’ star allrounder Rehan Ahmed, who has struck five Championship centuries in a breakout summer with the bat, was not born when they were last in the top-flight.Leicestershire make the short trip to Northamptonshire to round out their season while Glamorgan, who under head coach Richard Dawson have secured their place in Division One for the first time since 2004, will host Lancashire at Sophia Gardens.Kent welcome Derbyshire to the Spitfire Ground in Canterbury while Middlesex host Gloucestershire at Lord’s.

Newcastle United’s 2-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest just before the international break isn’t the only cause for optimism at St James’ Park currently.

Indeed, in a development that happened across the break, Eddie Howe’s side has now appointed a new sporting director in Ross Wilson, with the Scotsman leaving the recently defeated Tricky Trees behind to take up this post, having also previously been in the position at Rangers.

Seen as a notable part of the City Ground jigsaw that clinched European football last season, Wilson will be aiming to emulate that success on Tyneside.

He will have a big role to play in how Newcastle assert their dominance in transfer windows moving forward as well, having previously been the man to bring Anthony Elanga – who is now donning Magpies black and white – to Forest for just £15m.

One of his first notable bits of business at the Toon could see him try to poach a Premier League striker.

Newcastle considering move for new striker

Over the summer, the striker market dominated the transfer window with Alexander Isak’s late move to Liverpool having an almighty domino effect.

That saw Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa head to St James’ Park, but with the latter still yet to take to the field owing to an injury, another striker could be sought in the January window.

Indeed, according to Chronicle Live journalist Lee Ryder, Howe could be handed some funds this winter if he needs it, with Brentford attacker Igor Thiago reportedly catching the eye as Wilson attempts to lay down a marker.

Said to be catching the eye of scouts already this season, after a nightmare debut campaign in England, it is stated that Thiago remains on the Newcastle radar, even with Woltemade and Wissa through the door.

Thiago might well fancy his chances of rivalling Woltemade from the get-go if he were to up and leave the Bees for a new adventure on Tyneside, with the Brazilian displaying a similarly clinical edge to that of the 6-foot-6 powerhouse.

How Thiago could rival Woltemade at Newcastle

Woltemade’s signature being confirmed this summer would have instantly excited those of a Toon persuasion, as the big bucks had been splashed out on an attacker who had been entrusted to fill Isak’s sizeable void.

The Bremen-born striker would cost an eye-watering £69m to pick up, with the German moving to St James’ Park just fresh off a blistering 13-goal season in the Bundesliga for ex-employers Stuttgart.

He hasn’t disappointed since relocating to English shores, either, with pundit Danny Murphy going as far as to say he makes “all the right decisions” under pressure.

Despite amassing just 11.5 accurate passes per Premier League match to date, the gigantic German is already demonstrating that the Midas touch he discovered at Stuttgart in front of goal has followed him to the Toon, with three top-flight goals tallied up from just four outings in the unforgiving league.

Further bagging a goal in the Champions League, it’s safe to say it has been a dream start to life in black and white for the 23-year-old, who has had to lead the line as Newcastle’s main marksman with Wissa sidelined through injury.

However, despite all his glowing praise, he may feel intimidated by Thiago potentially rocking up to Tyneside, based on the ex-Club Brugge attacker’s own red-hot form for Keith Andrews’ side.

Even before looking at their side-by-side numbers, the South American – despite coming in at 6-foot-2 next to his huge counterpart – has staggeringly won more duels on average this season, with 5.3 per clash, next to Woltemade’s four.

Games played

7

4

Goals scored

4

3

Assists

0

0

Touches*

26.6

26.5

Total duels won*

5.3

4

The table above only reinforces the notion that Thiago would be able to rival Woltemade for a starting spot if he were to join in a blockbuster January switch, with the 24-year-old managing to bag one more Premier League goal so far this season than his ex-Stuttgart rival, albeit from three more contests.

Thiago would also be unafraid to ruffle feathers and snatch the German’s starting spot from him, having had to take on the pressurised position of being Brentford’s standout attacker this summer, in the wake of Bryan Mbeumo and Wissa both departing the Bees.

It does feel somewhat unrealistic that Newcastle would go all in for Thiago, having already spent significant cash on the likes of Woltemade.

But, clinching a deal for the Brazilian as Wilson’s first signing would certainly start his sporting director tenure off on a spectacular note.

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Germany needed only to avoid defeat to guarantee their 2026 World Cup spot when they faced Slovakia at the Red Bull Arena on Monday night. Following a sub-par campaign, which included a 2-0 loss in Slovakia back in September, Die Mannschaft booked their trip stateside in fine fashion as Julian Nagelsmann's side slaughtered the Falcons, easing to a 6-0 victory.

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Germany looked to settle early nerves and it was the home side who forged the first half-chance with just three minutes on the clock, with Florian Wirtz's cross headed over Serge Gnabry. Wirtz himself then fired over from inside the Slovakia box, before the dominant hosts found the breakthrough in the 18th minute as in-form Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade headed Germany.

Midway through the first half, and Germany were two goals to the good through Gnabry, latching onto a perfectly weighted Leon Goretzka pass. And the match as a contest was settled 10 minutes before the break as Leroy Sane scored his first and Germany's third – Wirtz played a superb ball over the high Slovakia defensive line for Sane. Wirtz and Sane linked up again for Germany's fourth as the former picked out the latter at the back post in a rampant opening 45 minutes.

The hosts added a fifth midway through the second half. Ridle Baku replaced captain Kimmich in the 64th minute and made no mistake from close range having been teed up by Gnabry to score his second international goal of his career. Dubravka did all he could to keep the scoreline somewhat respectable as he palmed away a low Goretzka drive in the 73rd minute. But he failed to keep out Assan Ouedraogo's deflected effort as the teenager became the second youngest scorer for the Germany national team a little over a minute after his second half introduction.

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Having struggled at club level and come in for criticism for a series of sub-par displays following his Liverpool move, Florian Wirtz showcased just why the Reds spent big to secure his services over the summer. Wirtz was a creative force in Leipzig as he tore the Slovakia backline to shreds, linking up superbly with Leroy Sane on the opposite flank. Liverpool fans will be hoping he can transfer this flying Germany form to club level when domestic duties return this weekend.

The big loser

The experienced head in the Slovakia backline, Milan Skriniar looked anything but. The 30-year-old won't want to remember Monday's showing in Leipzig in a hurry. Indeed, Skriniar was at fault for Leroy Sane's second and Germany's fourth in a pitiful performance from the former Inter and PSG man.

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Dele captured the hearts of the Tottenham Hotspur fanbase during his spell in North London, joining in a bargain £5m transfer from MK Dons in the summer of 2015.

No supporter could’ve imagined the immediate impact he would have on the first-team, racking up 269 appearances – netting 67 goals, with 22 of which coming back in 2016/17.

The Englishman won the PFA Young Player of the Year back-to-back, but his time at the club would come to an abrupt end – falling down the pecking order after scoring 14 times in his final three years at the club.

In an attempt to resurrect his career, he joined Como back in January, but only featured once – for a total of 10 minutes – subsequently departing Cesc Fàbregas’ side during the off-season.

There’s no denying the attacking midfielder failed to live up to the early expectations he once had in his professional career – potentially landing a similar player before the September 1st deadline.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for a new attacker this summer

Xavi Simons has been a player who has emerged on Spurs’ radar over the last couple of days, with the Lilywhites hierarchy even entering talks with the German side over a £60m transfer.

Chelsea have been said to be leading the race over recent weeks, but Thomas Frank’s side could complete their own hijack for the Dutch international’s signature in the coming days.

However, he’s not the only attacker who’s emerged on their shortlist in recent days, with Manchester United bomb squad member Jadon Sancho a potential option, according to TBR Football.

Journalist Graeme Bailey claims that the Lilywhites have “been offered” a last-minute deal for the Englishman, who looks certain to depart the Red Devils having initially cost them £73m.

It also states Frank’s side are desperate for a left-winger before Monday’s deadline, potentially targeting a move for the 25-year-old, who scored five times on loan at Chelsea in 2024/25.

Why Spurs’ latest target could be Dele 2.0

Had his career continued on the same trajectory, Dele would still have been a key member of the Spurs squad, subsequently entering the prime years of his career.

At 29, he should be thriving in the Premier League, but unfortunately, off-field events have prevented the former England international from kicking on his career.

He spoke openly about his personal life two years ago, allowing the supporters to gain an insight into his struggles – with sympathy undoubtedly being directed the midfielder’s way.

Ultimately, despite his excellent start to his career, it’s safe to say the player never managed to fulfil the potential he burst onto the scene with – something which is also evident with Sancho and his own career.

The winger thrived at Borussia Dortmund, making over 120 appearances for the Bundesliga side, before completing a £72m switch to join Manchester United back in the summer of 2021.

He’s only made 83 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring just 12 times and failing to match the high expectations he arrived at Old Trafford with – leading to his pending departure this summer.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the 25-year-old would cost, but the stats from his loan spell at Stamford Bridge showcase he does still possess top-quality talent, with Frank needing to unlock such talent if he joins the Lilywhites.

Sancho, who’s been labelled “incredible” by Joe Cole, ranked in the 91st percentile for progressive carries (5.1) and 91st percentile for carries into the opposition’s box per 90 (2.9).

Such numbers highlight the threat the former Dortmund star possesses in attacking areas, showcasing his ability to drive forward with the ball at any given opportunity.

Jadon Sancho’s stats for Chelsea in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	31
Goals & assists	7
Pass accuracy	83%
Progressive passes	4.6
Progressive carries	5.1
Successful take-ons	2.3
Passes into the opposition box	2.5
Take-on success	46%
Carries into the opposition box	2.9
Stats via FBref

He also completed 2.3 take-ons per 90, at a success rate of 46% – further offering Frank’s side an added dimension within the final third for his first campaign in the role.

The winger has also been able to find a teammate consistently, completing 83% of the passes he attempted, subsequently ranking in the 93rd percentile for passes into the opposition box – which could provide those around him with key opportunities in front of goal.

There’s no denying that Sancho won’t be many of the supporters’ first choice between now and the end of the window, but it could be an excellent option if he can recapture his best form.

It’s unclear how much a deal would set the Spurs hierarchy back this summer, but it’s certainly a risk worth taking – with the upside massively outweighing the potential drawbacks.

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