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After another bumper summer in the busy transfer window, Birmingham City might well have expected to take the Championship immediately by storm.

Indeed, the Blues welcomed in a whopping 14 new faces during the off-season, as the likes of Demarai Gray dramatically returned back to St. Andrew’s after a lengthy Premier League career, among other notable signings.

Unfortunately for Chris Davies and Co., Gray hasn’t quite sparked into life just yet during his homecoming, with the ex-Everton winger not alone in being a disappointment so far, as the Blues loiter in an underwhelming 15th spot in the second-tier standings at this moment in time.

Birmingham's disappointing summer recruitment

It’s not just all on the shoulders of the new recruits, however, as many of Birmingham’s dependable performers during their League One title heroics have also floundered under the pressure of now competing in the division above.

Keshi Anderson definitely falls into his category, with the Luton-born attacker still goalless in Championship action this season so far, despite firing home nine strikes in all competitions last campaign for Davies’ emphatic title-winners.

Thankfully, Jay Stansfield has remembered his shooting boots, with six goals already fired home.

But, to further pile on the misery, Marvin Ducksch – who cost around the £1.75m mark to pick up from Werder Bremen in the window – is also routinely firing blanks as another option up top.

Moreover, the aforementioned Gray doesn’t quite look the same electric, fresh-faced presence he once was at St. Andrew’s when he was a youngster trying to cut his teeth, with Birmingham’s 1-0 defeat to Bristol City last time out only seeing him amass a lacklustre 18 touches of the ball.

It must feel like an awfully long time ago now for Davies when he looks back on Birmingham’s jaw-dropping 111-point season in League One, with one new signing under so much scrutiny already, that he could be on borrowed time in the West Midlands only a matter of months into his EFL stint.

Why Birmingham's expensive gamble hasn't paid off

Thankfully, in recent years, whenever a big price tag has been attached to a player since Tom Wagner’s millions were added into the mix, they have often lived up to their hype.

Stansfield was boldly purchased for a whopping £15m, even as Birmingham found themselves marooned in League One, but he immediately backed up his lavish price tag when scoring the crucial goals – 19 league strikes to be exact – to clinch the Blues’ straightforward passage back up to the Championship.

Therefore, when the newly promoted Blues announced they’d acquired the services of former Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi for an equally hefty £10m in July, the expectation would have been that he would go on to be another superb Stansfield-like purchase.

After all, Kyogo had been branded as a “superstar” in Scotland by ex-Hoops teammate Callum McGregor, off the back of the Japanese gem firing home a stunning 85 goals in total for the Glasgow giants.

Moreover, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman also boldly stated that he would be a “really exciting” signing in England, after the new number nine showed off some entertaining tricks and flicks during his early days at St. Andrew’s.

Games played

11

Games started

5

Minutes played per game

47

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Big chances missed

7

Kyogo’s tale hasn’t played out to the expected script, though, with the once confident and assured striker who pulled on Celtic green and white week in week out now nowhere to be seen in the Championship.

The 30-year-old, instead, has become a wasteful option up top for Davies, with seven big chances missed across 11 league games to date, meaning he is still chasing his first league goal in the West Midlands.

Even Lyndon Dykes has two league goals next to his name, despite averaging just 25 minutes of action himself.

EFL pundit Adrian Clarke has even gone out of his way to state that Kyogo is “struggling”, with patience surely already running thin at St. Andrew’s surrounding the quiet number nine, considering his excessive transfer fee.

There is still time on Kyogo’s side to turn around his shocking Blues start, but if the goals don’t come soon, he might just have to be written off as an expensive flop.

Birmingham sold a bigger talent than Jordan James in £3m "freak of nature"

Birmingham messed up when selling this exceptional star for just £3m.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 8, 2025

Aaron Finch has resolved to shed the tentative ways of his first two ODI appearances for Australia

Daniel Brettig25-Jan-2013Aaron Finch was not himself during his first two ODI appearances for Australia earlier this month, and he knew it.The fearless but calculated striking for Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades that had won Finch his place in the team was momentarily absent, replaced by some indecisive prods at the ball that had him snicking behind in game one and pouched at short cover in game two.This was not the way Finch had turned heads this summer, and a nod as the ACA’s player of the month for December has reiterated the fact. As he prepares to face Sri Lanka in the two Twenty20 internationals at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium and the MCG, Finch said he would be seeking to play more naturally, using his power but also his brain.”It was a great confidence boost to get picked,” Finch told ESPNcricinfo. “I was disappointed with how I played in the two one day games, but at the same time I took a lot of experience out of it. I learned a lot about my game funnily enough, just in two games.”It doesn’t sound like a lot of time, but just the way I went about it was probably a little different to how I do for Victoria and the Renegades. I probably didn’t try to play my natural game, I was probably more conservative. You can only learn by failing I guess.”There have been a few failures over the course of Finch’s career to date, surprising those who have seen him at his best, coshing the ball so cleanly while also demonstrating a technique compact enough to withstand quality bowling. Last summer he followed an off-season in which he played for Australia A with a dire domestic season for the Bushrangers, forcing his omission from the Shield team – he is still on the fringes of the first-class team.Finch has admitted to being worn down at times by his own expectations, and said the catalyst for his success this so far this summer was the barnstorming limited overs innings of 154 against Queensland at the Gabba in October. Composed as part of an opening stand of 226 with Rob Quiney, the innings lifted much of that weight from Finch’s shoulders.”That being my first hundred in the one-day format was great, it probably took a little bit of pressure off me,” Finch said. “I’ve been putting pressure on myself to really be that guy who’s in there and wins games for the team. In the past I’ve just got us into positions where we can win, but never really finished them myself. So it was really pleasing to get a big one early in the season and ease into the season a little bit more rather than chasing your tail.”Myself and Bobby Quiney just had a great partnership, we were feeding off each other, we were both in pretty good control of our game, which in one-day cricket you can feel like you’re getting behind the game and take too many risks, but that day everything just seemed to flow for us.”That flow continued on into the BBL, where Finch showed a sharpness of leadership in first helping to recruit a strong and savvy Renegades squad, then showing vim as captain of a team that lost only one of eight qualifying matches before slipping up regrettably in the semi-finals. The likes of Aaron O’Brien and Ben Rohrer flourished under Finch, who placed more faith in them than other had at times over undersung careers.”It was a pretty nervy time, the first time I’d had the captaincy from day one,” Finch said. “I’d done it every now and then for Victoria but never had it in my own right, so I was a bit nervous. We were really confident with the players we got together that we could have a big impact in the tournament.It’s not a tournament you can win with just one or two players and the really pleasing thing was we put a side together of people who’ve won before, they know how to win and guys who really play their role well.”Going back a little bit from a Victorian point of view someone like Aaron O’Brien always played really well against us. We knew how good he was as an intelligent cricketer, plays his role, you know what you’re going to get and he never disappointed. Ben Rohrer’s probably had a different role in the past in teams he’s played with, he’s been Nos. 6 and 7 and finishing the innings, but he wanted a new challenge and he was perfect for us. He was our No. 1 target and luckily we got him. We saw the quality of him through the BBL, taking games away from the opposition.”Finch is now representing Australia in two formats, and has reason to be pleased. But there are two goals sitting centrally in his mind. The first is to take the freedom of his best domestic batting onto the international stage. The second is to finally prove himself as a first-class batsman, for a current average of 29.96 from 30 matches does him about as much justice as those two worrisome ODI innings against Sri Lanka in Melbourne and Adelaide.”It can’t be too much of a technical thing, I feel like that’s in pretty good order,” Finch said of the long-form gap on his resume. “It’s probably mental, a combination of a few things. Missing out a few times, you start to doubt yourself and then you tend to play a little more conservatively, but depending on how many Shield games I get to play after Christmas, I’m confident I can come out and do well. I don’t feel like it’s too far away, I’ve been working hard on that, and confident in myself I can score heavily.”

Venkatesh Prasad reiterates his commitment to bringing big-ticket cricket back to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru

Shashank Kishore08-Dec-2025Venkatesh Prasad, the former India seamer, has been elected president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). Sujith Somasunder, who played two ODIs in 1996 and was until recently head of education at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, is the vice-president.Prasad, who received unanimous backing from former colleagues Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath among others, defeated his rival KN Shanth Kumar by a 749-558 margin. Flanked by his team members, Prasad reiterated his commitment to work with the state government to restore “Chinnaswamy’s lost glory”.”First and foremost, this is a victory for the sport of cricket,” Prasad said. “Secondly, this is a victory for all the members who wanted a change, all the people who wanted international cricket to come back to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.”Related

Probe panel deems Chinnaswamy 'unsafe' for large-scale events

The venue hasn’t hosted a big-ticket game since a stampede outside the premises claimed 11 lives during a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory party on June 4. Since then, the KSCA has been a no-go for cricket in Bengaluru, with the BCCI preferring to host the Duleep Trophy and ‘A’ series between India and South Africa at the Centre of Excellence.The M Chinnaswamy Stadium was scheduled to host five women’s ODI World Cup games, including the final. But they had to be moved out after the previous KSCA dispensation, which was operating without a treasurer and secretary, who had resigned on moral grounds after the stampede, failed to obtain the necessary clearances from the state government.KSCA subsequently ran into trouble with the state’s electricity suppliers over fire-safety compliances, which led to power supply to the venue being cut-off. Power has since been restored after a fire-safety audit that said KSCA was in compliance with regulations.Prasad has now instructed his team to study the other possible changes they can implement by studying the findings of the Justice John Michael D’Cunha Commission, appointed by the Karnataka government in the aftermath of the stampede.DK Shivakumar casts his vote at the KSCA elections•PTI In its report in July, the commission had stated that the stadium’s “design and structure” were inherently “unsuitable and unsafe” for mass gatherings. It warned that continuing to hold high-attendance events at the venue would pose “unacceptable risks to public safety, urban mobility, and emergency preparedness”.On Sunday, Karnataka’s deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, a KSCA life-member and among the early voters, vowed to bring the IPL back to the Chinnaswamy.”I’m a cricket lover,” he said. We will ensure that the accident in Karnataka does not happen again and hold cricket events at Chinnaswamy Stadium in a manner that upholds the honour of Bengaluru. We will not shift the IPL elsewhere and will continue to hold it here at Chinnaswamy Stadium. This is the pride of Bengaluru and Karnataka, which we will retain.”Prasad joins a small group of former India players currently in cricket administration. Recently, Mithun Mahnas, the former Delhi captain and a cricket administrator in Jammu & Kashmir, was elected BCCI president, while Sourav Ganguly, Prasad’s former India colleague and captain, was unanimously elected as president of Cricket Association of Bengal. Saurabh Tiwary and Shahbaz Nadeem, who also had brief India careers along with a strong body of work in domestic cricket, have entered cricket administration in Jharkhand in positions of authority.

Miami got the trophy. But Thomas Muller's Vancouver might have gotten something even more valuable: proof that they’re good enough to win it next year.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The first thing Thomas Müller said after losing MLS Cup was that Vancouver will be back.

“We will come back stronger next season,” he said. “Even stronger.”

It’s a familiar sentiment. Post-match optimism is a well-worn reflex in sport. Every defeat, no matter how bruising, comes with a silver lining: get battered, and at least it wasn’t worse; lose a final, and at least you reached it. But this time, Müller wasn’t just grasping for clichés. Cup finals are unforgiving things — decided by moments, small margins and flickers of luck – and this one felt like proof that Vancouver are closer than the scoreline suggested.

Sure, it's cliché to say that teams rely on "difference makers" in the big moments. But when the other team has Lionel Messi, and you don't, then it all looks like a remarkably uphill battle.

But this feels like one of those rare occasions where it is true. The first reason is because of the person who said it. Muller may be a dorky guy, but he is also brutally honest. He is a serial winner who also knows how to come back from losses. The German would not say those words if he didn't mean them. 

The second, and far more relevant, point is that there’s evidence to support his claim. Vancouver didn’t stumble into this final. They earned it on the back of a genuinely remarkable season. They play excellent soccer, and they have a squad deep enough to contend. They also helped turn three Americans – Sebastian Berhalter, Brian White and Tristan Blackmon – into legitimate stars in MLS, all of whom have featured for the USMNT. The fact that they reached MLS Cup while dealing with a long-term injury to star creator Ryan Gauld, relying on third-choice options at the back, and integrating a Designated Player with barely four months in his new home, suggests this is a team that will only get better.

"Our process is not at the top. At the moment, we are on our way up. We have a young group, a very talented group, and a very hungry group," Muller said.

Getty Images SportThe final loss

Vancouver have every reason to feel aggrieved after the MLS Cup final loss. Javier Mascherano, the guy who manages the team, admitted that with a little bit of luck, the game could have easily gone the other way. And he had a point. In the 60th minute, just after Vancouver equalized with a lovely flowing move finished by Ali Ahmed, they could have taken the lead. Emmanuel Sabbi, arguably the Whitecaps' best player on the day, cut inside and unleashed a shot that pinged off posts before somehow cannoning back into play. 

It was a cruel moment, but one that perhaps showed that the soccer gods weren't on their side.

And of course, Messi took over. Except, he really didn't. He operated in moments. a few seconds of magic leading to a duo of assists that put the game beyond reach. In fact, both came from Vancouver mistakes. The first was due to a heavy touch and giveaway in midfield that Messi took advantage of with a signature shuffle and pass. The second came from a disorganized backline that didn't know whether to step or sit. Messi played right through it. Yet Vancouver had more of the ball, more shots, and more on target. The Miami opener came from a deflected cross. Manager Jesper Sorensen did admit that they put themselves in those situations: 

"We made a mistake. We made a few mistakes, and they took advantage of them. And they also have players really good at taking advantage in these situations as a team," Sorensen said. 

But they certainly were unlucky.  

“Losing a final’s never easy. I think the frustrating thing is I know we weren’t at our best. And we still had a few little chances here and there," Gauld said after the match. "It’s tough to take. Never easy losing a final.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSorensen remains confident

Like Muller before him, Sorensen said all of the right things. His post-match press conference was a strange affair. The press room at Chase Stadium lies right next to the home locker room. Sorensen sat there, steely-eyed, in front of the media while the chants of a victorious Miami penetrated the walls. Sorensen joked that they were 'probably not his players', but it was still a cruel scenario.

"We have come out on top in different situations, with fortune. Today, we didn't," he said.

Yet Sorensen was defiant. 

"Today, obviously, we cry, but I think what is important is that they are proud tears, because I know that we have excited a lot of people in Vancouver," he said.

And he framed the game expertly. Sure, Vancouver had lost, but this loss wasn't too different from the rest of the season

"I told them that when you reach out for something, it hurts even more when you don't get it. I told him that we've never been dreamers. I think [Muller] said it when he came in. We're hard workers. We worked hard today," Sorensen.

It is that attitude that carried Vancouver to this point. There are more talented teams in this league – more sides blessed with more apparent star power. Over the course of a full season, Muller is certainly among the best. But he joined in August and is, no doubt, still adjusting. Instead, it was a workmanlike team that got them here. They were fitter and stronger than many of their opponents – and experts at bagging late goals. Twenty-eight of their goals came in the final 15 minutes of games, 12 more than during any other 15-minute phase. 

MLS MediaDid it without some big names

It is important to consider, too, that the Whitecaps got here in a season of immense change. They lost two center backs, Ranko Veselinovic and Sebastian Schonlau, to long term injuries. Belal Halbouni, who had been in the mix all season, picked up a knock against LAFC in the Western Conference finals. Pedro Vite, one of their main sources of attacking quality, was lured away by Pumas midway through the season. 

Brian White, their leading goalscorer, sustained a hamstring injury halfway through the season and was barely at full fitness by the time he suited up for the game Saturday evening. And Gauld, their presumptive best player at the start of the season, was hurried back into action after sustaining what should have been a season-ending knee injury in March. 

He was far from his former self. And who could have blamed him? That they managed to be there alone was impressive. 

"Considering where we were at the start of the season, there weren’t many people even giving us a chance to make the playoffs," Gauld said. "So for us to get here tonight, to get to the [CONCACAF] Champions Cup final, I’m extremely proud of what the group’s given and the work they’ve put in week after week.”

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Getty Images SportCaveat of uncertainty

That, in theory, should be enough to give the Whitecaps sufficient hope for next season. The vibes are here. They have improved enough, dealt with adversity, and fought their way to a final. Losing hurts, but optimism might reign supreme.

Except, there are issues. The Whitecaps officially began the process to put the team up for sale last December. Their lease at BC Place is up at the end of the year, and there is little indication that a deal is imminent. Last week, Don Garber admitted that MLS might have to make some 'tough decisions.' What, exactly, those decisions are isn't quite clear. 

But after the game, Sorensen reiterated his desire for soccer to stay in Vancouver.

"We want to be in Vancouver. We want to play for Vancouver. Vancouver is a great city for soccer, and, you know, we are proud of playing for Vancouver," he said. 

Muller emphasized that the fans have helped fuel their journey.

"We gave it all, and that's what matters the most, and the way we do it, the respect we have also, not only for the fans, but also for the whole city, for the people in the city, and for the media and all this stuff. So we are a very lovable team, and we will continue this journey, and how we do it," he said. "It's so nice to hear that we created in a city like Vancouver, the hockey city, we created the buzz." 

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal continued his strong campaign to win the Cy Young award for a second straight year on Sunday evening against the Minnesota Twins.

Skubal pitched seven shutout innings at home, totaling a career-high 13 strikeouts. He also became the first Tigers pitcher in history to record at least 13 strikeouts in a game, and allow no more than one hit. This was the third time Skubal's thrown 13 strikeouts in a single game, via Sarah Langs.

Out of his 93 pitches, 67 of them were strikes. He walked one batter and only gave up one hit. His final strike thrown in Sunday's game was a 100-mph fastball—pretty incredible. By the end of his night, Skubal had gotten his season ERA down all the way to 2.15.

Skubal is leading MLB with 138 strikeouts over 109 innings pitched. He is the favorite to win the AL Cy Young award with -260 odds, via ESPN. If he continues on how he's performing now, he'll be able to lock up the award for a second consecutive year.

Despite being KO’d by Australia in the semis, South Africa had their moments in this World Cup that they could treasure

Firdose Moonda17-Nov-20232:11

Where did South Africa fall short?

David Miller did not feel joy, pride or a sense of accomplishment after playing the best innings of his ODI career.”It’s a bit hollow,” he said afterwards, forcing a smile. “Like Quinny [Quinton de Kock] mentioned, with his four hundreds, he wouldn’t mind if he didn’t score any runs and we won the trophy. It’s the same kind of thing. We wanted to get to the final and have a crack at the trophy, but it wasn’t to be.”Those last five words carry the echoes of three decades of history and the unfairness that every new generation of South African cricketers has to make up for the one before. It’s asking too much of too many. And with reflection and perspective, it should become obvious that to tangle the mistakes of the past with the expectations of the future only creates a more pressured present which can take away from the magic of the moment.At least, despite his disappointment, Miller could bring himself back to recognise that this South African team had shown unity at the tournament. “We fought together,” he said. “I’m happy that we hung in there.”And hang in, they did.Related

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South African sport defines itself on resilience (and we can argue whether that’s the correct character trait for champion teams – and we may not agree because fearlessness, for example, is also a hallmark of trophy-winners) but that is the national signature and the cricketers’ handwriting is all over it. Miller’s too. He might not enjoy the outcome of the match where his most significant innings came in, but he can acknowledge the context. After being 24 for 4, South Africa needed someone to bat through and he just about did.”It was enjoyable anchoring the innings,” he said. “I felt like I wanted to hit fours and sixes the whole way through. But I soaked up a lot of pressure. It was more about the partnership at that stage. Every run counts in a semi-final, so we tried to salvage some sort of total.”Playing in a way that does not come naturally to him is the clearest indication of how Miller has matured in his third ODI World Cup. Early on in the tournament, he recognised that an innings like the one he played on Thursday, might be needed despite the form of the top order. “I said to Klaasie [Heinrich Klaasen] that the guys are batting really well up front, but we need to keep training with the new ball because it’s going to come at a stage where we’re going to be in a bit of dwang (trouble). So [we need to] just stay sharp.”Miller’s prediction to Klaasen was made after South Africa’s first match, against Sri Lanka, where they posted a World-Cup record total of 428. “The next game was against the Netherlands, and we were 30 for 4,” he remembered. And then 207 all out, chasing 246.That match exposed the weakness that would stalk South Africa through this competition which they chose to avoid exposing by batting first at Eden Gardens. For the first time at this tournament, it didn’t work for them and it will now become part of the folklore of failure, even though it is far from the worst of them. “There were a lot more tears in Auckland (2015),” Miller said.David Miller: “We ticked a lot of boxes off the field, and had some great memories and moments. We can look back and say it was a great time.”•ICC/Getty ImagesThat’s a comment worth remembering because it means that South Africa are not piling their disappointments on top of each other but can see a separation. Not every loss was the worst loss ever and in fact there were some wins at this World Cup that they can treasure. “Before the tournament, we spoke about having great memories,” Miller said. “A career in the game of cricket can go by quickly, so we need to enjoy the journey. I think we did. We ticked a lot of boxes off the field, and had some great memories and moments. We can look back and say it was a great time. It doesn’t help losing the semi-final but the guys showed a lot of character and they should be proud.”As for Miller, will he make it to another World Cup? It seemed like an unfair question to ask in the immediate aftermath of defeat and, understandably, he was in no position to make a decision. “The way my body feels right now, I can’t answer that. I’ll see how I go,” he said. “I’ll take it year by year and assess as I go along. It’s a long way out, so it’s difficult to say right now.”The motivation to keep going for another four years may lie solely in the fact that the next tournament is at home and there is nothing like a home World Cup. The country’s electricity supply is optional, and the high crime rate is a concern, but a party? That’s non-negotiable. This year alone, South Africa hosted a highly successful Women’s T20 World Cup and Netball World Cup to increasingly diverse fan bases.CSA’s director of cricket, Enoch Nkwe, said in Ahmedabad that he hopes most of the class of 2023 will still be playing in 2027 – even de Kock, who has retired from the format. And this is despite eight of the 15 in the Cup squad being 30 or older. So it may be nothing more than blind optimism on Nkwe’s part and points to a possible transition phase coming up for the white-ball team, which will need to be carefully managed.Aiden Markram, Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen are the three players in this squad who should be in their prime in 2027. Markam will be 32 then, and most likely the captain. Coetzee and Jansen will be 26 and 27, not far off the ages of Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada now, and we have seen the maturity they have both displayed. If either or both are around in 2027, they will be in their early 30s and should be able to lead the attack with even more authority. Keshav Maharaj will be 37, and judging by the Imran Tahir school-of-spin, he could still be at his best, so he should not be ruled out either and Miller will be 38.There’s a lot of cricket to be played between now and then, including two T20 World Cups, a Champions Trophy and umpteen franchise leagues. The volume of tournaments may mean that the cycle of winning and losing can become routine, and the emotions felt after each campaign could be dulled, but South Africa and World Cups, until the day South Africa win a World Cup, will always have a special allure. The story continues.

Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 17 runs during a dramatic collapse

Danyal Rasool21-Oct-2025Sometimes, when Test cricket is played well, it can be slightly dull and the pair of Tony de Zorzi and Tristan Stubbs made no apologies for prioritising good cricket over entertaining cricket for the second half of the day. South Africa were much better placed going into the third day than they have been at any time this series, 148 runs short of Pakistan’s first innings 333 with six wickets still in hand. That they were not further adrift came thanks to a heroic shift early in the morning from Keshav Maharaj, who took all five Pakistani wickets to top up his two overnight, inducing a 17-run collapse for Pakistan’s bottom half.It might have been all so different if Pakistan – usually so trigger-happy when bringing the third umpire into the game – had done so in the 26th over. Asif Afridi had pushed de Zorzi, batting on 5, onto the back foot as the ball flicked him just above the knee roll. Short leg held onto it and Pakistan, distracted by an appeal for the catch, failed to consider lbw might be a more plausible shout. Down to just one review, they passed it up only for HawkEye to show three reds.It was a rare chance either de Zorzi or Stubbs offered as they settled into the tedium of steady accumulation, aware that one wicket could bring a surge from Pakistan that might wash away their challenge entirely. The first eight overs post-tea brought just 17 runs, but time wasn’t a factor in the game at the moment. The pair waited patiently to earn their right to score runs, and had the humility to opt for survival when good deliveries shut down scoring options, eventually adding 113 runs for the third wicket.Related

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Maharaj: 'Old-fashioned Test cricket' helped us claw back

First day in Pindi = first day in Lahore

From time to time, Pakistan offered the odd poor delivery, gifts both accepted with alacrity. A waist-high full toss from Sajid was dispatched away for four, while Noman darted one in that de Zorzi slapped over long-on after dancing down the track. Both used their feet superbly to neutralise and unsettle the spinners, and it was a ploy that, for the most part, Pakistan appeared to lack clear responses to. When Stubbs misjudged and came down too far on a rare occasion, he smacked the ball straight back at Sajid, who was defeated by the pace of the ball. Soon after, de Zorzi made amends, skipping out of his crease to Sajid. He lifted the ball over his head for a six that took him to fifty. The milestones were being ticked off now. Two balls earlier, Stubbs had got there, and in the following over, the 100-run partnership – South Africa’s first this series – was brought up.It was in the final half hour that Pakistan dragged it back far enough to prevent South Africa unequivocally laying claim to the day. The 38-year-old debutant Asif Afridi didn’t exactly look Pakistan’s most threatening bowler for the most part, but hit a spot that caused the ball to dive, trapping de Zorzi halfway up the shin. This time, Pakistan made sure to review. South Africa required a vulnerable Dewald Brevis to stick it out until the end, but Asif broke through once more. This time, it was a lovely conventional orthodox left-armer’s delivery which got him the wicket. Salman Agha at first slip made no mistake pouncing on the edge.Pakistan’s penchant for collapses had continued at breakneck speed in the morning, with South Africa removing Pakistan’s last five for 17 runs to dismiss them for 333. Maharaj, who had earlier called the first session in this series the “moving session”, did most of the moving himself, taking all five of the morning’s wickets for a seven-wicket haul.Pakistan will content themselves with the fact that Agha and Saud Shakeel put on 57 brisk runs in the morning to continue their sixth-wicket stand. They were in complete control during the first hour, milking the spinners while picking up the occasional boundary. Kagiso Rabada’s opening spell was seen off without damage. Until Maharaj began his rampage, there were no visible signs of discomfort against him either. In the over before the first wicket fell, Shakeel had scored eight runs off him as Pakistan moved their score past 300.Tristan Stubbs and Tony de Zorzi added 113 runs for the third wicket•Associated PressBut things unravelled quickly – within 18 Maharaj deliveries, to be precise. An arm-ball slid onto Agha, who played for the turn and found himself trapped in front. The following Maharaj over, Shakeel softly guided one into the palms of first slip, with South Africa making no mistakes in the field. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s attempted wafts over midwicket were meat and drink for the spinner, who guided one through the gate to rattle his stumps. Maharaj would need just four more balls to dispense with Sajid and Asif.Pakistan’s early threat with the ball came all down to Shaheen. In the first Test, he found ways to be effective with the old reversing ball, but in the first half hour here, it was the new ball in his hand that proved to be a menace. Aiden Markram was worked over in his second over after lunch, surviving an lbw review and nearly nicking off. But Shaheen’s reward came against Ryan Rickelton in the over that followed, finding seam movement to kiss the outside edge and Mohammad Rizwan to take a straightforward catch.After that six-over burst, Pakistan turned to spin, and both sides settled into a steady grind. There were streaks of dot deliveries, the monotony broken occasionally by a dance down the ground to loft spin over the top. It proved a largely successful plan on a pitch that hasn’t yet opened up to spinners, but as lunch neared and Pakistan turned to Sajid, Markram tried his luck once too often.Sajid delivered the wicket ball with a bit of flight outside off, and Markram’s drag over long-on didn’t have the power he was targeting. Shan Masood had stationed Shakeel about eight yards on from the boundary, who barely had to move to gratefully pouch it.It was a rare shot of irresponsibility from a South African side that has struck an excellent balance between run-scoring and survival. In the end, thanks to Stubbs and de Zorzi, they found a way to do both today.

Robin van Persie has spoken about the decision to give son Shaqueel a senior debut in Feyenoord's 3-1 defeat to Celtic on Thursday night. The 19-year-old replaced Jordan Lotomba for the final 10 minutes of the midweek Europa League tie, a decision that was criticised by some. Head coach Van Persie has explained his reasoning to hand the teenager his maiden appearance against the Bhoys.

Celtic came from behind to beat Feyenoord on Thursday

Feyenoord went ahead early on against Celtic as Ayase Ueda tucked past Kasper Schmeichel having been picked out well by Sem Steijn. However, Celtic turned the game on its head before the break as goals from Yang Hyun-Jun and Reo Hatate saw the Scottish champions go in ahead at the interval.

The Eredivisie outfit pushed for an equaliser but it was Benjamin Nygren who scored Celtic's third in the final knockings as the Scottish side claimed a 3-1 win at De Kuip. The result means Feyenoord have now now lost five of their last six matches in all competitions, which includes defeats to PSV and VfB Stuttgart in the league and Europa League, respectively.

Van Persie faced questions about his side's form post-match but was also forced to explain the decision behind handing his son his debut as Feyenoord pushed for a goal. Shaqueel made the matchday squad for Feyenoord's recent 4-2 home defeat to NEC Nijmegen but was an unused sub in the loss.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportVan Persie adamant he 'made the call as a coach'

And Shaqueel experienced his first taste of senior and European football in the home loss to Celtic. The elder Van Persie has since explained the motives behind his decision to turn to his son to rescue the Europa League tie, insisting he did so as a coach rather than a father.

Asked why he opted to introduce the young striker when Feyenoord were 2-1 down, the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker said: "I made that call as a coach, not as a dad because we needed a goal. Shaqueel is a player who can score a goal from all angles. That was the reason I brought him on. From a father's point of view, when your son makes his debut that is always a special moment. But I wasn't that busy with enjoying that moment, I was doing my work like Shaqueel was."

Shaqueel failed to have the desired impact as Feyenoord conceded their third just a minute after he was introduced. In addition, the young forward failed to fire off a short, though he did win three aerial duels during his short time on the pitch.

Van Persie insists he sees his son as 'one of the players'

Van Persie went on to explain that he doesn't see Shaqueel as his son but rather one of his players, and that they have a working relationship away from home rather than a personal one. "The way I see Shaqueel is as one of the players," the Feyenoord head coach went on to say.

"This is what we both agreed to a couple of years ago when we already worked together. Shaqueel was handling that really well, I am too in my opinion. Later on when we are home of course we will have a nice moment, when we are proud of each other.

"I am proud of Shaqueel because, like every player who makes his debut, there is a whole process going on before he made his debut. He worked hard, deserved it and, for him, it is a special moment."

Shaqueel came through the ranks at Manchester City, before moving on to Fenerbahce in 2015 and then on to Feyenoord in 2017. The forward signed his first professional contract with Feyenoord in 2022. While born in London, Shaqueel has represented the Netherlands at both Under-16 and Under-17 level.

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Getty Images SportFeyenoord looking to turn form around

Feyenoord will look to turn their recent form around when they travel to Telstar on Sunday. The Dutch giants have lost their last two away games at Stuttgart and Go Ahead Eagles, with their most recent win on the road a 7-0 triumph at Heracles last month.

Telstar, meanwhile, currently foot the Eredivisie and have failed to win their last six matches, though have drawn their last three as they show signs of improvement. The Dutch minnows, however, have won only one of their seven home matches this season.

Whether Shaqueel van Persie gets another opportunity to add to his first-team minutes remains to be seen.

Tottenham Hotspur have made some big additions over the last couple of years, with many of which have made a huge impact on their recent success in Europe.

The hierarchy has been boosted in recent days, after it was confirmed that former Sporting Director Fabio Paratici would return to his role after a two-and-a-half-year absence.

He’s been known to make key additions such as Cristian Romero and Dejan Kulusevski during his previous stint in North London, but he could be about to land similar quality in the future.

With the transfer window still a couple of months away from reopening, the 53-year-old has a key period ahead of him to identify players who would improve Thomas Frank’s squad.

However, the Italian has wasted no time in finding players who could become top targets when the chance arises at the midway stage of the Premier League campaign.

Spurs’ hunt for new attacking talent under Paratici

Over the last couple of days, Spurs have been hugely touted with a move to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo after his impressive start to the new campaign.

The 25-year-old has already scored six times and registered three assists in his seven league outings, with it being reported that he currently has a release clause in his deal at the Vitality.

However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Juventus star Dušan Vlahović a talent who is firmly in their sights, according to TEAMtalk’s latest report.

They claim that Paratici’s links with the Old Lady could help the Lilywhites in their pursuit of the centre-forward, with his deal set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

It also states that Spurs have been long-term admirers of the Serbian international, but they could face competition from Chelsea for his signature in the near future.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be perfect for Kudus

In an attempt to build on their Europa League success, Spurs spent over £100m on new additions during the off-season to help strengthen Frank’s chances in the role.

Mohammed Kudus was just one of the additions made, with the hierarchy paying local rivals West Ham United a whopping £55m for his services and signature.

The Ghanaian has already made himself a fan-favourite in North London after making an immediate impact in the Premier League under Frank’s guidance.

The 25-year-old has scored once and registered four assists – the most of any player in the squad – whilst laying on more goals for his teammates than any star in the division.

His assists alone highlight the quality he possesses within attacking areas, but such numbers could improve further should Vlahovic make the move to England in the near future.

Whilst he’s already netted six goals in his 11 outings in 2025/26, his underlying stats further highlight why his addition would be perfect for Kudus in the years ahead.

The Serbian, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in the world” by Luca Toni, has averaged 1.2 shots on target per 90, with 43% of his efforts troubling the opposition ‘keeper.

Games played

11

Goals scored

6

Shots on target

1.2

Shot on target accuracy

43%

Aerials won

2.4

Goals scored per 90

0.81

Touches in opposition box

4.5

Fouls won

1.7

Such numbers could hugely play into the hands of Kudus, given his assists, but the big-money addition also ranks in the 97th percentile for crosses completed, which would certainly be perfect for Vlahovic.

The Juve star has also won 2.4 aerial duels per 90, with such a figure handing the Dane’s side a needed focal point to play off when they find themselves under pressure.

He’s ranked in the 92nd percentile of all players in Italy for goals scored per 90, with such numbers making him the perfect talisman to complete the Lilywhites’ attack.

It’s unclear if a deal would be completed in January or the summer, but it’s evident that a deal for the 25-year-old would be one that could add a new dimension to the frontline.

If he can strike up a partnership with Kudus, it would also take the latter to the next level and hand Frank’s side a greater chance for added success in the near future.

No Porro, £40m winger joins: The dream XI Paratici could build at Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur could be set for some changes after Fabio Paratici returned to North London.

2 ByEthan Lamb Oct 17, 2025

The Lionesses striker was twice denied by the crossbar on Saturday, but Jonas Eidevall's side were still able to progress to the next round.

You could almost hear the sigh of relief when the final whistle went and Arsenal secured their place in the second round of Champions League qualifying on Saturday night, by virtue of a 1-0 win over Rosenborg. The Gunners crashed out at this stage last season and so as long as that second goal continued to evade them, despite a dominant performance, the nerves were always going to build among the home faithful. Fortunately for them, an opportunistic finish from Norway international Frida Maanum was enough to break the hearts of the team from her homeland and put Arsenal into Monday's draw.

It was a positive start from Jonas Eidevall's side and, after warning shots were fired by Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo, Maanum opened the scoring with less than 20 minutes played, with a helping hand from some rather calamitous Rosenborg defending. The Norwegian side fell behind in their shock win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday but rallied late on to set up this clash and it was clear that their plan from this point onwards was to replicate that success. They rode their luck to stay alive in the game, though, with Russo hitting the crossbar and Maanum firing just wide before the break.

It was more of the same in the second half, with the only difference being that Rosenborg became increasingly more adventurous. That will have no doubt had the Arsenal fans getting a little more nervy as Russo again struck the woodwork and Kyra Cooney-Cross followed her lead seconds later, while Leah Williamson saw a header cleared off the line. But Maanum's early finish proved to be enough to move the Gunners on to the second round of Champions League qualifying, with them to find out their next European opponent in Monday's draw.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Meadow Park…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Manuela Zinsberger (6/10):

Good starting position for when Rosenborg tried a few long ball counter attacks. Had little to do again, though.

Emily Fox (7/10):

Was constantly in the final third, prodding and probing at the Rosenborg defence. Not everything came off but she caused problems.

Laia Codina (6/10):

Wasn't called upon much, but stood up tall when she was.

Leah Williamson (6/10):

Looks sharper with each game that comes. Great in possession.

Katie McCabe (6/10):

Got forward well, combined brilliantly with Mariona at times and delivered some good set pieces.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Kim Little (7/10):

Another sublime display in which she kept things ticking in midfield.

Kyra Cooney-Cross (6/10):

Dangerous over dead ball situations and mature in her passing.

Frida Maanum (7/10):

Showed good awareness to pounce on some defensive chaos to break the deadlock. Took up fantastic positions.

Attack

Caitlin Foord (7/10):

Put some dangerous crosses in from the right, including the one that led to Arsenal's opener.

Alessia Russo (7/10):

Linked up well with those around her and was looking to shoot whenever there was a slight chance, going close on several occasions.

Mariona Caldentey (7/10):

Was always positive, whether by creating for others or getting shots off in the final third.

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Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Stina Blackstenius (5/10):

Came on for the final 20 minutes but struggled to get involved much.

Beth Mead (N/A):

Returned from injury in the final minutes.

Lia Walti (N/A):

Came on to help Arsenal see the game out late on.

Jonas Eidevall (7/10):

Stuck with the same XI that did the job against Rangers in midweek and those players rewarded his faith. There will be some concerns that his side struggled against a low block, a theme throughout last season, but the woodwork did come to Rosenborg's rescue on three separate occasions, too.