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Zimbabwe took a 233-run lead, and then prised out one Afghanistan wicket before stumps

Ekanth21-Oct-2025Zimbabwe scored 229 runs and lost eight wickets. Afghanistan scored 34 and lost one. On paper, day two was a day of shared honours. In reality though, the hosts were left holding all aces after having bundled out Afghanistan for 127 on day one, and then converting a three-run lead to a 233-run lead, thanks mainly to a gritty, layered 121 from Ben Curran and a calculated (if not slick) 65 from Sikandar Raza.Ziaur Rahman’s 7 for 97 was a dreamy career-best on Test debut. He became the first bowler to take seven or more wickets via bowled or lbw in a Test innings since Imran Khan in 1982. Afghanistan batted for 12 overs before stumps and lost opener Abdul Malik to Richard Ngarava. Ibrahim Zadran got off to a start and was unbeaten on 25.On a day tailor-made for pacers, the proactivity of Brendan Taylor and the experience of Craig Ervine were no match for the reveries of a Harare pitch offering up-and-down as well as sideways movement. Taylor got an edged boundary through gully (over 41.2) and a chipped four through mid-on (43.3).Despite being decisive and even picking up a boundary to third from a semi-educated edge off a flashing cut and looking solid in defence, the right-handed Taylor fell to a vicious inducker from Ziaur, who then used his allies – low bounce and seam in – to trap the left-handed Craig Ervine lbw.Curran, at the other end, grew into a natural rhythm. One undeterred by being beaten and edging. Raza came in with his problem-solver hat on, walking down the pitch and shuffling sideways against the pace of Ismat Alam and Ziaur. He had nervy moments – like a chip to cover off Alam (50.2) – but overcame them while disregarding the threats posed by the conditions and some skillful bowling.Yamin Ahmadzai’s accuracy and consistency in a six-over collection, split across two spells between overs 38 and 56, saw two maidens, just 11 runs but no wickets. The Morne Morkel-esque Ziaur didn’t face a case of pretty figures. Alam created more nervy moments, especially against Raza, but also conceded more boundaries.Curran and Raza built their 99-run stand in 160 balls with Curran scoring 33 despite facing a healthy share of 72 balls. The clear roles and the duo’s commitment ground down Afghanistan, who had an upbeat presence at the start – with chatter and buzz from the keeper and cordons. Zimbabwe went into lunch on 214 for 4, with Curran on 79* and Raza 37*.The older ball, tiring bowlers and the fewer challenges posed by Hashmatullah Shahidi’s part-time bowling and Khalil Gurbaz’s awkward action, helped the two batters consolidate.Curran brought up his 217-ball ton off Shahidi’s flick and virtually levitated with open arms, a bat in one hand and helmet in the other, in celebration.Ziaur Rahman picked up a five-for on Test debut•Zimbabwe Cricket

Raza hit three fours off Sharafuddin Ashraf between overs 69 and 72, but then fell on 75.3, looking for the fourth, after top-edging a slog sweep to Yamin Ahmadzai running around from deep square leg to take the catch.Afghanistan took the new ball one ball after it was available and got it changed 3.5 overs later. Meanwhile, Curran hit three fours in the space of four balls that he faced. There were immediately more threats after the second ball change.Ahmadzai and Ziaur went back to what they did earlier in the day to first threaten edges and dry up scoring, and then Ahmadzai took Curran’s wicket on the stroke of tea. Low bounce and seam in was a culprit again as Curran was hit on the back leg and was out plumb lbw for a 256-ball 121 across 423 minutes.Zimbabwe slumped from 302 for 6 to 359 all out after tea. Ziaur came into his own against a helpless lower-middle and lower order as the final three batters fell for single figures. The carnage began with Tafadzwa Tsiga and Ngarava being lbw in successive balls.Ahmadzai missed the chance to run Blessing Muzarabani out. Perhaps that was because the bowling division of the cricket Gods wanted to watch Ziaur send Muzarabani cartwheeling its way back halfway to the keeper. Evans pulled through against spread-out fields and took Zimbabwe past 350 before Chivanga fell to Ziaur, thus wrapping up the innings.Muzarabani juggled jaffas with the odd bouncer to make Afghan opener Malik’s short stay a scarring one. There were two close shaves in the third over where the ball nearly took the edge – one against each batter.When Ngarava went after Malik with a less attacking plan of bowling short from around the wicket, an attempt to break the shackles was made and an aerial pull went into Muzarabani’s hands at deep-backward square leg.Amid lightmeter readings and some fiery pace bowling, Ibrahim seasoned a crafty little knock while Rahmanullah Gurbaz batted through to stumps. With the visitors still being in the deficit by 198 runs, an innings-win for the hosts is on the cards.

After a break to recover from Lord’s, Stokes’ men have chance to close out series with game to spare

Vithushan Ehantharajah22-Jul-20252:03

Harmison: Fire in the belly makes players play better

It was during Ben Stokes’ four days in bed, while recovering from bowling 44 overs in the Lord’s Test, that he hammered the streaming platforms.After burning through the whole first series of on Amazon Prime, he ticked off both and .That now opens up the prospect of a cinema visit to see the third instalment of the zombie franchise this week. Having trained on Tuesday morning, a number of the squad had pencilled in a trip to the movies, though very few have Stokes’ appetite for horror. He will likely have to brave alone.During the 2022 one-off meeting with India at Edgbaston (the collateral of a different kind of virus), a Stokes-led group watched Baz Lurhmann’s . Among a few aspects they took to heart was the entertainer’s persona. Giving the people what they want, hips to the wind, squares be damned, we’ll do it our way.Related

• Brook embraces 'no more nice guys' as England seek All Blacks mentality

• Lord's needling promises explosive series ahead

• Carse: Lord's win proves this England team can adapt

• 'England openers came out 90 seconds late' – Gill on Lord's sledging

Three years on, very little of that remains among this group, barring the little-finger salute the England captain and Joe Root still occasionally share to signify the latter’s reluctant rockstar status. Their 2-1 lead over India has come without truly flexing, beyond the chase at Leeds in the first Test. Victory at Lord’s in the third was achieved with the second-slowest run rate (3.31) in 39 matches under Stokes and Brendon McCullum, and the slowest at home. Entertainment is now second to winning by any means.Perhaps Danny Boyle’s latest post-apocalyptic offering will carry more applicable jumping-off points: a society attempting to re-adapt and restart, learning the lessons of two movies’ worth of human error and grief.Come to think of it, England probably have more in common with Boyle’s latest interpretation of zombies. These semi-undead are more evolved, cannier, and still sharp out of the blocks. From McCullum’s mantra of running towards the danger, England are now keen to run *as* the danger. Less in their own world, more right up in yours.”It was a real nice moment as a team when you speak about something like that, and then everyone buys into it,” Stokes said, recalling the notion floated by McCullum that they were too nice. That intervention triggered verbals on the field that spilled over into Shubman Gill’s press conference on Tuesday.3:30

Gill questions England’s conduct at Lord’s

“It is not something we are going to purposely go out and start, that will take our focus off what we need to do out in the middle,” Stokes said. “But… we are not going to take a backward step and let any opposition try and be confrontational towards us, and not try to give a bit back.”Other teams will be amused to hear that the England sides they have faced over the last three years have been too amenable. It is, however, worth noting that some of the more aggressive players are no longer around, particularly those with clearly assumed roles when it came to on-field verbals, such as James Anderson (instigator), Stuart Broad (facilitator), Jonny Bairstow (magnet) and even Ollie Robinson (starter).At Lord’s, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook yapped like veterans. The likes of Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer and Stokes intimidated with their actions as well as their words. It has not taken much to ignite this fire, in either this England team or their opponents. No amount of rain over the next five days at Emirates Old Trafford will quell it.The danger, of course, is taking it too far, although the addition of former All Blacks mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka – and his famous “no d*ckheads” policy – should, in theory, help guard against that.The aggro between the two teams was ramped up during the Lord’s Test•Getty ImagesIndeed, Enoka’s presence this summer, even on a freelance basis, is a nod to necessary humility. McCullum and Stokes had been consulting with him across the six months between last year’s New Zealand series and the start of the English summer. Having articulated their vision around culture, behaviours on and off the field, and standards expected as best they could, Enoka went away and brought back something the rest of the group could digest. A code.”Baz and I are very big on the choices and options you take, that they should not just be involved around you, but around your team-mates,” Stokes said. “Having someone come in and speak from experience, with an unbelievable team like he worked with in the All Blacks, and almost share certain values. That was nice to hear, that we were similar in terms of our mindset of what we want to be doing as a team.”It’s a lot better from someone who has been there and done that, and been very successful in team sport like Gilbert has.”The series is fascinatingly poised, and the winter’s tour of Australia sits on the horizon like another mountain to conquer. While there may be cynicism towards England’s pursuit of a sharper edge alongside a more holistic vibe, these do feel like necessary adjustments. They offer structure to a previously boundaryless outfit.4:59

Stokes: We won’t back out of confrontations

The scoreline does not lie, although England will be the first to admit they are ahead because they have won more of the big moments rather than outright bossed their opponents. They also feel they have more levels to hit.They are still searching for that sweet spot of clinical yet engaging play. Might we see that in Manchester?It was here in 2022 that they demolished South Africa by an innings, a retaliation to their first, humbling defeat under Stokes. A year later, they dogwalked Australia, seemingly on their way to their most complete performance, before rain washed away hopes of a first Ashes series win since 2015.Here in 2025, a first series victory over India since 2018 is on the table, in a Test that will be more febrile than the previous three. England have deliberately set a dramatic scene for a statement win. Now they must go and seize it.

Manchester United were deservedly booed off the pitch as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to an Everton side who played the vast majority of the game with 10 men. Idrissa Gueye's bizarre sending off for snapping at his team-mate Michael Keane gave United the perfect advantage but they completely blew it, falling behind to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's stunning long-range hit then failing to react.

Everton had made such a strong start that United barely managed to get out of their own half for the first 10 minutes. But the visitors shot themselves in the foot in a truly remarkable turn of events which saw Gueye sent off in the 13th minute for striking Michael Keane in the face. Gueye vented his fury at Keane just after Casemiro had fired a shot on goal in United's first attack of the game, shoving the defender and twice raising his arms to his face before goalkeeper Jordan Pickford intervened. 

It was a very rare instance of a player being sent off for confronting a team-mate, reminiscent of Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer's infamous scrap in Newcastle's defeat against Aston Villa 20 years ago which saw both players dismissed. And yet, the Toffees responded to the setback in the best way possible, continuing to harry United and taking the lead with a brilliant strike from Kiernan Dewsbury Hall, who beat Fernandes and  Yoro before arrowing into the top corner from outside the area.

United dominated the play but were completely toothless and unimaginative. Patrick Dorgu and Amad each fired wide in the first half while Fernandes' threatening shot was tipped over by Pickford. Ruben Amorim changed things in the second half but United still lacked creativity and, worst of all, belief.

The weekend's results gave them the opportunity to climb into fifth in the Premier League table but instead they are left stranded in 10th and it feels like they are back to square one, all the progress of their positive results in October and early November going out the window.

GOAL rates Man United's players from Old Trafford…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Senne Lammens (5/10):

  Question will be asked of his failure to stop Dewsbury-Hall's shot but it had real power and direction on it. He didn't have to do much else given how Everton sat off once in front.

  Matthijs de Ligt (4/10):

  Struggled in the early stages amid Everton's bright start. Backed away from Dewsbury-Hall instead of trying to close him down. Was then too cautious, not capitalising on the man-advantage by stepping forward.

  Leny Yoro (4/10):

  Should have done more to stop Dewsbury-Hall, getting a foot to the ball but then letting his opponent win it back to score. Otherwise defended pretty well and played on the front foot in the second half. 

  Luke Shaw (4/10):

  Struggled to contain Iliman Ndiaye in the early stages. Tried to support the attack in the second half but his crossing wasn't good enough.

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  Midfield

  Noussair Mazraoui (4/10):

  Struggled to make much happen at right wing-back, making just one memorable move down the flank before being taken off at half-time.

  Casemiro (4/10):

  A flat performance, not disrupting Everton's play as he needed to and missing the target with a decent sight of goal. Removed shortly after being booked.

  Bruno Fernandes (3/10):

  A very poor performance by his usual high standards. Made little effort to stop Dewsbury-Hall in his tracks, another sign of the risks of playing him in the deeper role. His passing was also sloppy and he couldn't inspire United when he needed to, firing a good opportunity over the bar in the second half.

  Patrick Dorgu (4/10):

  Didn't get at Everton enough and on the one occasion he got in a good position – a brilliant one at that – he fluffed his lines and fired wide of the near post. Taken off for Dalot.

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  Attack

  Bryan Mbeumo (6/10):

  He at least looked determined to make a difference and provided some spark but didn't pack his shooting boots, slicing a good opportunity well wide.

  Joshua Zirkzee (4/10):

  Had the chance to make his mark while Sesko is out but was largely toothless. Took until the 80th minute to have his first shot although he did at least have a flurry of late attempts, twice being denied by Pickford.

  Amad Diallo (6/10):

  Had a couple of good dribbling moments but was isolated in the first half in the attacking midfield role. Combined better with Mbeumo when restored to wing-back.

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  Subs & Manager

  Mason Mount (6/10):

  Gave the team some urgency and bite going forward and was unlucky not to equalise.

  Kobbie Mainoo (5/10):

  Another opportunity wasted to endear himself to Amorim as he made very little happen.

  Diogo Dalot (5/10):

  Gave the team a bit more balance but rarely looked like making a difference.

  Ruben Amorim (4/10):

  Playing Mazraoui and Dorgu as wing-backs did not work but the fact that his team lost at home to 10 men speaks of a much bigger malaise. 

Liverpool’s season went from bad to worse at the weekend, with Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest condemning Arne Slot to a 3-0 Anfield defeat and a fifth loss in six Premier League matches.

Though FSG retain the faith in the Dutch coach, who so confidently won the league title last season, it’s clear that results and performances need to improve quickly, else the Reds will find themselves shackled to mid-table and a campaign of misery.

It’s also clear that sporting director Richard Hughes will consider making another signing this January, having overseen a summer transfer window in which Liverpool paid over £400m on new players, and Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has been earmarked as the perfect fit.

However, Liverpool don’t have a bottomless pool of resources, and it may be the other end of the field which requires attention.

Liverpool ready to sign centre-back this winter

It almost feels absurd to think Liverpool need to spend in January after their record-breaking summer, but there’s no question that Liverpool would become threadbare if, say, Virgil van Dijk succumbed to a months-long injury setback.

Ibrahima Konate’s form has gone beyond the pale, and Liverpool’s full-back system is plumbing to imbalanced depths that were surely unfathomable after an ostensibly satisfactory spending spree.

That’s why Liverpool are considering a winter bid for Marc Guehi, having seen a deal for the Crystal Palace centre-half fall through on transfer deadline day at the start of September.

According to reports from Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Liverpool remain in pole position to sign Guehi and will be emboldened to learn that the Eagles are setting their sights on Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande as his replacement.

Reports from Spain in the last 24 hours corroborate those claims, suggesting that things are ‘practically a done deal’ and that ‘after several months of negotiations, the agreement appears to be almost finalised’.

Guehi is out of contract at the end of the season but Palace are expected to accept offers of £35m in January should one arrive.

While FSG would be wary of paying out for a player who can be snapped up for free only months down the line, Guehi is a rare talent, and Liverpool desperately need a defender.

Why Liverpool should sign Guehi now

Liverpool have already strengthened at centre-back this year through the £27m signing of Giovanni Leoni. The former Parma defender is only 18, but he’s among the most exciting talents in the world. He is also sidelined for nearly a year after rupturing his ACL on his Reds debut.

The uncertainty around Konate’s contract, and the Frenchman’s abject performances this year, emphasise the need for more depth, and Guehi has already been profiled extensively; he’s the man for the job.

The 25-year-old has played an instrumental part in Palace’s rise under Oliver Glasner’s wing, winning the FA Cup and then the Community Shield. The Londoners are currently fifth in the Premier League, with two losses from 12 games.

Liverpool, conversely, can’t stop losing, and they are leaking goals and lacking any semblance of security at the back. Guehi would fix that. Not only is he a “monster in defence”, as has been noted by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, but he is also among the most dynamic and intelligent modern centre-halves out there.

His range of passing is exactly what Liverpool need. Van Dijk is getting old, and Konate is hardly a convincing proponent of play-out-from-the-back football.

This is outlined by FBref’s data. According to the digital platform, the Three Lions star ranks among the top 9% of centre-backs in the Premier League this season for progressive passes and the top 3% for shot-creating actions per 90.

This underscores Guehi’s confidence on the ball, and that’s exactly what Liverpool need, with analyst Raj Chohan saying that, partnered with Conor Bradley on the right side of the defence, the “build-up combination is horrible”.

Guehi, meanwhile, is two-footed and a driver of Glasner’s progressive vision in possession. He is also proving himself to be a more stable and convincing defender.

Though Konate remains a convincing aerial battler, his overall game has left so much to be desired, with errors rife and sure to be disabling any kind of confidence from his teammates.

He has actually been criticised by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher for being at the epicentre of all of Liverpool’s woes. Not quite, but there’s no denying he’s the weakest link in a fragile backline, and Slot cannot afford to persist with him for the duration of the campaign, not if he wishes to salvage things.

While Semenyo would be a neat addition, it’s true that Liverpool could crumble, truly, if they suffer a damaging defensive setback. Moreover, Rio Ngumoha has shown his class already this term and will be convinced that he has more to offer over the coming months.

Whether Liverpool opt to go this way or that this summer remains to be seen, but there’s no question that the Anfield side need to pull off a change or two, else they will flake away and be condemned to a truly disastrous campaign.

Guehi would ease the concerns and then some. The plan was to bring him over this summer, and the plan remains to seal his signature come the end of the season. Why not now?

He's "as good as Bellingham": Liverpool submit record bid for Fabinho 2.0

Liverpool are getting ready to add new flavours to their flagging midfield.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 25, 2025

Well, the Blue Jays got off to a fiery start with back-to-back home runs on Wednesday night in Game 5 of the World Series vs. the Dodgers.

The pregame music had barely stopped before Blake Snell threw his first pitch of the game to Davis Schneider, who was in the leadoff spot for the first time this series with George Springer out for the second consecutive game. Schneider hit Snell's 96-mph fastball for a 373-foot home run to start off the game. There were still plenty of empty seats in Dodger Stadium as fans had just started trickling in for the matchup.

Then, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked up to the plate. It took him just two pitches to then hit a home run off of another 96-mph fastball thrown by Snell, this time a 394-foot homer to the outfield to hand Toronto a quick 2–0 lead.

This is the first time in World Series history that a game has begun with back-to-back home runs, per Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith. What an incredible way to start off Game 5. We'll see if the Blue Jays can keep this momentum going before they head back to Toronto on Friday.

Sri Lanka had a disastrous start to the tri-series, but are peaking at the right time

Danyal Rasool28-Nov-2025

Big picture: Can Sri Lanka end the tour on a high?

After nearly 20 days of Sri Lanka appearing unimpressive in Rawalpindi, they are one win away from going home with a tri-series trophy when they face Pakistan in the final.Sri Lanka were winless in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan, and appeared on the brink of early elimination with a thrashing at Zimbabwe’s hands midway through the tri-series. But they roared back in their final two group games, first dispatching Zimbabwe by nine wickets before edging Pakistan out in Thursday’s thriller. They are, incredibly, just a repeat performance away from getting their hands on a trophy that will ensure they convert a possible debacle of a tour into an unmitigated success.Pakistan will be wary of Sri Lanka peaking at the right time, but also assured they are favourites against an opposition they have had plenty of experience besting this month. It required a near-flawless performance from Sri Lanka to squeeze a narrow win on a clear off-day for the home side, whose bowling and top-order batting were well off the mark. In their current form, Pakistan will be aware that even a modest improvement on those two facets should be enough to see off their home season with more silverware in the bag.Related

• Who is Usman Tariq, Pakistan's latest mystery spinner and hat-trick hero?

• Chameera, Mishara take Sri Lanka to the final with a thrilling win

It is, for Pakistan, the near-culmination of a season where they have played an inordinate amount of T20 cricket in a bid to be prepared for the 2026 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. In the six months between the end of the PSL 2025 and now, Pakistan have played 28 T20Is against nine different teams, with a better than 2:1 ratio of wins and losses. The strength – or lack thereof – of some of those teams remains a lingering question mark, but victory in their 29th game on Saturday should have them feeling they have largely controlled the one thing they could in this period – results.For Sri Lanka, co-hosts of next year’s T20 World Cup, this is an opportunity to conclude a difficult second half of the year – home series loss to Bangladesh, two defeats in four against Zimbabwe, and a bottom-place finish at the Asia Cup Super Fours – with some success.

Form guide

Pakistan: LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka: WWLLLMohammad Nawaz’s all-round brilliance has been on show all through the series•PCB

In the spotlight: Mohammad Nawaz and Dushmantha Chameera

Mohammad Nawaz has contributed with either bat or ball in every game this tri-series, and was on the cusp of knocking Sri Lanka out of the tournament altogether in a late charge during Pakistan’s run chase on Thursday. His tournament batting strike-rate of 162.50 is the highest, while his contributions with the ball, too, are second to none – the joint-top wicket-taker (7) in the tournament while his economy rate of 6.07 is the best (min. five overs). As an allrounder, Nawaz has become an integral member of the T20I side over the past few months, and one more performance will drive the point home.It is invariably difficult to look past Dushmantha Chameera after one of the T20I bowling performances of the year kept his team alive in this series. Four wickets for 20, including three in two overs in the powerplay, combined with a yorker masterclass in the 20th over that kept Pakistan to just three runs, demonstrated just how high his ceiling is. It is a level he has found it difficult to sustain consistently, but the final comes just as his confidence is at a zenith.Dushmantha Chameera is the joint-highest wicket-taker so far in the series•PCB

Team news: No changes expected for Sri Lanka

Pakistan have chopped and changed their bowlers through the tournament. Expect Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed to return for the biggest game.Pakistan: 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Salman Ali Agha (capt), 5 Fakhar Zaman, 6 Usman Khan (wk), 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Mohammad Wasim, 10 Salman Mirza, 11 Abrar AhmedSri Lanka have kept the same side for their last two games, and there is unlikely to be a reason to change a winning formula.Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Perera, 5 Janith Liyanage, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Pavan Ratnayake, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Maheesh Theekshana, 11 Eshan Malinga

Pitch and conditions: Cold and dry in Rawalpindi

There is little change to the weather in Rawalpindi, which has been cold and dry for the last month. Expect a touch of dew as the second innings kicks in, meaning sides will almost certainly opt to field.

Stats and trivia

• Fakhar Zaman’s T20I record in finals is generally impressive: a strike rate of nearly 152 at 41. However, in the only T20I final he has played against Sri Lanka – at the 2022 Asia Cup – he was dismissed for a golden duck
• The 2022 Asia Cup remains Sri Lanka’s last T20I tournament win. In five such finals, they have won three – including the 2014 T20I World Cup final – and lost two

Enzo Maresca has conceded that Liam Delap could be set to spend another period on the sidelines, after the Chelsea striker was taken off in the 32nd minute of his side's 0-0 draw with Bournemouth following a shoulder injury. The 22-year-old has already spent two months out of action with a hamstring injury since arriving at Stamford Bridge for £30 million ($40m) from Ipswich Town, and could see his frustrating start to life at Stamford Bridge continue.

• Delap could be set for another worrying injury lay-off

  Maresca spoke to reporters at full-time and revealed his concerns surrounding Delap, who has already missed 11 matches this season and was replaced mid-way through the first half following a shoulder injury. The Blues are set to assess Delap’s injury in the next 48 hours to determine for how long he will be on the sidelines.

  With both of Joao Pedro and Marc Guiu on the bench the Blues have a range of attacking options – though Maresca questioned the quality of his side's depth after defeat to Leeds United in midweek – but there is no doubt that injuries have curtailed Delap’s progress in west London since his big move from the Tractor Boys, which came with lofty expectations after 12 goals in his first top-flight season.

  Delap looked in clear pain after he was bundled to the ground by Marcos Senesi and subsequently taken off, ahead of what would go on to be a disappointing goalless draw for Maresca’s side.

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  'He has been unlucky' – Maresca reacts to Delap injury blow

  Maresca said in his post-match press conference: “Unfortunately he has already been out for two months and he has to be out again. We don't know for how long, but it looks quite bad, his shoulder.

  “He has been unlucky," Maresca added. "We are also a bit unlucky because we need that kind of a No.9.”

• Maresca reflects on goalless draw for his side after Delap's injury

  Maresca added on the result on the south coast: “I think it was a game where we lacked and we missed a little bit of quality in the last third. For me, there were many mistakes. We missed some passes in the last third, some moments that we could shoot and didn’t.

  “But overall, when you are not able to win, we have said many times, that it's important that we don't lose. I think it is because of a lack of quality in the last third for me, personally, in terms of last pass, some crosses, some moments.

  “We know that we are not going to score every game. I didn't know, to be honest, that [Chelsea had scored in every game] since Crystal Palace. Now we're going to try to score on Tuesday, but it's important at least to keep the clean sheet that gives us at least the chance to take points."

  Maresca also referenced Cole Palmer on his first start since September, and was asked by reporters if the reason his side lacked the cutting edge on Saturday was due to a lack of individual confidence from his players.

  He responded: “No, no, no, not because of this. I think it's a normal mistake that can happen, you know, a last pass in the last third. It's just that. I think Cole [Palmer] was quite good on that, he played half an hour the other day, played one hour today. So now it's important that he can build his physical condition.”

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  What next for Chelsea and Delap?

  Chelsea have faced a challenge keeping players fit so far this season, with the after-effects of the Club World Cup and a lack of pre-season apparent for Maresca and his players. While the return of Palmer is a welcome one, another injury blow for Delap is concerning for a young player still becoming accustomed to his new club and team-mates.

  Injury has prevented the 22-year-old from having enough of an opportunity to settle in on the pitch at Stamford Bridge, and Maresca will hope that he can get the England Under-21 international back on the field to help the team as soon as possible.

  Currently in fifth place, the Blues face a challenging end to 2025 – with Atalanta next up in the Champions League, and league fixtures with Everton, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Bournemouth once again set to test Chelsea’s resolve over the festive period.

The glitter went against a serious Mushfiqur’s pre-match routine, and was something his team-mate Mominul had never seen before

Mohammad Isam19-Nov-2025The air around the Shere Bangla National Stadium was, for once, sweet.Expectations of great gestures, a bit of ceremony, and a good day of cricket – as opposed to the usual cocktail of vitriol, disappointment and trolling – hung in every corner of this storied venue on Wednesday morning. Mushfiqur Rahim, the stadium’s most frequent visitor, was about to make history for Bangladesh.By the time the crisp morning gave away to a bright afternoon, and a cool evening descended on Dhaka, Mushfiqur was on his way to another landmark. Eventually, though, after remaining stuck on 99*, he left a bit of overnight anticipation for another sweet morning.Related

• Mushfiqur: 'I want to give back for as long as I'm playing for Bangladesh'

• Mushfiqur 99* headlines Bangladesh's strong start

• Tamim: Mushfiqur's 100th Test 'should be celebrated'

• From youngest at Lord's to 100 Tests: Mushfiqur's legacy

The BCB felicitated Mushfiqur in a ceremony that lasted just ten minutes, but one that was done tastefully. His first captain Habibul Bashar gave him a brand new cap, while team-mates from his debut Test stood behind them wearing black and grey T-shirts. Mushfiqur’s family was in tow. He made a short speech after current captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. It was all over in a flash.Bangladesh cricket, enduring high winds accompanied by howls and squeals in the last couple of years, sorely needed a moment like this. Mushfiqur, the most loyal of servants of the game, made sure cricket remained on everyone’s lips for more than a day.Mushfiqur remains unbeaten on 99 despite his best efforts to reach the milestone before stumps. Ireland, however, slowed down the play significantly in the last half an hour to ensure they bowled 90 overs, and not one more, by 4.30pm local time.After the day’s play, though, Mushfiqur’s long-time teammate Mominul Haque said he is not worried about a nervous Mushfiqur in the hotel tonight.”He is not like you think he is. We actually joke with him a bit more these days” – Mominul Haque on Mushfiqur Rahim•AFP”We thought that he would do it today, but I think it didn’t happen because [Ireland] took their time,” Mominul said. “I am not too worried because we are talking about someone who has made hundreds and double-hundreds in the past. There is no panic, since he isn’t panicked. If it was someone else, I would have been slightly concerned, but not him. He will complete the century tomorrow.”Pressed if the team would be wary of speaking to Mushfiqur in the team hotel this evening, Mominul said those days are long gone. “He is not like you think he is,” he said. “We actually joke with him a bit more these days.”Still, Mushfiqur is the serious type. As his current and former team-mates and coaches said this week, his disciplined lifestyle is a cornerstone of his two decades in international cricket. It is what has made him, and got him to a hundred Tests.So when large banners hung over the walls at the stadium in Mirpur, one of them directly opposite the dressing room – or when the felicitation programme took place with his family around – it went very much against Mushfiqur’s pre-match routine.Bangladesh losing three wickets before lunch meant it was his turn to bat much earlier than he must have anticipated. If there’s anyone in this team with strong muscle memory for a crisis, it is Mushfiqur. Mominul, who was at the other end when Mushfiqur walked out to bat, saw the Mushfiqur he has known for the last 12 years.

“He was quiet calm when he was returning to the dressing room at the end of the day. He is the same person as he was before he played his 100th Test”Mominul Haque on Mushfiqur Rahim finishing the day on 99*

“When he arrived at the crease, he was calm and quiet going about his business,” Mominul said. “He was batting according to the situation. He was batting in a calm and controlled manner.”They set defensive fields from an early stage. They were allowing singles, so we were batting accordingly. We know that Ireland was playing with our patience, so we decided to be patient. We wanted to play for a long time, as it was the requirement here to get a good score. The outfield was slow, too, so it played a part in our approach.”When the century didn’t happen in the last over of the day, Mominul said that he didn’t notice anything different in Mushfiqur’s demeanour. “He was quiet calm when he was returning to the dressing room at the end of the day. He is the same person as he was before he played his 100th Test,” he said.Mominul, though, enjoyed watching Mushfiqur’s reception at the start of the day, even as it could usher in a new era of the BCB appreciating a player’s milestone.”Honestly, we haven’t seen this type of environment [where a player’s family was invited] before,” he said. “It even seemed like it was someone’s retirement; but then we realised that it was a celebration of a hundred Tests.”I mean, it looked like how other countries treat their player retirements. Honestly, it felt great seeing [Mushfiqur’s reception]. I realise now that the young generation will be inspired to play 100 Tests if this is how we maintain the culture. As for me, I am only thinking about what happens in this match.”The first day of the Mirpur Test, therefore, will not only be marked as the day Mushfiqur played his 100th Test. It was also a day when cricket got a bit more priority at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, as opposed to the usual focus on more hostile topics. Maybe, for the first time in many, many years, the stadium will get a half decent crowd on Thursday morning when play resumes on day two of the Test.

Glasgow Rangers failed to win in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since they appointed Danny Rohl in their 0-0 draw with Falkirk at Ibrox on Sunday.

The Light Blues failed to score a goal in a home game against Falkirk for the first time this century, and it was a disappointing all-round display from the hosts.

Rangers were unable to find the back of the net from three ‘big chances’ and 1.07 xG, per Sofascore, and had to settle for one point and no goals in front of their supporters.

Despite the underwhelming performance and result, there was a positive for Rohl to take away from the match, as Nedim Bajrami showed that he has something to offer.

Why Danny Rohl must unleash Nedim Bajrami

The Albania international came in for his first start of the league season, having made six substitute appearances before Sunday, and his performance on the left flank suggests that he has been underused.

Bajrami ended his 75 minutes on the pitch with four dribbles completed, two chances created, and ten duels won, per Sofascore, which shows that he put himself about physically, moved forward with the ball with intent, and looked to make things happen in the final third.

Last season, the former Sassuolo man scored two goals and created four ‘big chances’ in 15 starts in the Premiership, to go along with one goal and six ‘big chances’ created in eight starts in the Europa League, per Sofascore.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Meanwhile, one of the summer signings, Thelo Aasgaard, has failed to prove himself to be an upgrade on Bajrami and now looks to be the biggest waste of time since Sam Lammers.

Why Thelo Aasgaard may be the new Sam Lammers

Rangers signed Lammers from Atalanta for £3m in the summer of 2022, to bolster Michael Beale’s attack, and the attacking midfielder produced two goals and two assists in 31 games for the club, per Transfermarkt.

The left-footed flop spent the second half of that season on loan at Utrecht before being sold to FC Twente for an initial fee of £2.5m that could rise to £4m one year after joining the Gers.

This shows that Lammers was more or less a waste of time for the Light Blues because he rarely contributed on the pitch and he left Ibrox for a similar fee to the one that he was brought in for.

Rangers paid £3.5m to sign Aasgaard from Luton Town in the summer, only £500k more than Lammers cost, and he is, unfortunately, treading the same path that the Dutchman walked.

The Norway international, whom Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar dubbed “rotten” last month, has scored one goal and provided one assist in 21 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which is an even worse return than the Twente star ended his Ibrox career with.

Aasgaard, who was handed a 2/10 player rating vs Falkirk by IbroxNews, has as many red cards as goals, after he was sent off against Celtic in the semi-final of the League Cup, and, as aforementioned, he has not proven that he is an upgrade on the player that he was brought in to replace, Bajrami.

As you can see in the table above, the Liverpool-born midfielder has not scored goals or created chances at a more impressive rate than the Albanian did in the Premiership last term.

The same is true for their respective form in the Europa League. Last season, Bajrami scored one goal and created six ‘big chances’ in eight starts, per Sofascore, whilst Aasgaard has no goals and no ‘big chances’ created in five outings in the competition in the 2025/26 campaign.

If the 2/10 Norwegian flop’s dismal form at the top end of the pitch continues and Bajrami gets more chances after his bright showing against Falkirk, then his future may already be in doubt when the January transfer window opens.

Like Lammers, Aasgaard may have to look at his options in January and see if there is a loan or a permanent option for him to go elsewhere, unless he can turn his form around in the coming weeks.

Rohl must bin Rangers flop who was even worse than Aarons vs Falkirk

Danny Rohl must replace this Glasgow Rangers flop in January to solve a glaring issue in the squad.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 1, 2025

For now, though, the former Luton and Wigan star looks to be the biggest waste of time since Lammers because of the fee he was signed for and the lack of consistent performances on the pitch.