Cricket South Africa has reported a profit for a second successive financial year after three previous years of losses at their AGM on Saturday. They announced a profit of R238 million (approx US$13.7 million), significantly less than the R815 million from last year (approx US$ 45.6 million) but substantial after a season in which their only profitable incoming tour was four T20Is against India.Last summer, CSA also hosted Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which are typically loss-making series, but generated revenue from a combination of broadcast income, ICC disbursements and the addition of seven new sponsors.They also boasted increased interest in South African cricket with viewership of matches at one billion in 107 countries, earning CSA R707 million (approx US$40 million). The rest of their income was derived from R378 million in ICC distributions (approx US$21 million) and R125 million in sponsorships (approx US$7.2 million). Income from the SA20 was not itemised in this year’s report.Their biggest expense was the running of professional cricket including players salaries, hosting matches and upkeep of facilities which amounted to R1.3 billion (approx US$75 million). CSA maintains reserves of R1.42 billion (approx US$82 million) which their integrated report said will “provide a stable foundation for the future.”The report also included details of the country’s stadiums, which are being upgraded for the 2027 World Cup. Among the more notable developments so far is that The Wanderers and SuperSport Park have new high-definition LED floodlights while George’s Park has refurbished seating and a new scoreboard.Drop-in pitches are also still in development around the country. “The upcoming 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup represents an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the best of South African cricket. Preparations are already well underway,” Pearl Maphoshe, chairperson of the board of directors, said in a statement. “This tournament must be more than a sporting event. We are focused on ensuring it leaves a meaningful legacy through infrastructure improvements, youth development, environmental accountability and shared national pride.”With 2027 preparations underway, South Africa do not host any Tests this summer but will begin their World Test Championship (WTC) title defence on a full tour to Pakistan next month. That will be followed by an all-format tour of India before the SA20 kicks off on Boxing Day. The only men’s international cricket this summer will be five T20Is against West Indies in January-February 2026. In the absence of any Test fixtures, the mace will be taken on a country-wide trophy tour next week.

First, there was one blot on Arne Slot’s second-season copybook. Then two, then three, then four. Now, Liverpool are in a crisis, having lost five of their past six matches in the Premier League.

There is nothing damning about losing to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, but as the Sky Sports pundits rightly pointed out after the Reds’ 3-0 defeat, they lacked even the basic bones of an expected performance, and to say they toiled would be far too suggestive of any kind of work-rate.

This title defence is quickly becoming a muddy footslog for Slot’s side, who trail and have only the vestiges of last season’s fluency and coherence across the park.

To think of Slot’s side as title challengers at this moment of time would be deceitful. Not only are Liverpool eight points adrift of Arsenal at the summit, but they are so far away tactically that it’s simply unfathomable to imagine a string of the incredible form we have been witness to over the past decade.

It’s difficult to single out a single defining negativity at Liverpool, but Florian Wirtz has been the loudest talking point after his £116m transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in June.

Why Florian Wirtz is struggling at Liverpool

There are arguably been an uptick in Wirtz’s performances over the past several weeks. Certainly, the German international excelled during the win over Real Madrid after racking up two assists against Eintracht Frankfurt during the previous Champions League matchweek.

But, as with the rest of Slot’s Redmen, that good work has been undone by a wretched display at Man City, with the visitors totally outplayed by their rivals.

Wirtz wasn’t the worst player on the pitch, and in the first half, especially, he was bright, drawing fouls and catching the eye with fleet-footed bursts.

But it wasn’t enough, and the 22-year-old was swallowed up along with the rest of his side, failing to create a chance until he was hooked for Federico Chiesa late on, having faded after the interval.

This is hardly an Anfield side whose stability – or lack thereof – would allow a young playmaker to dovetail right in, but Wirtz has still got to account for his struggles, having now gone 11 matches in the Premier League without a single goal involvement.

And yet, he was regarded as “a truly generational talent” for his efforts in his homeland, as was said by sports media professional Cristian Nyari after Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen stormed their way to an invincible Bundesliga title, Wirtz crowned the division’s Player of the Year.

Hope and expectation remain that he will come good. However, long-term hope is fading regarding a more established part of the Liverpool squad. For this player, there is a growing sense that it might be better to part ways with him in 2026.

Liverpool's "serious, serious problem"

Slot has more than a few problems to wrestle with across the third international break of the season, and at the top of his pile of worries has got to be the form of Ibrahima Konate in defence.

Konate, 26, has been among the most concerning starters in Liverpool’s line-up this season, maybe even the worst of a bad bunch.

Konate’s time on Merseyside has been defined by ups and downs. He has struggled with injuries at different points since signing for the club in 2021, leaving RB Leipzig after his £36m release clause was activated.

There’s no question that he is a top-class defender, so strong and powerful and convincing as Van Dijk’s partner. Most of the time, that is. Not now.

Konate, a Premier League title winner, is becoming a significant worry. Liverpool do not have the depth in central defence to drop him, and yet, on current form, he surely cannot be allowed to play, as he is a threat to Liverpool’s own performance. Pep knew this on Sunday and targeted him, evidenced by Konate’s 88 touches compared to only 58 from the skipper.

And though he was largely imperious last season, the Frenchman has plummeted since the summer, and he might have hit the nadir against Man City.

After the game, Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley took to social media to label Konate “a serious, serious problem” for the struggling Premier League champions, with his mistakes and unconvincing displays now frequent symptoms of Liverpool’s wider decline.

With Virgil van Dijk now 34 years old, there is a real conundrum for sporting director Richard Hughes to chew on going forward, especially as Joe Gomez is clearly untrusted as a centre-half by Slot and summer recruit Giovanni Leoni is out for the campaign with an ACL injury.

Konate, after all, is out of a deal next summer, with Real Madrid at the top of his list of suitors. Given the star’s form this season, though, it wouldn’t be surprising if FSG felt they should part ways with the defender.

Minutes played

90′

Goals conceded

3

Touches

88

Accurate passes

70/75 (93%)

Possession lost

6x

Dribbles

0/1

Recoveries

3

Tackles won

0/0

Interceptions

0

Clearances

5

Duels won

3/8

Given the amount of pressure pushed against the France international, it’s curious that he failed to make an interception or even attempt a tackle against City’s rampant forwards.

The Liverpool Echo were unimpressed, handing Konate a match-low 4/10 score and commenting on his faults for the penalty, saved by Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Erling Haaland’s opening goal.

What do to about this quandary is up to Hughes and Slot and FSG, but the fans are getting fed up, and Konate may well be playing himself into a hole.

Better than Guehi: Liverpool now chasing for 'one of the 'world's best CBs'

Liverpool need to sign a new centre-back in 2026.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 7, 2025

Arsenal are currently waiting to discover the extent of Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury after the star centre-back sustained a thigh injury during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Senegal, and he’s now a doubt for this weekend’s crunch North London derby clash against Tottenham as a result.

The league leaders head into Sunday’s derby aiming to rediscover their winning touch after Brian Brobbey’s last-gasp equaliser saw Sunderland snatch a 2-2 draw in their last Premier League game, a result that halted their imperious eight-game winning run without even conceding a single goal.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

The Gunners’ head-to-head record against their arch rivals makes for pretty reading, and they haven’t lost a single league game against Tottenham at the Emirates for 14 years. However, that being said, Mikel Arteta faces a significant defensive concern with Gabriel’s likely absence.

No detailed prognosis has yet been made available, though it is expected that the centre-back could miss at least a short stretch of games, including Spurs, with Gabriel a major injury doubt.

The Brazilian has been instrumental for Arsenal this season, both defensively and as a set-piece threat going forward, so his absence is poised to be a considerable blow.

The injury concerns don’t end there. Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke (all knee) are out but pushing for a return to the side in time for Tottenham, while summer signing Viktor Gyokeres and winger Gabriel Martinelli also face potential late fitness tests.

Riccardo Calafiori was also nursing a hip problem on international duty with Italy, and it remains to be seen whether Arteta starts the left-back who’s been one of Arsenal’s players of the season so far, even keeping Hale End sensation Myles-Lewis-Skelly out of the side.

Now, as per The Independent, there’s been an update on Gyokeres’ condition.

Arsenal given Viktor Gyokeres injury update ahead of North London derby

According to the news outlet, the Sweden international could also miss this weekend’s vital clash.

Gyokeres is described as another Arsenal injury doubt to face Tottenham, with Gyokeres missing their last two matches against Slavia Prague and Sunderland after picking up a muscle injury in the 2-0 win away to Burnley at the very start of November.

After a barren goalless run, the 27-year-old was just beginning to find his feet with three goals in his last three appearances.

While Mikel Merino has performed impressively as a makeshift striker once again, having scored more league goals than any other Arsenal player this calendar year and bagging a brace against Slavia Prague, Arteta will be hoping that he can call upon Gyokeres once again to take on Thomas Frank’s side.

Gyokeres is their top scorer in the league with four thus far and six in all competitions, but his impact extends beyond goals.

According to WhoScored, only Eberechi Eze has averaged more shots per 90 than Gyokeres in Arsenal’s squad, with Arteta praising how he brings something unique to the side.

Tottenham are in the midst of an injury crisis of their own with a host of their players missing, and Arsenal know victory would tighten their grip on the title race.

However, derbies rarely follow the script, and Arteta will need his squad depth to compensate for any absences if they are to claim local bragging rights once again.

تلقى تشابي ألونسو، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ريال مدريد دفعة معنوية قبل لقاء إلتشي ضمن منافسات الدوري الإسباني.

ومن المقرر أن يواجه ريال مدريد نظيره إلتشي مساء غدٍ الأحد، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من بطولة الدوري الإسباني “لا ليجا”.

وشارك روديجر في جزء من الجلسة التدريبية الأخيرة لريال مدريد ولا يزال النادي مترددًا في تأكيد مشاركة المدافع الألماني.

وابتعد روديجر، عن المشاركة بشكل أساسي مع ريال مدريد خلال هذا الموسم، خصوصًا بعد إصابته التي أبعدته عن الملاعب لمدة 3 أشهر، بجانب تألق إيدير ميليتاو كذلك مع الوافد الجديد دين هويسن.

اقرأ أيضًا | رئيس الاتحاد الفرنسي يثير الجدل بشأن تدريب زين الدين زيدان لمنتخب الديوك

وشهد الموسم الماضي تراجعًا واضحًا في مستوى روديجر، إلى جانب تقدمه في السن حيث سيكمل اللاعب 33 عامًا العام المقبل.

ووفقًا لصحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، فإن تشابي ألونسو سعيد للغاية من عودة روديجر إلى الفريق بسبب شخصيته القيادية الفريدة من نوعها والتي يبيها المدرب الإسباني بشدة.

وأشارت إلى أن تشابي يفتقد شخصية قلب الدفاع وقيادته، وهو يحتاج الألماني في الملعب ولكن قبل كل شيء، يحتاج في جلسات التدريب اليومية لاعبا يُلهم الآخرين ويزرع روح المنافسة في كل حصة تدريبية، ويُحفز الآخرين بطموحه ويُحافظ على تركيز الفريق.

وأفادت بأن روديجر استعاد نشاطه وسيكون دعمًا قويًا لتشابي ألونسو وبعيدًا عن انتكاسة إصابته، يأمل ريال مدريد أن يكون للتوقف الدولي أثر إيجابي على اللاعب، حيث سمح له التوقف الدولي باستعادة نشاطه وهو أمر كان في أمسّ الحاجة إليه بعد شهور طويلة من الجهد المتواصل.

The match has been moved to Hobart with the tight schedule meaning it couldn’t be switched into a day game

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Sep-2025

Delays with installing new floodlights at Junction Oval in Melbourne have forced the third women’s ODI between Australia and India on March 1 to be moved to Hobart.The game had been due to be the ground’s first floodlit fixture but planning delays and ongoing work that would have impacted spectator access meant Cricket Australia had to move the match to Tasmania, which gives Hobart back-to-back ODIs in the series.With the tight schedule of the series – there is just one day between the second and third ODIs – it wasn’t considered practical to make the Junction Oval fixture into a day game. The MCG, which hosted the day-night Ashes Test last season, won’t be available due to renovation works.”We are disappointed we have had to move this match from Junction Oval and that there will be no women’s international match in Melbourne this season,” Peter Roach, CA’s head of cricket operations and scheduling, said. “We anticipated the Junction Oval lights would be installed several weeks before this fixture and were looking forward to celebrating the first international match under lights at the ground.”Junction Oval will continue to host WBBL matches involving Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades, with all those games daytime fixtures, as well as other domestic cricket as scheduled.The ODIs are part of a multi-format series against India which starts with three T20Is and will finish with a day-night Test at the WACA in Perth.The home international season for Australia’s women has been pushed back to February and March due to the WPL’s move to January and the upcoming ODI World Cup being staged throughout October. It means there will be more than 12 months between their appearances on home soil.”Not having an international fixture in that school holiday period does hurt a little bit, but in saying that, it kind of extends the cricket season, which isn’t completely a bad thing for our sport,” captain Alyssa Healy said earlier this year. “At the back end of the Ashes [last year], I felt like that was really cool to have it at the end of the Border-Gavaskar [Trophy], so hopefully there’s similar sort of momentum this year at the end of the men’s Ashes, that there’s still some more cricket to watch.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Lucas Halter foi anunciado como novo reforço no Botafogo neste domingo (7). O zagueiro irá se reaprensentar junto ao elenco em breve para iniciar os treinamentos para a temporada.

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Halter pertencia ao Athletico-PR, e era um nome que agradava muito o técnico Tiago Nunes, que acompanhou o crescimento do jogador na base.

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

O zagueiro defendeu o Goiás nas últimas duas temporadas, porém só conquistou a titularidade na equipe no último ano. Lucas Halter entrou em campo em 54 oportunidades com a camisa alviverde e marcou seis gols pelo clube.

Tudo sobre

Athletico-PRBotafogoGoiáslucas halter

Are Celtic poised to appoint a new manager?

According to widespread reports, Celtic have been given permission to speak to Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy, talks that have taken place over the weekend.

The Frenchman has won both MLS Cup and Leagues Cup in charge of the Black and Gold, very much now the front-runner to take over the reins from Martin O’Neill.

Should Nancy swap Ohio for Glasgow, he would have a big job on his hands to put together a cohesive team, considering the Celts’ current injury crisis and poorly constructed squad.

So, which player is in danger of becoming the new Luis Palma following an underwhelming start to their career in hoops?

Why Luis Palma failed at Celtic

Few players have made such a bright start to their Celtic career only to disappear into oblivion quite as quickly as Palma.

After arriving from Aris Thessaloniki in August 2023, the Honduran made an electrifying start to his time in Glasgow.

He scored four goals in his first eight Premiership appearances, bagging ten goals across his first season all told, including netting against both Atlético Madrid and Feyenoord in home Champions League matches, as well as heartbreakingly seeing a last-gasp winner against Lazio disallowed by VAR too.

However, last season, Palma very much found himself no longer in Brendan Rodgers’ plan, seeing a miserly 267 minutes of action before being loaned out to Olympiacos for the second half of the campaign.

After scoring just one goal in 12 appearances for the Greek giants, he joined Lech Poznań on loan this summer, and is seemingly loving life in Poland.

To date, Palma has scored six goals for the Railwayman, on target against both Rapid Wien and Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League, producing this rather iconic celebration after netting against Widzew Łódź during a 2-1 Ekstraklasa victory at Stadion Poznań in September.

Lech, who have won two of the last four Polish titles, have a €4m (around £3.5m) option to buy Palma at the end of the season, but this would shatter their current transfer record of €2.3m, paid to sign Yannick Agnero from Halmstad earlier this year.

Nevertheless, after a promising start to his Celtic career, Palma appears to have no future at Parkhead, but who could become the latest exciting attacking signing to depart as quickly as they arrived?

Celtic's next Luis Palma

Having left themselves woefully short in attacking areas, Celtic rather went on a trolley dash towards the end of the transfer window.

Benjamin Nygren, who joined back in June, has looked excellent so far, while both Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Iheanacho have shown promising signs, but the same cannot be said of Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

The winger had been on Celtic’s radar for a long time, his move to Glasgow delayed by 12 months due to injury, belatedly arriving from Royal Antwerp for a reported fee of £5m.

However, so far, the 24-year-old has not justified that price tag, as the table below documents.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha Celtic stats

Stats

Balikwisha

Celtic rank

Minutes

317

22nd

Appearances

12

14th

Goals

0

16th

Assists

2

5th

Big chances created

1

15th

Key passes per 90

0.4

13th

Stats via Transfermarkt & SofaScore

As the table highlights, Balikwisha has made very little impact so far, yet to score for the Celts, while registering two assists, these coming against Motherwell and Partick Thistle.

Of his 12 appearances, only two have come from the start, included in the lineup for his first two Premiership matches against Rangers and Kilmarnock, thereby not starting a game since 14 September.

Upon his arrival, then-manager Rodgers labelled him a “really talented, exciting player” who “loves to attack and can play both sides”, while scout António Mango was also impressed by his form at Antwerp, describing him as a “terrific talent”, albeit Celtic supporters have seen very little of this to date.

As well as changing clubs recently, Balikwisha has made a big decision regarding his international future, switching his allegiance from Belgium to DR Congo, a request approved by FIFA earlier this month.

He was thereby included in Sébastien Desabre’s squad for the first time ahead of this month’s fixtures, an unused substitute as the Leopards beat Cameroon 1-0 in their World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday night.

This means, alongside Tounekti of Tunisia, Balikwisha is set to be absent for Celtic during the Africa Cup of Nations, meaning he has seven matches in which to kick-start his career at Parkhead before that tournament commences in Morocco.

However, should Nancy arrive, this may be bad news considering that, across all 136 matches in charge of Columbus Crew, the Frenchman always deployed a 3-4-2-1 formation, a shape that does not contain any wingers, which is exactly what Balikwisha was signed to be.

Thus, similar to Palma, there is clearly a talented player in there, albeit the early signs are, despite a sizable transfer fee, Balikwisha is not going to fulfil his potential at Celtic.

Related Ange 2.0: Celtic board 'very keen' to interview 48 y/o McKenna alternative

Celtic should appoint an “immensely respected” manager not Kieran McKenna because he would be able to replicate Ange Postecoglou’s success in Glasgow

Posts ByBen Gray Nov 13, 2025

Galatasaray advisor and prominent agent George Gardi has dived into the behind-the-scenes developments with regards to the transfer to Leroy Sane to the Turkish heavyweights. The 29-year-old, who left Bayern Munich as a free agent at the end of last season, signed a three-year deal with Galatasaray after the club managed to convince him of his importance in the project.

• Sane settling into new club Galatasaray

  The former Manchester City and Schalke star left Bayern Munich as a free agent upon the expiry of his contract over the summer and joined reigning Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray on a three-year deal. He is one of the highest-earning players in Turkey, pocketing a hefty €9 million annual bonus along with a net loyalty bonus of €3m. 

  His first few months at the club weren't as good as many expected. The German international struggled to maintain his fitness and looked rusty during games. In fact, he was even dropped from the starting XI for the Champions League encounter against Liverpool in September. 

  However, things have started to fall in place for Sane in recent weeks. In a recent interview with , the winger admitted that "things didn't quite go as planned on the pitch at the beginning," but after getting regular minutes under his belt and spending more time with his new team-mates on the field, he was "very happy with my performances and how I've played."

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• Getty Images
  

  Galatasaray advisor reveals how the Sane transfer developed

  Galatasaray transfer advisor George Gardi – one of the most prominent agents in Turkey, having facilitated the arrivals of Mauro Icardi, Victor Osimhen and Mario Gomez – has shed light on the behind-the-scenes developments surrounding the Sane transfer.

  "This idea came about many, many months before the transfer window opened. I knew this player was needed to take the team to the next level. He was an essential player for building the squad for the upcoming season," Gardi told . 

  "When I started negotiations – many months in advance – I initially began with his then-agents. Then there was a change in management, and I continued with the new agents. Of course, it was difficult. He had offers from top clubs in England and Germany. He had a huge offer from Saudi Arabia. With the Club World Cup coming up, it was a big decision for his career."

  Speaking about the negotiations, Gardi further explained: "I spoke a lot with the agents and also with him personally. I told him that Galatasaray could be a place where he would become one of the leaders. That he would fit perfectly into the system and could win in a place that would give him great emotions and great satisfaction – perhaps even with a chance to win something in Europe, something the club had never achieved before. I explained to the board and the president that we had to make this transfer very early. If we waited too long, the competition would be even greater and it would be almost impossible to get him. That's why I insisted on completing the deal before the Club World Cup. He travelled with Bayern Munich on the US tour and to the Club World Cup – and it was absolutely unusual for Galatasaray and generally for the Turkish market to sign such a player so early in the transfer window. Normally, these top players only arrive in the winter. Signing such a player so early sent a strong signal to the transfer market."

• How Sane was convinced to join Galatasaray

  Sane spent much of the 2024–25 season in a secondary role at Bayern Munich, logging just over 2,500 minutes in all competitions. Any club hoping to convince him would have needed to guarantee a larger role. At Galatasaray, he has already played nearly half as many minutes as he did last season. And that’s after only 15 matches.

  "The deciding factor was the role he would have at the club," Gardi revealed. "The team needed a player with his qualities. The discussions with the coach – who made it very clear how important he would be to the team. And of course, the love of the fans, which he wouldn't have received elsewhere. To pull off transfers of such iconic players – players from such top clubs, with such fierce competition in the market – and to bring them in at the peak of their careers, and then at the beginning of the transfer window… that's a huge success for the club, for the president, the vice president, and the coach. We worked together brilliantly as a team to bring in such an important player. And hopefully, we will pull off similar transfers again in the future."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Sane yet to unleash his best version for Galatasaray

  Although he has scored three goals and delivered as many assists so far this season, the general consensus is that the 29-year-old is yet to display his best version for the Turkish heavyweights. In recent weeks, his prominence has increased and his convincing performances for Germany during the recently-concluded international break – where he scored twice – will only further boost his morale as the season progresses. 

  Gardi, as such, remains unflustered about Sane's impact. "There was a certain adjustment period – to the league, to the country. But now his performance is a key factor for the team, especially in the Champions League," he claimed. "And I believe we haven't yet seen his full potential. In the coming months, he will show his full potential – and raise his level even further, although it is already extremely high."

Tim Seifert hit 57 for St Lucia Kings in the chase, but Usman Tariq took four wickets and Sunil Narine got three for Knight Riders to stop them short

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2025Alex Hales played anchor, Nicholas Pooran the aggressor, Kieron Pollard the controller in the middle overs, and Andre Russell the finisher to take Trinbago Knight Riders to 194 in Qualifier 2 of CPL 2025 against St Lucia Kings. In reply, Tim Seifert started quickly, but Kings never recovered from a slowdown after the first four overs, and eventually fell short by 56 runs.Unlike Kings later in the game, Knight Riders had scored just 25 runs in their first four overs after Kings asked them to bat. By then, Khary Pierre had bowled Colin Munro for 6, and Pooran, the new batter, had smashed all of his 14 runs in boundaries.But after a slow start, Knight Riders lashed 36 runs off the last two overs of the powerplay. Pooran sending Alzarri Joseph for six over extra cover in the fifth over before going 6, 4, 4, 4 off David Wiese in the sixth. Hales, meanwhile, had hardly had the strike until that stage.ESPNcricinfo LtdPooran reached his half-century off 31 balls to end the ninth over, but was dismissed immediately after as he missed an attempted sweep against Roston Chase, and was bowled for 50. Eleven overs into their innings, Knight Riders had 89 on the board, and Kings had things under control. But the last nine overs saw Hales, Pollard and Russell bash 105 runs.On 15 off 21 balls at one stage, Hales broke free with a six off Tymal Mills in the 12th over. With five overs left, Pollard targeted Tabraiz Shamsi, and sent him for three sixes. But Joseph checked Pollard’s flow in the 17th over by having him caught at long-off for 35 – an innings that included four sixes – but Kings’ pain hadn’t ended there.With three overs left and just 146 on the board, Hales cracked three sixes in the next two overs. The second of those, an inside-out loft over the covers off Joseph, took him to his fifty off 41 deliveries. One final act of aggression from Knight Riders, however, still remained. Russell slammed Wiese for 6, 6, 4, 6 in the final over, which went for 23 runs, and propelled Knight Riders to 194. Russell had thumped 28 in 12 balls before being run out off the last ball, whiles Hales remained unbeaten on a patient 58.Tim Seifert scored 57 in the chase to give St Lucia Kings hope•CPL T20 via Getty ImagesChasing 195 for a place in the final, Seifert got Kings off to a quick start. He had scored 32 of the 38 runs Kings had until then, and was dropped on 38 in the ninth over. At the other end, Johnson Charles, Seifert’s opening partner, was struggling to get going. He ticked along to just 17 off his first 23 deliveries, before Pollard ended his stay to complete the ninth over.The required run-rate was already past 12, with Seifert also slowing down. Kings were never in the game after that. Although Seifert got to his half-century with back-to-back boundaries off Akeal Hosein in the 12th over, and Usman Tariq conceded a boundary each to Seifert and Tim David in the 13th, two wickets in as many balls ended Kings’ faint hopes of victory.Tariq first had Seifert chipping to short third for 58, and then got Ackeem Auguste caught at wide long-on as the batter went sweeping first ball. From 98 for 3, Kings lost five wickets in the last six overs of the chase. Sunil Narine got into the act by having David caught behind in the 15th over, and then struck twice in the 19th to dismiss Aaron Jones and Wiese.Tariq added two more wickets to his tally in the final over by getting Chase and Mills, as Knight Riders booked a date Guyana Amazon Warriors on Sunday.

League Two side Newport have confirmed the appointment of Premier League winner Christian Fuchs as their new manager. The Exiles relieved David Hughes of his duties over the weekend after a 1-0 loss to Shrewsbury left the club four points from safety at the foot of England's fourth tier. The appointment marks Leicester City legend Fuchs' first managerial job since calling time on his playing career in January 2023.

Fuchs takes up first managerial role

The Austrian left-back was a key member of the Leicester team that claimed their 5000-1 Premier League title triumph in 2016 before he left the Foxes for Charlotte FC in 2021. Fuchs then retired in 2023 to take up a role as assistant coach for the MLS side, but has now stepped out on his own and accepted the top job at Newport.

The Exiles are in danger of dropping out of the football league after winning only three of their opening 16 games in the 2025-26 season. The defeat to Shrewsbury means they sit bottom of League Two with just 11 points to their name, and four points off Harrogate Town in 22nd.

"Newport County is delighted to announce the appointment of Christian Fuchs as the club’s new manager," Newport posted on their official X account on Thursday afternoon. "Welcome to Rodney Parade, Christian"

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Christian wants to manage in the Premier League'

On the decision to appoint Fuchs as Hughes' successor, Newport chairman Huw Jenkins said: "We see Christian as the sort of man to lead our club forward. I believe he matches our ambition and goals for Newport County.

"I do feel we can now look forward with a great deal of optimism. We'll look to improve our current situation in League Two and take things from there. Christian is ambitious and wants, one day, to manage in the Premier League. We believe he shares our strong belief in what Newport County can eventually become."

In the wake of the choice to axe Hughes last week, Jenkins admitted that the decision was "disappointing" despite change being needed. "Everyone is disappointed that it didn't work out with David Hughes," the Exiles chairman said.

"He's a genuine person who's interacted with the supporters, and we could see what he was trying to do on the pitch but with a small budget and a lot of injuries too. But football is a results business and we haven't won enough points – and the performance especially in the second half at Shrewsbury on Saturday was very flat.

"Everyone was thinking we need to change something and usually the attention turns to the manager."

Getty Images SportFuchs' first game comes against Oldham

Fuchs kicks off his time as Newport boss with a trip to Oldham, who sit nine points above the Exiles in League Two. The Latics have won just one of their last seven league matches following their 0-0 home draw with Crewe last weekend, though in turn have lost only once in that time.

Micky Mellon's side are unbeaten in five at Boundary Park, but have won just the once at home in League Two this season. Following the trip to Oldham on Saturday, Fuchs then oversees his first home game as Newport boss when they welcome Barrow to Rodney Parade to see out November.

Barrow saw a seven-game unbeaten run come to an end at high-flying Bromley last time out, and they'll seek to return to winning ways when they face Cambridge this weekend ahead of their trip to Newport.

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Former side Leicester struggling in mid-table

Fuchs' former side Leicester aren't faring particularly well in the Championship this season, with the Foxes currently 12th in England's second tier. Head coach Marti Cifuentes took over at the King Power Stadium over the summer following Ruud van Nistelrooy's exit, but the Midlands side's season isn't quite going as many had hoped.

A 2-1 win at lowly Norwich ended a five-game winless run, and was just Leicester's second in their last 11 league matches. Cifuentes will hope to oversee a second successive league victory when his Foxes side host high-flying Stoke on Saturday afternoon.

Leicester then round off November with a trip to Southampton and a home game against relegation-threatened Sheffield United.