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Kent cruised into the second round of the Vitality T20 County Cup thanks to a five-wicket win over Middlesex at Radlett. Set a target of 137, the visitors got home with more than two overs to spare thanks to a barnstorming finish from Elsa Barnfather, who top-scored from No. 6 with 29 off just 14 balls.Having been asked to bat, Middlesex were well placed on 85 for 1 in the 12th over, led by No. 3 Finty Trussler’s half-century. But Trussler’s departure for 52 off 41 with 10 fours triggered a slow-motion collapse. Opener Artemis Downer anchored the innings with 30 off 34, but Gayatri Gole was the only other batter to reach double-figures as Middlesex stuttered along to 136 for 7.Amy Gordon took two wickets while Kent wicketkeeper Molly Davis effected three stumpings.In reply, Kent were given a fast start by openers Gordon and Grace Poole, who put on 42 inside the first five overs. Gordon was bowled swinging across the line at Hannah Davis, and Kent’s progress was checked by a thrifty display from Anaya Patel, who claimed 3 for 18 from her four overs. But Barnfather, fresh from scoring a century and taking a five-wicket haul for Gunnersbury against a Cricket Writers’ Club XI on Sunday, struck six boundaries in short order to seal victory for her side and a second-round tie against Berkshire, to be played on Saturday.The ECB’s new “FA Cup-style” knockout competition involves 37 teams from all three tiers of the new women’s county structure. The first round saw 13 ties (with three teams given a bye) between counties in Tiers 2 and 3, with the professional Tier 1 teams set to be involved from round three onwards.The biggest margin of victory came at Harrogate, where Yorkshire thumped Derbyshire by 122 runs, Lauren Winfield-Hill hitting 19 boundaries in her 88 off 52 balls. They will next play Staffordshire, who eased past Cumbria by seven wickets with 29 balls remaining.Down at Hove, in the only fixture that offered the chance of a giant-killing, Tier 3 Buckinghamshire had Tier 2 Sussex in trouble at 58 for 5 in the 12th over, with the top three all dismissed in single-figures. But Talitha Stanley, with an unbeaten 29 from 32 balls, helped Sussex scrape up to respectability on 124 for 8, before adding three wickets to her haul as Buckinghamshire folded for 78.Elsewhere, Glamorgan piled up an impressive 183 for 4 against Gloucestershire at Newport, Bea Ellis thumping 77 from 41 balls to follow up a more composed half-century from captain Lauren Parfitt, as the home side won by 33 runs. Northamptonshire overcame Worcestershire by five wickets at Wantage Road, while in the west country derby, Devon won a low-scoring thriller against Dorset, edging their way to a four-wicket win with five balls to spare after being set a target of 72.

Round Two

Ties to be played on May 10Yorkshire vs Staffordshire
Leicestershire Foxes v Cheshire
Shropshire vs Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Northumberland v Cambridgeshire
Glamorgan vs Sussex Sharks
Berkshire vs Kent
Oxfordshire v Hertfordshire
Devon v Suffolk

The visitors didn’t entertain a target of 282 from 57 overs after Hilton Cartwright’s unbeaten 171

Tristan Lavalette09-Mar-2025

Sam Konstas made a half-century on the final day in Perth•Getty Images

New South Wales opener Sam Konstas batted maturely on a tricky WACA surface late on day four to fend off Western Australia’s unlikely push for victory as the pivotal Sheffield Shield clash ended in a draw.It means both teams will have to rely on results going their way in the last round to make the final after Queensland leapfrogged them into second-placed with their earlier victory against Tasmania.The WACA has hosted the previous three finals, but South Australia locked up hosting rights with their thrilling victory against Victoria. Three-time champions WA will play fifth-placed Victoria, still mathematically able to qualify for the final, in the last round while NSW travel to Tasmania who have been knocked out.Related

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WA declared their second innings at 346 for 4 early in the second session with Hilton Cartwright finishing unbeaten on a first-class career best score of 171 not out.NSW needed 282 runs off 57 overs for the victory needed to move into second spot, but they did not attempt to chase down the total on a surface that proved particularly difficult for batters against the new ball.Konstas was a steadying presence with 50 off 107 balls before Matthew Gilkes and Ollie Davies held firm in the final hour.All eyes at the start of NSW’s innings were on Konstas and whether he would try to make a play at the total. But he was watchful from the get go much like during his limited time at the crease in the first innings. The fireworks happened at the other end when opener Nic Maddinson fell for a duck on the third ball of the innings after edging left-arm quick Joel Paris to second slip.Konstas was unperturbed and intent on defence, taking until his eighth delivery to register his first run. In a big moment, Kurtis Patterson had a let off on 1 after he was dropped by Paris at gully in a tough chance.Paris and Cameron Gannon produced considerable seam movement, but Konstas was rock solid and only had one scoring shot from his first 23 balls. Lance Morris entered the attack in the 11th over and there was an unknown over how many overs he would bowl. Under a restriction of around 30 overs per game to manage his body, Morris took career best first-class figures of 5 for 26 off 20.3 overs in NSW’s first innings.Morris ended up bowling 12 overs, but he was unable to rediscover his accuracy and control as Konstas played him with relative ease.Batting became easier as Konstas and Patterson, NSW’s first innings top-scorer with 86 off 262 balls, made it through to tea and they knocked the ball around after the resumption.Hilton Cartwright finished unbeaten on a career-best 171•Getty Images

The match unexpectedly sparked to life when Paris bowled Patterson with a delivery that crept low. Paris continued to target divots as he troubled left-handed batter Gilkes, while offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli started to menace with sharp bounce.He had Konstas on 38 poking to short-leg, but it was given not out. Konstas reached his half-century and the match again appeared to be fizzling away until he missed a straight Rocchiccioli delivery and was stumped before Josh Philippe was caught at short-leg on his first ball.But Rocchiccioli could not get his hat-trick or produce the necessary heroics as the match petered out to a draw.Earlier, WA resumed their second innings on 209 for 2 with a lead of 144 runs. There was intrigue over how WA would play the situation and when they would eye a declaration. Cartwright and Cameron Bancroft batted cautiously against the new ball with runs hard to come by as the clock started to tick.Bancroft’s 276-ball stonewall ended on 86 after he edged Jack Edwards to first slip. Playing his 100th Shield match, Bancroft trudged off disappointed but satisfied in his return to the field after a horrific on-field collision during a BBL game in early January.Bancroft’s wicket didn’t prompt a change of tactics from WA with batter Sam Fanning struggling with his timing. Emerging left-hander Fanning does tend to either bat in two modes – aggressively or dour – and he was stuck in the latter with just three runs off his first 31 balls faced.But with the ball losing its shine, Fanning eventually got into his groove and runs flowed after lunch. The batters had fun for 30 minutes after the interval with Fanning launching offspinner Chris Green down the ground on several occasions.Cartwright overtook his previous highest score of 170 before he soon walked off the field to a rousing ovation.

MatériaMais Notícias

Na manhã deste sábado (17), o São Paulo realizou mais um dia de trabalho no CT da Barra Funda, ainda de olho na proximidade do confronto contra o Athletico-PR, que acontecerá na quarta-feira (21), pelo Campeonato Brasileiro.

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Como tem sido costumeiro sob o comando de Dorival Júnior, os jogadores iniciaram o dia com a apresentação de um vídeo e na sequência foram para o gramado para a realizar um aquecimento com bola.

Logo em seguida, a comissão técnica dividiu o elenco em 3 equipes que intercalaram atividades táticas. Duas se enfrentavam em um treino de 10 contra 10, enquanto o restante fez um trabalho especial que deu ênfase em organização ofensiva.

+ Lance! estreia nova marca e se reposiciona no mercado de mídia esportiva

No domingo (18), o elenco terá uma folga e se reapresentará na segunda-feira (19). O próximo jogo do São Paulo acontecerá no estádio do Morumbi. Neste final de semana, o elenco não terá nenhum compromisso por conta da Data Fifa.

+ Clique aqui e veja como apostar no Brasileirão

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados do Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!

All the pre-season friendlies are now over for Sunderland as the main task of the Premier League comes to the Stadium of Light this coming weekend.

A late trip to Augsburg last time out saw Regis Le Bris’ men clinch a 1-0 win in Germany as new £30m signing Habib Diarra proved to be the difference-maker on the day by powering home the decisive strike, alongside fellow fresh recruit Robin Roefs, showing off his quality in goal by saving a penalty.

Away from this encouraging performance against Bundesliga opposition, Le Bris and Co. have also welcomed in their tenth summer signing of a busy transfer window in the form of ex-West Ham United defender Arthur Masuaku.

He will be chomping at the bit to play on the opening day, as his ex-Hammers side travel to Wearside.

More defensive additions could soon be on the menu, away from just the experienced 31-year-old joining, with a former Newcastle United player even on the Black Cats’ radar.

Sunderland make approach for £17m signing

Sunderland might well be into the double digits now with incoming signings, but they are yet to win themselves a centre-back this summer.

It hasn’t been through lack of trying, however, with the likes of Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi consistently popping up as a target, alongside talk now that Fiorentina youngster Pietro Comuzzo could soon join the building in the heart of defence for a whopping £34.5m.

Of course, they are also close to landing Omar Alderete from Getafe to strengthen here, too.

However, away from all these rumours, it has now surfaced that Sunderland have opened talks to understand the situation surrounding former Magpies defender Lloyd Kelly.

Indeed, as per reports from Italy, the current Juventus centre-back has admirers on Wearside, who would be willing to fork out £17m for the Premier League-proven defender’s services so they can shore up ahead of a potential relegation battle in the top-flight.

There will likely be some apprehension involving the deal due to Kelly’s prior St James’ Park struggles, but Le Bris and Co will hope they can strike gold with the 26-year-old, in much the same way they managed with Daniel Ballard, who was once chucked to one side himself by Arsenal.

How Kelly could be Ballard 2.0 at Sunderland

Sunderland certainly gambled on Ballard when they initially signed him in 2022, considering he had never made a senior appearance for the Gunners and was regularly thrown out on loan.

However, now heading into the Premier League, the Northern Irishman is a solid member of Le Bris’ starting XI, having now notched up 89 appearances for the Black Cats, with six important goals also coming his way as a colossus unafraid to launch himself into duels.

Kelly will hope he can instantly fit in, too, having been put through the wringer somewhat at Newcastle when last plying his trade at the very pinnacle of English football.

In total, the 26-year-old only lined up for 14 appearances on Tyneside before amazingly finding himself on the books of Juventus out in Italy.

Games played

23

23

Goals scored

0

0

Assists

2

1

Touches*

61.3

47.4

Accurate passes*

36.7 (81%)

26.0 (78%)

Tackles*

1.4

1.0

Clearances*

4.3

2.6

Total duels won*

3.3

2.9

Clean sheets

5

4

He has since impressed in spurts for the Serie A giants, with five clean sheets collected from just 11 league outings last season, but it will be his promising showings for the Cherries in the hustle and bustle of the Premier League that will have caught Sunderland’s eye even more.

In particular, Kelly’s offerings during the 2022/23 season for Bournemouth will stick out, as the ex-England U21 international managed to show off his class with the ball at his feet with two assists tallied up, on top of also collecting a respectable five clean sheets from his 23 clashes in the demanding division.

Ballard equally impressed in the Championship last season in this regard with one assist coming his way from an average of 33.2 accurate passes per match, with Kelly hopeful he can put a whirlwind few years behind him and cement himself as a Black Cats regular, alongside the former Gunners youngster.

After all, his time at Bournemouth even saw his ex-Cherries manager in Gary O’Neil, hail him as “incredible”, as Kelly hopes his valiant efforts to steer his new employers away from any relegation danger.

Sunderland scouting Italian prodigy who would smash transfer record again

After breaking their transfer record with Diarra, Sunderland have identified a new target…

ByCallum Kemp Aug 8, 2025

CA has signed a partnership with UNICEF Australia to promote the foundation’s campaign aimed at gender equality, while supporting female Afghanistan refugees

Alex Malcolm12-Nov-2024It remains to be seen whether Australia will play any bilateral cricket against Afghanistan in the future after signing a partnership agreement with global children’s charity UNICEF Australia to promote the foundation’s ‘Until Every Girl Can Play’ campaign aimed at gender equality.CA will hold fundraisers for UNICEF Australia at the upcoming Perth Test and the women’s Ashes Test at the MCG in January having been particularly vocal on not scheduling men’s bilateral cricket against Afghanistan outside of World Cups due to the Taliban government’s stance on women’s rights. CA has cancelled three bilateral series with Afghanistan in recent years.According to the Future Tours Programme Australia is due to host Afghanistan in a men’s Test and three T20Is in July 2026. Whether that goes ahead remains to be seen.Related

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Hockley said CA is continuing to support a group of Afghanistan female cricketers who live and play in Australia. The group have asked the ICC to assist them in setting up a refugee team based in Australia in the absence of a national side.”Certainly over the last three years, they’ve been extremely well supported by really every level of the cricketing community, from clubs, state associations,” Hockley said at the MCG on Tuesday at the unveiling of the UNICEF partnership.”We’ve certainly sought support in the background. I’ve had the real privilege to meet and spend some time with the players, and certainly we are working behind the scenes on ways we can continue to support.”UNICEF Australia CEO Tony Stuart was asked whether CA should even play Afghanistan’s men in world events.”I keep out of the politics of this, because what has made UNICEF, I think, good at what it does, is it works with every country, 200 countries in the world, and to do that, you have to be neutral,” Stuart said.”We are the Red Cross of children, and what we do encourage, wherever we are in the world, is participation. We will continue to encourage that in Afghanistan. And I have to say, living in Australia, I’m so pleased to see so many of the Afghan women here in Australia and I hope in the future, they get the opportunity in some way to participate in the game.”

They plan to get some game time before the five-Test series starting November 22

Shashank Kishore04-Nov-2024India batters KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel will arrive in Australia a week earlier than the rest of India’s Test squad to gain some match time ahead of the five-Test series beginning on November 22 in Perth.Rahul and Jurel will line up for the India A side led by Ruturaj Gaikwad for the second and final four-day fixture to be played from November 7 at the MCG. India A lost the first game by seven wickets in Mackay, where the last day was marred by a ball-change controversy although Ishan Kishan escaped a dissent charge after an argument with the on-field umpire.Rahul was left out of India’s XI following their defeat to New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru, where he scored 0 and 12. Rahul made way for the returning Shubman Gill for the second and third Tests of the series where India were blanked 3-0, their first whitewash at home in 24 years.Related

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Meanwhile, Jurel, who made his Test debut against England earlier this year, hasn’t featured in any of the five home Tests since Rishabh Pant’s comeback. He has had two red-ball outings since the conclusion of the England series in March, one Duleep Trophy game and then the Irani Cup last month. He managed only 2 and 0 in the Duleep Trophy fixture before scoring a brisk 93 off 121 balls against Mumbai.The decision to send both players early to get some match practice is pertinent given the Indian team cancelled their only intra-squad warm-up fixture for centre-wicket match simulation in Perth.”We are travelling with a squad of 19 players and only three days were allotted to us. I don’t know how much workload we can get in those three days in terms of getting everyone prepared,” captain Rohit Sharma had reasoned on Sunday.”The management feels that we’d rather have a match simulation where batters can spend more time in the middle and the bowlers can bowl a lot of balls. That is something that we, as a team, feel more comfortable doing rather than playing a practice game because game time is not a problem.”The Indian team is set to depart for Australia on November 10, and will train at the old venue in Perth, the WACA, ahead of the series opener at the Optus Stadium, where they last played on the 2018-19 tour, which they won 2-1.India are likely to miss Rohit for that opening game because of his unavailability due to personal reasons and his direct replacement in the squad is Abhimanyu Easwaran, who scored 7 and 12 in the first A game after scoring four straight first-class hundreds at the start of the Indian domestic season, unless they decide to rejig the batting order.

Newcastle United have endured a tough start to the summer transfer window, but the intent to bolster Eddie Howe’s first-team squad is very much there.

In fact, an actual breakthrough has been found in recent days, with Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga finally here-we-goed after more than a year of fruitless efforts to bring him over to St. James’ Park.

The electric-paced winger is set to sign for £55m, having played a vital role in driving Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest into Europe, notching 32 goal involvements across his two seasons at the City Ground.

Bringing in such a profile is good news indeed, but Newcastle are still hoping to sign a central striker, having missed out on Joao Pedro after the Brazilian opted to sign for Chelsea in a £60m deal.

Why Newcastle want a striker

Newcastle are confident that they will fend off interest in Alexander Isak, but even so, rumours of the Sweden striker’s potential departure aren’t going to go away over the coming weeks.

Liverpool, namely, are proving a thorn in Newcastle’s transfer committees’ side, but PIF are believed to have priced their talisman at £200m, and they are under no obligation to sell after United repinned their Champions League badge.

Still, with Callum Wilson having left Tyneside at the end of his contract, Howe wants competition. Pedro was supposed to provide more depth, but he’s now off the cards.

Thus, Newcastle have been linked once again with Dominic Calvert-Lewin. According to talkSPORT, the former Everton star has held talks with United as he looks for a new club, but this perhaps isn’t the move fans are hoping for.

‘DCL’, as he is known, has quite the shoddy injury record, and he only scored three times across 26 Premier League outings last season, missing 16 big chances, as per Sofascore.

He would be a cost-efficient signing, to be sure, but the Magpies are aiming high this summer and they have their sights on a far more exciting striker.

Newcastle line up Calvert-Lewin alternative

Newcastle have shown they are willing to spend the big bucks for a new number nine to complement Isak, and that’s why Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Howe’s interest in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.

The 23-year-old has attracted a wealth of interest over the past few months, but RMC Sport have now revealed that Newcastle are among the teams showing the greatest curiosity in the Frenchman.

Saudi duo Al-Qadsiah and especially Al-Hilal – who are believed to be readying an offer – are also keen, but suitors have thus far been kept at bay by the Bundesliga outfit’s €100m (£85m) valuation of their player, who is a great talent but an unpolished one at that.

What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Newcastle

Newcastle have one of the best strikers in world football, and thus some would consider interest in Ekitike as superfluous, but he’s a rising talent of the highest calibre, and came close to joining back in 2022 after a £33m deal with Reims was agreed, but for the player to pull the plug on proceedings.

And whoever said that having options was a bad thing? Newcastle will only reach the next level in their impressive development with an excess of options capable of pushing for a place at the top of the Premier League while competing across the campaign’s tournamental offshoots too.

If the finances check out – and the conjecture read from the past few months suggests that it’s not outside the realm of possibility for the Toon – then Ekitike is the forward to go for.

For sure, he’s miles better than Calvert-Lewin, who offers flimsy assurances of his ability to stay fit, let alone productive.

Hugo Ekitke vs Dominic Calvert-lewin (24/25)

Stats (per 90)

Ekitike

DCL

Goals scored

0.53

0.17

Assists

0.28

0.06

Shots taken

4.00

2.80

Shot-creating actions

3.55

1.45

Touches (att pen)

6.88

4.92

Progressive passes

1.86

1.12

Progressive carries

3.27

1.29

Successful take-ons

1.83

0.56

Ball recoveries

3.06

1.96

Aerial duels won

1.83

4.75

Tackles + interceptions

0.81

0.90

All data via FBref

Moreover, Ekitike is nearly five years his junior, with so much scope for growth. He might not have anywhere near the same aerial ability as his English counterpart, but he’s far more energetic, creative and effective in the majority of critical moments.

Newcastle completed 705 crosses in the Premier League last term, as per FBref, the sixth-highest tally in the division. There is a ring to United’s long-standing interest in Calvert-Lewin, but is it enough to suggest he deserves a place over Ekitike, someone who can elevate the frontline to a truly exceptional standard?

Ultimately, it will prove a matter of financial variables. And Ekitike’s decision with such a vast range of interest in his services will be crucial too.

But if it does check out, and Frankfurt are inclined to reduce their extortionate asking price at some point in the transfer window, Newcastle could hit the jackpot in signing him.

After all, he has the making of a complete player, with his athleticism and high-speed running leading journalist Graeme Bailey to dub him “the next Mbappe”.

And anyway, he might not have such an eye-catching aerial record as Calvert-Lewin, but the 6 foot 2 Ekitike did win 4.2 duels per Premier League game in 2024/25, as per Sofascore, winning a respectable 46% of his aerial battles.

The Premier League striker did average higher, but he only came out on top 51% of the time, so the difference isn’t exactly glaring, and is something that Howe will coach Ekitike on improving and, anyway, shouldn’t hold much sway in the grand scheme of the manager’s reckoning.

With Newcastle preparing for the new campaign as Carabao Cup champions and Champions League competitors, they have the sway to potentially pull off such a deal.

Transfer Focus

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

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Furthermore, their historic efforts to sign the France star could work in Howe’s favour, thus ending the interest in Calvert-Lewin.

Related Dream Scalvini alternative: Newcastle make approach for "dominant" £25m CB

Newcastle are looking to strengthen at the back this summer

Posts 1 ByJoe Nuttall Jul 9, 2025

Celtic are now likely to complete the signing of an “amazing” attacking player soon, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Attackers the order of the day for Celtic

Brendan Rodgers will know the importance of adding to his squad and making his team even more of a force next season, in order to prevent Rangers from closing the gap in the Scottish Premiership, and perhaps more excitingly for the Hoops to improve in the Champions League.

Celtic appear to be prioritising attacking signings this summer, with Benjamin Nygren strongly linked with sealing a move from Nordsjaelland to Parkhead.

Meanwhile, Evan Ferguson has emerged as an audacious transfer target for the Hoops ahead of next season, with the Brighton striker’s stock falling over the past 12 months, following a tough spell out on loan at West Ham.

That’s not to say that the Republic of Ireland international couldn’t be a fantastic acquisition for Celtic, however, with Gary Lineker calling him a “born goalscorer” and once tipping him to replace Harry Kane at Tottenham.

Now, it looks as though the Scottish champions could be edging towards another attacking signing.

O'Rourke: Celtic set to finalise deal for Balikwisha

Speaking to Football Insider, O’Rourke claimed Celtic have a good chance of signing Royal Antwerp forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha this summer.

“There’s real potential that Celtic could finally get a deal done for Balikwisha. He’s been a long-term target for them, they tried to sign him in the summer transfer window last year but an injury and failing to agree a price stopped their hopes. Their interest has never gone away, they’ve continued to keep tabs on him. He has got back to full fitness after a bad injury and finished the season strongly.

“Celtic will be in the market for a new winger and Balikwisha has remained on the radar. They’ve been given a boost in their pursuit as well, reports are suggesting in Belgium that Royal Antwerp are experiencing some financial problems. They may have to cash in on some of their players, and with the 24-year-old in the final year of his contract Celtic could land him for a bargain fee of £5million.”

Balikwisha has been linked with Celtic for some time, with talks mooted recently, and he could be a brilliant signing this summer, with the 24-year-old possessing so much quality.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s international stats

Caps

Goals

Belgium Under-21s

10

1

Belgium Under-19s

3

0

Belgium Under-18s

1

0

Belgium Under-17s

5

1

Belgium Under-16s

4

1

The attacker already has 46 goal involvements in 141 appearances for Antwerp, and at international level he has been capped for Belgium across five different youth age groups, also being called “amazing” by analyst Ben Mattinson.

While primarily a left winger, Balikwisha can also shine on the opposite flank and as a striker, so Rodgers would be signing a player who can add so much depth to his attack.