Clinical home performance sees Fire succumb to their heaviest defeat of the women’s competition

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Northern Superchargers 141 for 4 (Armitage 34*, Wareham 29*, Mathews 2-18) beat Welsh Fire 94 (Beaumont 36, Wareham 2-14) by 47 runsNorthern Superchargers got their campaign in The Hundred off to the perfect start with a comprehensive win over Welsh Fire at Headingley.Under the new leadership of former England Women’s Head Coach Lisa Keightley, Superchargers batted first and made 141 for 4. In reply, Tammy Beaumont’s Welsh Fire were bowled out for just 94, much to the delight of the 7,208 Superchargers fans in attendance.The team in purple have kept all three of their Australian overseas stars, and there were runs for both Annabel Sutherland (28) and Georgia Wareham (29*), but it was captain Hollie Armitage who top-scored, with an unbeaten 34.Welsh Fire have enjoyed two successful seasons in The Hundred, with visits to The Eliminator and The Final to their name across the last two years, and much of their success has been down to their batting – but when Sophia Dunkley and Hayley Matthews found themselves back in the pavilion with the score still in single figures, they faced an uphill task.Beaumont and Georgia Elwiss tried to undo the damage but the home side possess a balanced attack and they utilised it well, chipping away throughout Fire’s reply to maintain control at all times. It was in the end an easy win, spinners Linsey Smith and Wareham snaffling two wickets apiece, with a couple also for Grace Ballinger.Welsh Fire will have the opportunity to turn it around very quickly, hosting their first game in Cardiff on Saturday. For Superchargers it’s a visit to Trent Rockets on Sunday, where they’ll look to go two from two.Meerkat Match Hero Wareham said: “It felt like a really good hit out for the girls, it felt like we were really clinical in all facets which showed up on the scoreboard for us.”I think [when batting with Hollie Armitage] it was just about being really calm at the time, and knowing that there were actually quite a few balls left. It’s always pretty calm out there with Hollie, she keeps things pretty level. As a team we’re talking about taking the game on, and being brave through different phases of the game, which I think all the batters did really well today.”With the ball, we wanted to keep the stumps in play as much as we possibly could. The change of pace worked really well for Welsh Fire so we took that into play for us, as well, and as it showed we hit the stumps as often as we could.”

Branislav Jasurek, representative of Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, has clarified the state of the player's relationship with head coach Antonio Conte. Jasurek and Lobotka stole headlines in Italy recently after comments resurfaced of the agent suggesting that his client will leave the club if the coach stays at the helm.

• Lobotka's agent raises eyebrows in Italy

  Jasurek appeared in a podcast with Slovak website which was recorded in October but gained significant traction in Italy this week. Lobotka's agent's comments sent shockwaves in Naples, as he stated that the combative midfielder could seek pastures new next summer if Conte ended up staying.

  "Napoli have invested well in recent times and brought in new players," he said, before questioning Conte's choice to hand Lobotka very little rest amid his struggles with injuries. "That's why I don't understand why Lobotka had to play three difficult matches in eight days before the national team match. They could have given him a little rest and thus he would have been able to play for Slovakia in Northern Ireland. So I'm nervous," Jasurek expressed.

  "If Stano wins a third title in Napoli, it will certainly be easier for him to leave, but I don't like to predict these things. He now has a significantly improved contract and could stay at the club for a few more years. But he is already 30 years old and it will be almost unrealistic to physically endure it under Conte. We are still talking about whether it can be managed at all. What Conte requires is brutally demanding. The coach's running requirements in statistics are incomparable."

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  Jasurek issues clarification, praises Lobotka's dynamic with Conte

  Following how big a deal Jasurek's words became within hours of it making the rounds on the internet, the agent was contacted by Jasurek immediately issued a determined clarification, revealing that his words were taken out of context.

  "I was very surprised, because the words were taken completely out of context," he assured. "It's true that I participate in a podcast in Slovakia, where we talk about the national team and some players. In that episode I spoke about Lobotka with a lot of appreciation. At the end, I said that it's difficult to work with Antonio Conte, because he's a very demanding coach, but I added that this is positive because he's a winner. Then I joked and said that Lobo might get tired and ask me for a transfer in the summer, but it was clearly a joke.

  "Everyone on the podcast understood this, because I am his agent and every transfer is 'work' for me. Anyone who listened to the podcast in the original language would have immediately understood that it was just a joke. I can also assure everyone that Conte is like a father to Lobotka, and this relationship will never change. I am sure they will win many more trophies together."

• Lobotka wants to win the Champions League with Napoli

  Lobotka, who arrived from Celta Vigo in 2024, has a contract until 2027 with the Partenopei. There's also an option to extend his deal by another year. According to Jasurek, the Slovakia international harbors ambitions of lifting the Champions League trophy with Napoli, drawing parallels between his connection to the club and that of Marek Hamsík.

  "Stanislav has the same relationship with Napoli as Marek Hamsik. He sees the city as his second home and has bought a house there. He shows commitment every week, often twice a week, and that's what matters most," Jasurek continued.

  "He is already a two-time Italian champion with Napoli and fully believes he can win the title for the third time. He also dreams of the Champions League with this club. He is 30 years old — a time when he wants to lift trophies — and he is at the right club to achieve that."

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  How's it going for Lobotka and Napoli this season?

  The Scudetto holders have been struggling of late, dropping to fourth place after earning just seven points out of a maximum 15 from their previous five league encounters. Per reports, Conte is set to hold talks about his future at Napoli with the club's hierarchy. 

  As for Lobotka, the 30-year-old has recently returned to full fitness after spending two weeks on the sidelines due to an adductor injury. 

Dhoni, Pollard, Bravo, Rayudu and Malinga have starred in these matches in the past – here’s a lookback

Omkar Mankame22-Mar-2025Chennai, 2008 – CSK won by six runsThe first meeting between these sides in the IPL produced a high-scoring nail-biter. Brisk fifties from Matthew Hayden and Suresh Raina powered CSK to 208, before MI, despite losing wickets regularly, kept the chase going. Abhishek Nayar and Harbhajan Singh combined to bring the equation down to nine from the last four deliveries, but Joginder Sharma kept his nerve to take CSK over the line.Mumbai, 2012 – MI won by two wicketsAfter a few years of lopsided contests came the real humdinger. MI’s pursuit of 174 had been led by half-centuries from Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma. But a dramatic collapse – 134 for 1 became 159 for 8 – left them needing 16 from the final over and then 14 from three balls. No fear! Dwayne Smith, playing his first game of the season, hit Ben Hilfenhaus for 6, 4, 4 to set off celebrations in the MI camp.Dwayne Smith has been among those who have played starring roles for both MI as well as CSK•BCCIMumbai, 2014 – CSK won by four wicketsRelated

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Smith – now in the other camp – had anchored CSK’s chase of 158 with a fifty. But Lasith Malinga’s death overs wizardry meant CSK still needed 11 from the final over. CSK, however, had their own master of the death overs in the middle: MS Dhoni smashed a six and a four off Kieron Pollard to finish it off with three balls to spare.Mumbai, 2018 – CSK won by one wicketCSK’s first game back from a two-year ban pitted them against the defending champions. Hardik Pandya and debutant Mayank Markande took three-fors and CSK, chasing 166, looked buried at 118 for 8 in the 17th over. With 47 needed off the last three, Dwayne Bravo scored 19 and 20 off the next two overs, and a heavily hamstrung Kedar Jadhav, batting on one leg, finished the job in the last over.Hyderabad 2019 – MI won by one runA fourth IPL title was up for grabs for either side. The contest ebbed and flowed and left CSK needing nine off the last over. Shane Watson, with a bloody knee, was run-out for 80 on the fourth ball. With two needed off the final ball, Malinga – with figures of 0 for 42 in his first three overs – bowled the perfect yorker to trap Shardul Thakur in front and deliver MI the trophy.MI edged out CSK to win the IPL 2019 by one run•Mahesh Kumar A/Associated PressDelhi, 2021 – MI won by four wicketsAmbati Rayudu was rampant against his former team, and powered CSK to 218. That seemed more than enough when MI found themselves at 94 for 3 after 12 overs. But with 125 needed from the last eight overs – and 48 from the last three – Kieron Pollard smashed six fours and eight sixes and took MI home by scampering through for a double off the last ball of the game.Navi Mumbai, 2022 – CSK won by three wicketsBoth MI and CSK struggled after the mega auction before IPL 2022, so this was a bottom-of-the-table contest. Tilak Varma’s 43-ball 51 not out took MI to 155 after Mukesh Choudhary had wrecked their top order. Then Daniel Sams did the same to CSK. It came down to CSK needing 16 off the last four balls with Dhoni facing Jaydev Unadkat. In a display of vintage brilliance, Dhoni sealed the deal with a sequence of 6, 4, 2 and 4.

Reigan Heskey, the son of former Liverpool and England legend Emile, has overtaken Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho with his goals at the Under-17 World Cup. England secured their spot in the last 32 in Qatar as they finished second to Venezuela in Group E. The Young Lions then eased into the last 16 of the tournament as they got the better of South Korea on Saturday.

England overcome early scare to reach last 16

England endured an early scare as Dante Headley was bundled off the ball by Kim Ji-sung, who rifled his effort into the roof of the net. However, referee Abdou Abdel Mefire spared the Young Lions' early blushes as he blew for a foul in Headley's favour.

Liam Bramley's side went ahead midway through the first half as Seth Ridgeon's pass was inadvertently turned into the South Korea net through Jung Hui-seop. The game as a contest was settled 10 minutes before the break as Heskey doubled the Young Lions' advantage after heading Bradley Burrowes' cross past Park Do-hun.

The Young Lions had a few chances to extend their lead but were comfortable as they progressed to the next round of the U17 World Cup, where they will face Austria on Tuesday.

AdvertisementGettyHeskey in the running for Golden Boot

Heskey's header against South Korea on Saturday was his fourth goal of the tournament. The 17-year-old scored an early penalty in a resounding 8-1 win over Haiti last week before bagging a brace in a 3-0 victory against Egypt as England followed up their opening Group E 3-0 defeat to Venezuela in fine fashion.

Heskey is now tied with four more players in the race for the competition's Golden Boot, with Samuele Inacio, Vit Skrkon, Rene Mitongo, and Kim Yu-jin also locked on four goals. However, the quintet are behind Portugal forward Anisio Cabral in the race for the individual award.

Cabral moved ahead of the chasing pack with a vital brace in Portugal's 2-1 win over Belgium, a result that set up a last-16 meeting with Mexico, who themselves progressed to the next round with a 5-4 penalty shootout triumph over Argentina.

Foden and Sancho were key in 2017 triumph

Heskey's goal against South Korea means he has overtaken the tallies of two former Manchester City graduates from eight years ago. Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho each struck three times in India as England ultimately came from behind to beat Spain 5-2 in the U17 World Cup final back in 2017.

However, Heskey has some way to at least match Rhian Brewster's eight-goal haul in 2017. Brewster came in clutch for England as he bagged a hat-trick in the quarter-final win over USA and again in the semi-finals as the Young Lions got the better of Brazil in the semi-finals.

The 25-year-old also bagged a decisive goal in the final win over Spain, halving the deficit shortly before half time after Sergi Gomez had netted a first half brace. Morgan Gibbs-White, Foden – twice – and Marc Guehi then completed a second half comeback in a resounding victory.

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Getty Images Sport'Where do we look now?'

Heskey's father, Emile, will hope his son can continue his upward trajectory as England look to the future to determine who their next main striker will be. Harry Kane is currently the leading light for the national team, but at 32 years of age, the Three Lions need to start future-proofing their frontline.

Reigan was promoted to the City U21s ahead of the season having struck 18 goals and provided seven assists in 19 Under-18 Premier League appearances last season. However, Emile is concerned about England's future striker options, particularly as head coach Thomas Tuchel overlooked a backup forward for Kane for the November internationals with Foden used as a false nine off the bench against Serbia on Thursday night.

"We've been lucky over the years we could see where the next strikers were coming," the elder Heskey said on recently. "We had a chain of players who could go from that next level, I came in after [Alan] Shearer and Rooney came after me, but where do we look now? We always had that chain but we are struggling to find [the next one] now."

England play their final World Cup qualifier on Sunday evening as they take on Albania. Tuchel's side have already booked their spot at the 2026 showpiece and will look to round off qualification with a 100% record, and without conceding a goal having kept seven successive clean sheets.

The MLB trade deadline is nearly upon us.

As the clock ticks down to the 6 p.m. ET deadline on Thursday, there are a number of storylines to follow as contending teams attempt to beef up their rosters for the stretch run. What follows is an updated look at all the latest news, rumors, and trades before the deadline passes.

Camilo Doval Heads East as Yankees Add Bullpen Piece

The Yankees didn't make a huge splash at the deadline, but added another key piece before the trade deadline passed. New York acquired Camilo Doval from the San Francisco Giants before the clock ticked down to 6 p.m. ET. The 28-year-old righty has 107 career saves, and this season is 4-2 with a 3.09 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts against 24 walks in 46 2/3 innings. He also has 15 saves in 19 chances. Doval will be under team control through 2027.

Tigers Add Charlie Morton Before Deadline

The Detroit Tigers had been looking for a starting pitcher for weeks and managed to land one right before the deadline. They acquired Charlie Morton from the Baltimore Orioles a few minutes before the deadline passed. The 41-year-old impending free agent has had an up -and-down season and is 7-8 with a 5.42 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts against 48 walks in 101 1/3 innings. That said, Morton has extensive postseason experience and two World Series rings.

Red Sox Get Dustin May to Bolster Rotation

The Boston Red Sox made a significant move without much time on the clock before the trade deadline on Thursday. They acquired starting pitcher Dustin May from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for James Tibbs III, who the team received from the San Francisco Giants in the Rafael Devers deal. Got all of that?

May has had Tommy John surgery twice since 2021 and missed the 2024 campaign after undergoing surgery to repair an esophageal tear. This season, he has made 19 appearances (18 starts) and is 6-7 with a 4.85 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and 97 strikeouts in 104 innings. He has elite stuff, but hasn't put it all back together after missing so much time. Before the 2025 season, he had pitched in 20 games in the previous four seasons.

Rays Land Griffin Jax, Adrian Houser With Minutes to Spare

The Tampa Bay Rays made their presence known before the deadline, landing reliever Griffin Jax from the Minnesota Twins and starter Adrian Houser from the Chicago White Sox. Jax is 1-5 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts against 13 walks in 46 innings over 50 appearances. His xERA of 3.11 shows he's been a bit unlucky this season and he has stellar chase and whiff rates.

Houser has been a great story and has turned in a dominant campaign while transitioning back to being a starter. In 11 starts, he's 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA, a 1.22 WHIP, and 47 strikeouts against 22 walks in 68 2/3 innings.

Rangers Get Merrill Kelly in Late Deal With Diamonbacks

The Texas Rangers just upgraded their rotation in a big way. Texas swung a late deal to acquire Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Pitchers Kohl Drake and David Hagaman are part of the return for the veteran righty.

In 22 starts this season, Kelly is 9-6 with a 3.22 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and 121 strikeouts against 38 walks in 128 2/3 innings. He'll almost certainly slot in behind Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi to give Texas a formiddable three-headed monster atop its rotation.

Astros Land Correa, Sanchez in Continued Push

The Houston Astros pulled off a wild move just before the deadline, bringing Carlos Correa back to town. Correa helped lead the Astros to a World Series title in 2017 but has spent the last four seasons in Minnesota with the Twins. This season he's slashing .267/.319/.386 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs. It's not his best season but heading back to Houston could help. It will be a long-term return as he'll be under contract through at least 2028.

Sanchez was having a solid season with the Marlins, slashing .256/.320/.420 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs. The 27-year-old will be under team control for two more seasons.

Padres Land O'Hearn, Laureano From Orioles

Padres general manager A.J. Preller can't stop, won't stop. After two significant deals already, he added two bats to his lineup shortly before the deadline. San Diego is acquiring outfielder Ramon Laureano and first baseman Ryan O'Hearn from the Baltimore Orioles. Left field has been a huge issue for the Padres, and Laureano will be a massive upgrade. Meanwhile, O'Hearn's spot will depend on what happens to the rest of the roster. The Padres currently have Luis Arraez at first and Gavin Sheets rotating between DH and left field.

Mets Fill CF Vacancy With Cedric Mullins

The Mets continue to address their needs by acting aggressively. Hours before the MLB trade deadline, they added Cedric Mullins from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for three prospects. Mullins is a pure rental but is a former All-Star who desperately needed a change of scenery. So far in 2025, Mullins is slashing .229/.305/.433 with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs. The Mets have gotten near nothing in offensive production out of their center fielder this season so this is a significant upgrade.

Padres Pay Heavily for a Catcher

The San Diego Padres have needed help at catcher all season and may have found some before the deadline. The Friars landed 30-year-old backup Freddy Fermin from the Kansas City Royals but paid heavily to land him. San Diego sent starting pitchers Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek in exchange for Fermin.

In 67 games this season, Fermin is slashing .255/.309/.399 with three home runs and 12 RBIs. He'll be under team control through 2029. The 25-year-old Berger debuted this season and is 1-0 with a 2.78 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP in 11 appearances (seven starts). Kolek was stretched into a starting pitcher this season and has been excellent at times. The 28-year-old is 4-5 with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.

Yankees Land Bednar From Pirates

The Yankees added to their bullpen by acquiring All-Star closer David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates. New York's bullpen has been struggling lately, and Bednar is having a nice bounce-back season. The 30-year-old is 2-5 with a 2.37 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts against 10 walks in 38 innings over 42 appearances. He has 17 saves in 17 chances. His average fastball velocity (97.1 mph) and strikeout rate (33.1) are outstanding.

Dodgers Bolster Bullpen With Stewart

The Los Angeles Dodgers made their first major move of this year's trade deadline by adding a bullpen arm. L.A. acquired Brock Stewart from the Minnesota Twins, who are fully open for business at this point. Bullpen was arguably the Dodgers' biggest need, and Stewart should help in that regard. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.38 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in 34 innings this season.

The 33-year-old Stewart began his career with the Dodgers and pitched for the team from 2016 though '19.

Phillies Add Harrison Bader in Deal With Twins

The Philadelphia Phillies continued filling out their roster on Thursday by acquiring outfielder Harrison Bader from the Minnesota Twins just hours before the deadline. This season, Bader is slashing .258/.339/.439, with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs. The veteran outfielder's 117 wRC+ is the highest of his career. He'll likely form a platoon with left-handed hitters Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh. The former Gold Glove winner holds a $10 million mutual option for 2026 that most expect him to decline after what is becoming a career year.

Padres Acquire Mason Miller and JP Spears in Blockbuster With Athletics

The Padres entered the July 31 trade deadline with a 60-49 record on the season, and in firm buying mode sitting just three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. San Diego worked to shore up the back-end of the bullpen, as well as depth in the starting rotation by trading for Athletics closer Mason Miller and starter JP Sears. The price to acquire the two pitchers for the homestretch came at the cost of the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball – shortstop Leodalis De Vries, as well as pitchers Braden Nett, Henry Baez and Eduarniel Nunez.

Blue Jays Land Former Cy Young Winner Shane Bieber in Trade With Guardians

The Toronto Blue Jays are the best team in baseball, and they filled a hole in their playoff rotation with the addition of former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber in a Thursday morning trade with the Cleveland Guardians. Bieber has yet to make his season debut after 2024 Tommy John surgery, but has shown well in his rehab starts thus far. In return, the Guardians landed pitching prospect Khal Stephen in return in the one-to-one swap.

Mariners Stun Baseball World With Trade For Eugenio Suarez

One of MLB's biggest trade targets has officially been dealt ahead of the deadline. According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Arizona Diamondbacks have traded third baseman Eugenio Suarez to the Seattle Mariners. Suarez, a two-time All-Star is slashing .248/.321/.577 with 36 home runs and 87 RBIs.

The Mariners needed big upgrades at the corners and got them, both from the Diamondbacks. They landed Josh Naylor on July 24, and Suarez the night before the deadline.

Red Sox Acquire RP Steven Matz From Cardinals

The Boston Red Sox are on the board. After dealing with some slight attrition in the bullpen with an injury to Aroldis Chapman, Boston has acquired relief pitcher Steven Matz from the St. Louis Cardinals. The trade was first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Matz began his career with the New York Mets in 2015 before stints with the Toronto Blue Jays ('21) and, most recently, the Cardinals ('22-25). The 34-year-old is 5-2 this season in 32 appearances with a 3.44 ERA, 47 strikeouts, and two saves.

The Red Sox are sending minor leaguer Blaze Jordan to St. Louis in return.

Ramon Urias Heads to Astros

The Baltimore Orioles seem to be selling despite winning five of their last six, sending Ramon Urias to the Houston Astros according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

Urias, 31, is slashing .248/.300/.388 this season with eight home runs and 34 RBIs, while also holding a .984 fielding percentage while committing just three errors.

Reds Land Zack Littell in Deal With Rays

The Cincinnati Reds continued to buy on Wednesday night. They worked a trade to land righty Zack Littell from the Tampa Bay Rays. Littell has been solid this season. In 21 starts, he's 8-8 with a 3.72 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts against 17 walks in 128 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the season.

The Reds currently rank 12th as a team in baseball with a 3.85 ERA, and their starters are 10th at 3.86. Adding Littell will help the rotation's depth.

Cubs Bolster Rotation in Trade for Soroka

The Chicago Cubs acquired Michael Soroka from the Washington Nationals Wednesday night in a move to bolster their starting rotation. Soroka, a former All-Star who missed most of three seasons following multiple tears to his right Achilles tendon, has struggled to regain his form over the past few years. This season, he has made 16 starts and is 3-8 with a 4.87 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and 87 strikeouts against 24 walks in 81 1/3 innings. On the upside, his expected ERA is 3.32, which means he has gotten pretty unlucky.

With Justin Steele out for the season following Tommy John surgery, the Cubs have needed more depth in their rotation. They may have found it in Soroka.

Padres Pursuing Multiple All-Stars

According to a report from The Athletic's Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal, the San Diego Padres are looking to swing big at the deadline and have several big names targeted. The Padres are pursuing outfielders Jarren Duran and Steven Kwan, as well as closer Mason Miller.

The Boston Red Sox have been unwilling to part with Duran so far, and the Cleveland Guardians have let it be known that it would take a haul for them to part with Kwan. The Oakland A's have not been shopping Miller, but given the franchise's situation it would be foolish not to listen.

A.J. Preller is never shy when it comes to big swings at the trade deadline, and this could be yet another year he goes all-in.

Eugenio Suarez Still Being Chased by Multiple Teams

The Athletic's Jon Morosi is reporting multiple teams are still going hard after Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez as the trade deadline approaches. Arguably the most coveted bat on the market, Suarez is still drawing interest from the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, and Detroit Tigers, among others. The Cubs, in particular, need an upgrade at the position, as entering Wednesday, they had a team OPS of .575 at third base this year.

Suarez will almost certainly move before the trade deadline but where he will go is still a mystery with less than 24 hours to go.

Mets Acquire Ryan Helsley From Cardinals

Just after the Phillies landed Jhoan Duran, the Mets made another move for a reliever. They landed St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley in a blockbuster deal. The 2024 NL Reliever of the Year and two-time All-Star is headed for free agency after the season, so the Cardinals did what they could to get something back for him. On the season, Helsley is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA, a 1.39 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. He has 21 saves in 26 chances. He is likely to be the setup man for Edwin Diaz.

In exchange for Helsley, the Cardinals will acquire prospects Jesus Baez, Nate Dohm, and Frank Elissalt.

Helsley is the second reliever the Mets have added in the past few hours, as they landed Tyler Rogers from the Giants earlier in the day.

Phillies Trade for Jhoan Duran in Major Upgrade

The Phillies won the race for Jhoan Duran, as they beat out the Dodgers and other suitors in the battle for the best relief arm available at the deadline. Philadelphia's relievers own the 23rd-ranked ERA in baseball (4.33), and they don't have a go-to closer. That problem is now in the past.

In exchange for Duran, the Twins landed the Phillies' No. 4 and No. 6 prospects, catcher Eduardo Tait and righty Mick Abel.

Mariners Beef Up Relief Corps

The Mariners landed lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Pirates on Wednesday. As Pittsburgh continues to sell, Seattle took advantage. The 29-year-old is 2-2 on the season with a 3.74 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, and 34 strikeouts against 14 walks in 43 1/3 innings. Ferguson is having an excellent season as he's allowing very little hard contact. His average exit velocity (83.5), and hard-hit rate (25.2) are among the lowest in baseball.

In return for Ferguson, the Pirates will receive right-hander Jeter Martinez (great early 2000s baseball name). Martinez is a 19-year-old starter currently in A-ball, and is listed as Seattle's No. 13 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Mets Surrender a Ton in Tyler Rogers Trade

The New York Mets landed right-handed reliever Tyler Rogers from the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, but it cost them a significant price. They sent righty Jose Butto, righty pitching prospect Blade Tidwell, and outfield prospect Drew Gilbert to land the 34-year-old veteran.

Rogers has been excellent for the Giants this season. In 53 games, he is 4-3 with a 1.80 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts and only four walks in 50 innings. He has allowed just 10 earned runs this season.

Astros Pursuing Cease

The San Diego Padres are open to moving starting pitcher Dylan Cease, and one team has been hot on his heels. The Houston Astros are chasing Cease and appear increasingly likely to land him. Cease has struggled this season, but he has elite stuff that belies his 3-10 record and 4.79 ERA. There is faith that the impending free agent can turn it around, especially given his xFIP of 3.39.

We'll see if a deal eventually comes together.

Eugenio Suarez Sweepstakes Heating Up

Eugenio Suarez remains the most popular hitter at the deadline, with four teams currently chasing him. The Arizona Diamondbacks are actively shopping the impending free agent and will do what they can to maximize the return. The Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies are all chasing Suarez hard as we head toward the deadline. It's worth noting, Seattle and Arizona already completed a swap for Josh Naylor.

The 34-year-old third baseman has been one of baseball's best sluggers this season. He's currently slashing .248/.320/.576 with 36 home runs and 87 RBIs. Suarez was hit on the hand by a pitch Monday night but appears to have escaped serious injury.

Jhoan Duran Chased by Two NL Contenders

The Minnesota Twins appear likely to move closer Jhoan Duran before the deadline, and two teams have separated themselves in the chase for his services. According to 's Bob Nightengale, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies are in active talks to land him. To this point, the Phillies have refused to include top pitching prospect Andrew Painter in an offer.

The 27-year-old Duran is 6–4 with a 2.01 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings. He has saved 16 games in 18 opportunities and is under team control through 2027.

Reds Land Ke'Bryan Hayes From Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in full sell mode, and on Wednesday, they shipped third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes to the Cincinnati Reds for two prospects. Hayes is one of the best defensive players in baseball and is signed affordably through 2029, with a club option for '30 as part of an eight-year, $70 million deal he agreed to in '22. So far this season, he's slashing .236/.279/.290 with a woeful wRC+ of 57 in 100 games.

The Pirates received shortstop Sammy Stafura, who ranked as the No. 9 prospect in Cincinnati's system, as well as veteran reliever Taylor Rogers.

While his team-mates have fallen to flashy shots, the India opener has built his innings on leaving the ball

Alagappan Muthu17-Dec-20241:58

Pujara: Rahul’s preparation is the reason he’s being successful

To leave or not to leave? And how much to leave?Marnus Labuschagne was chided for overdoing it in Perth. Virat Kohli has been chided for not doing enough of it all series. KL Rahul was almost ridiculed for one in the tour game ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He played no shot and let the Australia A offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli bowl him between his legs.If trying him out in that match – a last-minute decision after India lost 3-0 to New Zealand – was to gather information on whether Rahul was still good enough to merit a place in the side – he was no longer an automatic pick, missing two of India’s six home Tests this year – the only thing they would have learned was face-palming can hurt. Prior to his opening the batting in Perth, Rahul had made only four fifty-plus scores in 21 innings since the start of 2022; 16 of them ended before he could reach 25. The idea that he would be India’s best batter in Australia clearly took the scenic route towards making sense.Central to Rahul’s success has been his ability to judge which balls to play and which to leave, and considering where he was at the start of November, maybe the only way it could have gone was up. He has left 102 balls so far in five innings this series. It’s exactly how he produced two of India’s best centuries away from home in 2021. Those tours – to England (223 leaves) and South Africa (189) – are the only times he’s left more balls, and considering he could have five more innings in Australia, he has time to set a new benchmark.The 84 Rahul made in Brisbane on Tuesday deserves a place next to his 129 at Lord’s and his 123 in Centurion because he was the only Indian top order batter who could impose himself on the Test match.Related

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Australia had great success pitching the ball up at the Gabba because immediately it gave the batter the cue that they could come forward and drive. That’s hard-coded muscle memory. Only the bounce here is different. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s flick that led to his dismissal was to a full ball but it hit high on the bat. Kohli’s nick to the wicketkeeper was to a full ball that rose well past the middle of his diagonal bat and took his outside edge. Shubman Gill could have left the ball he fell to on line. Rishabh Pant could potentially have left the ball he fell to on length.That was the way this Test match was going, except when Rahul was on strike. You can impose yourself on the game by being defensive too.Rahul was extremely choosy about when he was willing to go on the front foot and drive. The ball couldn’t just be on a good or full length. It had to be a shameless, unconscionable, blatant half-volley. Otherwise, he tried not to engage. And if he had to, if the ball was in line with his stumps, he didn’t just meet it with soft hands, he almost pulled the bat away on impact so that the likeliest place the ball would end up is straight back on the ground instead of in the hands of the Australian slip cordon. Once, he actually overdid it and had to protect his stumps from danger as the ball rolled backwards.”He knows his gameplans really well and that is the example he is setting for the other batsmen to follow,” Cheteshwar Pujara said on ESPNcricinfo. “Because if you can bat like KL Rahul, the way he is defending the ball, the way he is leaving the ball, he’s playing close to the body. He’s picking the right balls to hit for four because whenever the ball is pitched up, which is right under his eyes, that’s when he’s driving. So he’s picking the right balls and that’s how you should be batting in Australia.”The rest of India’s top six tried to impose themselves as well. They came away with scores of 4, 1, 3, 9 and 10. Jaiswal, Gill and Kohli fell trying to hit boundaries and throw Australia off their lines and lengths. But in these conditions, success depends on seeing off the new ball, not taking risks against it.”The only thing you can do in the first 30 overs is to tighten up your defence,” Rahul said after India had scraped past the follow-on mark. “Try and respect that the first 30 overs is the bowler’s time and give them their time, leave balls, try and play as tight as possible and then really try to cash in once the ball gets older. So that’s my plan and that’s pretty simple.”That’s a good thing about playing here in Australia. If you get used to the pace and bounce, you can trust the bounce and you can leave balls on bounce and that’s something that they showed us in the last game and they did that really well. Yeah, so for me, I mean, [leaving the ball] as important [as scoring runs].”Rahul has an unusual leave. He brings the bat down from his back-lift inside the line of the ball and hides it behind his pad. He teases even his own bowlers with it in the nets. In Brisbane, he dealt it out to Jasprit Bumrah, who is better than most at making sure he keeps the stumps in play, and made the bowler grunt in frustration. The sound off the bat as the ball goes for runs is pretty cool. But the satisfaction of making all these world-class bowlers feel just a little bit annoyed with him has to feel pretty good too.

Gill had suffered a neck injury during the first Test against SA, while Hardik had injured his left quadriceps during the Asia Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2025Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya “are looking healthy and fit” ahead of the first T20I against South Africa, India captain Suryakumar Yadav said ahead of the series opener in Cuttack on Tuesday.”Both [Gill and Pandya] are looking healthy and fit,” Suryakumar said. Gill had suffered neck spasms during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata, while Hardik was out with a quadriceps injury he suffered during the Asia Cup in September.Gill is yet to play since his injury, but Hardik made a comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Playing for Baroda, he picked up a wicket in each game, but more importantly, bowled four overs both times. With the bat, his 77 not out off 42 against Punjab helped his team chase down 223.”What you saw in the Asia Cup also, when he [Hardik] was bowling with the new ball, he opened up a lot of options, combinations for us with respect to the playing XI,” Suryakumar said. “That’s what he brings to the table. His experience, the way he has done well in all big games, all ICC events, ACC events. I think that experience will count a lot and his presence will definitely give a good balance to the side.”With Gill back in the side, Suryaumar made it clear that Sanju Samson would have to compete with Jitesh Sharma for a spot in the middle order. He also emphasised that all batters apart from the openers need to be flexible with respect to their position in the order.”Sanju, when he came into the circuit, he batted higher up the order,” he said. “Now the thing is, other than the openers, everyone has to be flexible. He did really well when he opened the innings but Shubman had played before him in the Sri Lanka series, so he deserves to take that spot.”But we gave Sanju opportunities. He was ready to bat at any number, which is actually good to see a player being flexible to bat anywhere from No. 3 to 6. That’s one thing I have told all the batters that other than openers, everyone has to be very flexible. Both [Samson and Jitesh] are in the scheme of things. It’s always good to have lovely players like both of them. One can open, one can bat lower down the order. In fact, both can do all the roles. It’s an asset to the team and a good headache to have.”

Superchargers’ prospects of qualifying increase substantially after inflicting Spirit’s second defeat of the season

ECB Media20-Aug-2025Northern Superchargers 93 for 2 (Litchfield 55*, Sutherland 29*) beat London Spirit 90 for 8 (Redmayne 29, Sutherland 3-20) by eight wicketsNorthern Superchargers earned a crucial win at Lord’s to leapfrog hosts London Spirit and take themselves to second in the table in the Hundred women’s competition.It wasn’t quite a must-win game for Hollie Armitage’s side but, having lost to Manchester Originals last time out, their prospects of qualifying have increased substantially after inflicting upon Spirit their second defeat of the season.Superchargers started well with the ball, with both Grace Ballinger and Kate Cross bowling their first 10 deliveries through to take a wicket apiece. When Nicola Carey dismissed Grace Harris and Dani Gibson in consecutive balls, all the wind was taken out of Spirit’s sails and they never threatened to post an overly imposing total.As it was the team in purple made light work of the chase, knocking it off two wickets down with 34 balls to spare.Spirit will want to prove that they’re not reliant on Grace Harris’s runs for success, while for Superchargers they’ll be heartened by the up-turn in form of Phoebe Litchfield – awarded Meerkat Match Hero here for her 38-ball 55 with her customary array of switch-hits dotted throughout.On a day that Southern Brave secured their qualification with their sixth successive win, the fight for the next two qualification spots – and a place in at least the Eliminator – looks set to go down to the wire between today’s two combatants and Manchester Originals (all tied on 16 points), who take on Trent Rockets tomorrow.Litchfield said: “I think losing to Manchester Originals stung for our group. I think we got ourselves in a winning position and it was heartbreaking to not come over the other side. We made a conscious effort to rectify that situation and come out here and win.”We weren’t far off in that last game. We were in a winning position. We’ve just got be ruthless in that moment, and I think we did that today with the ball. The way the girls set it up with the ball, pretty much won us the game in that first innings and then made it really easy for us batters to go out and play with freedom.”The switch hits are fully premeditated, and then I just have to adjust on the length and the line when I switch, but also I have to know how to bail out. So that’s probably the most important thing that I learnt is to bail out, but then if it’s in the area, swing.”

For the first time in a long while, Manchester United appear to have acted astutely in the transfer market, having notably snapped up Premier League-proven talents in the form of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

Fresh off the back of netting 35 league goals between them for Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers, respectively, last term, the £130m+ pairing have scored six times in all competitions in their new surroundings – three of which came at Old Trafford last weekend.

There is a joy in seeing ready-made signings hit the ground running, but so too is there in United unearthing something of a hidden gem.

A player who arrives as a relative unknown, before achieving cult hero status.

Think back to the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez, recruited from obscurity in Norway and Mexico, respectively, or even in the current crop, the likes of Senne Lammens and Amad could fall into that category.

In the case of the latter man, the Ivorian has endured a long route to the top at Old Trafford, but now he is truly flourishing.

Amad's long road to becoming a Man Utd star

It was remarkably just over five years ago that the news broke of United’s £19m signing of a teenage Atalanta starlet by the name of Amad, with the then 18-year-old ultimately making the switch in January 2021.

At the time of the announcement on that October deadline day, the youngster had made just three Serie A appearances, totalling only 30 minutes, with the Red Devils gambling heavily on a raw and inexperienced addition.

Despite ultimately making his mark by netting in inventive fashion against AC Milan, the diminutive forward was forced to bide his time under the likes of Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, with the major breakthrough coming amid his stellar loan stint at Sunderland in 2022/23 – following a short spell with Rangers.

With 14 goals and hero status achieved at the Stadium of Light, Amad returned to Erik ten Hag’s ranks in the summer of 2023, albeit with injury curtailing his involvement in the first-half of the subsequent season.

Aside from that FA Cup winner against Liverpool – and a first Premier League goal against Newcastle United – that 2023/24 campaign was something of a write-off on a personal level, with a strong start to 2024/25 quickly halted as he again slid down Ten Hag’s attacking pecking order.

Since the Dutchman’s departure, however, the 23-year-old has gone to a different level under Ruud van Nistelrooy and now Ruben Amorim, producing a string of clutch moments, including goals away at Anfield and the Etihad last term, alongside his late treble at home to Southampton.

Now shifted back to right wing-back this season, amid the presence of Mbeumo, the £120k-per-week wizard is beginning to find his groove, highlighted by his statement early assist away on Merseyside.

Manager

Games

Goals

Assists

Ruben Amorim

36

8

10

Erik ten Hag

24

3

3

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

8

1

1

Ruud van Nistelrooy

4

2

1

Ralf Rangnick

1

0

0

Michael Carrick

0

0

0

Total

73

14

14

It’s been five years or so in the making, but Amad – who is set to head to AFCON later this year – is properly realising his potential in a United shirt.

Perhaps a similar success story could be on the cards?

Man Utd's next Amad in the making

All the focus five years ago was on the £40m capture of Donny van de Beek, alongside the free transfer arrival of Edinson Cavani, with Amad’s announcement something of an afterthought – not least as he didn’t actually make the move until a few months later.

Such a scenario has seemingly been repeated in 2025, with United having quietly confirmed the £6m signing of another teenager, Diego Leon, back in January, with the Paraguayan belatedly joining this summer after turning 18.

Like a young Amad, the rampaging full-back has been signed as something of a project player, more with a nod to the future than with an expectation that he should immediately hit the ground running at Premier League level.

Like Amad too, however – who was even described as “like Messi” in training by Atalanta teammate Papu Gomez – the teenager arrives with a burgeoning reputation, having already scored four times in 33 games for former employers Cerro Porteno.

Comfortable at left-back or left wing-back, the rising star has been hailed for his physical attributes by the likes of analyst Ben Mattinson, who has noted that he “runs like a steam train” down that flank.

Such quality was evident only last week as United’s U21 side saw off Tottenham Hotspur, with Leon surging forward from his left-sided berth, running almost the length of the pitch, before converting for his first goal for the Red Devils.

Unsurprisingly, there is still a rawness to his game – having notably lost the ball nine times from just 31 touches in the recent EFL Trophy defeat to Barnsley, as per Sofascore – but with remarkable pace and power, it might not be long before United’s No.35 is featuring at first-team level.

Indeed, he has been a regular fixture in Amorim’s matchday squads this season, despite not actually making his competitive senior bow, while he has also received a first international call-up from Paraguay.

Paraded on the pitch ahead of the pre-season clash with Fiorentina, the left-footer was no doubt in the shadow of the marquee signings of Cunha, Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, although his time will surely come before too long.

With Patrick Dorgu yet to nail down that left wing-back berth – and with fellow teenager Harry Amass out on loan – there is a clear route to game time in the coming weeks and months, starting with Saturday’s meeting with Nottingham Forest.

While, like Amad, he may have to bide his time, United could reap the rewards later down the line of having invested in such an exciting teenage talent.

Carragher said Man Utd star was "terrible", now he's Amorim's key player

Manchester United now have a talent who has managed to transform his career at Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 30, 2025

Counterattacking 77 suggests middle order is his natural berth – even if he doesn’t want to give up first-drop

Vithushan Ehantharajah29-Nov-2024Despite playing 19 Tests together, day two at Hagley Oval was just the eighth time Ollie Pope and Harry Brook have batted together.You’d think a pair who have been locked at No. 3 and No. 5 for the last two years would be finishing each other’s sentences by now, even if the bloke sandwiched between them has been hogging one end. A four-ball duck going into lunch meant partnership-blocker Joe Root was no longer a problem.It was only at the fall of the next wicket – Ben Duckett – that Brook and Pope found themselves together at 71 for 4, New Zealand still ahead by 277 on first innings runs. Over the next 31 overs, they made up for lost time, with an engaging 151-stand that probably made them think “we should do this more often”.Related

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There’s a reason they have not, and it’s because Pope has not been able to stick around for long enough. In fact, eight out of the 32 times Brook has walked to the middle, Pope has been walking the other way.With Pope shifted down to six as the designated wicketkeeper, a union had better odds. Nevertheless, success was not guaranteed.This was only the fourth time they have combined for more than 50 runs, and only the second for a hundred. The first of those was a remarkable 176 against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, the pair going at 7.08 an over as England blitzed 506 for 4 on the opening day.Pope was the far more convincing of the two here, more dominant (77 runs to 64) and much less streaky. Glenn Phillips pulled off a stunner of a one-handed catch at backward point, plucking a full-blooded cut out of the air while horizontal to see Pope off. The same Phillips who was responsible for the first of four drops off Brook, who had 18 at the time. Brook finished the day unbeaten with 132 and a pang of guilt.”Brooky, as I was walking off, came and apologised to me,” Pope revealed at stumps. “I was wondering why he made a beeline for me.”A three through the covers off his 62nd ball brought up the century stand with Brook, and also took Pope past 55 – the total number of runs he had managed in the previous series, against Pakistan.Upon returning home from averaging 11 across five innings, he put in the work and consulted England legend Alec Stewart, a long-time confidant at Surrey. It was an open discussion rather than an array of sessions in the nets – “I didn’t get him on the dog stick, he’s too high up for that, I think.” Pope wanted familiar eyes to establish what was going wrong.”It was more about ‘what does it look like when I’m at my best’ because that was a frustrating thing, I wasn’t getting to 20 or 30, to allow myself to go on to that big score.

“I want to be number three, I want to keep trying to make it mine. I’ve had too many low scores there but I’ve also managed to put together some good knocks this year batting at three. It’s a job I want to do going forward”

“We talked about having that calmness at the crease. When I’m playing well there’s that clarity in how I want to play, not trying to rush my way to 20 or 30.”There were cuts over the slips – most of them deliberate – including one from a front-foot square driving position that forced him to readjust after the ball bounced more than expected. He pounced on any width, a sound gameplay given how diligent New Zealand’s seamers had been with their straight lines. On a Friday littered with rogue pull shots, his were immaculate.Did he seem calmer? A bit. Though perhaps even that is all about perception. What might seem skittish and chaotic at No. 3 is brave and proactive at No. 6, especially given the situation that greeted him at the crease. Pope, however, declared he would have done little different had he walked out in the fourth over – when Zak Crawley was dismissed – instead of the 22nd.”If I was batting at three, I’d have tried to play exactly the same way as today. The biggest difference at three is you set the tone a lot more, if you play well you can put your team in a really strong position.”The fun thing at six, you might come in a 350 for 4 and it might be your job to push the game forward. [Or] you can get your team out a tricky situation. Both roles are good fun, just slightly different.”Different roles, different requirements. But it does seem Pope’s natural disposition is for either progressing a good situation or – as he did here – counterattacking out of a bad one. A thoroughbred greyhound has not won Best In Show at Crufts in 67 years, but let it loose into a final bend and watch it rinse a retriever.While that is a tad reductive, it is worth noting Pope was reared as a six. It was from that position he flourished for Surrey at the start of his career, with 885 runs, four centuries and an average of 68.07.Pope cuts the ball away behind square•Phil Walter/Getty ImagesA Test debut against India at Lord’s arrived in the 2018 summer – at No. 4. His maiden innings ended up being the first time he had batted in the opening 20 overs of a first-class match. He will empathise with Jacob Bethell walking out at No. 3 in Christchurch for the first time in his professional career.As tedious as it may be to repeat, an England side with Root batting at three makes the most sense. It would allow Pope to move to No. 5 when Jamie Smith returns to take the gloves back at seven.The one barrier to such a move? Well, Pope.”I want to be number three, I want to keep trying to make it mine. I’ve had too many low scores there but I’ve also managed to put together some good knocks this year batting at three.”It’s a job I want to do going forward and I think my skillset is still developing. It’s definitely a job I want to keep doing.”Given he began out of position and rarely settled thereafter, you can understand why he wants to continue at three. And on paper, he’s doing well enough; despite the Pakistan aberration, the average at first drop is 40.28 from 47 innings, since he pitched for the gig when Ben Stokes became Test captain. Half of the six centuries he has there have come this year, while this half-century took him past 3000 career runs.Ironically, Pope building on this opening knock may scupper his hopes of fully locking down that No. 3 as his own. Though Ollie Robinson arrives into the country on Saturday afternoon to replace the injured Jordan Cox, England may decide to leave Pope as their wicketkeeper to give them a longer look at Bethell.Stokes and Brendon McCullum have shown they are not afraid to get funky with their selections. And shifting Pope to a place where his natural energy flows unencumbered falls right in that bracket.