نجح فريق البنك الأهلي، في تحقيق الفوز على بتروجيت بثلاثية دون رد، خلال المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
والتقى البنك الأهلي مع بتروجيت، على أرضية استاد بتروسبوت، ضمن مواجهات الجولة السادسة من بطولة الدوري الممتاز.
وجاء هدف البنك الأهلي الأول في الدقيقة 56 عن طريق مصطفى الزناري، بعد كرة عرضية من إسحاق يعقوب قابلها الزناري برأسية من داخل منطقة الجزاء سكنت المرمى.
طالع أيضاً.. بعد إعلان رحيله.. ماذا قدم محمود الخطيب في 8 سنوات برئاسة النادي الأهلي؟
وفي الدقيقة 79 أضاف أحمد أمين “أوفا” الهدف الثاني، بعد أسيست من مصطفى شلبي بتمريرة سحرية قابلها أحمد أمين بتسديدة داخل الشباك.
وسجل محمود عماد الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 85 من تصويبة رائعة خارج منطقة الجزاء سكنت الشباك.
بتلك النتيجة، يحتل بتروجيت المركز الرابع في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 9 نقاط، بينما يتواجد البنك الأهلي بالمركز الثامن، ولديه 7 نقاط. أهداف مباراة البنك الأهلي وبتروجيت في الدوري المصري
Sunderland are set for a busy summer of transfer business before the window closes at the start of September, as they look to build a team that can compete in the Premier League.
The Black Cats have already confirmed their first signing of the summer as Enzo Le Fee has joined the club on a permanent deal, after spending the second half of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland’s French whiz scored one goal and provided one assist, whilst averaging 3.5 tackles and interceptions per game, in his 15 appearances in the Championship as a loanee.
The 25-year-old added a touch of class to the team, as shown in the clip below, and Regis Le Bris will be hoping that he can deliver in the Premier League as well.
Le Fee was not the only loan star on Wearside during the 2024/25 campaign, though, as central defender Chris Mepham was on loan from Bournemouth.
However, they have yet to agree a deal to bring the Wales international back to the Stadium of Light for the next Premier League season, despite a recent report claiming that they were considering a permanent move for him.
Why Sunderland may not sign Chris Mepham
Football Insider recently noted that Mepham has signed a one-year extension with the Cherries, which means that he will not be available on a free transfer this summer.
This means that Sunderland would have to pay a transfer fee for the central defender to sign him from their Premier League rivals, rather than being able to snap him up for nothing.
Chris Mepham in action for Sunderland.
Whilst it remains to be seen how much Bournemouth would want for the centre-back, this could put the Black Cats off a potential deal as it may be more costly than previously expected.
Fellow newly-promoted side Burnley have also been linked with a possible swoop for the Welsh colossus, who was a solid, but not outstanding, performer for Sunderland in the second tier.
24/25 Championship
Chris Mepham (per game)
Sunderland rank
Tackles
1.3
7th
Interceptions
0.9
6th
Clearances
6.2
1st
Blocks
0.9
1st
Pass accuracy
87%
6th
Long passes made
2.1
5th
Stats via WhoScored
As you can see in the table above, Mepham excelled in some areas of the game, notably making blocks and clearances, but was not one of the top-performing defenders at the club when it came to making tackles or interceptions.
Sunderland may feel that they could find better value elsewhere in the market, as they look to bolster their defensive options, which may be one reason why they may not sign him on a permanent deal.
In fact, the Black Cats are reportedly looking at a Championship central defender who could be an even better signing than Mepham this summer.
Sunderland eyeing deal for Championship enforcer
According to the Daily Express, Sunderland are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a deal to sign Millwall centre-back Japhet Tanganga in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Black Cats, Leeds United, and Burnley all have a ‘concrete interest’ in the former Tottenham Hotspur defender, as they look to bolster their defensive options.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states Crystal Palace are also keen on a deal for the 26-year-old enforcer, and that they could have an advantage in the race to sign him as a London club and a team with European football in the 2025/26 campaign.
The Daily Express reveals that he has a £1.2m release clause, that can only be activated by Premier League clubs this summer, which means that he could be a bargain signing for any of the interested teams.
Millwall's JaphetTangangain action with Portsmouth's Thomas Waddingham
It also reveals that Tanganga would like his future to be sorted by the end of the month, possibly to be ready for a pre-season with a new club, but it does not state what his preference is at this moment in time.
Why Sunderland should sign Japhet Tanganga
The Black Cats must now push to win the race for Tanganga ahead of Burnley, Leeds, and Palace because he could be an even better signing for the club than Mepham would be this summer.
Whilst the former Sunderland loanee is far from immobile, there may be concerns about how he would handle the step up in intensity and pace in the Premier League.
Whereas, Tanganga is an incredibly mobile and rapid central defender who can cover ground quickly and has the physicality to deal with top-flight attackers.
Carlton Palmer told Football League World: “He is capable of playing in the Premier League, he’s got the physical tools to cope with the demands of the top-flight with his positional play and reading of the game, while he has tremendous recovery pace.”
24/25 Championship
Chris Mepham
Japhet Tanganga
Appearances
38
40
Tackles per game
1.4
1.4
Interceptions per game
0.9
0.9
Dribbled past
0.5x
0.3x
Duels won per game
4.9
5.9
Ground duel success rate
55%
61%
Aerial duel success rate
63%
63%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Tanganga’s superior physical attributes in comparison to Mepham were on display in the Championship last season.
The Millwall colossus was dribbled past less frequently, which is because he has the pace to keep up with attackers when they try to knock it past him, and won a higher percentage of his duels on the ground overall.
This suggests that Tanganga would be more suited to dealing with Premier League attackers in one-on-one situations defensively than Mepham would be next season, due to his more impressive physicality.
Therefore, he could be a better signing for the Black Cats this summer because he is more likely to deal with the step up to the top-flight to help Le Bris’ side in their battle against relegation.
Sunderland now make approach for £13k-p/w defender with 25 UCL appearances
The Black Cats have launched a move for a “talented” player, who has tested himself in the Champions League.
By
Dominic Lund
Jun 12, 2025
It is now down to Sunderland to activate his £1.2m release clause and to convince him to make the move to the Stadium of Light, instead of joining one of the other three interested parties from the Premier League.
Winger Manor Solomon is a player who has captured the hearts of the Leeds United fanbase, impressing during his loan stint at the club during the title-winning campaign.
The Israeli international joined the Whites on a season-long loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur, looking to get his career back on track and fire Daniel Farke’s side back to the Premier League.
It’s safe to say that the 25-year-old has done exactly that, registering 10 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, leading to calls for him to be signed on a permanent basis.
With the transfer window now open once again, the club have the opportunity to complete such a deal, but up to now, there has been no progress, with it remaining unclear whether he will return to Yorkshire.
As a result, other forwards have since emerged on their radar as the German looks to build a side capable of surviving the drop come the end of May 2026.
The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new attackers this summer
In recent days, striker Davie Selke has emerged as a potential option for Leeds this summer, with a report claiming that they’ve already held talks with his representatives over a move to Yorkshire.
The 30-year-old has been in splendid form throughout 2024/25, scoring 22 times in his 31 appearances – the most in the Bundesliga 2 and helping Hamburg secure a return to the top-flight.
Hamburger SV's DavieSelkescores their third goal
However, another name has entered the mix in recent days, with Feyenoord winger Igor Paixao a summer target, that’s according to Dutch outlet FR12.
The report claims that the Whites have made an enquiry to sign the 24-year-old star, who’s registered 32 combined goals and assists across all competitions this campaign.
It also states that Marseille and Brighton and Hove Albion have made moves for the Brazilian, who could be available for a fee in the region of £34m this summer.
Why Leeds’ £34m target could be Farke’s own Sinisterra
Colombian winger Luis Sinisterra was seen as a huge addition back in the summer of 2022, joining Leeds in a £21.4m deal – looking to add key depth to their frontline.
The 25-year-old only made 19 appearances during his first season at Elland Road, but managed to find the net on five occasions, with injuries plaguing his progress after his big-money move.
After the side suffered relegation back to the Championship, he would leave to join Bournemouth on loan, before making his move permanent last summer in a £20m deal.
It was a partially successful deal, which only saw them lose £1.4m on their investment, in a move that was ultimately cut short due to the club’s slide down the football pyramid.
However, they could repeat such a deal this summer with Paixao, potentially joining Farke’s side from Dutch outfit Feyenoord – just as Sinisterra did three years ago.
When delving into the Brazilian’s underlying stats from 2024/25, he’s managed to outperform Solomon in numerous key areas, allowing the manager to forget about a dream reunion this summer.
Paixao, who’s been labelled “exquisite” by talent scout Antionio Mango, has registered more goals and assists, whilst posting a higher shot on target rate – subsequently showcasing his clinical edge in attacking areas.
How Paixao compares to Solomon in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)
Paixao
Solomon
Games played
34
39
Goals & assists
26
22
Shot-on-target accuracy
45%
40%
Shots on target per game
1.4
0.8
Carries into final third
2.4
2.3
Passes into final third
1.8
1.4
Aerials won
41%
0%
Stats via FBref
He’s also completed more carries into the final third and made more passes into the opposition area, having the tools to aid the likes of Piroe in being a success in England’s top flight.
The 24-year-old has also won more aerial duels, offering Farke a top-level all-round option in attacking areas – something which will be vital if they are to secure survival.
£34m may seem a huge fee for a player who’s unproven in the Premier League, but his talent is there for all to see, undoubtedly providing a better option than Solomon next season.
A move for Paixao is certainly a risk worth taking this summer, but the hierarchy will have to work quickly to avoid missing out on his signature, given the interest from elsewhere.
A better signing than Phillips: Leeds eye move for "phenomenal" £10m star
Leeds United should prioritise this phenomenal signing over attempting to bring back Kalvin Phillips to Elland Road.
Chelsea are not short of attacking options in their current squad.
Enzo Maresca has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal in the forward areas, with the likes of Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson all key players at Stamford Bridge.
There is also a chance Jadon Sancho joins the club permanently this summer, with his buy clause activating over the weekend. He has made a real impression over the past few weeks, as has Tyrique George, who has broken into the first team from the academy, notably scoring his first top-flight goal last weekend at Craven Cottage.
Jadon Sancho for Chelsea
Yet, the Blues want more in forward areas. It seems like they will look to sign a new winger in the 2025 summer window, and have been linked with someone who could further elevate their attacking options.
Chelsea's attacking shortlist this summer
With Jackson now on a run of 13 games without a goal it will come as no surprise that Chelsea are hoping to add a striker to their ranks this summer.
One name that stands out is Newcastle’s Alexander Isak while a cheaper alternative could be Ipswich Town striker, Liam Delap, according to reports.
Well, not just content with bolstering their central areas, they could also sign a winger from Barcelona.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
One of the most exciting teams to watch this season has been Hansi Flick’s Barca side. Their front three has been dominant, with Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal two key players, alongside Raphinha.
Well, according to TBR Football, it is the Brazilian who Chelsea are interested in signing over the summer. They have reportedly been told there is a chance to sign him this summer, and are thought to be ‘huge admirers’ of the winger.
FC Barcelona'sRaphinhacelebrates scoring their fourth goal
However, there will be competition for his signature if there is a chance the Blues can sign Raphinha. Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool are also ‘being kept informed about his situation’. It is reported that intermediaries have told the three English clubs that an £80m offer could be enough.
Why Raphinha would be a good signing
It has been a sensational season for Raphinha in 2024/25. He has been the spearhead of a Barca attack that has dominated Europe. They had amassed 100 goals in just 32 games by February, and have now far exceeded that number.
FC Barcelona'sRaphinhacelebrates scoring their third goal
As for the former Leeds star, he has an extraordinary 30 goals and 23 assists in 48 appearances so far this season. In La Liga, he’s notched up an impressive tally of 26 goal involvements in 30 appearances.
However, it is the Champions League where he has really thrived. The “unplayable” star, as Statman Dave called him, has 19 goals and assists this term, more than any other player, including a hat-trick against Flick’s former side, Bayern Munich.
Raphinha’s performances this season have been so good that Owen Hargreaves, former Manchester United midfielder, thinks he is a “revelation”. Hargreaves also said on TNT Sport that he thinks the Brazilian is “in the lead for the Ballon d’Or” at the end of the year.
The underlying stats via FBref from Raphinha’s incredible campaign show just how well he has played. For example, the former Leeds United star averages 1.11 goals and assists and 0.84 goal-creating actions per game. They rank him in the top 2% and 4% of attackers in Europe’s top five leagues, respectively.
Goals and assists
1.11
98th
Goals per shot on target
0.45
88th
Key passes
2.98
96th
Shot-creating actions
5.36
91st
Goal-creating actions
0.84
96th
Thus, should the Blues bring Raphinha to the club, there is every chance he could end up becoming their best attacker since Eden Hazard.
Has there ever been a better forward in Chelsea history than Hazard? Well, that comes down to personal preference, but former Blues player turned pundit Pat Nevin called him a “world-class” operator back in 2019. Since his exit, no wide player at Stamford Bridge has scored more than his 16-goal Premier League haul from 2018/19 and Raphinha is streets ahead of that already in Catalonia.
Hazard was certainly unbelievable in that famous Blue shirt, scoring 110 goals and assisting a further 85 in 310 appearances for the club.
A sensational dribbler, he could often be seen running rings around opposition defenders before bearing down on goal or finding a teammate, as the video shows.
If Raphinha could replicate what Hazard did at Stamford Bridge, he’d be an instant success. The quality is there, of that there is no doubt, and his pure goals and assist numbers are sensational this season.
It would be some coup for Chelsea, and if they could bring the Brazil international back to the Premier League, it would be a real statement signing ahead of 2025/26.
Shades of Hazard: Chelsea plotting move to sign £39m-rated "entertainer"
Chelsea are looking to add to their depth in attack
Arsenal have prepared an offer to sign a “dominant” attacking gem who’s drawn comparisons with Brazil legend Neymar, with sporting director Andrea Berta already having a fee in mind to put forward.
Arsenal targeting two wingers and a striker this summer
Berta, who’s set to work in tandem on the club’s recruitment with manager Mikel Arteta, arrives at N5 with a glowing reputation after 12 successful years at Atlético Madrid.
Arteta has "serious" wish to sign £40m star with Arsenal contact made
The Gunners boss is “huge fan”.
1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 16, 2025
The 53-year-old was responsible for key transfer deals at the Wanda Metropolitano, including the signings of Jan Oblak, Marcos Llorente, Rodri, Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suárez, Yannick Carrasco and noteworthy names, with supporters now hoping he can replicate his excellent pieces of business in north London.
Ipswich Town (away)
April 20th
Crystal Palace (home)
April 23rd
Bournemouth (home)
May 3rd
Liverpool (away)
May 11th
Newcastle United (home)
May 18th
Arsenal’s board are set to back Berta with a significant transfer kitty this summer, which GiveMeSport estimates could be up to £300 million on as many as seven major signings before the beginning of 2025/2026.
Three items on their agenda include the potential acquisitions of a left-winger, right-winger and striker.
Arsenal have already held talks with the representatives of Nico Williams, who’s expected to leave Athletic Bilbao this summer, while it is also believed that they’re in ongoing communication with Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman’s agents as well.
Arsenal have also been told the price for Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, according to Fabrizio Romano, with Berta sent a “clear” message in recent days/weeks that the Sweden international will cost around £60 million.
It is pretty evident that a new attacker or two will be coming to the Emirates Stadium, and it is now believed Berta has his eyes firmly on a rising star in Brazil.
Arsenal prepare bid for Atlético Mineiro starlet Gabriel Veneno
According to journalist Lucas Tanaka, that man is teenage forward Gabriel Veneno, who is earning quite the reputation in South America.
The 15-year-old right-winger has even drawn comparisons to Neymar due to his dribbling ability, with Future Ballers on X also branding Veneno a “dominant force” in one-v-one situations and an exceptional dribbler.
Tanaka believes Arsenal already have an offer prepared for Veneno, but he cannot reveal the exact nature of his bid for now.
“Here’s some exclusive information on Gabriel Veneno. The jewel of Atletico is considered a jewel by the people who follow the youth team,” said Tanaka on YouTube.
“Remember he’s in the under-16s, he’ll be 16 in July. He was called up to the Brazilian national team under-16s last year. If I’m not mistaken he’s an attacking midfielder who likes to play on the right wing, pulling inside.
“Gabriel Veneno is being watched and approached by a big European club, Arsenal.
“Arsenal in England is keeping an eye on Gabriel Veneno. I already have the value of the possible offer that they’re thinking of sending in the middle of the year, but I can’t give you the value yet.”
Having quietly contributed towards South Africa’s qualification for the semi-final, he could have a far bigger role to play in the knockouts
Danyal Rasool01-Mar-2025
Keshav Maharaj picked up 2 for 35 against England•Getty Images
Harry Brook slogged one to wide long-on. It wasn’t middled, but along the vast expanses of the on-side boundary, there was enough acreage for it to land safely. It was England’s best period of the game, having put on 62 for the fourth wicket after Marco Jansen had ripped out three early wickets. As Jansen sprinted towards the ball, Ramiz Raja said on commentary that the ball had landed safely. The sentence wasn’t yet complete before Jansen put in a slide, letting the ball nestle in his hands as he broke out into a full dive.Twenty minutes later, with England knee-deep into another collapse, Liam Livingstone charged out of his crease. Brendon McCullum said yesterday, perhaps incongruously, that part of England’s ODI malaise was down to the players caring “too much” about the result, but it didn’t seem the correct diagnosis at this moment. Livingstone got nowhere near a wide one but swung at it anyway. For a man who might have played his last ODI, that may not be too far off what his epitaph reads. The only person who seemed irrelevant to those dismissals was the man whom the record books will allot them to: Keshav Maharaj.There are invariably reasons to look past Maharaj, and he is far from the main story from a game where England plumbed new depths as they produced a performance to remind their outgoing captain why he had resigned from the job. Making it as a spinner in South Africa is a bit like pursuing alpine skiing in Ibiza; you could be very good at it, but you will never be the main attraction. With Jansen blowing a hole in England’s top order as well as competing with Lungi Ngidi for the catch of the day, and Wiaan Mulder finding a yard of extra pace to knock back Joe Root’s middle stump, Maharaj would do well to sneak into a sidebar.Related
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Maharaj had let the fast bowlers pick up the load against Afghanistan nine days earlier on a surface, registering ostensibly nondescript figures of 1 for 46 from his ten. However, it was a surface Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said offered “no turn” for the spinners; Noor Ahmed, Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi were more expensive, combining for 3 for 175 in 29.Going the distance in ICC events tends to require an ensemble cast, and South Africa understand the value of Maharaj in these conditions. Maharaj’s contribution may not have been instrumental to the last two results, but it was indicative of his reliability.Thrown the ball after drinks as England began to find their way back into the game, this was the ideal situation for him. Brook fell to spin in each innings this tournament, and England had ten right-hand batters in their side. Unlike Mitchell Santner – the most obvious comparison in this tournament – Maharaj doesn’t seem to have a preference for right-hand batters; his strike rate and economy rate are largely identical for both sets of batters. But 43 of his 58 wickets have come against right-hand batters, and with his use of the wider line and the slower speed, it is an angle batters have struggled to handle in these conditions.Maharaj treated this like a game of chicken. England were enjoying their best passage, and with large gaps on the on side, he fed one right into Brook’s arc. “I tried to lure him into playing a false shot,” Maharaj said afterwards. “I think at that stage, with England three wickets down, you’re trying to get the breakthrough. I don’t think he played the shot as well as he would have liked to but kudos to Marco Jansen for taking such a brilliant catch.”With nothing appearing to work for England’s ODI team at present, it’s more tempting to put that miscue down to the form of England’s batters, but you have to earn the right to bowl into the arc of the world’s most explosive batters, and in these conditions, Maharaj has paid his dues. Fifteen months ago, he played a key role in South Africa’s run to the semi-final in the ODI World Cup in India; he took 15 wickets from ten games at an economy of 4.15. Among those who took at least ten wickets in the tournament, only Jasprit Bumrah had a better economy. In five of nine innings where he bowled at least nine overs, he conceded 32 or fewer, including standout performances against New Zealand, India and twice against Australia – the three opponents left standing alongside South Africa in this tournament.1:39
Do South Africa have the best attack in the tournament?
This role of situational cicada is one Maharaj has almost perfected. With the wickets in Karachi playing “a little bit slow”, he was happy to give credit to the fast bowlers for “making his life easier”. “It’s just about bowling as many dot balls as I can and trying to understand what the batter’s trying to do and being one step ahead in the analysis work we do, and allow the fast bowlers to strike from the other end.”Maharaj is, perhaps characteristically, being uncharitable to his own contribution and the role his two wickets played in derailing England’s middle order, which slumped from 99 for 3 to 129 for 7. His spell today included 36 dot balls; only two bowlers – Michael Bracewell (twice) and Will O’Rourke – have produced more in a single game in the tournament. But with those performances coming against Pakistan and Bangladesh, who do not remotely share England’s attacking ethos, Maharaj’s success in squeezing down the middle is hard to overstate; only two bowlers have sent down more dot deliveries against England in an ODI since the start of 2024.He might be the perfect piece that slots inconspicuously into this ICC tournament jigsaw South Africa will feel they’re getting closer and closer to completing, but it has not dimmed Maharaj’s hunger for a more prominent role. With South Africa potentially playing the semi-final or final in Dubai, he remains a star performer only temporarily reduced to supporting cast.”I’m sure there will be a time in the last two games in this competition where I’m allowed to hold the attacking role,” Maharaj said. “Looking forward to that when it does come about, but for now I’m just trying to bowl my balls as consistently as possible.”And while he does, it may be easy to overlook him. Yet, as Afghanistan and England found out to their cost, actually working out how to play him is another story altogether.
The second week of the TNPL witnessed Sai Sudharsan pile on the runs and Shahrukh Khan flex his bowling muscle
Deivarayan Muthu26-Jun-20234:52
Watch – Sai Sudharsan blasts 41-ball 83
Natarajan’s emotional homecoming
After becoming Sunrisers Hyderabad’s yorker specialist in the IPL, and after having played for India in all three formats, T Natarajan played his first TNPL game in his hometown of Salem, with around 15 members of his family in attendance. It was also the first time that his parents watched him live in a competitive fixture.Related
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Natarajan, who was representing Ba11sy Trichy, swung the new ball sharply in the powerplay before nailing his yorkers and bouncers at the death to come away with figures of 1 for 34 in his four overs.The lead-up to the game was emotional for Natarajan, who finally realised his dream of opening a cricket ground with training facilities at his village, which is about 30 km away from Salem city. Two days out of the game, Natarajan formally opened his ground in the presence of his Tamil Nadu team-mates. On the day of the match, the locals thronged the Salem cricket foundation ground, welcoming Natarajan with the kind of cheers that are usually reserved for Ashwin, the biggest star in Tamil Nadu cricket.T Natarajan’s Tamil Nadu team-mates at the opening of the Natarajan Cricket Ground•ESPNcricinfo LtdThough Natarajan and the Trichy franchise lost to Tiruppur Tamizhans on Sunday, he must’ve been proud of his protégé G Periyaswamy, who closed out the match for the opposition. Periyaswamy also hails from Salem and was recently part of Rajasthan Royals as a net bowler in IPL 2023.
Sai & Sai sparkle
B Sai Sudharsan notched up his fifth half-century in six T20 innings, stretching back to the IPL final against Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad. His latest fifty was especially vital to Kovai displacing Dindigul from the top of the standings.Varun Chakravarthy has been unhittable across seasons in the TNPL, but on Sunday, Sudharsan tonked the mystery spinner for three sixes and two fours. Sudharsan was more circumspect against Ashwin and finished with 83 off 41 balls against one of the best bowling attacks in the TNPL. Another day, another Sudharsan half-century, and another victory for Kovai.Later in the evening, Tiruppur’s R Sai Kishore struck a 23-ball half-century – the fastest in this TNPL – as a pinch-hitting No.3. He had a favourable match-up against left-arm spinners R Alexander, who was with Chennai Super Kings as a net bowler in IPL 2023, and K Monish, who has previously played the Ranji Trophy for Kerala, and aced it. Then, in a more familiar role as a defensive spinner with the ball, Sai Kishore returned 0 for 21 in his four overs.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Ashwin’s funky fields
The red-soil pitch in Dindigul offered extra bounce and zip to the seamers. Ashwin sussed out the conditions and precisely placed a fine deep third for a top-edged slog in a tense finish against defending champions Chepauk Super Gillies.With Chepauk needing three off the last ball, P Saravana Kumar dug the ball into the Dindigul deck and drew a top-edged slog that was intercepted at that fine deep third. Had Sarath Kumar been placed squarer in the deep, the ball might have travelled to the boundary. Job well done from Ashwin, B Indrajith, the keeper, and Dindigul.Then in Dindigul’s next match against Kovai, they came up against Shahrukh, who is particularly powerful down the ground. So, Ashwin posted a straight long-on, a field that MS Dhoni often deployed for Kieron Pollard in the IPL.Lyca Kovai Kings’ M Siddharth was a net bowler with CSK in IPL 2023•TNPL/TNCA
Emerging player: M Siddharth
M Siddharth, the left-arm fingerspinner, has been a consistent performer in the TNPL for a while, but he often played in the shadows of Sai Kishore, Tamil Nadu’s premier left-arm spinner, at Chepauk in the past. In this season, Siddharth has led Kovai’s attack, fronting up to bowl the tough overs in the powerplay. His fizzing arm ball has posed a threat to both right-handers and left-handers. Siddharth has managed only six wickets in five matches so far, but his economy rate of 5.25 is the best among bowlers who have bowled at least 15 overs this season.Siddharth was born in Chennai and then he grew up in Indonesia, where his father worked and also played a bit of cricket. Siddharth then returned to Chennai to play cricket professionally. More recently in IPL 2023, he was a net bowler for CSK and prior to that, he had a stint as a net bowler with Mumbai Indians.If Siddharth could keep up his form in the TNPL and carry it to the domestic season, he could potentially pique the interest of IPL scouts.
Shahrukh out to prove himself as a bowler
The most prolific spinner, in terms of wickets, in this TNPL is not Varun or the Ashwins. Shahrukh, whose primary role in T20 cricket is that of a finisher, has sprung a surprise with the ball, picking up nine wickets in 12 overs at an average of 8.00 and economy rate of 6.00. Overall, only Tiruppur’s rookie seamer P Bhuveswaran has more wickets than Shahrukh this season.Shahrukh isn’t a big turner of the ball but gets just enough and works with the dimensions of the field to draw mis-hits. With Shahrukh pitching in with his offspin to complement the wristspin of Jhatavedh Subramanyan and left-arm orthodox of Siddharth, Kovai cover almost all bases on the spin front.At a post-match interview, Shahrukh said that the ball was coming out nicely from his hand and that more overs at this level could help him be ready to bowl in the IPL as well.
A habit of making false starts at the Gabba threatened to undermine England once again
Andrew Miller08-Dec-20211994-95 Quarantine is a relatively modern word in cricket parlance, although it was all the rage on Mike Atherton’s 1994-95 tour, which – then as now – had begun with England hoping to unleash fast-bowling fury on their hosts, only for circumstances to change the team dynamic somewhat. Devon Malcolm had wrecked South Africa with figures of 9 for 57 in his previous Test at The Oval. Now, he was laid low with chickenpox, so a different game plan was called for. Keep it tight, line and length, offer nothing to get Michael Slater’s juices flowing … cue Phil DeFreitas’ first-ball long-hop, carved with glee through the covers. By the close, Slater had romped to 176 in a first-day total of 329 for 4.2002-03 Nasser Hussain’s fateful call at the toss has taken on mythical proportions in the past two decades – as well it might with Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting on hand to clatter Australia to 364 for 2 by the close. And while the reasoning at the time might have had some merit – there was a green tinge to that first-day Gabba pitch, and Andrew Caddick, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones had the skills to exploit it – the decision reeked of defeatism, a fundamental lack of faith from Hussain in his batting, which quickly permeated the entire performance. The most devastating blow came midway through the morning, when Jones – with the wicket of Justin Langer with his ninth ball – ruptured his knee ligaments in a gruesome fielding injury. After that, the spark went out of the attack.Steve Harmison’s first ball heads for second slip•Getty Images2006-07 One delivery doesn’t set the tone for a series … does it? There’s been enough evidence in this particular contest down the years to suggest that it just might. And certainly in 2006-07, the only way was down after Steve Harmison’s infamous radar malfunction, all the way to a 5-0 whitewash. Two years earlier at Lord’s, Harmison had been the man of the morning with his savage spell to Langer and Ponting, whom he left bloodied with a bouncer straight into the grille. Now, with that 2005 team stripped of so many key names, and with his best mate Andrew Flintoff leading a patched-up outfit in a hugely hyped rematch, his response was a wide whang of a first ball, straight into the skipper’s hands at second slip. “Only four players turned up,” Harmison told ESPNcricinfo ahead of the last Ashes tour. “And of the three or four senior players who didn’t turn up, I was probably top of the tree.”2010-11 Just to prove that there can be salvation, even in the bleakest of circumstances, the 2010-11 Gabba Test stands out as a beacon of optimism for any Englishman planning to still be cracking on through the night come day five. England had the team, and the preparation, to surmount all circumstances on that particular trip, but Brisbane has an ability in inveigle its way into the most solid of mindsets. Andrew Strauss, England’s captain, discovered that on a ferocious first morning. His eagerness to feel bat on ball in Ben Hilfenhaus’ first over translated into an over-ambitious prod to the gully, where Michael Hussey clung on with glee. Before the end of the day, Peter Siddle had deepened their gloom with a birthday hat-trick. And yet, second-time-around, life proved rather more serene… 517 for 1 and all that.Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott take the applause after their record stand•AFP2021-22 It took an unusual length of time for the wheels to come off on England’s last two visits to the Gabba – Stuart Broad’s five-for in 2013-14 and James Vince’s what-might-have-been 83 four years later saw to that. But as if to make up for lost time, England’s start this time around might yet trump the lot. Both teams were as raw as red meat coming into this contest, which made Joe Root’s correct call at the toss something of a Hobson’s choice, and certainly Rory Burns didn’t seem ideally aligned as he walked across his first ball from Mitchell Starc, a late-swinging half-volley, to lose his leg stump for only the second series first-baller in Ashes history. Dawid Malan poked loosely to the keeper three overs later, and when Root himself followed up his annus mirabilis with the second duck of the morning, England were 11 for 3 inside the Powerplay first six overs, and sinking fast. Penny for Nasser’s thoughts in such circumstances?
The Guardians could only have made the 2025 postseason one way—the painful way.
Cleveland rookie first baseman C.J. Kayfus was hit by a pitch in a tie game with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth Saturday, earning the Guardians a 3–2 win over the Rangers and locking up the team's seventh postseason berth in the last decade.
The ending was emblematic of Cleveland's stunning, skillful, lucky in-season resurrection after a 10-game losing streak in July that left the team 40-48.
As late as July 8, the Guardians trailed the Tigers by 15.5 games in the American League Central division race. Cleveland enters the final day of the season tied with Detroit, needing only a win or a Tigers loss to clinch the division by virtue of its head-to-head tiebreaker.
At 87-74, the Guardians are defying a .494 Pythagorean winning percentage roughly on par with the 75-85 Braves. Only three players on the team—superstar third baseman José Ramírez, left fielder Steven Kwan and pitcher Gavin Williams—have accumulated more than two bWAR.
Somehow, Cleveland has endured. It will meet Texas again Sunday in a bid to finish off baseball's greatest comeback.
A man has pleaded guilty to stalking Liverpool star Marie Hobinger after sending her inappropriate and sexualised messages. Mangal Dalal, from London, sent the midfielder a string of messages via Instagram, which included his mobile number and postcode, as well as asking her to visit him. The 42-year-old was also charged with stalking as a result of the electronic communications between January and February this year.
Liverpool star fears for her safety
According to the Crime Prosecution Service, Dalal sent messages to Hobinger between January 27 and February 16, 2025. The messages were 'often sexually explicit,' and he also implied he would come to football games to see her. The Austrian became 'increasingly concerned' and blocked him on the social media platform before telling her club. Despite that, the Hyde Park Gardens resident travelled to the Reds' clash at Manchester City's Joie Stadium on February 16, where the 24-year-old played the whole game. A safety officer travelled to the match, which City won 4-0, and after they discovered that Dalal was waiting for her pitchside, action was taken, with the Westminster local later being questioned by police.
The report adds that when he was questioned by police, Dalal owned up to what he had done but said he was mentally unwell at the time. The CPS authorised a charge of stalking and last Thursday (December 4), he plead guilty at Liverpool Magistrates' Court. He will be sentenced on January 20, 2026, at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
'Dalal’s behaviour was criminal'
At the magistrates' court, senior crown prosecutor Sarah McInerney said Dalal treated Hobinger "as an object" he could use to "air his fantasies". She added that his actions were "totally inappropriate" and his behaviour was "criminal".
She told the court: "Marie Hobinger is a talented professional sportswoman at the top of her game. Mangal Dalal targeted her and treated her as an object that he could use to air his fantasies. His messaging was intense, continual, and totally inappropriate. It had a serious impact on the player who was simply trying to play to the best of her ability in a sport and team that she loves. Dalal’s behaviour was criminal and will not be tolerated in a fair and equal society. We would like to thank Ms Hobinger and Liverpool FC for their help in bringing Dalal to justice."
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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Hobinger?
The former FC Zurich player, who joined Liverpool in 2023 and has since gone on to play 59 times for the Women's Super League side, is currently out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. She has been doing her rehab since sustaining the setback in October.