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The Thunder posted a comfortable victory over the Heat, but the evening game between Scorchers and Renegades went down to the final ball

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff07-Nov-2024

Alana King finished with 3 for 23•Getty Images

Perth Scorchers 108 (Hinkley 32, King 23, Capsey 5-25) beat Melbourne Renegades 106 for 8 (Dottin 40, King 3-23, Ainsworth 2-18, Devine 2-22) by two runsAlana King’s all-round contributions proved decisive in a low-scoring thriller at the WACA as hosts Perth Scorchers completed a two-run win over Melbourne Renegades while defending only 108.King first scored a crucial 15-ball 23 for the Scorchers from No. 8 amid a batting collapse triggered by the Renegades pair of Milly Illingworth and Hayley Matthews (2 for 15 apiece). Alice Capsey then ran through the tail to claim her career-best figures of 5 for 25 while skittling the Scorchers for 108.However, the Renegades’ batting failed to complement their bowling effort, losing wickets through their innings. Needing 15 runs off the last three overs – 11 off two overs and eight off the final six balls – they failed to hit a single boundary and finished their innings on 106 for 8.The pressure was put on Renegades early in the chase by seamer Chloe Ainsworth when she dismissed opener Courtney Webb and first-down Capsey for first-ball ducks in the first over. Sophie Devine and King then accounted for Naomi Stalenberg and Matthews respectively, and when Amy Edgar removed Georgia Wareham cheaply too, Renegades were 47 for 5 in the ninth over.Deandra Dottin counterattacked with a 27-ball 40 that included three fours and three sixes from No. 6 to lift the Renegades briefly, but King sent her back for the second of her three wickets. King also removed Illingworth in the 18th over to finish with 3 for 23.Tasked with defending 10 runs off the last two overs, Edgar and Ebony Hoskin closed out the game for the Scorchers, conceding only eight singles. Sarah Coyte, who finished unbeaten on a 31-ball 21, needed three for a tie or a boundary for a win off the final ball, but Hoskin kept the last delivery down to just one.Heather Knight played another vital hand•Getty Images

England captain Heather Knight cracked an unbeaten half-century and Sam Bates snared 4 for 25 to lead Sydney Thunder to a 19-run WBBL victory over Brisbane Heat at the WACA Ground.Knight, Phoebe Litchfield, and Chamari Athapaththu, all fired to lift the Thunder to a formidable 170 for 5. In reply, Charli Knott and Grace Harris threatened to pull off the run chase, but the Heat were eventually bowled out for 151 after Bates weaved her magic.After being sent in to bat, Thunder were 13 for 0 in the third over when Georgia Voll was dropped by Laura Harris on 2. Voll would go on to score 22, but more importantly she combined with Athapaththu for a quick-fire 52-run opening stand to give Thunder the perfect platform to launch.Athapaththu and Litchfield cracked seven boundaries apiece, and Knight went into overdrive later in the innings as Heat’s bowlers struggled to contain the star-studded battling line-up.Heat spinner Jess Jonassen was superb with 3 for 22 from her four overs, and Shikha Pandey was economical. But the rest of the bowlers struggled, with Grace Parsons and Nadine de Klerk copping the brunt of the punishment.Heat needed to make a fast start to their run chase, and opener Grace Harris received three slices of luck during her blistering knock. She was on 5 when she gloved a spinning Bates delivery through to the keeper. The appeal was turned down, and Thunder decided not to review it, but replays showed it clearly came off her glove. Harris was then dropped on 26 and 32, but was eventually out when she was caught in the deep from a Taneale Peschel full toss.Knott cracked six fours and a six to notch her maiden WBBL half-century and give Heat a chance, but their victory hopes came crumbling down when she was bowled by Bates who now has 12 wickets from four games in what has been a sizzling start to the season for the 28-year-old.”I don’t know if there’s a real secret behind [my form]. It’s nice to be contributing finally,” Bates told . “I had a pretty ordinary season last year, so I reflected quite a bit on that. I changed some little things and they’re paying off, which is nice.”

South Africa lost to Ireland for only the second time in ODIs, with Jason Smith’s 91 in vain

Abhimanyu Bose07-Oct-2024

Harry Tector made 60 off 48 balls•Cricket Ireland

Half-centuries from captain Paul Stirling and Harry Tector, and an all-round bowling effort helped Ireland to a consolation win in the third ODI against South Africa. This was just Ireland’s second win over South Africa in the format.Winning the toss for the first time in the series, Ireland put on their best batting display before their bowlers made the most of friendly conditions under lightsJason Smith, playing his second ODI, made a fighting 91 but it was an effort in vain after Ireland had run through South Africa’s top five inside 20 overs.In the last two ODIs, Ireland bore the brunt of having to bat under the lights and suffered collapses. But on Monday, South Africa found out just how different a proposition it has been to bat second in Abu Dhabi.With the new ball swinging appreciably more under lights than in the last two games (broadcast showed average swing of 2.1 degrees on Monday compared to 1.1 over the previous two games), Ireland’s quicks made early inroads after their batters got them to a competitive total. Mark Adair had Ryan Rickelton edging to the slips cordon in the first over and trapped Rassie van der Dussen in front three overs later.Reeza Hendricks, flown in from South Africa due to the injury to Temba Bavuma, lasted just seven balls as he edged Graham Hume to Andy Balbirnie at second slip.Kyle Verreynne counter-attacked with six boundaries, but was trapped lbw for 38 by Craig Young as he missed his flick after going across the stumps. Smith and Tristan Stubbs tried to rebuild but Young had the latter nicking off with a harmless length ball in the 20th over.There was another stand of resistance between Smith and Andile Phehlukwayo, but the latter scuffed a pull to fine leg to give Fionn Hand a first ODI wicket on debut.Jason Smith scored his first international fifty but in vain•Cricket Ireland

Smith then took charge of the scoring, driving with authority on the off side, but lost partners at the other end. Bjorn Fortuin hung around before being bowled by left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys. Young then had Williams edging it to the keeper as he tried to ramp a short ball.Smith also launched Young and Adair over the leg side for a couple of sixes after bringing up his maiden international half-century. He moved into the eighties with a powerful flick wide of long-on off Adair in the 43rd over, before flicking him through midwicket for another boundary. He finished that over by swatting the fast bowler over wide long-on as he quickly moved into the nineties.But Adair had the last laugh when he caught Smith at deep point to end his resistance as the batter sliced a wide yorker from Hume. He hit nine fours and four sixes in his 93-ball knock, which followed a duck on ODI debut. Hume wrapped up the win when he had Lungi Ngidi edging behind with 23 balls to go.Ireland built their score on the back of Stirling and Andy Balbirnie’s first 100-plus partnership in ODIs. They made the most of good conditions on a fresh pitch, with Stirling starting off with a powerful cover drive off Ngidi in the first over. There were some edges that either went in the gaps or didn’t carry as Ireland’s openers saw out the powerplay.Stirling even took on South Africa’s best bowler in the series, Lizaad Williams, hooking him for six. Balbirnie was slower to start, taking his time to settle in. It was in the 13th over that he really got going, flicking Ngidi through midwicket for a boundary. In Ngidi’s next over, Balbirnie hit him for six before getting a couple of boundaries off Fortuin.There were a couple of quiet overs that followed during which Stirling got to his half-century, but Balbirnie holed out as he miscued a pull off Williams. The 101-run stand between Stirling and Balbirnie was Ireland’s second-highest in ODIs against South Africa.Paul Stirling and Andy Balbirnie put up a solid opening partnership•Cricket Ireland

Stirling immediately tried to put the pressure back on South Africa as he drove Williams through cover before hitting Fortuin wide of long-on. Curtis Campher started quickly, picking two boundaries off a Williams over before clubbing Fortuin over wide long-on for six. Stirling and Campher added 58 runs for the second wicket before Campher tried to paddle Baartman only to see the ball crash into the stumps.Stirling went on to drive Ngidi over long-off for another six before crashing Baartman behind point for a boundary, but was then cleaned up by an in-ducker for the second straight game, falling 12 short of a century.Lorcan Tucker, fit again and back in the side, kept Ireland ticking alongside Harry Tector, picking up regular boundaries as they added 54 runs to Ireland’s score. The stand was broken when Tucker tried to scoop Phehlukwayo only to sky it behind, with Ryan Rickelton taking a good catch running back.Phehlukwayo struck again in his next over, as George Dockrell cut him straight to point.Tector lofted Ngidi over long-on before cutting him behind through point for four to reach his half-century in the 48th over. Williams, who was not having his best game of the series until this point, finally made his mark in the penultimate over. He left the middle stump broken as Adair went across the stumps to try and scoop him. He then trapped Hand in front next ball and yorked Hume off the final ball to finish the series with 11 wickets.Tector finished on 60 off 48 as he was run out in the final over trying to run a second to keep strike.

Arsenal are poised to complete the signing of a Premier League star imminently, with the player now undergoing his medicals ahead of his proposed move to N5.

Arsenal trying to convince £55m ace to join, Arteta is speaking to him

The Gunners boss is getting involved.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 4, 2025

Andrea Berta’s appointment is starting to pay dividends, as Mikel Arteta prepares to welcome a host of new signings to the Emirates Stadium.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£5m

Arsenal have already acquired Kepa Arrizabalaga, who officially became Berta’s first signing in a £5 million move from Chelsea earlier this week, with the Gunners also finally sealing a deal for Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.

The Premier League title hopefuls are actively trying to sign an attacker too. Arsenal are reported to be in “advanced” talks with Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze over terms (L’Equipe), but this won’t have an impact on their efforts for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke, as it is believed both players could join them in separate deals (Fabrizio Romano).

All of this comes amid Berta’s pursuit of a new striker as well – likely to be one of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres or RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko – with the director having worked extensively on deals for both men simultaneously before deciding which move would be best for the club (BBC).

However, one man who looks certain to land before the likes of Eze, Madueke, Sesko or Gyokeres is Brentford captain Christian Norgaard.

Arsenal recently agreed a deal which could reach £15 million for Norgaard, with reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano confirming that the necessary paperwork has been exchanged ahead of his switch.

The 31-year-old Bees figurehead is an adept and Premier League-proven player, with reliable journalist Ben Jacobs sharing when supporters can expect him to be announced as a new Arsenal player.

Arsenal expected to complete Christian Norgaard signing next week

Speaking on talkSPORT, Jacobs reports that Norgaard is undergoing medical tests at Arsenal, and has completed the first half of his physical assessments. The Denmark international is expected to fully complete his move next week, so it won’t be long until supporters can officially welcome him.

“It’s Eze plus a left winger, and then you have a number nine as well,” said Jacobs on the club’s transfer plans.

“Add in Norgaard, who has done the first part of his medical, and is expected to complete his move next week.

“On top of that factor in the €60m or so outlay for Martin Zubimendi and Arsenal are getting going. Mosquera is another one they’re very optimistic on.”

Arsenal’s signing of Norgaard has been praised by critics, like former Tottenham director Frank Arnesen, who recently told Danish news outlet Tipsbladest that he’s the full package.

“Christian is a fantastic guy,” said Arnsen.

“I have nothing but good things to say about him. You meet players many times in your life, but I always hoped this one would have a fantastic career. He has got that. He has become captain of Brentford and has done incredible.

“Mikel Arteta was fantastic as a player, I think, and as a coach he has done absolutely superbly, both as an assistant at Manchester City and afterwards at Arsenal with the way he plays football.

“He doesn’t just take a player in without knowing exactly what he’s going to use him for. Maybe he won’t play 50 games, you don’t know, maybe it’ll only be 30, but it’s about the whole package. He gets the whole package with Christian.”

Manchester United have spent big on strikers over the years, as the club looks to bolster their ranks and consolidate their place as England’s most successful club.

However, their investment over recent seasons has massively hindered their progress in the Premier League, leading to their bottom-half finish in 2024/25.

Rasmus Hojlund has been the Red Devils’ main talisman since Ruben Amorim’s appointment, but he’s massively struggled to provide the goods – netting just four league goals throughout this season.

As a result, he’s been touted with a move to join Inter Milan this summer, less than two years after his £72m switch from Atalanta, ultimately failing to live up to expectations as seen by his measly goal tally.

With the summer window reopening later this week, it presents the manager with the perfect opportunity to strengthen his squad and help them mount a charge up the table next campaign.

United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Given the lack of goals scored by Hojlund throughout 2024/25, it’s no surprise to see the hierarchy targeting added reinforcements in the final third this summer.

The likes of Benjamin Sesko, Gonçalo Ramos and Liam Delap have all been linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, but no deals have been completed – with the latter rejecting Amorim’s side in favour of a move to Chelsea.

However, progress has been made on a deal to sign Viktor Gyokeres this summer, with United taking a huge step towards winning the race for his signature this summer, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that Jason Wilcox and Co are preparing an offer for the Swedish international, after Arsenal entered the race for the 27-year-old, who’s scored 54 times this season.

It also states that the Portuguese outfit are demanding a fee in the region of €80m (£67m) to part ways with their star man, but doesn’t say how much they’re set to offer for his services.

Why Gyokeres could be United’s answer to Haaland

Erling Haaland is a talisman who has taken the Premier League by storm in recent seasons, helping rivals Manchester City claim the treble back in the 2022/23 season.

The Norwegian forward has just completed his third year in the North West, scoring a total of 85 goals in his 97 league appearances – finishing as the Golden Boot winner in two of the last three campaigns.

Such form in England has made him one of, if not, the most deadly attacking options in Europe, with every side wishing they could rely upon a finisher as lethal as the 24-year-old.

However, the situation could’ve been completely different, with the Red Devils hierarchy rejecting an opportunity to sign the star during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure at the helm.

Gyokeres’ goalscoring record has undoubtedly caught the eye, but his underlying stats are just as impressive, outperforming Haaland in numerous key areas – becoming United’s own version of the Norwegian should he move to Old Trafford.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, may have outscored Haaland, but he’s also registered a higher shot-on-target rate – demonstrating his accuracy within attacking areas.

He’s also managed to complete more of the take-ons that he’s attempted, whilst registering more carries into the final third, having the ability to create changes for himself rather than relying on his teammates.

How Gyokeres compares to Haaland in 2024/25
Statistics (per 90)	Gyokeres	Haaland
Games played	33	31
Goals & assists	46	25
Shot on target accuracy	53%	52%
Shots on target per 90	2.2	1.8
Take-on success	46%	38%
Carries into final third	1.3	0.4
Aerials won	54%	53%
Stats via FBref

Gyokeres’ dominance doesn’t end there, winning more of the aerials he’s entered, subsequently handing Amorim the focal point he’s lacked since taking the reins back in November.

Whilst £67m may seem like a hefty fee for a player who’s never played in the Premier League before, it’s a risk worth taking given his recent goalscoring exploits.

Should he get close to the levels produced by the City star over recent years, it would be one hell of an addition, proving to be a bargain despite the huge fee they would have to fork out for his signature.

Amorim's own Carrick: Wilcox preparing Man Utd move for £20m "monster"

Manchester United appear to be making a move for a player who could emulate Michael Carrick’s achievements.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 11, 2025

Newcastle United have now identified “sensational” £50m+ midfielder as a major summer transfer target by Eddie Howe, according to a report.

Magpies set sights on new midfielder

The players responsible for ending Newcastle’s 70-year trophy drought have etched themselves into folklore forever, but with a Champions League campaign potentially on the horizon, Howe will feel a need to improve his squad in the summer transfer window.

The manager is relatively well-stocked in central midfield, but with doubts over the futures of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, at least one new addition may be needed, and Girona midfielder Yangel Herrera has recently emerged as a target.

Herrera has often featured in a defensive role throughout his career, but there are signs the Magpies could look at bringing in a midfielder with more of an attacking mindset, having now joined the race for Manchester City’s James McAtee.

Newcastle identify "incredible" £65m Prem forward as ideal summer target

The Magpies have expressed an interest in signing a Premier League attacker this summer.

ByDominic Lund May 6, 2025

Should Howe’s side qualify for the Champions League, it may also be wise to bring in an attacking midfielder with experience in the elite competition, and they have now set their sights on a player who has performed very well in Europe this season.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Newcastle are now keen on signing Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, with Howe clearly a big fan of the Englishman, having personally identified him as a major summer target.

Elliott has found it difficult to break into the Liverpool starting XI this season, which means a summer exit could be on the cards, but he will not come cheap, with Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly planning an offer worth in excess of £50m.

"Sensational" Elliott could ignite career at St. James' Park

The midfielder has impressed for Liverpool in the past, having been lauded as “sensational” by football writer Leanne Prescott, but he has only played a sporadic role in the Reds’ title triumph this season, making 15 Premier League appearances.

Given that the London-born maestro is now 22-years-old and yet to receive an England cap, it could well be time to leave the Reds for the good of his career, and he has proven he has what it takes to perform at the top level with his performances in the Champions League.

The former Fulham man scored three goals in five Champions League outings, most notably bagging a late winner in the first leg of his side’s round of 16 clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

While game time has been hard to come by, the Liverpool ace has certainly made the most of his limited opportunities, ranking incredibly highly across a number of key metrics over the past year, when compared with his positional peers in the ‘big five’ European leagues.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.46 (99th percentile)

Assists

0.46 (99th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

5.17 (99th percentile)

Elliott is showing signs he could go on to be a top player, but he needs regular game time to make that a reality, so a move to Newcastle could make perfect sense this summer.

Liverpool need to make some signings in the transfer market this summer. Luckily, Arne Slot’s side are on the cusp of winning the Premier League after nominal investment in recent windows, and FSG are ready to reward them.

Now that Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s deals have been extended – well ahead of the summer transfer window – sporting director Richard Hughes can focus his attention on drafting plans and convincing agents that Anfield is the place for their first-class client.

Ah, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s new contract may sit unsigned, but if you read between the lines, it sadly becomes quite clear that the boyhood Red will close this chapter of his career and sign for Real Madrid at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

However, Liverpool are indeed ready to strengthen across the park, which will ease the pain sure to come when Trent goes. One such signing has been identified as one of the prized players on the south coast.

Liverpool have enjoyed plenty of success in plucking from England’s southerly beaches over the years, with Van Dijk joined by Sadio Mane in joining from Southampton, charging an illustrious era under Jurgen Klopp’s wing.

Now, FSG’s attention has been turned toward Bournemouth.

Liverpoool pushing to sign PL star

According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are working on a deal for Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen, who has a £50m release clause in his contract and is expected to leave the Vitality Stadium this summer.

Plettenberg implies that talks have already taken place, with the Reds making a “strong push”, while “projects and figures have all been presented”.

Recent reports have circulated purporting Chelsea to be in the lead for the Spain international, but this has since been quashed by top sources such as Fabrizio Romano – with the transfer guru corroborating claims regarding talks being held.

The race is on, but Liverpool are pulling out all the stops and are working toward moving to the front, having indeed presented their package.

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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Contrastingly to the Chelsea-led rumours, talkSPORT claim Huijsen favours a move to Liverpool over that of Stamford Bridge.

Why Liverpool want Dean Huijsen

Huijsen is very much the talk of the town right now.

The Dutch-born central defender is only 20 years old, plying his way through his first campaign on English shores, yet he’s thriving, arresting most high-class outfits across the continent and being hailed as a “world-class” player in the making by one analyst.

He’s the real deal, all right, with a ball-playing game that bespeaks his potential as a superstar for a team at the top of the pyramid, ranking among the top 16% of positional peers for progressive passes and the top 7% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

It’s remarkable to think he hasn’t played all that much football yet is performing to such a high level, truly a talent capable of forging a lightning-in-a-bottle type of career.

Premier League 24/25 – Dean Huijsen vs Illya Zabarnyi

Stats (* per game)

Huijsen

Zabarnyi

Matches (starts)

27 (22)

31 (30)

Goals

2

0

Assists

1

0

Clean sheets

7

7

Touches*

60.5

58.1

Key passes*

0.5

0.4

Pass completion

85%

82%

Ball recoveries*

3.4

4.5

Tackles + interceptions*

3.0

2.6

Clearances*

5.9

4.8

Duels (won)*

3.9

4.0

Stats via Sofascore

Alongside another young defender, the 22-year-old Illya Zabarnyi, Huijsen has shone that little bit brighter for Andoni Iraola, with a sharper attacking approach, crisper in possession while influencing forward moves too, and proving to be a bit more robust in his defensive duties.

We touched earlier on the fact that Huijsen could arrive as Slot’s own version of Van Dijk, but we also paid note to Mane, and in a curious way Huijsen may prove to be Liverpool’s next version of the Senegal legend.

Mane left Southampton and signed for Liverpool in 2016 for a £34m fee, having notched 35 goal contributions across just two seasons for Saints.

But he transcended expectations at Liverpool, going from strength to strength and then stronger still as he formed a part of one of the Premier League’s all-time attacking trios, praised as a “machine” by Klopp for his output and athleticism.

Huijsen can replicate the veteran, having already made a name for himself in England’s top flight on the south coast, earning acclaim and attracting attention from a host of Europe’s top outfits.

Moreover, Southampton qualified for the Europa League in 2015/16, right before Mane earned himself a one-way ticket to Anfield.

Bournemouth, of course, are eighth in the Premier League right now. They could grace the European scene next season. However, they won’t have Huijsen in their brood – hopefully, FSG will have pulled no punches in getting a deal done.

Related He's better than Huijsen: Liverpool want "one of the best CBs in the PL"

Liverpool could be about to forget a move for Dean Huijsen with a deal for another Premier League star.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 24, 2025

Alan Gardner is joined by Andrew Miller and Vish Ehantharajah to look back on England’s series-sealing win in Nottingham

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-2024England wrapped up a series victory over West Indies by taking 10 wickets inside a session on the fourth day at Trent Bridge. Shoaib Bashir led the way with his first five-wicket haul at home, while there were solid contributions from all quarters. In this week’s podcast, Alan Gardner heard from Andrew Miller and Vithushan Ehantharajah about the strange contrast in Bashir’s record for England and at county level, an encouraging return to form for Ollie Pope and whether we are seeing the first signs of a more refined approach to Bazball.