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Coming together at 37 for 4, the fifth-wicket pair put on an unbroken 104 to boss a chase of 141

Abhimanyu Bose10-Dec-2023

An unbroken 104-run partnership between Harry Tector and George Dockrell helped Ireland turn a tricky situation into a comfortable chase against Zimbabwe in the third T20I in Harare to seal their first away T20I series win against a Full Member team.With 141 to chase, it looked like even this game could go into the last over like the last two when Ireland stumbled to 37 for 4 in seven overs.But Dockrell and Tector countered Zimbabwe’s spin threat and soon put Ireland in the driving seat. They coasted to victory in the end, with eight balls to spare.The momentum shifted after the 12th over. Ireland were going at a run a ball until then, and the asking rate was rising. Tector, who had played a key role in Ireland’s chase in the second T20I, was batting on 13 off 21 balls. Zimbabwe needed 69 from 48 balls.Then Dockrell hit Zimbabwe’s stand-in captain Ryan Burl for two sixes in a 16-run 13th over, and Ireland took 12 more off the next, bowled by Wellington Masakadza, to bring the equation down to 41 off the last six.Tector then shifted gears himself and ended up racing to a 41-ball half-century as he finished the series as its top scorer. He was, however, the first to admit in his post-game chat that it was Dockrell who engineered the win by taking the pressure off him when he was struggling early on, on a pitch where the ball often kept low.Zimbabwe, already without the suspended Sikandar Raza, had to name a third captain in as many games in this series with Sean Williams out with the side injury he suffered during the second T20I.It led to a major reshuffle, with opener Tadiwanashe Marumani and fast bowler Trevor Gwandu also making way as legspinner Brandon Mavuta, left-arm spinner Masakadza and batter Tony Munyonga coming into the side.After being put in, Zimbabwe continued to endure top-order struggles. Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, sent out to open after an impressive knock at No. 3 on Saturday, was trapped lbw off Josh Little’s first ball.But then Brian Bennett, who made 1 and 0 in his first two international games, made the most of his promotion to No. 3. Ireland’s bowlers targeted him with short balls, but he didn’t shy away from pulling and hooking his way out of the barrage. Zimbabwe only scored 26 in their first five overs, but ended the powerplay on a high when Bennett pulled Barry McCarthy for consecutive sixes.File photo – Gareth Delany took the wickets of Wessly Madhevere and Brian Bennett in a match-defining seventh over•AFP/Getty Images

But Gareth Delany turned the game around in the next over, first trapping Wessly Madhevere lbw after he missed a pull to one that stayed low and then getting Bennett to chop on for a 19-ball 27.Burl was nearly out first ball, but Tucker couldn’t hold on to a catch off the inside edge. Burl then hung around with Munyonga before Craig Young castled the latter.Like in the second T20I, Burl and Madande put on a defiant stand, adding 55 off 47. But Young gave Ireland a crucial breakthrough by bouncing Madande out before Burl drove Little straight to Delany at cover.Mavuta and Luke Jongwe added an unbroken 24 runs for the seventh wicket, taking Zimbabwe’s total to 140.Zimbabwe started well again with the ball, with Richard Ngarava trapping Paul Stirling in front in the first over. Blessing Muzarabani, introduced into the attack in the fourth over after Masakadza opened the bowling with Ngarava, also struck in his first over when Andy Balbirnie miscued a pull to Burl, who took a good catch backpedaling from mid-off.Lorcan Tucker swept Masakadza for a boundary, but lost his stumps trying the same shot next ball.Curtis Campher joined Tector at the crease but was struggling to get the spinners away, especially Mavuta, and the legspinner eventually got a leading edge off him that was gobbled up at cover.That brought Tector and Dockrell together, and the two proceeded to complete the chase almost faultlessly, with Dockrell hitting the winning runs for a second game in a row.

Xabi Alonso explained what he expects from his Real Madrid full-backs and also addressed one issue highlighted by his predecessor Carlo Ancelotti.

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Alonso lays down his expectations from his full-backsWants them to be more aggressiveBrought up issues highlighted by Ancelotti last seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Madrid head coach Alonso explained his footballing and tactical vision at his new club and shed light on the role he expects his full-backs to play in his system. He also acknowledged one pressing issue brought up time and again by his predecessor Ancelotti, stating that he is trying to learn from what the Italian has pointed out in the past.

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Los Blancos had an underwhelming 2024-25 season, which also culminated in the departure of Ancelotti after a four-year tenure. The former Real Madrid manager often spoke about a lack of balance, which saw them suffer heavy defeats against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals, as well as arch-rivals Barcelona in La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de Espana.

WHAT XABI ALONSO SAID

Revealing what he expects from his full-backs, Alonso told former Real Madrid team-mate Guti on : "Once we've made progress, we need the full-backs to be higher, to be more aggressive. We have to be brave, we have to try to stifle [the opposition] so they don't get out. We have to not be shy and correct the opposing side. That's fundamental."

Later on, he made a telling Ancelotti reference.

"I've listened to Carlo, and he often said that the team lacked balance last season," Alonso explained. "And that's been important in the messages we're sending, when it comes to having the ball, turning it around, knowing how to accelerate, knowing how to stop… The quality is there, and the more collective sense we bring to the game… Then exceptional plays emerge that you can't coach. That's the path we want for the Club World Cup and for the future of this new era."

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So far, the two Madrid full-backs, Fran Garcia and Trent Alexander-Arnold, have done a more than decent job in the ongoing Club World Cup. Garcia has shown relentless energy and has been among the best players in Alonso's first four games at the club, while Alexander-Arnold is slowly settling into his new surroundings. The Englishman grabbed an assist during Madrid's 1-0 win over Juve in the round of 16, and he will be hoping to build on that performance when Los Blancos take on Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

Thomas Frank met Tottenham star James Maddison as Ange Postecoglou's successor set foot in north London following his move from Brentford.

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• Frank has landed in London
• Visited Tottenham's training facilities
• Had a chat and greeted the players

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Danish manager’s arrival marks a fresh chapter for Spurs following the departure of Postecoglou, who led the club to a Europa League triumph, their first trophy in 17 years. However, a disappointing domestic campaign saw them finish 17th in the league table, which cost the Australian manager his job.

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  Frank arrives at Spurs after an impressive seven-year stint with Brentford, where he earned plaudits for his tactical nous. The 50-year-old famously guided the Bees to Premier League promotion in 2020, ending a 74-year wait for top-flight football. Now, Frank has signed on to lead Tottenham until 2028 and will be expected to bring stability and identity to a club still seeking to re-establish itself as a consistent force both in England and in Europe.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  In his move to Spurs, Frank is not coming alone. He brings with him a familiar coaching unit from his Brentford days, including assistants Justin Cochrane, Chris Haslam and Joe Newton. Additionally, the club has appointed Andreas Georgson, a renowned set-piece expert, who joins from Manchester United.

The 22-year-old keeper batter made 97 as Surrey look for victory against a dogged Middlesex

Vithushan Ehantharajah13-May-2023Surrey 380 (Smith 97, Burns 88) lead Middlesex 209 (Robson 76, Malan 66, Worrall 5-48) and 128 for 3 (Holden 42*, Clark 1-3) by 43 runsThe weather apps lied to the 3,000-odd people who turned up at the Kia Oval on Saturday. It was not sunny, nor was it warm. The “real feel” overshot by about 10 degrees. Of the things Saturday promised, this was the biggest lie. It was also the only one.Coming into day three of this encounter, the scope was of Surrey asserting dominance or Middlesex showing some mongrel. By the end, both had played out to a point. A first-innings lead of 171 was established, then whittled down to 43 in 41 overs of dogged resistance that certainly raised the temperature under the collars of those out on the field.This London Derby always tends to surprise with its ill-feeling, and this was no different. Surrey had to work harder than they’d have liked for three second-innings wickets and the atmosphere out in the middle was gnarly, in the best way possible. This stuff still matters to these players. We’ll get a reminder of just how much on Sunday when tensions will rise a little more.That Surrey control the match and the environment around it was primarily down to Jamie Smith extending his knock from 55 to 97. Watchful at first, particularly in the face of some suffocating bowling, typified by the impressive Ethan Bamber, he expanded his repertoire to what looked a certain hundred.Alas, number seven will have to wait a little longer, but the 42 runs added was the foundation for a doubling of Surrey’s overnight score to 380. The 22-year-old set a new season-high at least, beating his 88 against Warwickshire a couple of weeks ago.There was palpable dismay at his dismissal, particularly as the crowd swelled as he approached what would have been a second century this year. The first came in Sri Lanka for England Lions, and alerted the rest of the country that this kid is going places. As such, an “I was there when Jamie Smith carried Surrey” was replaced with a “I was there when Luke Hollman tied Jamie Smith down and eventually got him to york himself into a stumping”.From Middlesex’s perspective, it was an overdue dismissal. Smith was dropped on 24, then again on 55 off the last ball of day two. Even this morning, there were enough plays and misses to wonder if Smith might finish Saturday winning Eurovision.Most, if not all of that angst came from the youngster’s end because wickets were coming pretty regularly at the other. Tim Murtagh needed just six deliveries to take out Foakes, thanks to an exceptional catch by John Simpson standing up to the stumps.The Middlesex wicketkeeper spent most of the morning with his helmet on, making everything a little more claustrophobic for the batters. Will Jacks didn’t seem bothered at first, standing in his crease to lift Bamber over wide mid-on for six to level Middlesex’s first-innings score of 209 for the loss of just four wickets.Bamber would get his revenge, Jacks neither forward nor back with Simpson breathing down his neck, allowing enough room between bat and pad for a delivery to nip through and take off stump. Similar indeterminate footwork did for Jordan Clark, slapping Ryan Higgins to backward point.Upon Smith’s departure, the lead was only 74 but a long tail delivered as the final four contributed 101 with the bat. Abbott and Worrall were the main grantors, albeit in wildly different styles. Abbott was prim and proper; attacking no doubt, particularly as he danced down the track and slapped Higgins into the stands in front of the Pavilion on the stroke of lunch, but in a calm, calculated manner.Emerging after the break, Abbott took the lead from 82 to 131 before falling short of a second half-century of the season, inadvertently guiding a delivery down onto his stumps. In tagged Worrall for something far more agricultural, clearing his front leg to smack Higgins down the ground first ball, then heaving a six over mid-on and smiting a drive on the up for four through cover in successive deliveries of the allrounder’s next over.Roland-Jones eventually tamed Worrall with a short delivery through to the keeper, after the Australian had seemingly found a remedy with a guide over the top of the slips. A swat through to Simpson (standing back) brought an engaging innings to a close.With 49 overs to go against a visiting line-up that had lost nine wickets inside 21.1 overs two days ago, thoughts turn to a possible Sunday off with an Innings victory. Sam Robson and Mark Stoneman knuckled down, getting through a 30-minute spell before tea, ensuring at the very least Middlesex will fight another day.The openers returned with the same patient approach, not quite taking it to Surrey’s experienced, seam-laden attack but certainly doing enough to frustrate them into ball complaints. Midway through the 13th over, those were heeded and a replacement called for.And yep, you guessed it – wickets followed. Though there was no sense Middlesex were undone just by a change of Dukes, they were certainly unlucky. Not so much for Robson’s dismissal, snicked off by the impressive Abbott, but certainly for Stoneman’s.On 28, he went for a wild square drive to Gus Atkinson, as the ball shot through to Foakes. It turned out the ball attributed to the nick came through bat hitting the floor, with replays showing a clear gap between bat and ball.Of course, there is no DRS, though the presence of Sky’s camera meant Atkinson’s front foot was checked via stump cam. There had been a handful of high-def replays of potential stumpings and run-outs, with another coming later on when Max Holden was almost seen off for 28 with a direct hit from Rory Burns. Nevertheless, it did feel an odd ad-hoc overstepping of the usual guidelines the County Championship is played under.Then again, if you’ve got the technology there, why not use it? They did so again to check Clark’s front foot – this time from a parallel camera – when he trimmed off Eskinazi. It felt a shame they didn’t raise the stump mics in the process, as Surrey and Eskinazi exchanged a few words before a second send-off after the delivery’s legitimacy was confirmed.You could sense the host’s frustration, which they perhaps have themselves to blame for exacerbating after Jacks gave Holden a life on 18, dropping a simple catch at second slip from Kemar Roach. Burns then pulled up the umpires for allowing Holden and Simpson to walk off after 38 overs.The light was bad, but Burns seemed to suggest there was no communication that Surrey’s pace quintet were pushing their luck until Worrall went short to Holden. Burns coaxed the batters back to the middle with the offering of pace-off. A couple of overs of Jacks’ off-spin sandwiching one of medium pace from Ryan Patel later, stumps was officially called.

Derbyshire batter adds another half-century to his run of three fifties and a hundred

ECB Reporters Network02-Jun-2023

Wayne Madsen’s remarkable run in the Vitality Blast continued as the Derbyshire Falcons ended Birmingham Bears’ winning streak in the North Group with a 17-run victory at Derby.Madsen came into the game on the back of three fifties and a hundred and delivered another white-ball masterclass with an unbeaten 71 off 52 balls out of 174 for 5.Tom Wood hammered 39 from 19 as he and Madsen plundered 79 off 41 balls with Glenn Maxwell taking 2 for 19 in four overs.The Bears’ hopes of equalling their best ever start in the T20 with a fifth victory quickly faded as they slipped to 45 for 4 in the powerplay with Moeen Ali falling for 16.Maxwell briefly threatened with 29 off 22 balls before Dan Mousley and Ed Barnard added 49 off 30 but the Bears came up short on 157 for 9 with Zak Chappell taking 3 for 32 and Zaman Khan 3 for 34.Moeen, playing his first game for his home county for 17 years, had elected to bowl first on a sunny evening at the Incora County Ground.Luis Reece swung Maxwell for six before pulling Henry Brookes into the hands of deep square which brought in the prolific Madsen who cut his first ball for four.He drilled Craig Miles past mid on for another four as the Falcons ended the powerplay on 43 for 1 and Haider Ali greeted Jake Lintott by launching him over the ropes at wide long on.His attempt to do the same to Maxwell was pouched by Mousley at deep midwicket but Madsen was the wicket the Bears most wanted.Maxwell beat Leus Du Plooy’s charge to end his impressive spell but Madsen was finding the gaps and after surviving a hard caught-and-bowled chance to Mousley on 47, pulled the spinner for his ninth four to reach yet another 50 off 40 balls.It was an impressive display of timing and placement on a slow pitch and when Wood opened his shoulders to club Brookes for two fours and a six in a penultimate over which cost 27, the momentum had swung to the Falcons.Wood pulled Miles to deep midwicket to end a stand of 79 off 41 balls but he had helped take the Falcons to a competitive score.Moeen launched the chase by lofting Chappell over long on which resulted in the ball being changed but when Alex Davies tried to emulate his skipper he skied a catch to mid off.It is difficult to keep Madsen out of the game at the moment and the 39-year-old plunged forward at cover in the fourth over to hold a fine catch when Moeen checked a drive at Zaman, although he appeared to hurt his right knee in the process.Maxwell dispatched George Scrimshaw’s first two balls to the ropes but the fast bowler responded by bowling Sam Hain when he backed away to drive.The Bears were in deep trouble when Chris Benjamin gloved a pull at Chappell through to the wicketkeeper with everything now resting for the visitors on Maxwell.But he drilled Mattie McKiernan to long off in the 10th over and despite Mousley and Barnard’s rally, the Falcons kept their discipline to record back-to-back wins.

Tony Mowbray would have walked away from West Bromwich Albion’s last encounter in the Championship ultimately frustrated with the final outcome, even with a 1-1 draw falling into the bag come full-time.

West Brom had to rely on a Joe Bryan own goal to salvage a share of the points at the Den, with the Baggies’ attacking issues also getting the better of them against Blackburn Rovers the match before this trip to London, as a 2-0 loss was eventually swallowed.

Adam Armstrong has annoyingly drawn blanks across his last couple of second tier games, having bagged a goal on his West Brom debut, with the Southampton loanee looking out-of-sorts against Alex Neil’s determined hosts.

Armstrong's poor performances

Arguably, Mowbray didn’t play to his former Blackburn favourite’s strengths against Millwall, having chucked him out to the left wing to ensure another new loanee in Will Lankshear led the line.

But, Armstrong has shone in this position before down the flanks during his peak at St. Mary’s, with 12 of his sublime 34 goal contributions during the regular season in the Championship last campaign coming from either the left or right.

Regardless, away from this instinctive opener on his Hawthorns debut, Armstrong has looked somewhat quiet in his fresh surroundings, with zero successful dribbles pulled off at the Den, alongside only mustering up one on-target effort.

With Lankshear also looking timid with just eight touches of the ball amassed, Mowbray could now find himself back at the drawing board working out what could work in attack moving forward, especially with Josh Maja still in the Baggies treatment room.

Known for getting the best out of some raw starlets at the Stadium of Light – with Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg springing to mind – the 61-year-old might be prepared to give this exciting 18-year-old a chance to impress, away from the current first team monotony.

West Brom's in-house Maja replacement

The promotion hopefuls will hope their next Maja will soon come to the forefront, whether that is through giving an academy prospect a chance or the aforementioned Lankshear and Armstrong do end up firing in some big strikes to make a playoff spot more certain.

The first option could be more tantalising for Mowbray, considering the Baggies have had great success in recent years developing the likes of homegrown star Tom Fellows, as teenage sensation Eseosa Sule now waits in the wings.

Much like Maja – who has played out in France amongst lining up for a whole multitude of other outfits – Sule has had a varied upbringing in football, having previously been in the Celtic youth ranks as a Glasgow-born gem.

Now, he will hope he has found a home in West Brom where he can make waves in the senior picture, with this exciting brace against Liverpool earlier in the Premier League 2 season catching the eye.

Indeed, Sule is now up to five goals and two assists from 14 games this season playing in the U21 fold, taking his total overall goals haul in both the U21s and U18s to a promising 17 from 55 appearances.

With Daryl Dike also fragile coming back from a long-term injury up top, Mowbray could do far worse than to give the 18-year-old more opportunities, with one senior chance already gifted to him back in August when Carlos Corberan was still at the helm.

Mowbray will hope he can work his magic on Sule, with the explosiveness of an untested youngster perhaps catching second-tier defences cold as games become even tenser for the playoff candidates.

Mowbray could already have West Brom’s next Tom Fellows in “fantastic” teen

West Bromwich Albion could already have their next Tom Fellows in the making.

By
Kelan Sarson

Feb 8, 2025

Stafanie Taylor is yet to recover from the injury she sustained during the series against New Zealand

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Dec-2022

Shemaine Campbelle and Kycia Knight are back in West Indies’ squad for the three-match Women’s ODI series against England in Antigua from December 4 to 9.While West Indies will welcome the return of these two experienced keeper-batters from injury, they will be without allrounder Stafanie Taylor, who is yet to recover fully from the injury she suffered during the third ODI against New Zealand in September.Related

Knight ready for England comeback after successful hip surgery

Winfield-Hill earns recall as England name Caribbean squads

The selectors have also picked the uncapped left-arm spinner Kaysia Schultz, who had taken part in a ten-day training camp with the West Indies players during the New Zealand series while not being part of the official squad.Shamilia Connell, Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean and the uncapped fast bowler Jannillea Glasgow have been left out after being part of the squad against New Zealand, with the playing group downsized from 17 members to 14.The series is an important one for both West Indies and England, who are looking to bounce back after defeats in their respective opening bouts of the 2022-25 ICC Women’s Championship. While West Indies suffered a 2-1 loss to New Zealand, England were blanked 3-0 by India, with both defeats coming in home series.West Indies are currently in fifth place on the Women’s Championship table, and England are seventh among the eight teams who have played so far. Australia and Bangladesh are yet to begin their campaigns.The top five teams at the end of the 2022-25 cycle will qualify automatically for the 2025 ODI World Cup in India.”This series against England comes on the heels of the New Zealand tour to the West Indies and continues our important preparation for the upcoming tri-series against India and South Africa and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to follow,” lead selector Ann Browne-John said. “It gives the players a great opportunity to develop and push for final selection for the tri-series and World Cup.”West Indies ODI squad: Hayley Matthews (capt), Shakera Selman (vc), Aaliyah Alleyne, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Afy Fletcher, Cherry Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Chinelle Henry, Kycia Knight (wk), Chedean Nation, Karishma Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz, Rashada Williams

Glasgow Rangers may have enjoyed a 4-2 comeback victory over Kilmarnock in what was Barry Ferguson’s first game of his interim spell in charge, but there are more pressing matters on the horizon.

The Ibrox side are in the midst of a potential takeover bid by 49ers Enterprises, which could happen within the next few months.

Paraag Marathe – the current chairman of Leeds United – is the head of 49ers Enterprises and a deal has reportedly been agreed in principle.

It will be an anxious wait for the Ibrox faithful, as this won’t be completed until June at the earliest, but if everything goes to plan, the Gers could be in for a major boost ahead of next season.

There have been very few bright sparks throughout the current campaign. With the Light Blues suffering defeat in the League Cup final and in the Scottish Cup to Queen’s Park, while trailing Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, domestic silverware won’t be won this term.

Hamza Igamane has emerged as a key player for the club, just months after signing as a relatively unknown striker from Morocco. 13 goals in 30 games is certainly an impressive record.

Another summer arrival who has played a key part throughout the 2024/25 campaign is Vaclav Cerny. The Czech winger joined on a season-long loan deal from German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.

While much was expected of him, it is evident that the player has gone above and beyond these expectations during his spell in Glasgow.

Vaclav Cerny’s Rangers statistics

Last season, Philippe Clement had to rely on Scott Wright and Ross McCausland on the right flank. The pair scored just eight goals between them all campaign.

An upgrade was desperately required last summer, and in came Cerny. Fresh off a season where he netted four Bundesliga goals in 22 games for the German side, it was obvious that the winger would be a major improvement on those at Clement’s disposal.

By the end of February, Cerny had found the back of the net 15 times across 40 appearances for the Ibrox side, while helping himself to seven assists.

In the Premiership alone, the Czech international had registered three shots per game, along with creating six big chances, averaging 2.5 key passes and succeeding with 1.5 dribbles per match in the top flight.

He is effective, no doubt about that. Despite this form, it looks likely that the Gers will be priced out of a permanent move by his parent club, who are demanding a fee of around £8m – the same as what they paid for him – in order to secure his services.

Considering his age and the fact his valuation will decrease, it doesn’t make much sense paying this sort of fee.

Metric

Europa League

Premiership

Goals

4

11

Assists

2

2

Big chances created

2

6

Key passes per game

1.3

2.5

Shots per game

3.3

3

Via Sofascore, as of 28th February

However, could 49ers Enterprises perhaps find better value in a player who the club were reportedly previously linked with – sealing a dream first signing in the process this summer?

The £10m Cerny replacement Rangers could sign

Last year, The Boot Room journalist Graeme Bailey reported that Rangers were showing interest in FC Midtjylland winger Dario Osorio, along with Celtic, Aston Villa, Brentford and Newcastle United.

During the summer transfer window, the Danish side had valued their star player at around £10m due to his performances and potential.

The Chilean has been praised by former Arsenal sensation Alexis Sanchez, who dubbed him a player with “a lot of personality”, while comparing him to some big names in Chilean football like Arturo Vidal and Gary Medel.

High praise indeed from one of the very best players Chile has produced. Could Osorio be the high-profile signing the new manager must make this summer to get the supporters onside?

Why Rangers should sign Dario Osorio

In 2022, football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed Osorio a “flamboyant winger” while also stating he was similar in style to Ángel Di María.

Since moving to Denmark from his home country in 2023, Osorio has scored 13 goals in 52 appearances, notching up three assists in the process.

This goalscoring threat from the right flank could be crucial for the new boss, especially with Cerny returning to his parent club at the end of the season.

Osorio can play in a multitude of positions, as he has featured on the left wing, in attacking midfield, and even as a centre-forward during the embryonic stages of his career.

He only turned 21 in January and is exactly the sort of player the Gers must target. Not only could he make a big difference to the squad at present, but his wonderful potential means they may be able to rake in a significant profit if he was to leave for a ‘big 5’ league.

The Chilean youngster has particularly impressed in the Europa League this season. Across eight matches for Midtjylland, he has not only scored three goals, but also averages 0.8 key passes per game and succeeds with 1.8 dribbles per match in Europe’s secondary competition.

These attacking statistics are certainly impressive, but the 21-year-old can also offer plenty of defensive support to his team during games.

Indeed, when compared to his positional peers in the Europa League this season, Osorio ranks in the top 4% for interceptions (1.55) per 90 along with ranking in the top 13% for tackles (2.82) per 90, showing his desire to contribute elsewhere on the pitch.

This all-round ability could see him thrive in Scotland. It is evident he isn’t afraid of getting stuck into challenges on a regular basis. With the physicality of Scottish football ensuring certain players from abroad struggled to cope, Osorio appears to have all the required tools in his locker to shine.

It might cost the Light Blues a pretty penny to bring him in this summer, but if the 49ers want to make an instant impression, signing Osorio could be the right way to go about it.

Now worth way more than Igamane: Rangers must rue selling "explosive" star

Rangers must rue selling a player under Gio who is shining in the Premier League

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 28, 2025

Manchester United are reportedly ready to cash in on Alejandro Garnacho in a bid to sign Wolves star Matheus Cunha.

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• Garnacho linked with Man Utd exit
• Atletico Madrid target could be sold
• His sale could help fund Cunha bid

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to, United are open to offers for their Argentine winger to help finance a move for Cunha – who has a £62.5 million ($83m)release clause. Atletico Madrid are said to be keeping tabs on the 20-year-old who is 'reluctantly open to leaving Old Trafford' after struggling to find a 'defined role' under head coach Ruben Amorim. Chelsea have previously been linked, too.

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  United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said the club would go "bust" by Christmas unless big cuts were made. Whether or not that is true, the Red Devils do need to sell players before they can buy and moving on an academy player, who goes down as pure profit on the balance sheet, may be a shrewd financial move. Garnacho was linked with Chelsea and Napoli in January, and while his stock is still relatively high, this summer may be the best time to sell him after a tough campaign.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Garnacho, whose United contract runs until 2028, has scored five goals and bagged one assist in 32 Premier League games for the Red Devils this season.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Aside from those rumours circling Cunha and Garnacho, United travel to Europe-chasing Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The 15-member squad also includes uncapped allrounder Sadaf Shamas

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2022Opener Sidra Ameen and wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz have been recalled into the Pakistan side for the Women’s T20 Asia Cup, which will be staged in Sylhet next month. The 15-member squad also includes uncapped allrounder Sadaf Shamas.Pakistan have made three changes to the side that turned out for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last month with Anam Amin, Gull Feroza and Iram Javed missing out. Bismah Maroof continues to captain the side which also has Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Umme Hani and Waheeda Akhtar as standby players.Ameen last played a T20I in 2019 but has shown impressive 50-over form this year. She was named Player of the Series in Pakistan’s 2-1 win over Sri Lanka in June with scores of 76, 123 and 19 in the three ODIs. She had also scored a century against Bangladesh at the Women’s World Cup in Hamilton earlier this year. Ameen was rewarded with a central contract for her stellar showing this year.”Sidra Ameen has been in good form of late. She did well in the practice matches and became only the second Pakistan women batter to score two ODI centuries recently. Her presence at the top of the order will instil stability,” Asmavia Iqbal, the national women’s selector, said.Nawaz, on the other hand, comes in as backup for frontline wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali. The 28-year-old has not played a single T20I this year but has been in the ODI scheme of things for Pakistan.”We have also selected an additional keeper in Sidra Nawaz because of the long duration of the tournament. On these tracks, we need a specialist wicketkeeper as a backup for Muneeba Ali, in case she becomes unavailable,” Iqbal said.”Sadaf Shamas did extraordinary well in the recent practice matches and we feel this was the right time to elevate her to the national side.”The release also stated that PCB will start the search for a new head coach after David Hemp decided to not extend his two-year contract in October.The rest of the side remains on a consistent line. The 15-player side and the reserves will take part in a ten-day camp in Lahore from September 18 to 27 before the squad departs for the tournament on September 28.The Women’s T20 Asia Cup will run from October 1 to 16, with seven teams competing in the T20 tournament. The first phase of the tournament will be played in a round robin style with four teams qualifying for the semi-finals. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and UAE are slated to take part in the tournament alongside hosts Bangladesh.The Asia Cup was last held in 2018 with Bangladesh clinching the title in a last-ball thriller. India are the most successful team at the tournament having won the trophy six times.Pakistan squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Tuba Hasan Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Umme Hani, Waheeda Akhtar