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Nathan McSweeney, who was opening the batting, fell before the close of play

AAP21-Jul-2025Australia A’s batters faced a searching test to save their two-game series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin after the visitors built a formidable first innings total, thanks mostly to a century from Pavan Rathnayake.Resuming on day two of the second four-day match at 263 for 4, Sri Lanka A fully punished rival captain Jason Sangha’s decision to send them in, powering on to make 486 for 6 declared.In reply, the hosts were 76 for 1 at stumps at the Marrara Cricket Ground on Monday, with Jake Weatherald on 45 and Kurtis Patterson 19, and with a mountain still to climb to win the series after the first match was drawn.Australia A’s former Test opener Nathan McSweeney couldn’t replicate his fine 94 from the first match, falling for 12 when bowled between bat and pad by offspinner Nishan Peiris.Rathnayake resumed on 43, and made the most of an ideal batting strip in reaching 122 off 223 balls – his side’s second century following Nuwanidu Fernando’s 102 on day one.Sonal Dinusha, resuming on 5, also joined the run-fest in moving to 88 off 191 deliveries, as he and Rathnayake added 170 for the fifth wicket in 53 overs.Their stand ended when left-arm spinner Zanden Jeh lured Rathnayake into a rash clip to short midwicket where he was well caught low down by Oliver Peake.Dinusha and Sohan de Livera continued to punish the bowlers, adding 40 runs in 14 overs before Dinusha mishit a lofted pull and was caught at mid-on by Patterson.That gave a third wicket to unknown 22-year-old Zeh who was the pick of the eight bowlers used despite never having played top level state cricket. The Queenslander was chosen from left-field for game one as Australian officials continue their search for quality left-arm spinners.De Livera was the fifth batter to make a half-century or more, finishing 50 not out when the declaration came.McSweeney hit two fours in his 20 balls before being bowled between bat and pad. Weatherald and Patterson guided the home side to stumps adding 44 without further loss.

Even if Sunrisers win the last two remaining games, they will need other results to go their way to qualify

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-2020The 2020 IPL is the first season (among the 10 to feature eight teams) when no team has reached more than 14 points after 47 games. The playoffs race is getting tight as we move to the last few games.The IPL points table after match 47 of IPL 2020•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Delhi Capitals: Position on points table: 3rd, Played 12, Points 14
The Capitals loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad has put them in a spot of bother. Two wins in their last two games will guarantee a playoff spot and a potential top two position although their net run rate (0.03) has taken a big hit after this defeat and has gone below Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Kings XI Punjab are not too far behind. With one more win, at 16 points, there is a scenario where they can miss out because five teams can finish on 16 while two defeats – and 14 points – will keep them hoping for other results going their way.Sunrisers Hyderabad: Position on points table: 6th, Played 12, Points 10
One down and two to go for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Sunrisers need to continue their streak and go on to win their next two matches. Even if they get to 14 points they will need other results to go their way to qualify since four other teams can still get to 16 or more points (a five-way tie on 16 points is still possible). However, the Sunrisers are at an advantage with an excellent net run-rate (0.396) in case teams are locked at 14.

Manchester United legend Andy Cole has accused the club of committing 'adultery' on Erik ten Hag after holding talks with Thomas Tuchel.

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• Ten Hag to stay on at Man Utd after review
• But club did speak to Thomas Tuchel
• Former striker Cole critical of club's actions

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Manchester United have decided to stick with Ten Hag as manager for another season despite holding talks with former Chelsea and Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel. The Dutchman has said he knows the club spoke to Tuchel and "several other trainers" before opting to keep him on as "they already had the best manager."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ten Hag's position at Old Trafford came under scrutiny after he oversaw the club's worst ever Premier League finish and a dismal Champions League campaign. However, the Dutchman did manage to finish the season on a high by guiding the Red Devils to an impressive FA Cup win over rivals Manchester City at Wembley. United then conducted a review of the season and opted to stick with Ten Hag, but the decision to speak to Tuchel has been criticised by club legend Cole.

• WHAT ANDY COLE SAID

  He told Betfred: "For Erik ten Hag to claim that he was told by the club that they were speaking to Thomas Tuchel is crazy. It’s just strange and even more so when you consider how public it’s all been. Admitting that you’ve spoken to another manager is like telling your wife that you’ve been messaging another girl. It’s like committing adultery."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD

  Ten Hag is now expected to sign a contract extension with Manchester United, but Cole has warned he will come under pressure again if his team makes a poor start to the season.

  "It may take more than a few bad results, but the scrutiny will be on him from the first day of pre-season," he added. "If they start their season like they did the last, then of course the pressure is going to be on him quickly. It will be very interesting to see how it all works out."

  Manchester United kick off their 2024-25 Premier League season at home to Fulham on August 16.

Florian Wirtz says now is not the moment to ask about his future but is having a "great time" at Bayer Leverkusen amid Bayern Munich links.

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• Wirtz stars for Leverkusen in 2023-24
• Having a "great time" at Alonso's side
• German icon backs him to join Bayern

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 21-year-old enjoyed a stellar season with Leverkusen and that has led to links with Bundesliga rivals Bayern. He himself "feels good" at Xabi Alonso's team but refrained from saying he would definitely stay put for next term. Incidentally, German icon Jurgen Kohler believes the attacking midfielder, whose contract runs until 2027, will link up with the Bavarians at some point in the future.

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  WHAT FLORIAN WIRTZ SAID

  He told : "Everyone knows my contract. Now is not the time to talk about it. I'm definitely having a great time in Leverkusen and I feel good. The European Championship is 100 per cent on my mind right now. I don't care about anything else right now."

  Kohler, who won the 1990 World Cup with Germany, believes Wirtz and Leverkusen team-mate Jonathan Tah could both be at Bayern soon.

  "Bayern 's great strength has always been that they have the best German national players. I think Tah should make this move because as a player you always strive for the highest possible, even if he had a sensational season with Leverkusen. Florian Wirtz will be the next to sign for Bayern," he said.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wirtz has caught the world's attention after scoring 18 goals and bagging 20 assists; feats which earned him the best Bundesliga player of the 2023-24 season award. It remains to be seen if he will still be at Leverkusen, who he helped win the league and DFB-Pokal last term, next term.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Wirtz is now gearing up to represent Germany at this summer's European Championship in his home country. If he performs well there, his asking price will get even higher – with the youngster valued in excess of £125 million.

Manchester United fans have reacted in shock to the news that the club is looking for a head of recruitment in the middle of the transfer window.

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• United looking for new recruitment head
• Will report to director Vivell
• Fans react with anger

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite the fact that the summer transfer window opened weeks ago, there is still no one filling this position at Old Trafford, and according to , the search is ongoing to find someone to report to director Christopher Vivell with a focus on player recruitment.

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  WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  Taking to social media, @UtdXclusive wrote, exasperatedly: "We realised this in July…"

  @Utd_Forever7 added: "Everyone is signing players while we are trying to sign directors that needed to be signed long time ago! You made us believe@INEOS&@ManUtdbut actually nothing has changed!"

  @CentreBrack wrote: "Isn't this something you do before a transfer window? Especially a transfer window where you need to overhaul your squad after finishing 15th the previous year? Fascinating behaviour every day from this club honestly."

  Elsewhere on X, @shadadzai posted a gif of a man with his head in his hands, writing "looking for a head of recruitment mid transfer window"

  Meanwhile, @battye_edward was more balanced, writing: "They just made a load of scouts redundant, got to look long term with this, not like we can't sign players without these people in place. It's easy to criticise but we need to wait and see what happens over the next few years."

• WHAT THE PUNDITS ARE SAYING

  According to Ornstein, the club is currently "working with consultants Sportsology on [a] key hire to revamped department". He wrote: "Manchester United are searching for a head of senior recruitment, a new role overseeing senior scouts, as part of their overhaul of that department. United will also have regional heads of emerging talent across the main talent pools globally."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The behind-the-scenes recruitment turmoil at Old Trafford perhaps explains the club's trouble improving the squad this summer. Their move for Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo has dragged on for weeks and the Cameroon international has been warned that his potential big-money transfer may not be the wisest decision, with other clubs circling around the high-performing attacker.

Arsenal have a proud history of producing incredible talent through their youth system.

Hale End has been responsible for legends from years past, such as Liam Brady, David O’Leary, and David Roecastle.

That tradition has carried on through the eras, with Cesc Fàbregas, Ashley Cole and even the injury-riddled Jack Wilshere all spending time in the famous academy.

That same system also produced arguably the club’s best player in the current squad, Bukayo Saka, and it looks like there is another wave of promising prospects coming through, including one youngster who is already worth millions more than a former youth player now making a name for himself in France: Mika Biereth.

Biereth's impressive rise

Arsenal signed Biereth from Fulham’s academy in the summer of 2021, and following several loan moves to RKC Waalwijk, Motherwell and finally, Sturm Graz, he was sold to the latter for just £4m plus add-ons in the summer.

Now, it could be said that agreeing to that much money plus a sell-on clause for a youngster who’s never even played for the first team was smart business from the Gunners.

Yet, considering he had racked up a tally of nine goals and four assists in 22 games at the back end of last season, it did feel like they could have asked for more.

This season has proven that to be true, as the Danish youngster was able to chalk up a tally of 14 goals and five assists in just 25 games for the Austrian outfit before the winter transfer window opened, in which he secured a £10.8m move to AS Monaco.

On the French Riviera, the former Gunners’ prospect has simply gone from strength to strength.

In just ten appearances, totalling 688 minutes, the 22-year-old has been able to score ten goals and provide two assists, meaning he’s averaging 1.2 goal involvements per game, or one every 57.33 minutes.

That means that in 35 appearances across both clubs this season, Biereth has scored 24 goals and provided seven assists, which begs the question: was selling him a mistake?

Well, regardless of the answer, Arsenal can at least rest assured that one of their new academy stars is already worth considerably more than him.

The Hale End star worth millions more than Biereth

One of the few positives from this season is that when we are talking about a new Hale End star, at least a couple of players could come into consideration.

However, in this instance, it is most certainly Ethan Nwaneri who has gone from an exciting prospect for the future to an essential part of the first team at just 17 years old.

Granted, the injury crisis in attack has somewhat accelerated his integration, but from how well he’s played this year, you’d have no idea this is his first proper campaign of senior football.

The often “unplayable” teenager, as dubbed by Wilshere, has made 26 appearances for the first team this year, totalling 948 minutes, in which he’s scored seven goals and provided one assist, meaning he is averaging a goal involvement every 3.25 games, or every 118.5 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, this has seen his valuation soar, with Football Transfers pricing him at up to €37.5m, which comes out to around £31m, or just over £20m more than Monaco paid for Biereth in January.

Ultimately, with how badly Arsenal need a striker at the moment, there is a strong argument to be made that selling the young Dane was a mistake.

However, any annoyance stemming from that decision should be quickly forgotten, as in Nwaneri, it looks like they could have a future superstar on their hands.

Arteta must drop Arsenal's "big-game player" to unleash "monstrous" ace

The exceptional midfielder will give Arsenal an edge.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 4, 2025

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher hinted that he could exit Anfield in the summer as the Reds prepare to welcome Giorgi Mamardashvili.

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• Kelleher ready to become No.1

• Mamardashvili set to sign for Liverpool in the summer

• Irish goalkeeper appeared in 20 matches in the 2024-25 season

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former Liverpool youth player Kelleher, who signed his first professional contract with the club in 2018, is all set to exit Anfield this summer as the Reds will welcome Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia. Kelleher, who has been a deputy to Alisson since the start of his career, appeared in 20 matches across all competitions in the 2024-25 campaign due to the Brazilian's injury.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After getting regular game time under Arne Slot, the Irish custodian has now claimed that he is ready to become No.1 and play regularly elsewhere. The goalkeeper was an unused substitute in Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Sunday in their final Premier League game of the season.

• WHAT CAOIMHIN KELLEHER SAID

  Speaking to during the club's title celebrations, Kelleher said: "I feel like I'm a number one and good enough to play week-in, week-out. And that's what I'm looking to do. This season I was lucky enough to play a lot of games but yeah, definitely something I am looking at."

  The goalkeeper also spoke about the Anfield fans' passion and the team's trophy parade as he added: "It's obviously very special. As you probably know from being in the stadium how special the fans are. It's special memories for us all, and yeah, we just soak up the atmosphere now and enjoy today. I think it's going to be crazy. I remember the last one, when we won the Champions League, was crazy. But I think maybe it's the first time the Premier League with the fans. I think it could be mental."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  The Merseyside club are expected to have a busy transfer window as Arne Slot plans to make major additions to his squad. They are already in advanced talks to sign Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.

“He’s bowling with full rhythm today, too. He’s also putting work in the gym and isn’t complaining of any pains”

Danyal Rasool18-Feb-20252:13

Rizwan hopes to see more ICC events in Pakistan soon

Pakistan have been handed a boost ahead of the Champions Trophy opener, with fast bowler Haris Rauf expected to be “fully fit” against New Zealand, according to their captain Mohammad Rizwan.”Haris bowled 6-8 overs a couple of days ago, and bowled a fair bit yesterday too,” Rizwan said at the captain’s press conference on the eve of the tournament. “He’s bowling with full rhythm today, too. He’s also putting work in the gym and isn’t complaining of any pains. We think he’s fully fit.”Rauf sustained a muscular sprain in his chest while bowling in the opening game of the tri-series against New Zealand on February 8, and was in a race against time to be fit for the start of the tournament. He did not play the remainder of the series, though ESPNcricinfo understands that was more out of an abundance of caution than an indicator of the injury’s severity.Related

• Babar's form in focus as Pakistan begin title defence

• Jamieson replaces Ferguson in NZ's Champions Trophy squad

• At the Champions Trophy, Shaheen Afridi sees a chance to make history

• A critical test for ODI cricket and Pakistan as hosts

After the press conference, Rauf was seen bowling in the nets during Pakistan’s final practice session before the tournament at the National Stadium. It clears Pakistan up to play what they view as their first-choice bowling lineup, one that features Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Rauf. The three played together in an attack that ultimately ended up on the wrong side of a result against New Zealand in the opener of the tri-series. They play the same side tomorrow in the Champions Trophy curtain-raiser as Pakistan prepare to host their first ICC tournament since 1996.”We suffered for 10 years when no side came here,” Rizwan said. “But Pakistan still produced solid results. So we have no doubts about our ability.”However, it is hard to escape the idea that Pakistan go into their first game as relative underdogs. New Zealand beat them twice in the tri-series, going unbeaten across the tournament to lift the title. They went on to demonstrate their all-round ability, defending a total against Pakistan in one game before easing to two chases in games against South Africa and Pakistan. At the same time, they brushed aside injuries to fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears, retaining their fast-bowling threat, while reigning Pakistan in through the middle overs with a varied array of spinners.”There are ups and downs and certain deficiencies in our side,” Rizwan said. “We are aware we need to bring about certain improvements in our professionalism and consistency.0:57

Urooj: Huge responsibility for Pakistan to defend the title at home

“We tried to learn from the tri-series, which is why we batted first in the final to work out where our weaknesses lie. We used that series as a training experience. We hope we’ve learned enough to cover for those weaknesses tomorrow.”But along with the usual cheery optimism, Rizwan’s statements were laced with a kind of naked hunger he has rarely let slip in the past. Wearing his religion on his sleeve, he tends to resign himself to “the will of Allah” as he often says. It can take the pressure off, a valuable skill for a Pakistan captain, but today, Rizwan seemed to teeter on the edge of fantasising how much he wanted to win an ICC event, and how good it would be to win this one at home.”We’ve come so close a few times,” he said. “We need to work out how to get that extra one per cent to win those big matches. No one can guarantee that success, and we’re still in search of that final step where we lose big games or tournaments.”Every player is desperate for this title. And we’re doing everything we can to work out how to win. I don’t think any country works as hard as we do.”It’s uncommon to hear Rizwan speak with that kind of edge. Soon enough, he was back to his usual gregarious self, talking about how “all 15 players were captains” and the value of team performances over individual brilliance. But then again, perhaps that is the “extra one per cent” Pakistan, and Rizwan, are so desperately hunting for.

Barcelona star Marc-Andre ter Stegen has confirmed he will undergo back surgery and is likely to be out for three months.

• Ter Stegen to have back surgery
• Set to be out for three months
• Barca sweat over Garcia registration

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ter Stegen missed much of last season with a serious knee injury and has now revealed he needs a back operation that will keep him out for several months. While he vowed to "be back" in an emotional social media post, Barcelona may be in a bit of a pickle when it comes to goalkeepers for the upcoming season.

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• WHAT TER STEGEN SAID

  "Dear Culers, I wear the colours and jersey of FC Barcelona with great pride, whether on or off the pitch, in moments of success and in difficult times.

  "Today is a personally difficult day for me. Physically and athletically, I feel in very good shape, although unfortunately, I am not free from pain. After intensive discussions with the FC Barcelona medical team and external experts, the quickest and safest way for me to fully recover is through back surgery. After my last operation on my back, I returned to the pitch after 66 days—almost two months; this time, the doctors believe about three months will be necessary as a precaution, to avoid any risks. Emotionally, it hurts a lot not being able to support the team during this time. Fortunately, the rehabilitation is manageable and the road back is clear. I will keep you updated on my recovery and I sincerely want to thank you all, dear Culers, for always being by my side.

  "Don’t worry – I’ll be back! Yours, Marc"

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Catalan outfit signed Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia earlier this summer but fears were raised about whether or not they could register the Spaniard due to their ongoing financial issues. But with Ter Stegen's injury, that is likely to allow Barca to register Garcia. However, that is yet to be confirmed.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Barcelona – who are still outside La Liga’s 1:1 rule, which means every pound spent on new signings must be matched with revenue or wage savings – may face an anxious wait to find out if Garcia can be registered for next season. The Blaugrana also have keepers Inaki Pena and Wojciech Szczesny on their books.