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Hampshire collapse to three-day defeat amid their centuries and Lyndon James’ five-for

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-May-2025Hampshire collapsed to a three-day defeat after centuries from Jack Haynes and Liam Patterson-White had batted them out of the game as Division One leaders Nottinghamshire romped to a third victory in their opening five matches of the Rothesay County Championship season, winning by a massive 366-run margin.All-rounder Patterson-White struck a magnificent career-best 135 containing 21 fours and two sixes, with Haynes making 120, the pair sharing a seventh-wicket stand of 238 as the Trent Bridge side made 345 in their second innings.Chasing down 483 to win looked wholly unrealistic on a pitch that has made the new ball a potent weapon but Hampshire supporters would have hoped at least to see the match taken to a fourth day.Instead they witnessed their team bowled out for a miserable 116 by half past five with former favourite Mohammad Abbas not even among the wickets as the bowling honours were shared between Lyndon James with 5 for 22 and Brett Hutton with 4 for 56.The winning margin is Nottinghamshire’s second largest by runs in their Championship history.The mayhem of the final session was in complete contrast with the first, when it felt like a different match as Nottinghamshire’s seventh-wicket pair, whose partnership was worth 87 at Saturday’s close, added another 144 runs before lunch.Haynes, 60 overnight, had given his team-mate a 21-run start but in the event, as Hampshire’s bowlers toiled in vain to conjure life from an aging ball on a pitch that looked benign for the first time in the match, Patterson-White was first to three figures.He reached the milestone from 139 balls with a mighty pull for six off Sonny Baker. It was his second six of the innings, having hit 76 runs of his hundred runs in boundaries.Given that he had not made even a half-century in 32 innings over three seasons before this one and had struggled to keep his place in the side, it was little wonder he allowed himself a lengthy celebration.Moments later, he overtook his previous career-best – 101 against Somerset at Taunton in 2021 – before a single off Baker completed Haynes’s hundred, from 137 balls, also with 16 fours, his second in five innings.Haynes, dropped at deep square leg on 80, departed three overs after lunch. Kyle Abbott now had the new ball in hand but it was coming back for a second run to deep mid-wicket that cost Haynes, Baker’s throw to the wicketkeeper beating him comfortably.Nonetheless, the completed first run was enough to take the partnership to 238, Nottinghamshire’s second biggest for the seventh wicket against any opponent.Abbott followed up with a more conventional new-ball wicket in his next over – taking his tally for the season to 23 as the country’s leading wicket-taker so far – as Hutton was caught behind without scoring, after which Farhan Ahmed was yorked by James Fuller and Patterson-White bowled off a bottom edge.It gave Hampshire a theoretical target of 483 to win the match or else bat long enough to salvage some pride. Yet the chances of achieving even that quickly diminished as they slipped to 33 for 3 at tea.Abbas bowled six wicketless overs but from the other end Hutton had a leaden-footed Fletcha Middleton leg before and Mark Stoneman caught behind off a thin outside edge. First change James then dismissed Prest, who top-edged a cut as Kyle Verreynne held a second catch.And there was little sign of Hampshire trying to bed in for a fight after tea as wickets tumbled with unseemly frequency.Ben Brown’s loose pull off Hutton came down in the hands of square leg, Nick Gubbins fell tamely to a catch at extra cover off, Liam Dawson was caught on the boundary hooking, Fuller flicked straight to midwicket, Toby Albert, dropped at first slip, edged to third – albeit superbly caught by Haynes – and Brad Wheal was caught at mid-off, leaving the visitors 82 for nine.Abbott and Baker kept the home side’s celebrations on hold for 10 overs before the latter sliced to backward point for 27 as Hampshire’s top scorer, Patterson-White aptly taking the final wicket.

Mexico’s poor results during the recent FIFA window sparked criticism of several players, including Toluca forward Alexis Vega, who has been questioned for his lack of impact. His club coach, Antonio Mohamed, defended him and expressed confidence that Vega will prove his worth when the 2026 World Cup arrives. The former Chivas player was booed by fans.

Getty Images Sport'Vega isn’t being as decisive'

Mohamed expressed full confidence that Vega will shine with the Mexico at the 2026 World Cup, despite the criticism the Toluca forward has faced in recent appearances for El Tri.

The Toluca manager admitted that Vega hasn’t been as decisive for Mexico as he is with the Diablos Rojos, but insisted that the 26-year-old has the talent and mentality to turn things around.

“If you analyze things objectively, out of the 20 players currently called up, very few are performing at their best level,” Mohamed told TUDN. “There’s a lot of pressure around the national team right now. Vega isn’t being as decisive as he is at Toluca – that’s the reality – but I’m sure that once he clears his mind and feels fresh heading into the World Cup, he’ll have an incredible tournament. I’m certain of it, no doubt at all.”

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Convinced they’ll dominate'

The Argentine coach also shared his belief that Mexico will perform well at the 2026 World Cup, especially given that several of their matches will be played at home.

“Mexico will have a great World Cup, you’ll see,” Mohamed added. “Because of the context, the atmosphere, and the fact that they’ll play at home – at the Estadio Azteca in front of their people – I’m convinced they’ll dominate and win those games.”

Getty Images SportIn contrast to Liga MX play

During the current Liga MX season, Vega has contributed three goals and eight assists in just 10 matches for Toluca – numbers that highlight his influence at club level. However, he hasn’t been able to replicate that form with the national team, scoring only once in 14 appearances for El Tri in 2025.

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next?

The Mexican National Team will return on Nov. 15 against Uruguay in Torreón, before facing Paraguay on Nov. 18 at the Alamodome.

It was not an easy game, but Arsenal picked up another three points in the first Premier League game back after the international break.

The Gunners overcame Fulham at Craven Cottage in a game where their London rivals made it tough to earn all three points.

Facing off against a well-drilled Marco Silva side, it took Arsenal until midway through the second half before they were able to break the deadlock. Riccardo Calafiori did have the ball in the back of the net in the first 45 minutes, but the flag was up for offside, a decision VAR confirmed.

Finally, the Gunners were able to take the lead. Once again, it came from a corner, with Gabriel flicking a header on towards the back post.

Waiting there unmarked was Leandro Trossard, who converted the flick-on via his knee.

There was more drama to come, though. Moments after Fulham’s summer signing, Kevin, came onto the pitch, he brought down Bukayo Saka in the penalty box. However, it was overturned by VAR, after it was deemed that the Brazilian had played the ball.

Despite the win for Mikel Arteta’s side, it wasn’t an easy day at the office. One player who struggled once again was Viktor Gyokeres.

Gyokeres’ stats vs. Fulham

Life at Arsenal started fairly well for Sweden international Gyokeres. However, he failed to score once again at Craven Cottage, meaning he has now gone nine games without a goal for club and country.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

That was not for a lack of trying, though. The former Sporting CP attacker had a tough day against a defensively diligent Fulham side. He did get close once in the first half, although his shot from a narrow angle was comfortably saved by former Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

In the second half, he fired over from close range, squandering an excellent chance.

The stats after the game show that it was a tough night for Arsenal’s number 14. In 89 minutes, he had just 20 touches and managed two shots on target. He only completed five out of nine passes attempted, although he was more of a nuisance without the ball, winning three out of four ground duels.

One person who was critical of his performance was Goal journalist Charles Watts. He gave the Swede a 6/10 for his efforts, describing it as ‘another hard working display’ but did note there was ‘little to show for it’.

Gyokeres was not the only Arsenal player who struggled to make a real impact at Craven Cottage.

The other Arsenal star who struggled vs. Fulham

The trip to Craven Cottage was never going to be easy for Arteta’s men. The Cottagers are renowned for being tough to break down, and they certainly made life tough for Arsenal, as Gyokeres experienced first-hand.

It was also a tough evening for another Arsenal summer signing, Eberechi Eze. The England international played in Martin Odegaard’s usual role on the right-hand side of midfield, but struggled to get a real grip on the game.

That is certainly reflected in the stats. The former Crystal Palace star had 37 touches of the ball, and completed 24 out of 27 passes.

However, he only created one chance and completed one dribble from two attempted.

Touches

37

Passes completed

24/27

Opposition half passes completed

16/20

Dribbles completed

1/2

Chances created

1

Ground duels won

2/3

Ball recoveries

1

Watts also noted that it wasn’t the easiest game for Eze. Like Gyokeres, he gave the Gunners number 10 a 6/10 for his performance in West London. The journalist said he was ‘sloppy at times’ but did acknowledge the fact that ‘it was very hard for him to find any space’ in a busy midfield.

It will be interesting to see whether Arteta keeps Eze in the side for the Gunners’ next game, a Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid. They face the La Liga outfit at the Emirates Stadium, and it could be another tough game.

Diego Simeone’s side are renowned for being tough to break down, and again, it could get congested in midfield. The Gunners’ Spanish boss might well decide to rotate Eze out of the team for that game, after struggling in similar circumstances.

If that is the case, he could bring Christian Norgaard or Mikel Merino into the fold. Both players came on against Fulham on Saturday night, with the latter replacing Arsenal’s number 10 just past the hour mark. There are certainly options if Arteta chooses to rest Eze.

Imagine him & Dowman: Arsenal have Rice 2.0 brewing in Hale End sensation

The talented youngster could be another Declan Rice-type player for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 17, 2025

Carse and Woakes are set to open the bowling, while Tongue and Bashir have retained their positions

Matt Roller18-Jun-2025It will be Ollie Pope, rather than Jacob Bethell, who bats at No. 3 for England against India in Friday’s first Test at Headingley.Pope, England’s vice-captain, left his position vulnerable after a poor run of form last year. Moreover, Bethell’s sudden emergence in New Zealand prompted serious consideration about the No. 3 spot. But Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have opted to retain Pope, resisting the temptation to pick England’s most promising young player of his generation.Bethell’s opportunity at No. 3 in New Zealand was the result of two absentees – Jamie Smith (paternity leave) and Jordan Cox (thumb injury) – pressing Pope into action as England’s wicketkeeper. He scored three half-centuries in his first three Tests, including a second-innings 96 in Wellington, while Pope looked more comfortable down at No. 6.But Pope returned to No. 3 against Zimbabwe last month, with Bethell deemed unavailable while at the IPL, and scored 171 to push his case for retention. Rob Key, England’s director of cricket, said on Tuesday that England had “two brilliant options” for one position, and they have chosen Pope.ESPNcricinfo LtdEngland confirmed their team for the first Test on Wednesday, with Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes set to open the bowling after missing last month’s win over Zimbabwe through injuries. Josh Tongue and Shoaib Bashir retain their positions, with Gus Atkinson still recovering from a hamstring injury, while captain Stokes completes the attack.This will be Carse’s first home Test, after he took 27 wickets in five Tests in Pakistan and New Zealand this winter. “Headingley is an unbelievable ground,” he said. “I’ve played a bit of white-ball cricket here over the last couple of years… but to be able to play a home Test against India is going to be pretty exciting and I cannot wait to get going.”Carse has been a change bowler throughout his first-class career but is expected to take the new ball alongside Woakes this week. “There has been a little bit of discussion around that. I’m relishing that opportunity, if that is what it is,” he said. “I opened the bowling during the one-day series [against West Indies] and felt comfortable and confident.”England’s attack has considerably less experience than those India have faced on their recent tours. Mark Wood remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Rishabh Pant said it was “definitely” a bonus not to face the retired James Anderson and Stuart Broad. “It feels so good,” Pant said, with a smile. “But… they have enough ammunition as an England bowling line-up.”England XI: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 Shoaib Bashir.

In-form forward Bryan Mbeumo has been Manchester United’s “best signing” of the season so far, according to club legend Wayne Rooney. The Cameroon international has received plenty of plaudits after inspiring the Red Devils to a remarkable upturn in form, with Ruben Amorim’s men having recorded three straight victories against Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton.

Mbeumo has quickly become a fan favourite following Brentford switch

Mbeumo has quickly felt the love from the United faithful after making a huge impression following his summer move from Brentford. After netting in the last-gasp 3-2 victory over Burnley on 30 August, the 26-year-old then scored the opener as United collected their first win at Liverpool since 2016 on 19 October. Mbeumo followed up his heroics at Anfield with a brace in United’s 4-2 triumph over Brighton on Saturday, in an impressive run of results which have completely changed the atmosphere around Old Trafford.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportUnited legend Rooney singles out in-form Mbeumo for huge praise

And while fellow summer signings Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens have also impressed in United’s winning run, Mbeumo has been labelled as the club’s best piece of business by Rooney. Speaking on United’s all-time top goalscorer said: "Mbeumo has been consistent with his performances, I think that's the main thing.

"If you're consistently getting in the right positions, getting chances, you will score. When you're a forward and you score goals, you enjoy scoring goals and that feeling keeps going.

"His confidence is very high at the minute. Hopefully that continues because he's certainly been the best signing for United this season."

Amorim also hailed Mbeumo's impact following the Brighton victory

Rooney is not the only person to laud Mbeumo’s impact, with manager Amorim having also paid tribute to United’s No.19 after the Brighton victory.

“He’s a working machine,” said Amorim in his post-match press conference. “He’s so good in transitions. He’s improving when we are organising the final third. The connection with Amad, it’s really hard to beat these two guys because they change position, they are really fast, they are good in one against one. 

“My role was, as a manager, to explain what I want from him. But it was more the club. And you guys. We can struggle a lot, but it’s Manchester United. When Manchester United is there, and when we feel that this player wants to come here, no matter what, no matter what the position, no matter if it's Champions League or not, we also give everything to bring these kind of guys, and that was the case.”

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AFPUnited captain Fernandes lauds Mbeumo, Cunha, Lammens & Sesko

Meanwhile, United captain Bruno Fernandes also expressed his delight at the arrivals of Mbeumo, Cunha and Lammens, as well as striker Benjamin Sesko, who has scored two league goals since joining from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in August.

“I think at this club, every time I spoke with anyone who was talking with me, they were asking we need to sign good players and everything else,” Fernandes said after the Brighton win. “We need to sign big characters, not good players because at this club, being good players sometimes is not enough because of the pressure, because of the attention we get and everything. I think we brought in players that are very aware of the dimension of the club. You spoke about Cunha. Cunha has that good arrogance to do the good things and the right things, so that's something good. Bryan, also the same. He's not afraid to take the ball, to do his play, to do his things. We brought two players who were aware of the Premier League, also.

"And then we brought a very young goalkeeper and a centre-forward, they hit the ground flying (running). Obviously, we know Ben (Sesko) will be judged by scoring goals or not. But a part of that, he's been doing great, whatever he's being asked to do. He's got his goals already, and I think now it's going to come more and more because he's more than capable of scoring goals. Senne came probably with the intention of being the number one. He had to wait for his moment. The moment came and he was ready for that. So this is what this club is about. You come, the moment will be there straightaway and you have to take it.”

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has urged his players to "stay humble" after their surprising 1-0 defeat to Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in the Conference League. On a night that was supposed to celebrate Selhurst Park's first-ever European fixture, the Eagles' dream turned sour as the visitors spoiled the occasion with a second-half winner and a stark reminder for the Premier League side.

Eagles beaten on home soil by minnows

Crystal Palace suffered a stunning home defeat to AEK Larnaca in the first-ever European match at Selhurst Park, losing 1-0 despite dominating large spells of the game. The Premier League side created 15 chances but failed to make their possession count, registering just one shot on target in a frustrating performance. Riad Bajic scored the only goal of the night in the 51st minute, punishing a defensive error from Jaydee Canvot to hand the Cypriot visitors a famous victory.

The result ended Palace’s 14-match unbeaten home run and left supporters disappointed on what was meant to be a historic European night. Selhurst Park had been electric before kick-off, with banners and chants celebrating the club’s FA Cup triumph and newfound continental adventure. However, as Glasner’s men squandered chance after chance, the energy quickly turned to disbelief.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGlasner questions Palace 'environment'

"You are always told when you play in the Premier League you win the Conference League," Glasner told reporters after the game. "Stay humble. I don’t know if any debutant is able to win the competition. I don’t think so. We will learn from it, the players will learn. It’s disappointing, a frustrating night, but maybe the whole environment needed it to stay humble."

The Austrian coach admitted that his team’s failure to take their chances felt like "a little bit deja vu" after recent games in which they didn’t take their chances: "That's European football, and when you play the first time, maybe you have to learn that small mistakes get punished. We had enough chances to win the game, that's the story of not just today, but for many games. I think we had four or five big chances to score, but we didn't and made one mistake, and then you can lose a game like this, and it's now for us to learn from this and keep heads up."

Inconsistency creeping in for south Londoners

The defeat came at a time when optimism around Selhurst Park was soaring. Palace have enjoyed one of their best-ever starts to a Premier League season under Glasner, currently sitting eighth in the table with just one league loss in eight matches. They began the campaign by lifting the Community Shield after beating Liverpool on penalties, their second major trophy after having won the FA Cup, a few months earlier.

In the Premier League, Palace’s form has been steady, highlighted by a 2-1 win over champions Liverpool and a 3-0 away victory at Aston Villa. Jean-Philippe Mateta has been the standout performer, scoring seven goals in all competitions, while Daichi Kamada and Tyrick Mitchell have also impressed. Yet despite these highs, recent weeks have seen a dip in consistency – the Larnaca loss followed a 3-3 draw with Bournemouth and a 2-1 defeat to Everton.

For all their progress under Glasner, Thursday’s setback exposed how fine the margins are in European football. Against a Larnaca side ranked fifth in the Cypriot league, Palace’s lack of clinical edge and lapses in focus proved costly. The defeat also reignited questions about the squad’s depth and ability to manage playing two games a week.

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Getty Images SportAttention turns to Premier League clash with Arsenal

Crystal Palace will look to regroup quickly as they turn their attention back to Premier League action. Glasner’s men face league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday – a daunting test that could reveal how much they’ve learned from Thursday’s humbling experience. In the longer term, Palace remain well-positioned domestically and still have time to recover in the Conference League group stage.

Newcastle United were solemn and nervous when Alexander Isak left for Liverpool on transfer deadline day, having forced his way out and disrupted Eddie Howe’s early-season preparations.

The Sweden striker is one of the best in the business, after all. But through Nick Woltemade and a general reshuffle of the attacking cabinet, there’s much cause for optimism once again.

But the drawn-out saga of the summer cannot be allowed to repeat itself down the line. Ross Wilson knows this, and the newly-recruited technical director is renowned for his interpersonal skills and capacity to work well alongside the manager. In this regard, Howe’s position at the peak of the heirarchal pyramid is underscored. He is the main man at Newcastle.

The i Paper have revealed that contract extensions for three key players – Sven Botman, Tino Livramento and Sandro Tonali – are in the pipeline to prevent a future quandary such as this. The terms, it is believed, would contain release clauses, similar to the £100m buyout woven into the new contract Bruno Guimaraes penned in 2023.

Anthony Gordon, too, extended his stay at St. James’ Park last year and had a release clause printed on the paper. Gordon, 24, is arguably United’s attacking talisman now Isak has gone, with Woltemade young and raw, albeit with four goals in black and white already.

Keeping Gordon at the club was crucial, especially after Liverpool sniffed around for the £100m-valued England international last summer. A tough start to the campaign it has been, but he’s proving his worth and rising in importance for club and country.

Gordon's newfound seniority

Gordon was awarded the honour of Newcastle’s Player of the Year for 2023/24 after a rousing campaign that helped the club through amid so many injuries.

But he toiled through last season, unable to replicate that excellent form and fizzling out across the second half of the season. His absence through suspension for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool perhaps summed up his year.

But Gordon has scored three times in the Champions League this season and has nailed down an important position on the left flank in Thomas Tuchel’s England line-up.

Lively against Wales and clinical during the recent thrashing of Latvia, the £150k-per-week ace is growing in stature; he is a testament to hard graft, pitted against much adversity across the opening years of his professional career.

With Isak gone and Woltemade hardly expected to reach the same heights this season, fast start to life in England or not, it’s crucial that Gordon embraces his ever-evolving senior role and ensures Howe’s objectives are ticked off this term.

Gordon is a big talent, one of the finest England have. However, the Toon’s own production line has produced some exciting stars in recent years, with Elliot Anderson, somewhat bitterly, being a case in point.

But there’s another rising teenager gathering pace underneath the surface; he hasn’t yet made his first-team debut, but looks every bit a potential Three Lions star down the line.

Newcastle could have a bigger English talent than Gordon

Few and far between were the academy success stories on Tyneside in the years between Alan Shearer’s hatching in the city as a youngster and the advent of the PIF era.

To put that another way: it hasn’t been good enough. But there has been a focus on changing more than just the upper levels of the St. James’ Park set-up, these past four years.

That’s changed, and the latest example of this would be Sean Neave, who has been described by Magpies Media as being “the best Geordie striker prospect in a long, long time.”

Aged 18, Neave has already been promoted from the U18s to Newcastle’s U21 squad, the floor below senior level. Just 16 matches have been played, and a return of seven goals and three assists makes a convincing comment on the natural finisher’s potential.

Already, he stands at 6 foot 2, bearing a ranginess that is not too dissimilar to Isak’s gangly presence. With speed and a willingness to engage with defenders, playing off their shoulders, there’s a sense that Neave has taken a few pages from the Swede’s book as he has developed across these past few years.

Might Gordon have another strike partner to play with down the line? The winger’s connection with Woltemade already shows promise, but this differing profile could bear dividends. Who knows, Neave might even supersede Gordon as the star man.

Newcastle U18

37

21 (7)

Newcastle U21

16

7 (3)

Newcastle YL

7

1 (1)

Newcastle

–

–

One week ago, Newcastle U21s defeated Boston United 3-1 in the National League Cup. Did Neave get in on the action? He did indeed, bagging all three goals within 25 minutes and taking home the match ball.

Howe has already included the youngster in several matchday squads, but he still hasn’t handed the striker his first senior showing. That unforgettable occasion might just be on the horizon for the striker, whose prodigious potential is being recognised.

If he keeps it up, he may well be playing alongside Gordon for club and country in the coming years, having unquestionably demonstrated the requisite ability for a place in the Premier League. Moreover, Newcastle’s attacking depth might prove a positive thing for the teenager, who can slowly integrate without a weight of expectation on his shoulders.

While Neave’s strength leaves something to be desired, this is only natural. He is 18 and has not yet grown into his skin. This will come. Howe will ensure it.

But the natural talent and innate goalscoring ability are right there for all to see, and though Gordon is the cream of the English crop on Tyneside at the moment, that may well change if Neave continues to take confident strides over the coming years.

Newcastle star who's becoming a "fan favourite" could be Howe's new Joelinton

Newcastle have recruited wisely since Eddie Howe arrived four years ago.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 15, 2025

Standing in for Harmanpreet, who suffered a head injury in the warm-up game, Mandhana struck her maiden T20I ton while Charani took four wickets on debut

Valkerie Baynes28-Jun-2025A maiden T20I century for stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana powered India to an emphatic 97-run victory over England to open their five-match series at Trent Bridge.With Harmanpreet Kaur sitting out after she suffered a head knock during the warm-up game against ECB Developent XI on Wednesday, Mandhana struck three sixes and 15 fours on her way to 112 off 62 balls in a beautiful knock which only ended in the final over of India’s innings after they had been sent in.The scrappiness in the field which haunted England in the aftermath of their T20 World Cup exit returned against an opposition that were always going to punish any mistakes but Mandhana was a class above, reaching her ton in just 51 deliveries. She joined Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont, Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney as the only women to score centuries in all three formats.Related

Harmanpreet to be 'assessed and monitored' ahead of the Bristol T20I

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'See, I got it today' – Mandhana rises to Radha's challenge to score first T20I hundred

Stats – A day of batting highs for Mandhana and India

While Mandhana reprised her opening partnership with the recalled Shafali Verma, it was Harleen Deol who played the best supporting role with the bat in a 23-ball 43 as India reached 210 for 5, their second-highest total in T20Is.It was a wake-up call for England, who swept both their home white-ball series against West Indies, but were also found wanting with the bat, crumbling to 113 all-out inside 15 overs with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt playing a lone hand with 66 as debutant spinner N Shree Charani claimed 4 for 12.Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma now have the most fifty-plus stands in T20Is•NurPhoto/Getty ImagesMandhana weaves magic in NottinghamEngland thought their short-ball plan to Shafali had worked when, on 6, she chased one the pull and was given out caught behind by umpire Jacqueline Wilson. But Shafali indicated it had struck her helmet and used DRS to overturn the decision.Shafali was by far the quieter of the opening pair, scoring her first boundary when she crashed Lauren Filer’s previous ball through mid-off. She struck another off the last ball of the over, advancing down the pitch to pierce the covers with some force.Mandhana was the picture of elegance as she started the next over with back-to-back fours off Linsey Smith and finished it with another over the head of mid-on. She raised her fifty off 27 balls, cutting Alice Capsey for a second four off her first over. Em Arlott, whose misfield had contributed to the first of those boundaries, made amends when she broke up the pair as Shafali tamely chipped to mid-off and departed for 20 in a 77-run opening stand.Mandhana’s six off the first ball of Filer’s third over went several rows into the stands at deep backward square leg after Deol had settled straight into her work at No.3, sweeping three fours off one Smith over. Mandhana cruised to her century via consecutive fours off Lauren Bell, with Harmanpreet beaming and applauding from the dressing room balcony as her substitute soaked in the moment.Ecclestone’s not-so memorable comebackSophie Ecclestone returned to England for the first time since the dire Ashes tour of Australia after missing West Indies’ visit and taking a short injury and wellbeing break from domestic cricket. She watched as Mandhana slog-swept her first delivery for six and, three balls later, Mandhana sent another over the rope at wide long-on, Ecclestone conceding 19 runs in all off the over. She switched to the Stuart Broad end for her second, Mandhana and Deol helping themselves to 12 runs from it. Deol remained strong on the sweep but she fell mistiming a slog off Bell as Arlott ran round from long-on to take a strong catch just inside the rope.Sophie Ecclestone misfielded on the first ball of the game•Getty ImagesDeol’s dismissal raised the question whether Bell should have been brought back into the attack earlier to limit the damage India were inflicting, but she bowled soundly at the death. She accounted for Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues cheaply, the former holing out to Sophia Dunkley at wide long-off and the latter for a second-ball duck when Sciver-Brunt took a brilliant catch diving low to her left at cover point.Bell had said on the eve of the match that she was looking forward to bowling to Mandhana, her team-mate at Southern Brave, but it was Ecclestone who finally captured her wicket when called upon to bowl the final over. Mandhana smashed the first ball, a full toss, down the ground for four but miscued the second into the air over the covers and was caught by Sciver-Brunt. Ecclestone ended with 1 for 43 from three overs while Bell took 3 for 27 from four.Indian spinners on songThe home side’s reply was off to the worst start imaginable when Ghosh took a stunning catch behind the stumps, reaching high to her right to pluck the ball from the air after Dunkley slashed at a swinging delivery from Amanjot Kaur at the end of the first over.Deepti Sharma had taken a blow to the helmet from a ball thrown in from the outfield as she dived to make her ground off the last ball of India’s innings. But she struck with the first ball of the next over as Danni Wyatt-Hodge sent a leading edge straight to Deol at short third. The dismissal continued a poor international season against spin for Wyatt-Hodge, who was dismissed cheaply three times by left-arm spinner Zaida James during the T20Is against West Indies.Deepti struck again when she bowled an advancing Tammy Beaumont, back in the T20 side for the first time since touring Ireland last September and playing just her sixth international match in the format since January 2022. England’s 58 for 3 at the end of the powerplay quickly became 62 for 4 when Radha Yadav beat Amy Jones’ attempt to drive and Ghosh overcame a fumble to remove the bails in time.N Shree Charani piled on the dots and got wickets•Getty ImagesEngland’s reality checkLeft to shoulder a huge load, Sciver-Brunt’s task was made even harder by Capsey’s tame dismissal spooning Charani straight to Arundhati Reddy at short third. Arlott, a more-than-capable batter, as she proved earlier in this domestic season shortly before being called up for England, smashed a six over deep midwicket off Radha but was caught in the covers by none other than Mandhana and England’s fate was sealed.Sciver-Brunt brought up her fifty off 31 balls with a four off Deepti over the covers, but she was caught behind attempting to cut Charani, who also took the last wicket, Bell picking out to Rodrigues at deep midwicket. Charani finished with a memorable haul. England were expecting a tougher task than West Indies had posed when they came to face India but this match gave them the ultimate reality check.

“We also want to make sure that Shaheen has made some improvements to his game so that when he comes back into the T20 side, he does well”

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jul-2025Mike Hesson has dismissed speculation that he had asked Babar Azam to consider taking up wicketkeeping in a bid to regain his place in Pakistan’s T20I side.Reports had surfaced in recent days that the new Pakistan coach had told Babar, until recently a captain and mainstay in the T20I side, that he needed another skill to make him a more viable option at the top of the order.Babar has never kept wicket in his career, but Hesson was, in any case, categorical that Pakistan did not view him as a wicketkeeping option. Babar was not part of Pakistan’s last T20I squad for the home series against Bangladesh and is also not part of the squad that travels there for a return series later this month.Related

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The two series are the first under Hesson, as Pakistan look to reset their T20 batting approach under Salman Agha’s captaincy. But Babar and his longtime opening partner Mohammad Rizwan are both part of a week-long training camp in Karachi with the selected squad. Rizwan is also not part of the squad; as a long-time opening partnership, Babar and Rizwan’s stock has fallen steadily over the last couple of years, with criticism growing around their low-risk approach, apparent lack of intent and low strike rates.”Firstly, Babar Azam is not seen as a wicketkeeping option, no,” Hesson said. “Not sure where that came from, but I have heard that speculation. Babar is competing for one of the opening positions at the moment. But obviously, we have Fakhar [Zaman] and Saim [Ayub] in those two roles at the moment, so he’s competing for that.”Hesson was asked again about Babar, in the context of batting strike rates, and said he wanted Pakistan to catch up with the rest of the world in their approach.”No doubt strike rate is important in T20 cricket but you have to combine it with a volume of runs,” Hesson said. “There’s a good reason why our ranking in T20 cricket is as low as it is, because our strike rates from a batting point of view are not high enough. We certainly made some shifts in that last series to play a more expansive game of cricket and probably catch up with the rest of the world, as that is the way the modern game is.”We have identified some areas that Shaheen needs to work on,” Mike Hesson said•ICC/Getty Images”Babar is one of many who have the ability to make those improvements. And I’m here to work with them and help them. In the last month or so, he’s made some really good changes. It’s not just a matter of going from 125 to 150, it’s a matter of increasing what you can offer because we’re no doubt often 30-40 runs short with the bat. So, we need to find a way of getting that.”Babar and Rizwan aren’t the only big names on the outer as far as the team is concerned. Shaheen Shah Afridi, another member of the core that led Pakistan successively to last-four and runners-up finishes in the T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022, has also not been picked in recent Pakistan T20I sides. Afridi won a third PSL title in four seasons as captain of Lahore Qalandars in May, bowling well towards the end of the league. He is also at the camp, though not yet back in favour.”Shaheen Shah Afridi is a world-class player,” Hesson said. “There’s no doubt that we’ve identified some areas that Shaheen needs to work on, as does every player at this camp. But there’s a good reason that he, and everybody else, is at this camp. They’re in the wider frame for Pakistan in white-ball cricket and that includes T20 cricket. Players go through good periods and periods where they’re a little bit down in their game. And it’s up to us as coaching staff to try and get our best players on the park and make them better, so when they play for Pakistan, they perform better. We certainly don’t discount quality players, but we try and work with them to help them come back stronger.”Hasan Ali is currently playing the Blast in England•Getty ImagesHesson also clarified that Hasan Ali – the top wicket-taker against Bangladesh in the home series – had not been dropped, but that they had allowed him to continue playing in the Blast in England. Hasan will be back in the side for Pakistan’s T20 series against West Indies in August. Hesson, who is part of the selection panel, took the opportunity to include Salman Mirza, the left-arm pacer who made such an impression late in Qalandars’ winning PSL campaign.”Shaheen is a high-quality player,” Hesson said. “We had Hasan Ali, we had Haris Rauf, we had Abbas Afridi perform really well against Bangladesh. Haris is injured, and with Hasan, we saw an opportunity to bring in Salman Mirza. Shaheen will get his opportunity. But we also want to make sure that Shaheen has made some improvements to his game so that when he comes back into the T20 side, he does well.”The week-long camp is seen as more than just preparation for the Bangladesh tour. Pakistan have a busy T20 schedule as they look to rebuild for the next T20 World Cup in February-March 2026. They failed to make it past the group stages of the 2024 edition, a forgettable campaign which included a loss to USA.”This camp is about identifying key areas where we need to work on,” Hesson said. “And then putting the boys under a bit of pressure. I think we’ve identified even in the short time we’ve had with them, even with the last series, that there are some real fundamentals that we need to work on as a group. And that’s why we have a week with them. The first few days will be around those and then we’ll start to have a more specific focus for Bangladesh.”

Leeds United have now opened talks to sign a Europa League midfielder, with their first official offer set to be sent in a matter of weeks.

Leeds looking to strengthen in midfield amid downturn in form

While they still remain outside the Premier League relegation zone, Leeds’ form has gone downhill in recent weeks, most recently suffering a 2-0 defeat away against Burnley, which could prove to be a real six-pointer at the end of the season.

Speaking after the match, manager Daniel Farke claimed the result was “tough to take”, given that the Whites were the better team on the balance of play, with Brenden Aaronson hitting the woodwork, while Jack Harrison, Lukas Nmecha and Jayden Bogle also missed big chances.

Ultimately, however, it is a results business, and Farke’s side now find themselves just three points clear of 18th-placed Nottingham Forest, with the Clarets also closing the gap to just one point courtesy of their victory on Saturday.

It is still a little early to panic, considering the Elland Road outfit remain outside the bottom three, but Farke may have one eye on the January transfer window, and it has now been revealed that a new midfielder is of interest.

That is according to a report from Africa Foot (via Sport Witness), which reveals Leeds have now opened talks over a deal for Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Issouf Sissokho, who has emerged as a target for the January window.

The Whites plan to send their first official offer within a matter of weeks, given that talks with Sissokho’s entourage are progressing nicely, although it is unclear what sort of fee the Israeli side will demand to sanction a departure.

A verbal agreement with the Malian could soon be reached, with a winter move on the cards, and there are signs he could be a fantastic acquisition for the west Yorkshire outfit.

Pass-master Sissokho could be fantastic signing

The Maccabi Tel Aviv maestro is particularly impressive in possession of the ball, placing in the 99th percentile for his pass completion rate per 90 over the past year, when compared to other midfielders, having averaged 93.2%.

The defensive midfielder has also gained experience at a high level, having made ten Europa League appearances during his time with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and the 23-year-old was particularly impressive against Greek side PAOK at the end of September.

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Indeed, the Mali international put in a solid display in a holding midfield role to help his side pick up a clean sheet, recording a 100% pass completion rate, while also completing four defensive actions.

Leeds have been left a little light on options in central midfield at times this season, with Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu spending time on the sidelines, so it could make sense to bring in another option, and Sissokho has proven he could be a solid addition.