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Durham 450 for 6 (Gay 161, Rhodes , Bedingham 58) drew with Worcestershire 591 for 9 dec (Roderick 151, Brookes 100, D’Oliveira 84, Taylor 66*, Edavalath 61)Centuries from Emilio Gay and Will Rhodes helped Durham pick up five crucial batting bonus points as they drew their Rothesay County Championship clash with already relegated Worcestershire.In the morning the Pears picked up a couple of Durham scalps to halt their quest for batting bonus points, but Gay and David Bedingham (58) combined for a partnership worth 122 to help Durham’s cause.Gay then reached three figures, while Rhodes scored his maiden first-class hundred for Durham to get them to 450 for six, securing the maximum number of batting points available ahead of a potential relegation decider against Yorkshire next week.Worcestershire declared overnight on 591 for nine, leaving Durham with the task of getting batting bonus points to boost their chances of staying in Division One.Opener Alex Lees carved a Tom Taylor delivery through the covers to the boundary, but Taylor got Lees next ball as he was caught behind for eight.The Pears were testing Durham in the early stages, but Gay relieved the pressure as he produced a great straight drive off Taylor which went for four.Durham’s pursuit stalled as Ben McKinney then departed for 16 at the hands of Matthew Waite as he edged one to Ben Gibbon at slip.That brought David Bedingham to the crease and the batter managed to find the boundary with ease in the early stages of his innings.Pears skipper Brett D’Oliveira came into the attack, but on his follow through he went over on his right ankle, which prompted concerns from the dressing room given they have the Metro Bank One Day Cup final on Saturday.Gay continued to tick along nicely and got his fifty from 71 balls, while taking his side to 100 before lunch.Bedingham continued to attack the bowlers after the lunch interval as he clipped one on the onside for four and he played another excellent shot, this time carving a Taylor delivery through the covers for four.Gay was almost heading back to the pavilion on 72, as he edged an Allison delivery but Gibbon couldn’t cling on to it with an outstretched hand.Bedingham then brought up his second fifty of the season from 79 balls and smashed a six off the bowling of Waite next ball. However, he went for one hit too many as Waite got him for 58 after he didn’t get enough on a pull shot, which Allison caught on the boundary.Gay continued to motor, now alongside Will Rhodes, and he picked up his fourth century of the season from 127 balls.The opener continued to play fluently after reaching the milestone, picking up three boundaries in a Brookes over, and Durham reached their first batting point in the 53rd over.Gay passed the milestone of 150 for the third time this campaign after tea and Rhodes, who has struggled for First Class runs this season, played nicely and found the boundary with a tidy glance off the legs from a Gibbon ball.Rhodes then reached fifty for the first time in Durham whites from 72 deliveries and he picked up another boundary straight after. Gay then went for an excellent 161, his highest Durham score, as he chopped a Gibbon delivery onto his leg stump.Rhodes continued Durham’s swashbuckling approach as he heaved a Dan Lategan to the boundary, but Ollie Robinson fell soon after for four as he was bowled by the part-time off spin of Jake Libby.Rhodes continued his charge as he smashed Lategan for a six down the ground and then reached three figures for the first time this season, coming from 121 balls.Graham Clark produced a quick 29 to speed things up, but Libby got his second of the day as he got the Durham man caught and bowled.Rhodes then got his 150 and guided his side to 450, the magic number for five batting points, and the two sides shook hands just after 5pm.

Among the many subplots, one involves Rob Walter coaching his new team against his former side

Ashish Pant13-Jul-2025After a two-Test series against South Africa, where they were blown away quite emphatically, Zimbabwe get ready to host South Africa and New Zealand for a T20I tri-series, starting July 14.T20I tri-series are not played too often. The last one involving at least one Full Member was in 2022 when New Zealand hosted Pakistan and Bangladesh. Zimbabwe will face South Africa in the first game of this series on Monday, while South Africa will then face New Zealand on July 16. Zimbabwe will take on New Zealand two days later.All the matches of the tri-series are scheduled to take place at the Harare Sports Club. Each team will face the others twice before the top two sides play the final on July 26. Here’s a lookahead to the series:

Watch out for a new-look South Africa

South Africa are yet to play a T20I this year and will be without a lot of their first-choice players, all rested. South Africa have had a strange run in T20Is since the highs and heartbreaks of the T20 World Cup 2024. Soon after losing to India in the final, they lost 3-0 to West Indies, drew 1-1 against Ireland and lost to India 3-1 at home.They did win a home T20I series against Pakistan in December last year and with the next T20 World Cup not far away, will look to quickly get back into the scheme of things. But they will have to do without regular captain Aiden Markram, and several other first-choice players. Despite that, this is a side packed with plenty of talent.Related

• Hermann wants to be 'the guy who wins games for SA'

• Finn Allen out of MLC playoffs and Zimbabwe tri-series with foot injury

• Jacobs' checklist: debut for NZ, 2026 T20 World Cup, return to the IPL

• Nortje injured again, Van der Dussen to lead newish-looking South Africa T20I side

Rassie van der Dussen will lead the side, which has Lhuan-dré Pretorius up top. The left-hander was the top scorer in SA20 2025 and scored a Test century on debut against Zimbabwe recently. Nandre Burger and Gerald Coetzee are also making a return to the national side after being sidelined due to injuries. They will spearhead the attack alongside Kwena Maphaka. The likes of Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Nqabayomzi Peter and Rubin Hermann have all been in decent domestic form recently and will want to leave a mark.

A new head coach and a return to international cricket

It will be interesting to see how the New Zealand players fare on their return to international cricket after more than two months away in the winter playing various leagues. New Zealand last played an international game on April 5 at home against Pakistan, while their last T20I was on March 26 against the same opponents. They have decent T20I form under their belt, though, having won seven of their last ten matches in the format.This will also be Rob Walter’s first stint as New Zealand’s head coach across formats. Walter was, as recently as April 2025, South Africa’s white-ball coach, where he enjoyed plenty of success but resigned two years into his four-year contract to further his career in his adopted home in New Zealand.Adam Milne showed excellent form in MLC 2025•Sportzpics for MLC

Chance for Conway, Milne and Jacobs to shine

Devon Conway, who was initially left out of the tri-series squad and last played a T20I more than a year ago at the T20 World Cup, has got a lucky break and will want to make it count. He was only included after Finn Allen was ruled out due to a foot injury he sustained at the MLC 2025. Conway scored only 156 runs in six innings in IPL 2025 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and recently played at MLC for Texas Super Kings (TSK), where he managed 135 runs in four innings.Adam Milne also makes a return for the first time since February 2024 and will be keen on making a mark with Lockie Ferguson rested. Milne, since undergoing an ankle surgery which kept him out of the T20 World Cup 2024, has been busy playing franchise cricket. He most recently turned out for TSK in MLC, where he picked 14 wickets in six innings with a best of 5 for 23.Bevon Jacobs is also in line for a debut against the country of his birth, now that a middle-order spot has opened up with Glenn Phillips set to miss at least the opening game of the tri-series, having been busy in the MLC final. Jacobs, an explosive middle-order batter, will want to tick off a few things on his checklist by the end of this tri-series if he gets a chance.Brian Bennett has been one of Zimbabwe’s best batters recently•Zimbabwe Cricket

Can Zimbabwe turn things around in the T20Is?

After three back-to-back Test defeats, Zimbabwe will be glad to return to the comforts of T20I cricket. This is a format where they have been competitive in recent times. It’s also tremendous prep ahead of the Africa Qualifiers in September-October 2025 with 2026 T20 World Cup spots on the line.In T20Is, they’re coming off a 1-0 win against Ireland (two of the games were washed out) and won a T20I against Afghanistan and Pakistan in December last year.Zimbabwe will be buoyed with the return of fast bowler Richard Ngarava, who missed the two Tests against South Africa due to a lower back injury but has recovered. Top-order batter Brian Bennett, who has been Zimbabwe’s best batter in recent times, has also been cleared for the T20I series after being subbed out of the second Test against South Africa due to concussion.Zimbabwe have a good mix of fast bowlers and spinners, but it’s their batting that needs to step up. Bennett will lead the show up top while Sikandar Raza, the captain, provides stability in the middle. But the likes of Clive Madande, Dion Myers and Ryan Burl will need to score some runs to get Zimbabwe a move on.

Alessia Russo scored two second-half headers as holders Arsenal came back from behind to earn a much-needed 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday. The striker combined with Lionesses team-mates Chloe Kelly and Beth Mead as the Gunners got back on track with their first win since the start of the month.

Meeting for the first time since their thrilling Champions League quarter-final last season, Arsenal started the better of the two teams and perhaps should have taken the lead when midfielder Frida Maanum headed just past the post from close range. However, Real quickly grew into the game through forwards Athenea del Castillo and Linda Caicedo and they took the lead when Scotland international Caroline Weir came back to haunt her former club with a stunning volley towards the end of a tight opening 45 minutes.

In a reversal of the first half, it was Pau Quesada’s Real who flew out of the traps after the break, with Caicedo first hitting the side netting before Weir forced Arsenal goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar into a comfortable save. However, the European champions soon sparked into life when Kelly’s 53rd-minute cross was brilliantly headed home by Russo, who had to generate all of the pace. Canada forward Olivia Smith then got into a dangerous position inside the visitors’ box, but her effort went straight at Real goalkeeper and captain Misa Rodriguez.

Continuing to push Real back, Arsenal soon took the lead when Russo scored yet another superb header – this time from substitute Mead’s teasing corner. The 26-year-old then combined well with Maanum but she couldn’t make it a hat-trick, firing just past the post. Liga F side Real drove forward in search of a last-gasp leveller but Renee Slegers’ side were able to hold on for their first victory since the 4-1 Women’s Super League success over Leicester City on 2 November. 

They failed to win any of their previous three games before Wednesday's clash, losing 3-2 to German giants Bayern Munich either side of league draws with Chelsea and north London rivals Tottenham.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Meadow Park…

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Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):

The Netherlands shot-stopper couldn't do anything to prevent Weir's excellent goal, though she did make a decent save to deny the midfielder after the break.

Emily Fox (7/10):

While Real were sharp down the left through winger Athenea, the USWNT defender stood up well to the challenge.

Lotte Wubben-Moy (6/10):

The centre-back made a number of sharp, well-timed interventions to thwart Real, though she was a little bit careless on the ball at times.

Steph Catley (5/10):

The Australian will be disappointed she failed to get enough distance on her header in the build up to Weir's terrific strike.

Katie McCabe (7/10):

Up against the electric Caicedo, the defender didn't take a step back, doing everything she could to frustrate the Colombia international.

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Frida Maanum (6/10):

Perhaps should have scored a header in the first half but the midfielder was a threat, almost teeing up Russo in the first half but the striker was offside.

Kyra Cooney-Cross (7/10):

Like many of her team-mates, she was neat and tidy on the ball as Arsenal pushed and probed throughout.

Mariona Caldentey (7/10):

Conceded the free kick which brought about Real's opener but the Spain international was industrious, making 14 recoveries for Arsenal.

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Chloe Kelly (7/10):

Lively down the right-hand side, the England forward tested Real's resolve with a few teasing crosses, with one of them leading to Russo's equaliser.

Alessia Russo (9/10):

Receiving little service in the first half, the Lionesses star – as always – showed up when Arsenal really needed her, scoring two excellent headers after the break. She is now the joint-top goalscorer in the UWCL, alongside Real's Weir and Wolfsburg striker Lineth Beerensteyn, having netted four times in as many games.

Olivia Smith (7/10):

Effortlessly gliding away from her markers, the Canada star got into a number of good positions and all that was missing was the finish.

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Beth Mead (7/10):

A second-half substitute, the forward recorded yet another assist this season as Russo headed home from her dangerous corner.

Caitlin Foord (6/10):

Introduced after the break, the Australia international was quiet in what was a low-key performance.

Stina Blackstenius (6/10):

The Sweden forward helped Arsenal see out a massive win, making a couple of good runs late on.

Taylor Hinds (N/A):

Brought on too late to make an impact.

Laia Codina (N/A):

Not on the pitch long enough to influence things.

Renee Slegers (7/10):

The Dutchwoman made three changes to the side who drew 0-0 with Tottenham, with Kelly and Smith producing good displays in particular. She also introduced Mead in the second half and the England star provided the assist for Russo's winner.

The expanded squad of 18 will be trimmed closer to the start of the first Test

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2025

Three uncapped players – spin-bowling allrounder Asif Afridi, left-arm wristspinner Faisal Akram, and wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir – have been included in an expanded 18-man Pakistan squad for the two-Test series at home against South Africa. The squad, though, which will be trimmed closer to the start of the first Test, which begins on October 12 in Lahore.As reported earlier, Shan Masood will continue as captain, and the squad – minus the players who are returning from the Asia Cup – will take part in a training camp in Lahore starting this evening and running till October 8. Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Salman Agha and Shaheen Shah Afridi, the players at the Asia Cup, will join the camp on October 4.The camp will be overseen by red-ball head coach Azhar Mahmood and NCA coaches.Pakistan vs South Africa fixtures

Oct 12-16: 1st Test, Lahore
Oct 20-24: 2nd Test, Rawalpindi
Oct 28: 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
Oct 31: 2nd T20I, Lahore
Nov 1: 3rd T20I, Lahore
Nov 4: 1st ODI, Faisalabad
Nov 6: 2nd ODI, Faisalabad
Nov 8: 3rd OD, Faisalabad

Of the newcomers, 38-year-old Afridi is very experienced with 57 first-class appearances, in which he has taken 198 wickets at an average of 25.49.Twenty-two year old Akram, meanwhile, is almost at the other end of the age spectrum. He made his first-class debut only in December 2023, and has played nine games in the format for 44 wickets at an average of 30.95. Akram has also played three ODIs, in which he has five wickets.The two of them will add to Pakistan’s spin options, which also has regulars Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Abrar.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Nazir, the third of the new faces, is a 23-year-old who is thought of highly in the domestic circles in Pakistan. He has already made his T20I debut, at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, and has played 43 first-class matches since making his debut in the 2018-19 season, averaging 34.45 with the bat.The fast-bowling options, meanwhile, for Pakistan are the tried-and-tested Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali and Aamir Jamal, while the batting department wears an experienced and solid look, with Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Saud Shakeel and other regulars joining captain Masood.The second Test will be played in Rawalpindi from October 20, and will be followed by a three-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series.Pakistan squad for two-Test series vs South AfricaShan Masood (capt), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Enzo Maresca has revealed Reece James' half-time substitution during Chelsea's 2-0 win away at Burnley was a planned switch. The Blues' skipper was replaced by fellow right back Malo Gusto, as the west London club prepare for a crucial week in their season. Maresca's men square off against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, before hosting rivals Arsenal next Sunday.

• Chelsea secure win at Burnley unscathed

  Chelsea took all three points at Turf Moor despite a faltering start. Pedro Neto calmed the visitors nerves in the 38th minute, as he tucked home Jamie Gittens inviting cross with a diving header. As Burnley pushed forward for an equaliser in the dying embers, Enzo Fernandez doubled the lead when he powered  Marc Guiu's inviting pass beyond Martin Dubravka in the 88th minute. The win sees Chelsea jump into second place in the Premier League table, three points adrift of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal.

  Maresca was proud of the way his team competed over the full 90 minutes in tough circumstances. The early kick off following the international break forced the Italian into a number of switches, including the planned removal of captain James at the break. Talismanic midfielder Moises Caicedo was rested for the fixture, after he returned late from Ecuador duty. He was ably deputised by Andrey Santos. 

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  Maresca's post-game comments

  Speaking to TNT Sports, Maresca said: "I didn't like this kind of win, because it's tough. It's tough after the international break, 12:30, Burnley away, it's always a tough game. But the way we competed I am very happy.

  "To come here and not concede is very difficult. It's normal to concede something. But overall they only had one real chance. During the game they didn't have any big chances and during the game we had loads of chances.

  On Reece James coming off: "We planned 45 minutes for Reece James.

  "It was very important to keep the momentum from before the international break. Now we'll recover our energy and are on to Tuesday."

• James' injury history

  The former Leicester boss' inclination to protect his captain is understandable. James has often struggled with repeated hamstring injuries over the course of his career. Last term, he was missed 26 games for club and country, despite undergoing surgery in December 2023 to address the chronic issue. 

  Gusto has emerged as a consistent performer in the England international's absence, appearing in 98 games for the Blues since joining from Lyon for a reported fee of €35m in the summer of 2023. 

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  Chelsea enter crucial period of the 2025/26 season

  Prior to the Burnley tie, Maresca suggested his decision to rest Caicedo was purely down to the player's late arrival in London after Ecuadors friendlies against Canada and New Zealand. However, his decision to limit James to just 45 minutes at Turf Moor suggests he has one eye on coming assignments. 

  Chelsea host Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, before hosting Premier League leaders Arsenal on November 30. That starts a relentless run of back-to-back fixtures, with the Blues competing in both European and domestic competitions. Chelsea have eight games over December, including a Carabao Cup quarter final against Cardiff City to further congest their workload. Keeping their key men fit for that gauntlet could well dictate whether the west London club end the season with more silverware in their trophy cabinet. 

  James, for his part, will hope to continue to prove his fitness as he looks to make Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the 2026 World Cup this summer. 

Antoine Griezmann has opened up about the "mental" toll of Atletico Madrid's collapse in La Liga and the Champions League last season, admitting his "spirits plummeted" during the difficult month of March. However, following his contract renewal until 2027, the French forward is determined to achieve more with the club, targeting major trophies and aiming to finally exorcise the demons of his 2016 Champions League final penalty miss.

• Griezmann reveals mental struggle after Atletico's collapse

  Atletico Madrid's all-time leading scorer, Griezmann, has candidly discussed the psychological impact of his team's slump during the crucial final months of last season. Speaking to , the 34-year-old forward admitted that Atletico's fading challenge in both La Liga and the Champions League in March affected him deeply. Diego Simeone's team entered the month top of the Spanish league table with a two-point lead over Barcelona and Real Madrid. They were also gearing up for a round of 16 tie against their city rivals in the Champions League. Unfortunately for the Rojiblancos, their season capitulated in just over two weeks. They lost 2-1 to Madrid in the first-leg before suffering a league blow by going down to Getafe by the same scoreline. Despite a strong second-leg against Real, they were defeated in a controversial penalty shootout. Four days later, they lost to Barcelona and then drew with Espanyol. By the end of March, they were out of the Champions League and nine points behind eventual La Liga champions Barcelona.

  "It was very tough for me mentally," Griezmann revealed. "Because I had so much hope, so many dreams, and March wasn't a good month for anyone; we lost La Liga and the Champions League. And my spirits plummeted, it hurt me a lot mentally, and that affected my game later on."

  Griezmann confessed that this "mental pain" distracted him from his individual pursuit of his 200th goal for the club, a milestone he eventually achieved. "I wasn't overwhelmed, but it's true that it felt like a long process. Especially last year at the end of the season, when I wasn't focused on pursuing it," he explained. "When the 200th goal arrived and I got closer, in the end the goals just came."

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  French forward aims for 'more' after contract renewal

  Despite already cementing his legacy at Atletico with 203 goals in 461 matches and surpassing club legend Luis Aragones, Griezmann has no intention of resting on his laurels. Having recently renewed his contract until 2027, he is driven by a desire to achieve even "more" with the club he considers home.

  "I want more: La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League with Atletico," he added. Explaining his decision to extend his deal early, Griezmann stated: "Because I want more. I still have many minutes left to play, plenty of legs and mental strength to play with and be someone important at the club. And I know I have to prove that to everyone, and I still want to be even more important."

  Griezmann also acknowledged his changing role within Simeone's side this season, where he has been rotated more frequently. "Ultimately, you always want to play. But I understand that I have to be professional, that I have to set an example for all my teammates and then show the manager that I'm still ready to play, that I have everything I need to play and earn a place in the starting eleven," he said. 

  So far in the 2025-26 La Liga season, he has made 12 appearances, scoring four goals.

• Champions League redemption and persuading Julian Alvarez

  A significant part of Griezmann's motivation stems from a desire to finally win the Champions League with Atletico and atone for his penalty miss in the 2016 final against Real Madrid in Milan. Losing 1-0 at San Siro, Griezmann had the chance to pull his side level shortly after the restart but saw his effort smack the bar. The game went on to end 1-1, but Atletico lost on penalties, with Griezmann netting his that time around.

  "Yes, you always think about it," he admitted regarding the miss. "The thorn of the penalty in Milan will remain until I win the Champions League with Atletico."

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  What next for Griezmann and Atletico Madrid?

  Griezmann will aim to translate his renewed determination into performances on the pitch as Atletico Madrid chase success in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Despite ongoing speculation linking him with a future move to MLS, which he acknowledges as a "dream" and "goal," his immediate focus remains firmly on Atletico. With his contract now running until 2027, the French forward has committed his short-to-medium-term future to the club, aiming to add more silverware to his collection and further solidify his legendary status at the Metropolitano.

ESPN's relationship with Major League Baseball, which dates back to 1990, may not be over just yet.

Months after ESPN opted out of the remainder of a seven-year deal with MLB set to run through 2028 after the league declined to reduce its annual rights fee from $550 million (and MLB did the same, largely ceremonially, after the fact), the two sides are back at the negotiating table.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed as much in an interview with CNBC's Alex Sherman, stating that the network—along with NBC and Apple—have bid on the package for , the same deal that ESPN opted out of earlier this year. Evidently the two sides have buried the hatchet a bit since Manfred called ESPN a "shrinking platform" after the opt-outs. As MLB looks to find local media rights solutions, as it currently produces and distributes those games for the Diamondbacks, Guardians, Padres, Rockies and Twins, ESPN's upcoming direct-to-consumer subscription service could be a potential solution. From CNBC:

Sherman floats the possibility that MLB could split its package between two of the bidders, potentially fetching more than the $550 million it brings in from ESPN alone in the process.

NBC may also be interested in as a bridge between its current and upcoming offerings. Apple TV+ currently airs Friday night MLB games for $85 million per year and recently reported that the service is "potentially the leading streamer land some of the MLB media rights currently resting with ESPN."

MLB's new agreements are expected to run through 2028, to line up with the expiration dates for the league's deals with Fox and TNT, allowing the league to go to market with its full suite of offerings in a few years.

He had given signs of ability with the bat in the past, but the back-to-back knocks against India and UAE at the Asia Cup signals a transformation of sorts for Shaheen Afridi

Shashank Kishore18-Sep-2025Shaheen Shah Afridi always had the batting chops. Until recently, they appeared only in flashes, like at the PSL 2023 final.That night in Lahore, Afridi wasn’t even padded up when Sikandar Raza was dismissed in the 15th over. Yet, he somehow stopped David Wiese from crossing over the boundary rope and beat him to the crease at No. 7 to unleash one of the most electrifying death-over onslaughts in recent memory.Every one of his 44 runs, off just 15 balls, proved crucial as Lahore Qalandars pulled off a one-run thriller in what was one of the all-time great T20 finals.Related

• Fakhar, all-round Afridi lead Pakistan into Super Four

• The Pakcroft drama: everything, everywhere, all at once

On Wednesday at the Asia Cup, the stakes were just as high. Pakistan were in knockout territory after Sunday’s seven-wicket drubbing at the hands of India. Afridi himself contributed a T20I best – an unbeaten 16-ball 33 – to revive a faltering innings, and give the bowlers something to defend. The knock barely got its due, though, amid India’s clinical chase and the handshakes-that-weren’t chaos that followed.But it’s unlikely to have escaped coach Mike Hesson. Because, all through that brief innings, there were enough signs that Afridi’s hitting was a weapon Pakistan could increasingly rely on.Sure, there was an element of pre-meditation to his game, but his clean swing, tact in targeting the shorter boundary, and holding his shape to deliveries dug in, especially in the death overs by Hardik Pandya, were all attributes of someone who has spent considerable time working on his craft.If Sunday’s knock was a glimpse of his ability, Wednesday’s against UAE was a reinforcement of Afridi’s batting chops under pressure. With so much happening around the team, there’s no telling what a loss to a lower-ranked, unfancied opponent could have done to the team. And at 110 for 7, with 19 balls still left in the innings, that threat was real.ESPNcricinfo LtdAfridi had seen first-hand the effects a below-par target to defend in the face of dew can have for bowlers, when Abhishek Sharma took all of two deliveries against him to announce himself. UAE openers Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu may not be Abhishek, but in a knockout game, all it takes is one innings to trigger a wave of confidence.It’s likely Afridi wasn’t thinking of a score in mind as much as he was just reacting to what was thrown at him. He ended up biffing 29 off 14 balls, much of it constructed during the course of a telling 20th over, where he turned into the other Afridi, Shahid. The result was two sixes and a four in an 18-run over that lifted Pakistan to 146, when they looked like finishing with 125.If the first six was all about backing away and swinging cleanly to a yorker that went wrong, the second was pure wrist-work mastery as he flicked the ball up and over deep-backward square-leg.The awareness of the bowler wanting to shorten his length as a consequence of being picked away with two full deliveries helped Afridi pocket a boundary as he got inside the line to help it along behind square. As Afridi walked off, he knew, and Pakistan knew, they may have just given themselves enough to defend.2:18

Wasim Jaffer: ‘Pakistan’s batting not convincing at all’

Before the Asia Cup, Afridi had batted 30 times in T20Is for a modest return of 188 runs. Two games into the tournament, he has taken that tally to 250 in 32 innings.The foundations of his new-found batting verve was established at the PSL. From PSL 2018 until the end of PSL 2022, Afridi had hit just two sixes, with a highest of 12. In the last three editions, he has hit 24 sixes – further proof of his improved hitting abilities.Ironically, it may have been a knee injury in 2022 – one that caused much uproar because of the way his rehab was managed – that may have been the turning point. The lengthy rehab phase, where he couldn’t bowl much, allowed him to bat more than he had ever done. And the gains are increasingly evident.It feels strange to talk of Afridi and not talk of his bowling impact or the late banana inswing of the kind that takes Wasim Akram back to his heyday. But it’s actually his batting, despite that wicket of Waseem with some of that late tail, albeit off an inside edge, that has single-handedly kept Pakistan alive in the Asia Cup.While the new-found dimension lends much depth to a brittle batting line-up, Pakistan will do well to ensure Afridi doesn’t end up carrying more than he can manage amid soaring expectation that will now invariably accompany him to the crease every single time.

Both teams will hope for better batting support for overburdened talismans Athapaththu and Amin

Andrew Fidel Fernando23-Oct-20252:12

SL vs Pak preview: Chamari Athapaththu’s swansong?

Big picture: Pakistan, SL aim to finish stronglyBoth Pakistan and Sri Lanka are out of contention for the semis. Pakistan were out already, following their big loss to South Africa on Tuesday. Sri Lanka’s exit was confirmed after India beat New Zealand on Thursday.This is both Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s opportunity to finish a campaign strongly. Pakistan are winless as yet in this competition, though rain denied them a near-certain victory over England. Sri Lanka batted poorly in the match against Bangladesh, but were bailed out by their captain in the final over. They will, if nothing else, want to put a stronger stamp on this tournament, which they have essentially co-hosted.The problem areas for both teams overlap. Pakistan are over-reliant on Sidra Amin with the bat, and have tended to crumble around her. Sri Lanka are not quite as reliant on Chamari Athapaththu as they used to be, but they are yet to put in a dominant batting performance so far. Hasini Perera hit her first international fifty against Bangladesh, but the likes of Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari will have hoped to have had better tournaments.Form guideSri Lanka WLLLL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
Pakistan LLLLWIn the spotlight: Chamari Athapaththu and Sidra AminChamari Athapaththu will be 36 in February. Unless stars align in extremely fortuitous fashion, Sri Lanka will play their last match of this World Cup on Friday. There is always the chance that Athapaththu will play the next ODI World Cup as well, at age 39. There are certainly no signs that she is slowing down. But realistically, this could be her final ODI World Cup game. She is without a doubt the first woman in Sri Lanka’s cricketing pantheon. If this is her last major game in this format, she deserves a strong finish.Can Sidra Amin finish her World Cup with another strong display?•AFP/Getty Images

Just as an illustration of how far back Pakistan’s batting is from the world leaders, consider this. Alyssa Healy, the top runscorer for this tournament, has hit 294 runs in four innings. Pakistan’s top run-scorer Sidra Amin has hit 138 runs in five innings. Amin and Pakistan have had consistently challenging conditions in Colombo to deal with, of course, but still, there is both a fragility and a stodginess to this top order, which prevents them from even competing in many matches. If they are to impose themselves on the next World Cup, Pakistan need to develop more batters like Amin.Team newsPakistan might search for ways to strengthen their batting order. Could Eyman Fatima or Sadaf Shamas make it back into the XI as they search for better combinations?Pakistan (possible): 1 Omaima Sohail, 2 Muneeba Ali, 3 Sidra Amin, 4 Aliya Riaz, 5 Natalia Pervaiz, Sidra Nawaz (wk), 7 Fatima Sana (capt), 8 Eyman Fatima/Rameen Shamim, 9 Diana Baig, 10 Nashra Sandhu, 10 Sadia Iqbal.Sri Lanka will likely keep their XI from the win over Bangladesh. Seamer Malki Madara was economical in that match, and will likely keep her spot.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Vishmi Gunaratne, 2 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 3 Hasini Perera, 4 Harshitha Samarawickrama, 5 Kavisha Dilhari, 6 Nilakshika Silva, 7 Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), 8 Sugandika Kumari, 9 Malki Madara, 10, Inoka Ranaweera, 11 Udeshika Prabodhani.Pitch and conditions: Can the rain stop, please?The northeast monsoon shows no signs of easing in Colombo. Expect there to be swing and seam, owing to the rain around. There will also likely be significant turn, so long as the balls aren’t too wet. This is all presuming the rain will allow any cricket to be played at all.Stats and trivia In 19 World Cup innings, Athapaththu averages 37.61 – just slightly better than her overall stats. Her World Cup bowling average of 30.00 is substantially better than her overall average of 40.12.Sidra Amin tops Pakistan’s run-scorers’ chart this year, with 656 ODI runs at 59.63. Their next-highest run-getter, Muneeba Ali, has hit 402 at 30.92. In 33 ODIs between the two sides, Pakistan have won 11 and Sri Lanka 22. Quotes”We’ve seen how the games have tended to go here. There’s been help for the pacers as well. We’ve studied the wicket carefully and are preparing to adjust our game according to the conditions. There’s quite a bit of swing for the fast bowlers, and for the spinners, there’s also good turn.”
Sri Lanka batter Harshitha Samarawickrama on conditions at Khettarama at the moment“I’ve learned quite a lot. This was a huge event – the World Cup – and unfortunately, we couldn’t perform as well as we wanted to. But there’s so much we’ve learned from it, and we’ll go back home and work hard on those areas.  It’s been quite difficult because many of our matches were affected by rain.”
Pakistan spinner Sadia Iqbal on Pakistan’s takeaways from a rainy Colombo campaign

UAE lost a couple of wickets in the last over, but they had done enough damage with Oman being sloppy

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2025A skillful half-century from Alishan Sharafu and a dogged one from Muhammad Waseem took UAE to 172 for 5 in their Asia Cup game against Oman on Monday.Both teams are searching for their first win of the tournament and their challenge in Abu Dhabi was to negotiate a slow and low pitch. Sharafu did so by charging out of the crease. Twelve attempts just within the powerplay fetched all six of his fours in that period. Then came perhaps his best shot, an inside out drive over cover for six against legspinner Samay Shrivastava.UAE were 11 for 0 in three overs. Then they whacked 39 runs off the next three and never looked back.Waseem was scratchy. He attempted a number of big hits and not all of them came off, indicating how he never really got the pace of the pitch. But thanks to his experience at this level, he was able to bide his time, recover from 3 off 9 to post 69 off 54. Oman didn’t help themselves in the field. They had a chance to dismiss Waseem on 27 off 22 but the fielder wasn’t all the way back on the long-on boundary and not only did he miss the catch he let it go for four. Then on 34 off 33, Shakeel Ahmed dropped a dolly at short fine leg. He came in for further punishment, hit for 12 runs (three times as many as he had given up in match) in the 15th over.Shah Faisal missed his mark in the 19th over which went for 18 runs and finished with figures of 4-0-45-0. UAE lost a couple of wickets in the last over, but they had done enough damage.