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Williamson suffered the injury in SL which requires extended rehabilitation; Chapman has been added to the squad

Alex Malcolm08-Oct-2024Kane Williamson is set to miss the opening Test against India in Bengaluru with his departure from New Zealand delayed by a groin strain he suffered during the Sri Lanka series.New Zealand have added Mark Chapman to the squad for the three-Test tour of India that begins in Bengaluru on October 16. The team will be led by Tom Latham after Tim Southee stepped down as captain following the 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka.The rest of the squad remains unchanged from the Sri Lanka tour. Although Michael Bracewell will only be available for the first Test in India before departing for the birth of his second child. Ish Sodhi will join the squad as Bracewell’s replacement for the second and third Tests.Williamson’s injury is a major blow for the Black Caps considering his experience in India and New Zealand’s struggles for runs in Sri Lanka. He experienced groin discomfort during the second Test in Galle and requires an extended period of rehabilitation at home before flying to India.Related

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Black Caps selector Sam Wells was hopeful Williamson could play a part later in the series but confirmed he would miss the first Test.”The advice we’ve received is that the best course of action is for Kane to rest and rehabilitate now rather than risk aggravating the injury,” Wells said. “We’re hopeful that if the rehabilitation goes to plan Kane will be available for the latter part of the tour.”While it’s obviously disappointing to not have Kane available from the start of the tour, it provides an opportunity for someone else to play a role in an important series.”Williamson’s injury opens the door for Chapman to possibly make his Test debut having played 78 white-ball matches for New Zealand.The left-hander has played six first-class matches for New Zealand A, including scoring a century against India A in 2020 but has not played for New Zealand A since 2022 when he made 92 and 45 in a first-class match in Bengaluru.He only played three Plunket Shield matches for Auckland last summer in February and March but posted scores of 123 against Otago and 83 off 68 in his final innings against Central Districts, both of which came at No. 3.Former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath will also travel to India with New Zealand as part of the coaching staff after his consultancy role as a spin-bowling coach in Sri Lanka.New Zealand squad for India Tests:Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell (1st Test only), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (2nd and 3rd Test only), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Harry Kane has been a player who’s been constantly on their radar over recent years and understandably so given his goalscoring ability in England.

The 31-year-old managed to score 213 goals during his spell in the Premier League, sitting second in the all-time list, with Alan Shearer the player who has scored more.

Back in the summer of 2023, the Red Devils were firmly in the race to land his signature, but he chose to join German giants Bayern Munich in an £82m transfer instead.

Despite moving to the Bundesliga, he’s still managed to haunt the club, scoring against them in the Champions League back in his first year in Munich.

However, despite missing out on his signature, Ruben Amorim could be about to land his own version of the England international, with a deal for one player in the pipeline.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

A deal for Bryan Mbeumo appears to be edging ever closer, with journalist Graeme Bailey stating that a deal is expected to be agreed in the coming days for his signature.

He claims that a £65m deal remains on the cards this summer, after Amorim’s side previously had two offers rejected for the forward, who netted 20 league goals last campaign.

However, progress has been made on a deal to sign Juventus talisman Dušan Vlahović, with the Serbian expected to leave the club this summer, according to CaughtOffside.

Their report claims that talks have been held with the Serie A side over a deal for the 25-year-old, which could see current Red Devils outcast Jadon Sancho.

It also states that the forward has rejected approaches from the Saudi league to stay in Europe, after netting 17 goals in his 44 appearances across all competitions in 2024/25.

Why United’s latest target would be their answer to Kane

Given United’s measly tally of just 44 league goals last campaign, it’s understandable that Amorim will want to land a forward who can hand him that clinical edge within the final third.

Current strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee only managed to score seven Premier League goals, highlighting the lack of confidence in front of goal.

Undoubtedly, many supporters must wish they had landed Kane when they were originally interested, with the Englishman finding the net on 85 occasions in the last two seasons.

However, despite missing out on his signature, they could be about to land their own version of the talisman this summer, with a potential move for Juve star Vlahovic.

The Serbian has been labelled as a similar player to the former Spurs star, highlighting how much of a superb signing he could be for the Red Devils this summer.

When comparing their respective stats from the 2024/25 campaign, Vlahovic has outperformed Kane in numerous key areas, showcasing the threat he poses within the final third.

Vlahovic, who’s been labelled “world-class” by journalist Matteo Bonetti, has matched the Englishman for shots on target per 90, but won more aerials – handing Amorim the focal point he’s craved since taking the reins.

Games played

29

31

Goals & assists

14

35

Progressive carries

2.4

1.1

Carries into opposition box

0.9

0.7

Aerials won

2

1.1

Shots on target per 90

1.7

1.7

Take-ons completed

1.4

0.8

He’s also completed more progressive carries and more carries into the final third, having the ability to transition the play and carry the ball into more dangerous areas.

The 25-year-old’s dominance doesn’t end there, completing more take-ons per 90, and having the all-round tools to thrive within attacking areas at Old Trafford.

Given the need for a new striker and the availability of Vlahovic, a deal for his signature should be a no-brainer this summer, potentially reaping the rewards of any move this summer.

If he can manage to get anywhere close to the levels produced by Kane in England’s top-flight, it would be an excellent addition and one that could catapult the side to added success in the near future.

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At the risk of navel-gazing and giving too much importance to mainstream media, it is hard to contemplate team representatives outnumbering the press at a press conference before a World Cup semi-final. South Africa’s head coach Rob Walter arrived with their media officer and security officer to speak to a total of one member of the press. This is not the first time it has happened with South Africa during this World Cup – they kicked off their campaign on Long Island similarly – but there is something eerie about a semi-final creating no buzz in one of the most passionate centres for cricket at the T20 World Cup 2024.Well, almost one of the most passionate centres. For this ground – Brian Lara Cricket Academy – is located 50km from Port-of-Spain, on the outskirts of San Fernando. The Queen’s Park Oval, owned by a private club, has refused to upgrade with the times and has been left behind, but taking such a showpiece event away from the historic venue in the heart of Port-of-Spain to a ground that doesn’t necessarily hold more people is akin to cutting the nose to spite the face.Then comes the schedule, which doesn’t even give teams the time to train. South Africa at least held an optional training session after having arrived on Monday night, but Afghanistan finished their qualification well into the wee hours of Tuesday for a match on Wednesday. So excuse them for not training a day before the semi-final.Related

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Not that the ICC would have thrown open the gates to the public to watch the training anyway. There are lessons to be learnt from MCG in Melbourne and Eden Gardens in Kolkata, two of the few international grounds where people can come and watch the nets.Despite all this and other problems, the World Cup has been a roaring success. On TV, that is. Perhaps that’s the future of the sport? The fans at the grounds are just not worth the bother. The carnival atmosphere that World Cups of sports carry doesn’t seem to be a prerequisite for the cricket one to be a success.Not that South Africa mind. They allegedly freeze under the spotlight so perhaps it is best to stay under the radar? “This is an empty hall, which is a good sign, I think,” Walter joked when asked if it felt like a semi-final. Before he put the press in its place: “It’s not really about the press but about the occasion, isn’t it?”Walter did say that you can’t mislead yourself into believing it is just another game. Better to embrace it and the emotions that come with it. How does it manifest? Do you train differently? Do you not sleep well?2:11

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Walter again joked he is not the best person to talk about the quality of sleep since his is never “very good”. “I think there’s always an energy that you can feel that’s tangible when it comes to a semi-final,” he went on to say. “There’ll be a mixture of emotions which is with anxiety but excitement and I think anyone in any sport, if they get to this phase of a competition, feels that. And so really, it’s just acknowledging that and accepting it and then just understanding what you’ll do with that. We still want to play our best cricket in the key moments of the game tomorrow.”It is being said that this South Africa is different because it has been winning close games, but is a convenient, almost unfalsifiable claim: if they fail to win the title, it will again be said that they failed to win “when it mattered the most”. Walter chose not to argue that point but said whatever near misses have taken place, in the past, the burden is not theirs to carry.”The near misses in the past, they belong to the people who missed them,” Walter said. “To be honest, this team is a different team. We own whatever is ours to own. And so, our nearest reflection point is this tournament where we’ve managed to get over the line. So that’s what we think about.”That is exactly what another South African by birth, Englishman by nationality, and Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott is focussing on. “We go into the semi-final with no scarring or no history with regards to semi-finals,” Trott said minutes after winning against Bangladesh. “This is uncharted territory for us. We’re just going to go out there and give it our all. There’s no preconceived ideas on it all, or history of failure or success in semi-finals in past years. For us it’s a new challenge, and I think that makes us dangerous in the semi-finals as a side with nothing to lose and obviously a lot of pressure on the opposition.”Now that feels like a semi-final-level attempt at needling.

Sunderland fans will be nervously counting down the days until Saturday’s Championship playoff final with only one huge match now standing in their way of Premier League glory.

There are some bad omens heading into the clash with Sheffield United, considering the Black Cats haven’t won on their last three visits to Wembley, but Regis Le Bris will pray his side can just get the job done by any means necessary in front of their raucous supporters.

It could also be another occasion where Daniel Ballard bails his team out in the most dramatic of fashions, with Sunderland entirely reliant on the ex-Arsenal man to guide them to the playoff final.

Ballard's astonishing heroics versus Coventry

If it wasn’t for Ballard popping up with a last-gasp header, the second leg tie against Coventry City would have headed to the nauseating lottery of penalties.

Thankfully, the Northern Irishman was in the perfect position to nod home Enzo Le Fee’s late corner kick, with the header undoubtedly leaving Coventry reeling, but it was a moment of unbelievable ecstasy for the Stadium of the Light to take in.

Ripping his shirt off in delight in the chaos that ensued, Ballard’s imposing presence from these scenarios could well be an effective weapon for Le Bris and Co to call upon for the final, particularly if it’s a tight and scrappy affair.

The Frenchman will also hope his attackers pack their shooting boots to try and upset the Blades on the biggest stage, with one promising forward player now actually worth the same as Ballard after he too played his part in Sunderland knocking out Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues.

The Sunderland star who's now worth as much as Ballard

Sunderland do have a whole host of sellable assets on their books, meaning promotion up to the Premier League will be key in attempting to keep the likes of Jobe Bellingham around for longer.

Ballard was even rumoured to be on the Blades’ shopping list once upon a time, but down the line, Sunderland number 12 Eliezer Mayenda could well be eyed up by some higher suitors himself with his performances for the Black Cats this season showing off a very promising striker that’s still got lots of room to improve.

He showed off his instinctive game when firing home the late winner in the first leg against Coventry, with Mayenda staying alert to any possible errors before rounding Ben Wilson confidently to finish off the gifted opportunity.

That would bump up his goal tally for the season to a nine strikes despite the 20-year-old only starting 22 Championship contests, with ex-Black Cats great Kevin Phillips even complimenting Mayenda as a “handful” after his winner at the CBS Arena.

The decision to snap up Mayenda for a measly £843k as a promising teenage talent has proven to be a steal, therefore, with the Zaragoza-born striker now worth around £3m according to Transfermarkt, which is the exact same value as Ballard.

Mayenda’s Sunderland numbers
Stat	Mayenda
Games played	48
Goals scored	9
Assists	5
Original value when joining	£843k
Value now	£3m
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Much like Bellingham’s value has skyrocketed amongst other shrewd Black Cats buys, it’s not out of the question to assume Mayenda’s value will continue to rise and rise too, particularly if he becomes a Premier League player very soon.

Before anyone gets too carried away at the Stadium of Light and starts picturing top-flight utopia, however, the playoff final is obviously a nerve-wracking day out that will really test the resolve of Le Bris’ young squad.

But, it could also be the perfect time for his group to mature even more, with both Mayenda or Ballard no doubt ready to be heroes again if a chance falls their way.

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Real Madrid have reached out to the representatives of an Arsenal star who’s now willing to join them, with Mikel Arteta’s side seemingly facing a serious threat from the La Liga heavyweights.

Arsenal players who are set to leave this summer

Arteta already faces the prospect of many different players leaving the Emirates this summer, and sporting director Andrea Berta will be tasked with reshaping the squad in their absence.

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Journalist Pete O’Rourke has claimed that up to 10 players could be leaving Arsenal when the window reopens, and we can already have a pretty good idea of who some might be.

Arsenal’s final Premier League games

Date

Liverpool (away)

May 11th

Newcastle United (home)

May 18th

Southampton (away)

May 25th

Kieran Tierney has agreed a pre-contract to join Celtic, with Fabrizio Romano also sharing news this week that Jorginho is set to join Flamengo when his Arsenal contract expires in late June.

Arsenal also appear set to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko, in the event a suitable offer arrives (Graeme Bailey), while both Nuno Tavares and Albert Sami Lokonga will likely be on the chopping block as well, after spending 2024/2025 out on loan.

As things stand, Thomas Partey will depart the Emirates this summer, with Arsenal still yet to reach an agreement with the Ghanaian on fresh terms after opening talks recently.

He’s arguably enjoyed his finest season in north London since joining from Atlético Madrid in 2020, but ESPN reported in late April that Partey needs to take a pay-cut to remain at Arsenal, so it remains to be seen whether the 31-year-old will agree to those conditions.

There is also the matter of Real Madrid and their serious interest in star £190,000-per-week Arsenal defender William Saliba.

Real Madrid hold talks with Arsenal defender William Saliba

Los Blancos have been repeatedly linked with a move for Saliba, as Real are believed to be keen on reinforcing their central defensive options this summer.

According to L’Equipe, as relayed by Get Football News Spain, Real have opened talks with the 24-year-old’s camp and want him to be the “leader” of their new-look backline – either this summer or in 2026.

Saliba is also prepared to quit Arsenal for Real, and has named the Spanish giants as the only side he’d be willing to depart for.

The Gunners will be desperate not to lose one of their most crucial players, though, with Arsenal apparently set to demand as much as £85 million to let him go.

Saliba has formed an exceptional central defensive partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes since the beginning of 2022/2023, and it is a pillar of the club’s recent on-field success.

For their part, Arsenal want to agree a new contract with Saliba to ward off Real, but with his contract expiring in 2027, they’re slowly running out of time. Keeping the France international is quite simply an imperative task for Berta, but Real are posing a very real threat.

This summer has to be a massive one for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have seriously struggled this season through a combination of poor form and a torrent of injuries, so much so that they’ve lost more games than they’ve won in the Premier League.

However, as there were at the start of last season, there have been signs that the Australian could make things work with more backing, and based on reports from the last few weeks, Daniel Levy and Co appear to be looking to make signings in the coming months.

One of the players most heavily touted for a move to N17 has been Southampton gem Tyler Dibling, although if he did join the Lilywhites, he’d be worth considerably less than one of his main rivals for game time.

Why Spurs want to sign Dibling

While Spurs’ interest in Dibling is now in the open, the North Londoners are not the only club keen to secure the youngster’s services, with fellow Premier League outfit Newcastle United also said to be interested.

So, why are a number of the league’s biggest clubs circling a winger from a club who look destined to be relegated to the Championship?

Well, simply put, he has been one of the very few bright spots for Southampton this year, and while he hasn’t necessarily lit the world alight, he’s done enough to suggest that his ceiling is extraordinarily high.

For example, despite being just 19 years old and playing for a genuinely awful Saints side, the Exeter-born “game-breaker,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored four goals and provided two assists in 30 appearances, which is not bad going for his debut season in the top flight.

Moreover, while his primary and best position is off the right, the young Englishman has also shown himself to be a versatile attacker, making five appearances as a centre-forward this season, five in attacking midfield, and one in right midfield.

Dibling’s positional versatility in 24/25

Position

Games

Goals

Assists

Right-Wing

12

1

0

Centre-Forward

5

2

1

Attacking Midfield

5

1

2

Right Midfield

1

0

0

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Finally, over the last year or so, Tottenham have clearly chosen to target up-and-coming talents in the transfer market, with moves for Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray, and Wilson Odobert.

So, in their case, signing Dibling would also fit nicely with their long-term vision for the team, and it seems more than likely that his €25m valuation from Transfermarkt, which is about £21m, will start increasing very soon.

That said, if Levy and Co can bring the youngster to North London in the summer, he’ll have to work hard to match the valuation of his biggest competitor for game time.

The Spurs star worth millions more than Dibling

Now, when it comes to the winger options at Spurs, Postecoglou has a few players who can choose from on the left, but when it comes to the right, the only truly natural option he currently has is Brennan Johnson.

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The Welsh international joined the North Londoners from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2023, and while things haven’t necessarily been plane sailing since then, he has established himself as a useful attacking outlet.

For example, despite enduring a slow start to his first campaign in the capital, the 23-year-old scored five goals and provided ten assists in 34 appearances, totalling 2248 minutes. This comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.26 games or every 149.86 minutes.

This season has been even better, as in 39 appearances, totalling 2493 minutes, the “frightening” ace, as dubbed by content creator HLTCO, has scored 14 goals and provided four assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.16 games, or every 138.5 minutes.

Johnson’s Spurs career

Season

23/24

24/25

Appearances

34

39

Minutes

2248′

2493′

Goals

5

14

Assists

10

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.44

0.46

Minutes per Goal Involvement

149.86′

138.5′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Impressively, despite getting so much stick earlier in the season that he deactivated his Instagram account, the Welshman is currently the club’s top goalscorer.

So, when you take all that into consideration, it’s not massively surprising that Transfermarkt values him at €50m, which is about £42m, or £22m more than Dibling is currently worth.

Ultimately, if the Spurs do sign the young Saints star, then they’ll have yet another promising prospect in their squad. However, seeing if he can take Johnson’s spot from him in the long run will be interesting.

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Arsenal are keen to strengthen their bid for the Premier League title and could now move for one of Europe’s best wingers after contacting his agent.

The Gunners have made an excellent start to the campaign and look to be on course for another successful campaign under Mikel Arteta, albeit they will likely be judged on whether they manage to deliver a first top-flight crown since 2004.

Admittedly, having to stew for two weeks after a frustrating draw with Sunderland where Brian Brobbey brought the hosts level late on is a tough pill to swallow. However, success is defined by your ability to bounce back, and Arsenal look to have a renewed sense of character in comparison to previous years.

Waiting on players to come back from injury to help with their heavy fixture schedule is something Arteta will be banking on, and the Spaniard has indicated Gabriel Jesus has his part to play as the Gunners look to move closer to the title.

He said before his side drew in the North East: “A player who is very unpredictable, full of energy, and super competitive. A player who comes from a context of difficulty in the last few seasons, due to various nasty injuries, so the level of hunger and desire that he is going to bring to the team is going to be amazing.

“So I’m thrilled to have him, I think he’s going to add something extra to the team that we don’t have, and make sure that very soon we see him on that pitch making an impact for the team.”

Even then, it may be some time before the Brazilian is fully fit, so it will come as no surprise to hear that Arsenal are now keen to strengthen their forward line once the January window opens, and talkSPORT revealed this week that the north Londoners want to sign a youthful forward.

Arsenal make contact with Borussia Dortmund attacker Karim Adeyemi's agent

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal have initiated contact with super-agent Jorge Mendes over Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi as they look to bolster competition out on the right flank, with Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke currently competing for a first-team slot.

The Bundesliga giants will insist on recouping a figure of £62 million in January. Meanwhile, the Germany international has a £71 million release clause and is also attracting interest from Manchester United. What’s more, and perhaps more interestingly, Arteta personally views him as the ideal upgrade to Brentford loanee Reiss Nelson, and Arsenal are convinced that Adeyemi can rival summer signing Noni Madueke.

Andrea Berta is further boosted by the report’s claim that Adeyemi is more keen on a move to London than Manchester, so a deal could be there to be done.

Karim Adeyemi’s Bundesliga statistics — 2025/26 (Fotmob)

Shots

16

Shots on target

5

Completed dribbles

13

Chances created

8

Touches in opposition box

38

Known for his explosive speed, Adeyemi has registered three goals and three assists in 14 matches this season, and he is now at risk of opting not to sign an extension at Dortmund, with his current contract set to expire in 2027.

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London is his preferred destination, potentially offering a crucial boost to Arteta, and it remains to be seen if he eventually puts pen to paper at the Emirates Stadium.

Former Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema has heaped praise on Kylian Mbappe's performance, but at the same time, he has acknowledged that he needs more support from his teammates. After emerging as the top goal-scorer in La Liga last term, the French forward has been in steaming form this season, already topping the scoring charts.

Mbappe's sublime form this season

Mbappe has been the torch-bearer for Madrid this season, almost single-handedly carrying Los Blancos with his 18 goals in 16 games. A mainstay in the team since his arrival in 2024, he has been the most important player, at first for Carlo Ancelotti and now for Xabi Alonso. With Madrid targeting a clean sweep of trophies after missing out on all major silverware last term, Benzema says it is up to the rest to step up and combine with last season's La Liga top scorer.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhat did Benzema say?

Benzema, himself a former Real Madrid striker, someone who has scored 354 goals in 648 matches for the club, has praised Mbappe for his deeds, but believes he requires additional support to fire more. "Mbappe is much better this season; scoring goals isn’t new to him," Benzema said. "He did it at PSG, and at Real Madrid he’s going to score many more. What we expect from Kylian is that when he gets the chance, he’ll score it. That’s how Real Madrid is."

The former French international has also urged Mbappe to combine with Brazilian counterpart Vinicius Jr, saying: "Real Madrid need him a lot, and there are games where he has to score, like vs Atletico Madrid, Liverpool. These are teams that sit back, and he has to step up, work those situations. He has to combine with Vini Jr. Real Madrid is waiting for Mbappe for these moments, to bring home the Champions League. I think he can do it with the other players. He can’t do it alone. He needs Vini Jr, other players… that’s just how it is. I think Vini Jr, Mbappe, Rodrygo (even though he doesn’t play much), Bellingham… they have to communicate. One is there to score goals, another to provide assists."

Benzema's advice to Jude Bellingham

After a rough patch, Jude Bellingham is slowly regaining his lost goal-scoring form, which is partly to be blamed to his shoulder injury and the tactical shift at Madrid under Alonso. Since his return from injury in mid-September, the English midfielder has secured three goals, including the match-winning effort against Juventus in the Champions League, and one assist. Benzema said: "We’re not going to tell Bellingham to score goals because that’s Mbappe’s job, nor are we going to tell him to be the number 10 because that’s Bellingham’s role. They need to talk. He’s now better, but he needs to focus more on these moments when Real Madrid needs him because he has everything he needs to do it."

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Alonso's contingent will be back in the mix on November 23, against Elche. However, until December 7, they will be playing on the road. They recently witnessed a transformation of the Bernabeu, which hosted the first-ever NFL game in Spain. Their home matches were kept waiting due to this mega-event, but on December 7, they will return to home soil to play against Celta Vigo in the domestic league. In between, they have fixtures against Olympiacos (November 26), Girona (November 30) and Athletic Club (December 3).

Warwickshire win with three balls to spare after Jake Lintott’s quickfire 50 and contributions from Kai Smith, Rob Yates, Zen Malik and Hamza Shaikh

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay17-Aug-2025Warwickshire 310 for 7 (Lintott 50, Yates 47) beat Somerset 309 for 8 (Lammonby 100, Rew 81) by three wicketsTom Lammonby’s maiden List A century was not enough to save Somerset from a three-wicket Metro Bank One-Day Cup defeat by Warwickshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.The hosts posted 309 for 8 after losing the toss, opener Lammonby scoring 100 from 111 balls, with nine fours and two sixes. James Rew contributed 81, while younger brother Thomas made a rapid 41.In reply, Warwickshire reached 310 for 7 with three balls to spare, Taunton-born Jake Lintott ensuring victory with a quickfire 50 after important contributions from Kai Smith (45 not out), Rob Yates, Zen Malik and Hamza Shaikh.Somerset, who created a party atmosphere by arranging several events to mark their 150th anniversary season, made a solid start to their innings, Lammonby and Archie Vaughan taking the score to 42 in the 11th over before the latter was bowled for 20 attempting to drive a ball from Michael Booth.It was 69 for 2 when Lewis Goldsworthy was also bowled trying to slog-sweep Taz Ali in the young leg-spinner’s first over. But Lammonby was already looking in dangerous form as he moved confidently to a half-century off 65 balls.At the halfway stage of their innings, Somerset were 102 for 2. It was then that Lammonby and James Rew began to cut loose, the two left-handers delighting home supporters with some glorious stroke-play on both sides of the wicket in a partnership of 143 in 21.2 overs. Both cleared the ropes in the same over from off-spinner Yates.Skipper Rew cruised to a 46-ball fifty, with five fours and two sixes before Lammonby reached three figures with a single to the leg side off Oliver Hannon-Dalby. It was an innings of numerous sweetly-timed cover drives and very few errors.The scoreboard read 212 for 3 in the 38th over. Without a run added Lammonby top-edged a pull shot off a slower-ball bouncer from Ed Barnard to be caught at short fine leg. Rew quickly followed, bowled aiming across the line to a ball from Booth having faced 69 deliveries, and Somerset’s hopes of reaching 300 looked in jeopardy.They got there thanks to some quality hitting from Thomas Rew, including two reverse-swept sixes in the same Ali over, and a career-best 30 not out from Alfie Ogborne off just 16 balls. Josh Thomas, Ben Green and Jack Leach fell cheaply, but JT Langridge cracked 11 off four balls to end the innings with a flourish.Warwickshire’s reply had reached 36 when Ogborne struck with the last ball of the sixth over, Barnard pinned lbw on the back foot for 14.Batting was looking straightforward in the bright sunshine as Yates and Malik brought the hundred up in the 17th over. Yates had moved comfortably to 47 off 52 balls when caught behind looking to drive Green, who struck again soon afterwards when Malik offered a low return catch, having hit six fours and a six in moving smoothly to 44.It continued to be Lammonby’s day when his left-arm seam accounted for Alex Davies, who edged a pull shot through to wicketkeeper James Rew having made 17. At halfway in their innings, Warwickshire were 144 for four.Shaikh and Smith looked to be tilting things the way of the visitors with a solid half-century stand, but Shaikh became their third player to fall in the forties when caught behind off Langridge to make it 205 for 5 with the required run-rate around eight an over.Vaansh Jani pulled a flat six off Ogborne, who responded by having him caught by the diving James Rew in the same over. That brought in Lintott, who wasted no time clearing the ropes off Green.Smith was content to play a supporting role in a match-clinching stand of 65 in 8.1 overs, which saw Lintot race to a maiden List A fifty off 34 balls, with seven fours and a six, before falling with just two runs needed.

The Blue Jays are one win away from their first trip to the American League championship series since 2016.

After hammering the Yankees 10–1 in Game 1 of the AL division series on Saturday, the Blue Jays were back at it on Sunday, racing to a 12–0 lead before holding on for a 13–7 win. Toronto’s bats were a big part of the story in Game 2, but rookie righty Trey Yesavage stole headlines with an incredible performance on the mound.

The Yankees failed to show up in either game north of the border and now find themselves with their backs against the wall, trailing 2–0 in the best-of-five series. Here’s a look at three takeaways from Toronto's big win on Sunday.

The Blue Jays Aren’t Intimidated

Toronto came out firing in Game 1, and that continued in Game 2. A 10–1 victory on Saturday led to a 13-run outburst that included a 12–0 lead by the fifth inning. The Blue Jays are not scared of what the Yankees have thrown at them, even with Bo Bichette sidelined.

After scoring eight runs on New York’s bullpen in Game 1, Toronto lit up Yankees ace Max Fried, scoring seven runs on eight hits in three-plus innings. Perhaps most importantly, the Blue Jays’ big bats came to play. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a monster grand slam to drive in four. Daulton Varsho had two bombs, George Springer also went deep and Alejandro Kirk drove in a run after hitting two home runs in Game 1.

The Blue Jays had one of MLB’s best offenses all season. Even with Bichette watching from the dugout, Toronto hasn’t missed a beat.

Trey Yesavage Earned His Spot

A lot was made about Toronto’s decision to give top prospect Trey Yesavage the start in a critical spot on Sunday. It turned out to be a phenomenal call. The rookie righty showed he’s the team’s top prospect for a reason.

In 5 1/3 electric, shutout innings, Yesavage held the Yankees without a hit, walked one and struck out 11, which was a Blue Jays postseason record. He sat in the mid-90s and garnered a ridiculous 18 whiffs, 11 of which came on his devastating splitter. He was excellent all afternoon and fed off the raucous crowd at Rogers Centre.

The 22-year-old is Toronto’s No. 1 prospect, and MLB Pipeline ranks him at No. 26 overall. The 20th pick in the 2024 MLB draft, Yesavage rose quickly through the minor league ranks this season, earning a call-up in mid-September after 25 outings.

Yesavage went 1–0 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in three big league starts before the playoffs. He struck out 16 and walked seven in 14 innings. It was a gamble to give him a start in such a big spot, but he stepped into the spotlight and owned the moment.

Toronto’s starting rotation ranked 23rd in baseball with just 8.5 fWAR, and it was 24th in FIP (4.46), so there was plenty of room to add another piece. Yesavage is an elite talent that elevates the rotation when he’s locked in. He’s earned that rotation spot after Sunday’s immaculate performance.

It’s Getting Late Early for the Yankees

The Yankees entered the 2025 season looking to finish what they started in 2024 when they fell short against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. They got past the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card round after losing Game 1 and winning the next two, but now find themselves on the brink again.

In two games against Toronto, New York has been outscored 23–8. At one point, it was 22–1 before the Yankees got two runs in the sixth inning on Sunday, then followed that with five more in the seventh. That only came against the back of the Blue Jays’ bullpen after the Yanks dug themselves an insurmountable deficit.

New York’s staff has allowed 23 runs in 16 innings so far in this series, which works out to a brutal ERA of 12.94. Part of that has been Toronto’s relentless offense, but it’s also the Yankees’ pitchers not executing. The franchise didn’t give Fried $218 million to watch him allow seven runs in three-plus innings during a key playoff game. The lefty delivered 6 1/3 shutout innings in Game 1 of the wild-card series but now has a 9.64 ERA in his last five playoff starts dating back to 2022.

Now the series heads to Yankee Stadium, where Carlos Rodón will face Shane Bieber on Tuesday night. The 32-year-old lefty allowed three runs in six innings against the Red Sox in Game 2 of the wild-card series, so he’s already pitched in an elimination game this postseason.

Rodon will need to be at his best because the Yankees already find themselves on the verge of a very long vacation.