The Seattle Mariners have gotten red hot at the perfect time, winning nine of their last 10 games heading into the final week of the MLB season. On Sunday night they finished off a three-game sweep of the Astros in Houston, taking the finale 7-3. They now own a three-game lead over the Astros in the AL West and are in position to get one of the top two seeds in the AL playoff race.

The Mariners scored all seven of their runs in the second inning on Sunday night, with a towering grand slam by J.P. Crawford opening the game wide open for the road team.

His blast was a moonshot to right field and it looked even cooler from ESPN's ump cam. The video of it below comes with an important warning: You may end up watching this over and over again while not getting much work done.

That has to be the coolest ump cam shot of all time.

The Mariners have a day off before hosting the lowly Rockies for three games and then they finish off the season by hosting the Dodgers for three games.

While the Mariners have jumped up the standings with their stellar play, the Astros are now tied with the Guardians for third and final wild-card spot in the AL.

The final week of the season should be an exciting one.

MatériaMais Notícias

O relatório da “Good Game!”, empresa contratada por John Textor, para monitorar lances do clássico entre Botafogo e Flamengo em tempo real, indicou que o segundo gol da equipe na vitória por 2 a 0 foi ilegal.

A informação foi publicada pelo canal Sportv, do Grupo Globo. De acordo com o documento, houve falta de Diego Hernandez em Fabrício Bruno antes do gol marcado por Savarino (veja o lance abaixo).

➡️ A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

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– Contato da perna direita do jogador do Botafogo na perna esquerda do jogador do Flamengo na origem do desequilíbrio e sem contato com a bola. Falta válida não apitada. Gol irregular aceito – diz o documento.

John Textor contratou a Good Game! para fazer uma cobertura em tempo real do jogo entre Botafogo e Flamengo. Em nota oficial, o Alvinegro afirmou que receberia “uma visão computadorizada das decisões para cada apito do jogo”.

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

⚽ O lance polêmico

Já no fim da partida, Diego Hernandez disputou a bola com Fabrício Bruno, que caiu no chão reclamando de falta. O uruguaio deu sequência ao lance, tocando para Jeffinho, que deixou Savarino livre para balançar as redes. O árbitro Raphael Claus considerou que o zagueiro do Flamengo simulou o contato.

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– Para mim não foi nada. Cavou muito, Toski. Ele jogou a perna e se atira. Cavou muito – afirmou o juiz de campo em áudio divulgado pela CBF.

– Estou de acordo. Sem impacto. Gol confirmado, não teve impacto. Contato normal de jogo, lateralizado. Ele sente o contato e se atira – afirmou Rodolpho Toski Marques, árbitro de vídeo da partida.

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Tudo sobre

BotafogoBrasileirãoFlamengoJohn Textor

يستعد فريق مانشستر سيتي، بقيادة المدرب بيب جوارديولا، لخوض أكثر من مباراة في مختلف المسابقات، وذلك خلال شهر ديسمبر من العام الحالي، 2025.

ويحتل مانشستر سيتي المركز الثاني في جدول الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، في الوقت الحالي، برصيد 25 نقطة، كما يمتلك 10 نقاط ويحتل المركز التاسع في جدول دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مانشستر سيتي يخاطر بإثارة غضب منتخب مصر بسبب عمر مرموش

ويستعد مانشستر سيتي كذلك لخوض مباراة في إطار منافسات ربع نهائي بطولة كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية، كاراباو.

ولن يتمكن النجم المصري عمر مرموش من خوض كافة مباريات فريق مانشستر سيتي ذلك الشهر، حيث يستعد للمشاركة رفقة منتخب مصر في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا، حيث ستكون أولى مباريات الفراعنة يوم 22 من ديسمبر. مواعيد مباريات مانشستر سيتي في شهر ديسمبر 2025

فولهام ومانشستر سيتي، الجولة الرابعة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم الثلاثاء 2 ديسمبر 2025، 9:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 10:30 بتوقيت السعودية.

مانشستر سيتي وسندرلاند، الجولة الخامسة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم السبت 6 ديسمبر 2025، 5 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 6 بتوقيت السعودية.

ريال مدريد ومانشستر سيتي، الجولة السادسة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، يوم الأربعاء 10 ديسمبر 2025، 10 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 11 بتوقيت السعودية.

كريستال بالاس ومانشستر سيتي، الجولة السادسة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم الأحد 14 ديسمبر 2025، 4 عصرًا بتوقيت القاهرة، 5 بتوقيت السعودية.

مانشستر سيتي وبرينتفورد، ربع نهائي كأس كاراباو، يوم الأربعاء 17 ديسمبر 2025، 9:30 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 10:30 بتوقيت السعودية.

مانشستر سيتي ووست هام، الجولة السابعة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم السبت 20 ديسمبر 2025، 5 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 6 بتوقيت السعودية.

نوتينجهام فورست ومانشستر سيتي، الجولة الثامنة عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي، يوم السبت 27 ديسمبر 2025، 2:30 ظهرًا بتوقيت القاهرة، 3:30 بتوقيت السعودية.

The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF) has sanctioned the ILT20 as an official men and women’s competition

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2025In the coming years, the UAE’s ILT20 could see games take place in Saudi Arabia after it entered into a partnership with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF). The league gains official recognition in the Kingdom as part of its expansion across the Gulf region.While no specific date has been set on the first matches that will be played in Saudi Arabia, the SACF has sanctioned the ILT20 as an official men and women’s competition that could host matches in the Kingdom in future seasons. The linkup will also provide Saudi Arabia players with a direct pathway into the tournament, starting with the auction for this year’s edition on October 1, where each franchise will be required to sign at least one player from the country.”We are very proud to announce our partnership with the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation,” ILT20 chairman Khalid Al Zarooni said. “Saudi Arabia is a key part of the Gulf region, and its commitment to developing cricket is inspiring. This partnership is built on our shared vision of growing the game beyond borders. The DP World ILT20 will create opportunities for players, and hopefully bring world-class cricket closer to the fans.”Related

• ILT20: Dinesh Karthik joins Sharjah Warriorz

• IPL chair: No concrete proposals from Saudi

• Is cricket ready for a Saudi-backed Grand Slam circuit?

• IPL auction marks start of Saudi's cricket push

The agreement will also see the ILT20 and SACF work together on talent identification and grassroots development, with a development tournament planned in Saudi Arabia next year.HRH Prince Saud Bin Mishal Al-Saud, chairman of SACF, said: “This collaboration reflects our commitment to developing cricket in the country, and providing our players with opportunities to grow and succeed on an international stage. With Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 placing strong emphasis on sport and community engagement, we believe this partnership will inspire more young men and women to take up cricket.”The ILT20’s fourth season, to be held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, begins on December 2 this year, and will run until January 4, 2026, featuring six teams across 34 matches.

Head coach Gambhir and batting coach Kotak have done it in the past but they can only share the experience, not make time move faster

Sidharth Monga26-Jul-20252:29

Kotak: ‘Credit to Gill’ for changing his batting approach

There is perhaps nothing more absolute and objective than time. It takes one second for one second. Sixty of them will make a minute. There is no way around it. You can’t do anything to make the earth move faster or slower. It is never more apparent than when you are so far behind in a Test that a draw is the only result possible for you, and you have to bat five sessions to earn it.Against modern Test attacks, it is generally not possible to bat five sessions for a draw unless the conditions are your friend. You need it to be either devoid of lateral movement and uneven bounce, or you want it to run out of life so that things are happening too slowly off the surface. A bowler, the best of the series, down for two sessions helps.Then, and only then, begins the battle with time, which can also be extremely subjective. How you perceive time can make it seem stress-inducingly quick or painfully slow. It perhaps seems so only to those on the outside, but time can move extremely slowly during such situations.Related

Stats – England break Old Trafford scoring record

Stokes puts England on top but Rahul, Gill keep India alive

England hope 'stiff and sore' Stokes can bowl on fifth day

India’s dressing room has two men who have achieved these feats at different levels. Their head coach Gautam Gambhir once batted 643 minutes for just 137 runs while following-on to help India save a Test in Napier in 2008-09. Not long before that, the batting coach Sitanshu Kotak resisted Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium for 796 minutes for a draw. Kotak’s bringing of Mumbai down to their knees is part of Ranji Trophy folklore.The experience is out there, they can perhaps tell the formula to those going out: four overs equal 15 minutes, eight overs is half-an-hour, double that and you get a drinks break. One more drinks break, and there is a session break. You need these landmarks on the way.It still can’t help time move faster. The biggest challenge when attempting such draws is to not get ahead of yourself. You can’t think, “yeah, this looks easy now” and start thinking of the next challenge: Ben Stokes, or the second new ball, or overcast skies. You can get away with doing that in a chase. You can perhaps take risks when you are confident and make sure that even if you get out, you leave the rest a manageable task.There is no such concept here. It has to be done one ball at a time. There is no get-out-of-jail-free card, except to wait for the sentence to get over. You have to find the sweet spot between concentrating and relaxing. Too focused, and you can exhaust yourself. Too relaxed, and you can make a mistake. And if you get out, your team is no closer to finishing the task than the objective passage of time.KL Rahul plays the short ball comfortably despite a packed leg-side field•Getty ImagesKL Rahul and Shubman Gill have the techniques and the temperament. Gill is naturally an even-tempered person. Rahul has seen enough ups and downs in cricket to know better than to get swayed by outcomes. They have both had one infamous meltdown on a Test field each. Rahul in South Africa, Gill at Lord’s.However, with bat in hand, a natural extension of their bodies, they have the kind of game that can take care of them as they go about batting time. They have seen through a hat-trick ball, the tricky three overs before lunch, the new ball, then a drinks break, then sets of 15 minutes to tea, then repeated it to stumps.They have had other landmarks. Perhaps a Jofra Archer spell. Then making him bowl bouncers. Then switch off and switch on as he went around the wicket. Same with the other end. Liam Dawson switching to over the wicket. Kick them away. One ball at a time. Move around, get one to kick and beat the outside edge, but play the next ball for the angle because not many will turn. As Gill did in the 62nd over, having faced 162 balls by then.2:11

Manjrekar: Second new ball will be the next big challenge for India

Rahul, who faced his first ball after Gill had already played one, went into stumps having negotiated 210, which was 33 more than Gill. At one point, he was so engrossed in just defending the ball and switching off that he forgot to run. Gill had to shout at him.Runs were immaterial and were scored only when the ball was really bad or when played instinctively. Or, at times, just to buy time, that wonderful concept. When you keep defending, defending, defending, even though time is moving too slowly, you are concentrating so hard you can feel hurried. So you hit a four, move your legs, knock gloves with the non-striker, switch off, and switch on again.The job is only 40% done. Day five will move at its objective pace again. It will feel too slow and too quick at times. There will be landmarks. Get yourself in, then new ball in 17 overs, then proper switch on, personal milestones perhaps. If you get close to erasing the deficit, you can sense time move faster because every run you score will also take time for England to score it back. For England, it will start rushing out of their hands if India get close to saving the match.Such Test innings are perhaps appreciated more by eccentrics, but there is every bit of the competitiveness that makes sport a spectacle. On a beautiful Saturday evening, as the shadows at Old Trafford lengthen, time is moving smoothly. It will find its own rhythms on Sunday morning: slowly for some, quickly for some others. It will, in actual fact, move only one second at a time.

Chelsea made their return to Premier League football in fine fashion on Saturday afternoon, comfortably dispatching Burnley 2-0.

That victory, followed by the rest of Saturday’s results, has left the Blues as the closest competitor to Arsenal, sitting six points off them and facing them on Sunday.

However, while Enzo Maresca has a squad full of incredible players, some might argue that they are just a bit short in certain areas compared to the Gunners.

Fortunately, that looks like something Chelsea are looking to address, as reports have linked them with one of Arsenal’s transfer targets, someone who could help make them serious title contenders.

Chelsea enter race for Arsenal target

Even with the transfer window not opening for over a month, Chelsea have already been linked with a plethora of unreal, difference-making players.

Transfer Focus

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

For example, while he’s inexperienced, Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız would be an excellent signing for the Blues, having already scored three goals and registered four assists in 15 games this season.

Likewise, Antoine Semenyo, who is one of the most sought-after players in the country at the moment, would be an incredible addition to Maresca’s side.

However, if a player is going to come in and help turn the Blues into serious title contenders this season, they are likely going to be a defender, like Murillo.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of several sides interested in the Brazilian international.

Alongside the West Londoners, Arsenal and Barcelona have also been credited with interest in the 23-year-old centre-back, who Nottingham Forest value at up to €90m, which is about £79m.

Therefore, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Murillo’s ability and potential, Chelsea should fight for him, especially as he could help make them serious title contenders.

Why Murillo could help Chelsea win the Premier League

As things stand, Chelsea are currently second in the Premier League, six points behind Arsenal, having scored just a single goal fewer than them.

However, while their attack is certainly comparable, the Blues have conceded 11 goals to the Gunners’ six, and you are conceding almost twice as many goals as your rivals, you aren’t going to finish above them in the table.

Now, one of the key reasons for the West Londoners’ middling defensive record – in the context of a title challenge – is that their best centre-back, Levi Colwill, has been out for the whole season so far, and the likes of

Tosin Adarabioyo and Trevoh Chalobah have not been anywhere near the same level in his absence.

Therefore, for Maresca’s side to become true contenders for the league, they need more and higher-quality defensive reinforcements, which is where Murillo comes in.

Despite having practically no stability at Forest this season, the Brazilian titan has still put up some seriously impressive underlying numbers.

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 3% of centre-backs in the league for blocks, the top 5% for interceptions and successful take-ons, the top 7% for ball recoveries, the top 9% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for through balls and more, all per 90.

% of Dribblers Tackled

100.0%

Top 2%

Blocks

1.83

Top 3%

Shots from Free Kicks

0.12

Top 5%

Interceptions

2.07

Top 5%

Successful Take-Ons

0.49

Top 5%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.12

Top 7%

Passes Blocked

0.85

Top 7%

Ball Recoveries

4.87

Top 7%

Shot-Creating Actions

1.46

Top 9%

Tkl+Int

3.65

Top 9%

Goals/Shot

0.25

Top 11%

Goals – xG

+0.09

Top 11%

Non-Penalty Goals – npxG

+0.09

Top 11%

Passes Attempted (Long)

9.99

Top 11%

Through Balls

0.24

Top 11%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

1.10

Top 11%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.12

Top 11%

Progressive Passes

4.87

Top 13%

SCA (Shot)

0.12

Top 13%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.24

Top 13%

Goals

0.12

Top 15%

Add to that the fact that he played a massive role in the Tricky Trees having one of the best defensive records in the country last season, and it’s easy to see why one analyst made the bold claim that he’s “one of the best defenders in the Premier League.”

On top of all of that, the “monstrous” international, as dubbed by journalist Ryan Taylor, is both young at just 23 and experienced, having made 87 appearances for Forest, 27 for Corinthians and one for Brazil.

Now, with all that said, there is still a chance the Sao Paulo-born star wouldn’t be a starter when everyone in Maresca’s side is fit, but he would be an exceptional cover, and all title-winning sides need that.

Ultimately, it wouldn’t be cheap, but Chelsea should do what they can to sign Murillo, as he could be one of the final pieces to Maresca’s puzzle.

Chelsea now ahead of Arsenal in race for "unpredictable" striker, talks opened

The Blues have taken the lead in the race for a new centre-forward

ByDominic Lund Nov 24, 2025

Eddie Howe has finally got the better of Pep Guardiola now in a Premier League environment.

At the 19th time of asking, Howe managed to get one over on the highly successful Manchester City manager, as Newcastle United romped back into top-flight action with a 2-1 win at St James’ Park.

Newcastle were good value for the win, too, as Harvey Barnes chipped in with a double to steer the Toon to another memorable victory on their own patch.

How Harvey Barnes downed Manchester City

The former Leicester City winger is now up to six goals for the season in all competitions, despite his appearance against Guardiola’s men only being his fifth Premier League start of the campaign.

With a brace under his belt, though, he’s surely a shoo-in for more starts as the congested winter fixture schedule hits. Journalist Henry Winter simply described his display as “clinical” when powering two quickfire efforts past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Barnes would manage to put away those two efforts confidently, with just four shots registered in total. But, away from stylishly getting the better of the new City number one with his opener, the 27-year-old also managed to win three duels and attempt three mazy dribbles as a constant livewire.

The only worry will be whether Barnes can stay fit to keep up this electric form, with three Premier League goals now next to his name from limited starts. Across the last three seasons on Tyneside, he has missed a concerning 38 games via injury.

Thankfully, though, Newcastle have a rising star in their ranks who could go on to be a bigger talent than the Toon winger.

Newcastle's 18-year-old Barnes replacement

Howe has shown frequently throughout his time as Newcastle boss to date that he is willing to chuck a starlet into the first team picture if they’re deemed ready for the challenge of senior action.

Indeed, Lewis Miley first made his senior debut under Howe when he was just 17 years of age, while another budding homegrown prodigy in Sean Neave, occupied a space on the bench against City, all while still being a wide-eyed 18-year-old prospect.

Could Seung Soo-Park be the next to bridge the gap between the U21s and the first team?

The future certainly looks bright for the South Korean attacker, who excelled for Suwon Bluewings back in his native Korea at just 17 years of age, becoming the youngest ever player in the history of Korean league football.

One goal and three assists came his way from 28 appearances for Suwon, with Barnes reduced to playing all the way down in League One at around the same age with Milton Keynes Dons, out on loan from then parent side Leicester City.

Park has even been described as a “similar [player] to Mbappe” by Asian football expert John Duerden for his frightening speed when bombing forward, which was seen in the summer when Park was handed opportunities in pre-season, with three dribbles successfully completed up against Espanyol.

With two duels won against Tottenham Hotspur in another pre-season test, it might not be the wildest suggestion in the world to state that Park could be gifted some senior minutes in the bread and butter of the Premier League soon, with the Korean sensation hailed for showing a “maturity beyond his years” by academy coach Steven Harper when first joining.

Gordon

13

4 + 1

Elanga

18

0 + 1

Barnes

18

6 + 2

Of course, the ex-Suwon winger does have both Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga in his way, too, down the left-hand side, but if he can manage to live up to all his early hype, he should be able to surpass those in front of him down the line.

Indeed, Elanga is yet to get up and running with zero goals for the season. Moreover, Barnes is also prone to a hit-and-miss performance in Newcastle black and white, having only managed five goals during the entire 2023/24 season.

For the time being, Howe will rely on Barnes, who is thankfully in a purple patch right now.

Yet, in the long term, don’t discount Park leapfrogging the Englishman, with a stunning Mbappe-style talent potentially on Howe’s hands.

9/10 Newcastle duo look even more important than Bruno G & Tonali

These two players stood out in Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Man City

ByJoe Nuttall Nov 23, 2025

After South Africa took a lead, Babar and Rizwan helped Pakistan recover from an early flurry of wickets

Firdose Moonda22-Oct-2025

Kagiso Rabada and Senuran Muthusamy added 98 runs for the last wicket•AFP/Getty Images

Pakistan are effectively 23 for 4 after South Africa’s lower-order flipped the script and gave them a 71-run first innings lead in Rawalpindi. Senuran Muthusamy and Kagiso Rabada both walked away with batting career-bests – and Rabada with the first fifty of his Test career, off just 38 balls, – as Pakistan ran out of answers against the tail. For the first time in the series, the hosts find themselves chasing the game.Muthusamy will get fewer plaudits than Rabada, whose innings was studded with sexy hits straight down the ground but deserves all the praise. He held South Africa together after they lost 4 for 50 in the morning session and looked certain to take a deficit into the second innings.Muthusamy shared a 71-run stand with fellow left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj and a 98-run partnership with Rabada and on a deteriorating pitch, has given South Africa a big advantage. It is only the second time both the ninth and tenth wicket put up stands of more than fifty and first since the Adelaide Test in 1998.Pakistan were clearly stunned by the late assault as their spinners were blunted, Shaheen Shah Afridi was targeted and Shan Masood could not plug gaps in the field. They slumped to 16 for 3 in response but have since recovered to 94 for 4 thanks largely to Babar Azam’s best in the series so far. He stayed calm against a fiery South African side and delighted an appreciative crowd with well timed drives and one powerful pull. He is one run away from a 30th Test fifty and first at home since his century against New Zealand in December 2022. Alongside him is Mohammad Rizwan, unbeaten on 16, with Salman Agha the last recognised batter to come.All that may overshadow the 38 reasons Pakistan had to celebrate when Asif Afridi, on debut, became the oldest man to take a Test five-for in his first match. Asif’s fifth wicket was that of Simon Harmer, when South Africa were 210 for 7. That South Africa added another 194 runs will be difficult for him to believe, especially after the way the day started.Asif Afridi performs the sajda after claiming his maiden five-wicket haul•Associated Press

Asif struck in the first over of the day when Kyle Verreynne pushed at his fourth ball and got a thin edge, which Mohammad Rizwan gleefully pouched. Stubbs, who was on 68 overnight, was back in his defensive shell and added just eight runs to his score before being trapped in the crease by a quicker Asif ball that hit him on the pad. Asif struck again in his next over, when Harmer missed a reverse sweep and was pinned in front of middle stump.Muthusamy, who had been at the crease from the first over of the morning, looked fairly comfortable and with all the main batters out, gave himself permission to play his shots. He swept particularly well and was perplexed when he was given out lbw to Sajid Khan and reviewed immediately. Ultra Edge confirmed an inside-edge.Pakistan took the second new ball as soon as it became available and Asif shared it with Shaheen. It was only once Shaheen was replaced by Noman Ali that it brought rewards when Noman had Marco Jansen out lbw.Maharaj joined Muthusamy and batted proactively but offered plenty of chances. He was dropped by Imam-ul-Haq at silly mid-off in what was a tough chance akin to Tony de Zorzi which dismissed Babar on day two, then could have been stumped off Asif as he charged down but Rizwan was unsighted and could not react in time and then offered Asif a return chance that he could not hold on to. Muthusamy decided to live dangerously too and swung across the line to hit Sajid high over the keeper. Salman ran back but could not get to the ball in time.South Africa went to lunch 48 runs behind and most likely with a view to cutting the deficit to as little as possible but ended up doing much more. Three overs into the second session, Muthusamy got to his second Test fifty, off 88 balls, and three overs after that lost Maharaj. Encouraged by his ability to charge down, Maharaj did it one too many times as Noman flighted the ball and was stumped. At that stage, South Africa were still 27 runs behind.Kagiso Rabada played aggressively as he notched his highest Test score of 71•AFP/Getty Images

Muthusamy reverse-swept Sajid in a shot that suggested he was going to accelerate in anticipation of the end. But Rabada had no intention of going anywhere quickly. He swung hard and sent Noman over his head for his first four and the fun began. He slog-swept Sajid for six and then hit Shaheen over long-on and just short of long-off for back-to-back boundaries before taking six more off Sajid.His fifty came with a touch of class as he guided Sajid through point and then he tonked Agha over his head for another six. While Rabada went crazy, Muthusamy quietly collected runs to move into the 80s and soon the race was on to see whether they could both get to three figures. Neither did, as Rabada played one big shot too many and was caught at long-on to give Asif a six-for and South Africa a precious foot in front.On a high from their batting effort, South Africa were quickly brought down to earth when Rabada started with a no-ball in an over that cost nine but they pulled things back quickly. Harmer shared the new ball and spun it past Imam’s inside edge onto his front pad. He was given out and reviewed but remained out on umpire’s call. In his next over, Harmer had Shan Masood stuck on the back foot as he tried to drive through mid-on and was also given out lbw. Masood reviewed too, and lost the review as he was confirmed out. It was two wickets in two balls for South Africa as Rabada got Abdullah Shafique for the second time in the series after he was dropped off several edges. This time, loose defence took the edge and Jansen at third slip took the catch.Pakistan were effectively -55 for 3, with two batters yet to score at the crease and South Africa tried to close in. They burned two reviews hoping to get Babar lbw, and both times he had inside-edged onto his pad, which only underlines the danger South Africa knew he poses. Babar showed glimpses of his classy best, timing Rabada through point, cutting Harmer over cover point and then advancing on Maharaj. He dominated a 44-run stand with Saud Shakeel, who laboured his way to 11 off 43 before edging Harmer to Markram at slip. Still, Pakistan were behind.They took the lead when Rizwan swept Muthusamy through backward square leg for his boundary and the game really began. Babar and Rizwan saw out the day without further drama until Rizwan knocked the bails off on the last balls and South Africa appealed for hit wicket. The umpires called it dead ball to end an action-packed day.

The 18-year-old only has a handful of professional appearances but has already been around the Test squad and played for Australia A

Deivarayan Muthu13-Aug-2025Since breaking into Australia’s Under-19 World Cup squad after being originally named as a non-travelling reserve last year, Ollie Peake has ticked off landmarks like items on a shopping list.In a space of 17 months, Peake has won the Under-19 World Cup, made his Big Bash League (BBL) debut for Melbourne Renegades, marked his Sheffield Shield debut for Victoria with a half-century, and has even had a stint with the Australia side as a development player on their tour to Sri Lanka earlier this year.Related

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Peake, an 18-year-old left-hand batter, is currently in Chennai training at the MRF academy in the lead-up to red-ball four-day matches in Lucknow with the Australia A side. This is his third trip to the subcontinent, and he seems to have a reference point for what to do in these conditions, which are usually favourable to spin.”I guess the first time we came over here [with the Australia Under-19s], you have to play the bowling differently to Australian spinners because the conditions are more extreme,” Peake said. “Batting for ten minutes, I was absolutely cooked at the time. So, I had to learn how to sort of take a bit more pressure off mentally and try and relax a bit more. And then sort of worry about technique after that because if you can’t bat for more than 10 minutes, then you’re not going to have too much hope.”But, yeah, at the moment, trying a few different things like getting lower in my stance, try and be really proactive on my feet to the best I can. That’s something that all the boys are all doing pretty well. And then evolving with a few sweep shots and reverse-sweeps and stuff like that to counter the bowler’s best balls as well.”Ollie Peake was part of the Sri Lanka tour in early 2025 as a development player•Getty ImagesHaving coped with Chennai’s unforgiving heat and former Ranji Trophy champions Saurashtra during a three-day red-ball fixture at the MRF ground, Peake has been trying to find ways to accumulate runs in risk-free fashion.”I’ve picked up heaps of stuff in the last five or six days,” Peake said. “The training has been really intense and super beneficial as well. Apart from different sweep shots, I’m in the process of trying different stuff like how to defend more off the back foot, score off the back foot a lot more. So, I’m just trying to sort of find ways to mitigate risk and score quickly when the conditions are really extreme.”Peake believes his time with the senior Australia side in Sri Lanka is a key step in his progress.”It was a pretty cool experience going over there and learning off guys who I’ve watched on TV for ten years,” Peake said. “A lot of the stuff that I got out of the trip was not necessarily in the nets batting; it was more talking to people about their pathway and how they approach spin bowling and what they do outside of cricket as well. I found most value just talking to people, having dinner and that was really beneficial.”

It feels like it’s all happening pretty quick. I absolutely love playing cricket and travelling the world. You couldn’t really ask for too many better things, could you? But I don’t think it’s a fluke by any degreeOllie Peake on his rapid rise

Peake is still a teenager and has played just six professional games so far in senior cricket, but selectors see him as a player with immense potential and the Geelong cricket community sees him as their next hero after Aaron Finch.”It [Geelong] is a cool place to grow up,” Peake said. “I think everyone’s aspiring to be like Finchy in Geelong and dad [Clinton Peake] was lucky to play with him for a few years for Geelong cricket club and yeah, to learn off dad as well at Geelong has been great and the community is unreal.”The cricket club is really giving and really generous with their time. I think I’ve been there my whole life, so it’s pretty cool to try and turn into Finchy and for kids to look up to me in a way is a cool thing in a bit of a full circle moment.”When he was growing up Peake also played first-team football for Geelong Grammar before an injury seemingly ended his football ambitions. At Geelong Grammar, Peake was mentored by the late Troy Selwood, and he credits the former Brisbane Lions midfielder for shaping his sporting career.”A lot of my best mates are actually footy players, so I can still sort of connect with AFL and I guess live vicariously through them in a way and get my footy kick out of that,” Peake said. “Troy was a massive mentor for me. He really helped me with that sort of balance, life balance, which inevitably helps with your chosen sports performance and he was huge for me from Year 10 to 12. But I did love my footy growing up.”Ollie Peake will be pushing for a regular spot in the Victoria side this season•Getty ImagesClinton has been in his son’s shoes before – in 1995 at the MCG, he became the first player to record a triple-century in youth Tests – and continues to be a sounding board for Ollie.”We train in Geelong and whenever I feel like I’m not really batting too well, he [dad] is probably someone that I can go back to,” Peake said. “I do it less frequently now but after I walk away from a session with him, I feel ready to go to play against anyone.”I reckon probably my best skill in cricket is sort of the way that I think about the game, not necessarily having a really good pull shot or cut shot or cover drive. It’s more mental skills. So I think it’s been trained along the journey. I think dad’s been a massive help for that.”Peake’s elevation to the Australia A team may seem rapid from the outside, but for him it’s reward for his behind-the-scenes grind for a number of years.”Not a blur as such but, yeah, it’s definitely going from one thing to the other,” Peake reflected on his rise. “It feels like it’s all happening pretty quick. I absolutely love playing cricket and travelling the world. You couldn’t really ask for too many better things, could you? But I don’t think it’s a fluke by any degree.”I think it sort of goes back to Covid, when I was training every day and banking up hours and it just feels like everything sort of clicked. Very fortunate to be able to represent all these different teams.”It may not be too long before Peake makes the step-up to the main Australia team, especially if he has a successful tour of India with the A team in September.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured a topsy-turvy spell over the last couple of years, with Ange Postecoglou’s reign one that was as turbulent to say the least.

The Aussie achieved a fifth-placed Premier League finish in the 2023/24 campaign, but he was ultimately unable to replicate such levels in his final year in North London.

He could only guide the Lilywhites to a 17th-placed finish last time around, subsequently losing 22 games in the process – the most of any side who haven’t been relegated from England’s top-flight.

However, the 60-year-old did win the Europa League last campaign, ending the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy, but it wasn’t enough to keep him in the role in North London.

He was subsequently sacked in the summer, with Thomas Frank taking the reins as a result, with the Dane potentially wanting to offload numerous of the Aussie’s additions in the upcoming window.

The players who could leave Spurs in the January window

During Postecoglou’s tenure at Spurs, he made numerous high-profile additions, with Dominic Solanke arriving in a club-record £65m transfer from Bournemouth in 2024.

Such excitement was generated given the nature of the transfer fee, but ultimately, his move to North London has been a failure, with injuries massively halting his progress of late.

The 28-year-old has only featured for a total of 31 league minutes in 2025/26, with Frank often unable to call upon the Englishman when needed during the early months of his tenure.

As a result, the manager may look to move the centre forward on in January, according to recent reports, which could allow for added investment in a new striker to bolster the attacking department.

He could also be joined in departing the club by numerous other players, with Manor Solomon a player who is seemingly edging closer to the exit door.

Like Solanke, the Israeli international joined under Ange’s guidance, but he’s also struggled to make the impact he would’ve envisaged upon his switch to North London.

He’s only made six senior appearances for the Lilywhites, even being sent on various loan spells – with the 26-year-old currently spending the year on loan at Spanish side Villarreal.

However, his tally of five combined goals and assists in just six games could lead to a permanent exit, which could bring his two and a half year spell at the club to an end.

The Spurs player who may now need to leave

The lowly Premier League finish last season highlights the job Frank has had on his hands since taking over, but the Dane has been unable to fully fix the problems at Spurs.

His side currently sit in fifth place in the Premier League 2025/26, even sitting 10th in the Champions League table, but the underlying problems are still evident.

The Lilywhites have only won one game on home soil in England’s top-flight to date, with such a record placing them second bottom for home form in the division.

However, away from home, the club appear unstoppable, with Frank’s men winning four and drawing one of their five league outings – subsequently boasting the best record in the league.

Other problems are also evident within the first-team squad, with Brennan Johnson a player who has seen his form take a nose-dive over the last couple of months.

The Welshman joined in a £47.5m transfer from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023, with many supporters raising eyebrows at the nature of the fee.

Last season was by far and away his best of his career in North London, as the 24-year-old ended 2024/25 on a total of 18 goals across all competitions – the highest of any player in the squad.

However, Mohammed Kudus’ arrival has pushed the Welsh international down the pecking order and highlighted his struggles which were masked by his goalscoring tally last year.

Johnson has only started five times in the league to date, only scoring on two occasions, with his last effort in England’s top-flight coming way back in August.

His underlying figures further suggest he’s underperforming this year, with Frank desperately needing to sell the £100k-per-week star in the upcoming window.

Johnson has only completed 0.5 dribbles per 90 at a success rate of just 42%, which has led to criticism from the supporters over his lack of talent at getting past his opponents.

Brennan Johnson – PL stats (25/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

11

Games started

5

Goals scored

2

Dribbles completed

0.5

Dribble success rate

42%

Shots on target

0.3

Shot on target accuracy

30%

Big chances missed

2

Stats via FotMob

In front of goal, he’s been just as terrible, only achieving a total of 0.3 shots on target per 90, at an accuracy rate of just 30% – with the winger unable to match his goalscoring heights from last year.

In the view of talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan, he’s a “work in progress” and a “speedboat without a brain”.

Given Kudus’ arrival and Johnson’s lack of impact, it would be a surprise to no one if the club decided to cash in on his services to avoid losing a small fortune on their investment.

It’s clear both parties need a fresh start in the months ahead, which could allow the club to invest needed funds in other areas to help them rise up the Premier League table in the second half of the season.

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