South Africa muster belated fight to end a disappointing series on a better note

Tristan Lavalette08-Jan-2023South Africa defied Australia’s bold push for an improbable victory, and series sweep, as the third Test ended in a draw at the SCG.After following on, South Africa were 106 for 2 in their second innings when play ended five overs before the close. The surface played slowly and did not deteriorate as expected with South Africa mustering belated fight to end a disappointing series on a better note.Australia would have booked a spot in the World Test Championship final in June with victory, but one drawn match in the upcoming four-Test series in India will prove enough.Given their batting frailties, South Africa will be relieved to have escaped with a draw – their first such result since 2017.South Africa were nervous after skipper Dean Elgar fell before tea when he gloved a short Pat Cummins delivery to be caught behind. An under-pressure Elgar’s wretched series ended with just 56 runs at an average of 9.33 marked by struggles against short leg-side deliveries.After tea, spinner Nathan Lyon was left frustrated after a review on an lbw decision on Heinrich Klaasen went against him. The not-out decision was upheld even though replays showed the ball hitting middle stump.His mood soured further three balls later when Klaasen, playing his first Test match since 2019, stood his ground after edging a delivery to Steven Smith, who claimed a low catch at slip.But replays cast doubt over whether the ball touched the grass when it went into Smith’s fingers and it was enough for third umpire Richard Kettleborough to give not out.Klaasen’s luck ran out when he was clean bowled by a cracking reverse swinging delivery from Josh Hazlewood to provide a glimmer of hope for Australia with 20 overs remaining.South Africa were 82 for 2 with 15 overs left but Australia’s push continued with Cummins giving himself one last burst without reward.Cummins had also tried part-time spinners Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, who claimed the only wicket in the morning session, but to no avail.Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, who was wicketless in 14 overs in the first innings, was surprisingly backed to share the new ball alongside Hazlewood.In his first Test match since 2017, Agar again struggled with his accuracy in what has been a tough return in an audition ahead of Australia’s tour of India. He finished wicketless from 22 overs in the match.South Africa started the day precariously placed at 149 for 6 after Cummins and Hazlewood bowled superbly late on day four in fading light.Steven Smith fails to grab onto a tough chance from Heinrich Klaasen•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

But Harmer and Marco Jansen batted cautiously to thwart Australia’s attack. Jansen played a rearguard until being dislodged caught behind by Head with a delivery outside off stump that stayed low.But an 85-run partnership between Harmer and Keshav Maharaj pushed South Africa close to the follow-on target and likely safety from a series whitewash.Maharaj reached his half-century on the first ball after lunch before falling to Hazlewood with South Africa 24 runs short of avoiding following on.Having been preferred over Scott Boland, Hazlewood repaid the faith of the selectors on his return with four wickets after suffering a side strain against West Indies in the opening Test of the home season.Maharaj’s dismissal triggered an all too-familiar rush of wickets for South Africa to set up an intriguing finish although it proved an anti-climax.Australia ran out of time in a truncated match, where four straight sessions across days three and four were washed out. Forty-nine overs were also lost to rain and bad light on the opening two days to continue a run of rain-affected matches at the traditional SCG New Year’s Test.But Australia thoroughly dominated South Africa throughout a one-sided series to complete an unbeaten home Test season after earlier thrashings over West Indies in Perth and Adelaide.Australia’s massive first innings was built on an unbeaten 195 from opener Usman Khawaja and 104 from Smith, who passed Don Bradman with his 30th Test century.Having won three straight Test series in Australia, South Africa were a shadow with their batting unable to muster much of a challenge.Apart from fiery quick Anrich Nortje, their attack also underwhelmed with spearhead Kagiso Rabada taking just three wickets at 87.66 in the last two matches after an eight-wicket haul on the bowler-friendly Gabba surface. South Africa’s disastrous series also ended their chances of qualifying for the WTC final.

Chelsea will turn their focus to signing a right-footed winger this summer after agreeing a deal for Sporting's Geovany Quenda earlier this week.

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• Quenda will move to Stamford Bridge in 2026
• Enzo Maresca wants five wingers in Chelsea squad
• Blues aiming to bring in right-footed option

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea have reportedly beat Manchester United to the signing of Quenda for an initial fee of €51 million (£43m/$55m), with the Sporting Lisbon teenager set to join the Blues in the summer of 2026. However, despite the deal, claims that Chelsea are keen to have five wingers in their squad, with manager Enzo Maresca wanting a right-footed option to add to his current crop of stars.

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  Chelsea are already well-equipped on the wings, although doubts remain over the long-term futures of a number of their stars. Jadon Sancho could still return to Manchester United this summer despite Chelsea having an obligation to sign the 24-year-old, while the Blues are still awaiting news over a potential ban for Mykhailo Mudryk. Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto are currently Maresca's left-footed options, but the impending arrivals of teenagers Estevao and Kendry Paez this summer may lead to further exits, while youngster Tyrique George has also emerged in the first team in recent weeks.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Quenda only made his senior debut in August under Ruben Amorim, who gave the 17-year-old his breakthrough with Sporting prior to being appointed as Man Utd manager. Amorim was keen to reunite with Quenda at Old Trafford this summer but Chelsea beat their rivals to the punch, allegedly winning the race due to their willingness to allow the teenager to stay with Sporting next season.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA AND QUENDA?

  Quenda will have one more season to prepare for his move to Chelsea, having established himself as a winger for Sporting after Amorim's departure, despite previously breaking through as a wing-back. Chelsea, meanwhile, will continue to assess their options out wide before making a decision over the futures of players like Madueke and Sancho in the summer. Their current stars will be hoping to impress between now and the end of the season, starting with the away trip to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

Liverpool have now made contact to sign another Bayern Munich star alongside soon-to-be free agent Leroy Sane, according to a fresh report.

Liverpool could be set for summer overhaul

Arne Slot has enjoyed an exceptional start to his time at Anfield, with Liverpool seven points clear atop the Premier League and unbeaten in the Champions League too.

The ex-Feyenoord man has achieved this with almost an identical squad to that which Jurgen Klopp left at the end of last season, with Federico Chiesa the club’s only summer arrival and injury having restricted him to just three appearances for his new side to date.

Everton v Liverpool: Ranking the 10 best Merseyside derby goals

The two rivals have shared a superb catalogue of strikes against each other over the years.

ByHenry Jackson Dec 6, 2024

2025, however, is likely to be a very different situation. There will certainly be an exit in goal, with Giorgi Mamardashvili already confirmed to be arriving at the end of the current campaign as Alisson’s backup and likely eventual successor.

Meanwhile, there are rumours over Liverpool finding a replacement for left-back Andy Robertson, who is now 30 years old. A midfielder was on Slot’s wishlist over the summer, with Martin Zubimendi the no.1 target, and they are set to revisit that position next summer despite the encouraging performances of Ryan Gravenberch.

Appearances

14

Goals

0

Assists

1

Yellow Cards

4

Pass Accuracy

89.1%

Tackles and interceptions per 90

3.94

Then there are the contract conundrums, with all of Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold out of contract at the end of the season as things stand, and their futures still unclear amid interest from across Europe.

It means that wholesale changes could take place over the summer, and the Reds will want to ensure that they are getting value for money with any potential additions.

To that end, they have already been tipped to use free agents to their advantage once next summer to sign Sane from Bayern Munich. Reports have even claimed the Reds are now best placed to sign Sane and they are keen on another Bayern star after they made contact for another talent from the Bavarian side.

Liverpool 'make contact' with Bayern Munich star

That comes as The Boot Room claim that the Reds are one of several sides who have made contact with the representatives of Bayern Munich defender Alphonso Davies ahead of his contract at the Allianz Arena expiring next summer.

As mentioned, Liverpool could be on the hunt for a left-back and have been linked with the likes of Milos Kerkez and Antonee Robinson in recent weeks. However, both would be costly to sign from Premier League rivals, while Davies could offer them a chance to save significant transfer fees, though his £180k a week wages would likely be more than those demanded by either defender.

As per the report, “both Liverpool and Man United have contacted the representatives of Alphonso Davies”, and the pair both “view Davies’ contract debacle as an opportunity ‘too good’ to ignore.”

Any interested party will have to act fast though, with reports suggesting that Bayern “have made significant progress regarding a contract extension” in recent days, though it is “not a done deal yet” and “more details need to be clarified”.

Liverpool could yet try an opportunistic swoop for his services, but their window of opportunity may be closing imminently so they may well have to hurry up if they are serious about sealing a deal for the Canadian speedster.

da bet esporte： Leeds United were left disappointed coming from Lancashire on Saturday after they could only scramble to secure a draw away at Preston North End.

da blaze casino： They found themselves 1-0 down to a strike from Brad Potts in the first-half and spent the rest of the game struggling to break down Paul Heckingbottom’s side, before a stoppage time own goal from Jack Whatmough made it 1-1.

The result has left the Whites in second place in the Championship table, three points behind Sheffield United in first, and Daniel Farke will surely have his sights set on moving to the top.

One player who could be ruthlessly ditched from the starting line-up in order to help Leeds to go one step further is attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson, who has struggled in recent weeks.

Brenden Aaronson's recent form for Leeds

The USA international lined up as the number ten in the 1-1 draw with Preston and produced an underwhelming display for the West Yorkshire outfit.

He failed to create a single chance for his teammates in 65 minutes on the pitch and missed a ‘big chance’, as Sam Byram’s flick to him in the box presented a fantastic opportunity to hit the target – only for Aaronson to fire well over the bar.

The former RB Salzburg star has now produced one goal, zero assists, and zero ‘big chances’ created in his last eight matches in the Championship for Leeds, with the goal coming in the form of a tap in from close range against Middlesbrough.

Farke must, now, finally ditch him from the starting line-up because of his lack of production at the top end of the pitch, and he could do so by unleashing another player in a new role at Elland Road.

The Leeds star who could learn a new role

Mateo Joseph initially thought he had secured the draw off the bench for the Whites on Saturday, only for it to end up being an own goal from Whatmough, after his run and attempted flick at the near post created the equaliser.

The Spain U21 international, who has played the vast majority of his career as a centre-forward, appeared to be in a slightly deeper role when he came on, with Patrick Bamford ahead of him, and it almost worked perfectly after he jumped onto a loose ball around 25 yards out and drove forward before firing an excellent shot from distance that forced Freddie Woodman to parry it wide.

Joseph, who was hailed as “dynamite” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is a dynamic forward who can drive with the ball, create chances for his teammates, and link-up play, which is why he could suit playing as a number ten.

24/25 Championship

Mateo Joseph

Appearances

21

Starts

10

Goals

2

Big chances created

4

Assists

3

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the academy graduate has not found his feet as a goalscorer, yet, but has shown impressive creativity, with four ‘big chances’ created in ten starts.

This suggests that he could thrive as an attacking midfielder, in a position to create chances for his teammates, and that is why Farke should finally ditch Aaronson to unleash Joseph in a new role.

Related Farke could drop Solomon in Leeds swoop for "incredible" 15-goal star

Leeds United have been linked with an interest in the impressive young attacker.

Posts ByDan Emery Dec 13, 2024

Bayern Munich are interested in a deal for Southampton starlet Tyler Dibling, who is also attracting lots of interest from elsewhere.

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Bayern want Dibling dealCould mean another Englishman at clubLots of other interest in starletFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Dibling has broken into the Southampton first team this season, alerting several of Europe's biggest clubs to his talent. With the Saints all but certain to be relegated from the Premier League, Bayern, Manchester United, Manchester City and RB Leipzig are ready to swoop, report .

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Dibling has scored four goals this season but has caught the eye in particular with his dribbling and close control. He has played for the England age group sides up to the Under-21s and is featuring for the U19s this month.

DID YOU KNOW?

Dibling could add to the English contingent at Bayern, who already have Eric Dier and Three Lions captain Harry Kane. However, the report states that City have a concrete interest and are very keen to keep Dibling in England.

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR DIBLING?

Sitting 17 points off safety with nine matches to play, Southampton's fate is effectively confirmed. Dibling will be eager to keep impressing, though, with a summer transfer set to take place.

The appeal was one of the first actions of the new PCB administration, led by Najam Sethi, who replaced Ramiz Raja late last month

Jarrod Kimber07-Jan-2023

The Test against England was the second demerit point for Rawalpindi in 2022, after being given one for the Test against Australia in March•Getty Images

The PCB has appealed against the ICC’s decision to award a demerit point for the Rawalpindi pitch used for the first Test against England last month.That surface was eventually declared “Below par” by match referee Andy Pycroft, the second successive Test pitch at that venue to have been given that assessment. At the time, Pycroft said: “It was a very flat pitch which gave almost no assistance to any type of bowler. That was the main reason why batters scored very fast and both sides posted huge totals. The pitch hardly deteriorated during the course of the match.”That was the second demerit point for Rawalpindi in the year, after being given one for the Test against Australia in March. If a ground gets five points in five years, it can face a suspension from hosting international cricket for 12 months.The appeal was one of the first actions of the new PCB administration, led by Najam Sethi, who replaced Ramiz Raja late last month. And it underlines the stark contrast of this new management with the assessment of Ramiz, who was PCB chairman at that time of the Test, of that surface. He told reporters then: “It is embarrassing for us, especially when you have a cricketer as chairman. This is not a good advert for cricket. We’re a better cricketing nation than this.”Related

ICC rescinds demerit point for Rawalpindi pitch that hosted Pakistan-England Test

Rawalpindi pitch earns second 'below average' rating of 2022

PCB chairman slams Rawalpindi pitch as 'embarrassing' as bowlers toil in Test

Ramiz Raja: Rawalpindi draw 'wasn't a good advertisement for Test cricket'

Cummins on lifeless Rawalpindi pitch: 'It's clear they've made an effort to nullify our pace attack'

Sethi took over as the head of an interim management committee now running the board on December 22, nine days after the ICC announced the sanction. On December 26, the PCB officially appealed the decision.Ramiz and the ICC were not the only ones critical of the Rawalpindi wicket. Former England batters Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, on the broadcast commentary team, both criticised it and after the match, the Pakistan captain Babar Azam expressed his unhappiness with the pitch as well.”Yes my input was there in the preparation of the pitch and we made it clear what we wanted but we didn’t get that because of the weather or whatever reason… we wanted a track with some turn for the spinners,” Babar had said.The Test ultimately produced a thrilling result – and likely one of the greatest wins in England’s history – after the visitors scored a record-breaking 506 runs on the first day. Their 657 in the first innings came from 101 overs, and in reply, Pakistan made 579 runs from 155 overs. That there was a result was ultimately down to England scoring at 6.7 runs per over during the course of the Test and a widely-praised declaration from captain Ben Stokes that allowed Pakistan a sporting – given the nature of the pitch – tilt at the target. Jack Leach took the last wicket of a game in which yielded the third-highest aggregate of runs ever in a Test and the highest in over 80 years. Leach took the wicket minutes before the game was likely to end because of fading light.The Rawalpindi Test against Australia provided no such spectacle, with nearly 1200 runs scored for the loss of only 14 wickets. Australia took only four wickets through the game and registered, collectively, the second-worst bowling performance of all time.Their captain Pat Cummins was clear that the surface had been made to “nullify” their pace attack and knowledgeable enough to say the Test pitch was very different to that made for domestic first-class games at the venue – a charge that has often been made about the Rawalpindi Test pitch. Ramiz all but acknowledged Pakistan’s ploy at the time, given they were missing fast bowlers of their own.Match referees make their assessments based on watching the match and the results, which can lead to subjective verdicts but it also makes the appeals process even trickier. With major international cricket now using Hawkeye data, it would be easier to base judgements on the information from each ball compared with previous Tests at that venue and beyond.The exact basis of the PCB’s appeal is not clear though one official with knowledge of it said there were “multiple reasons, supported by data, videos, reports” and a “long list” of other reasons.

Plays of the day during the second T20 between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Khulna

Mohammad Isam17-Jan-2016The unusual silenceStand-in captain Hamilton Masakadza was in sublime form. Having struck two sixes and three fours, he looked good to biff a few more to give Zimbabwe a chance of gunning down the 168-run target. But when he lofted the ball towards long-on, the stadium went eerily quiet for a couple of seconds, because it was that close to being a six. But the moment the ball lodged in Mahmudullah’s hands, the roar was back. Usually the crowd is the best barometer to judge the mood of the game. There was little doubt on that occasion as to which way the game would have turned had that catch not been taken.The end-to-end punishmentZimbabwe were giving away plenty of boundaries in the first six overs, but there were a few dot balls in there too. Tamim Iqbal showed patience, but it wasn’t a smooth sailing for him as the singles were hard to find. Did it bother him? It didn’t look like as he the first sign of pressure brought out a big hit – a slap for six after Nevill Madziva had bowled four good balls.The catchMahmudullah’s edge off Wellington Masakadza was brilliantly taken by the Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Richmond Mutumbami. He displayed fineness by staying low enough to take the thin under-edge in the eleventh over. The ball looked like it hanging out of his glove as he got up with the bounce, but he recovered well, held his composure to complete the catch.Mashrafe’s agonyMashrafe Mortaza brought himself into the attack in the fifth over, and should have had a wicket almost immediately. But Imrul Kayes put one down at cover to give Hamilton Masakadza a reprieve on 24. It was a simple chance, but the ball popped out of Kayes’s grasp as soon as he hit the turf after diving. To add insult to injury, Shuvagata Hom couldn’t reach a lofted hit at midwicket two balls later. It simply added to the agony of Mashrafe.

Madhya Pradesh scored at over six an over in a mammoth chase but were bowled out in the 40th over

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Feb-2023

File photo: Akash Deep was named Player of the Match•PTI

Bengal avenged last season’s semi-final loss to Madhya Pradesh in style as they beat the defending champions by 306 runs in Indore to book a place in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy final. This is the 15th time that the two-time Ranji Trophy winners have made it to the final.Bengal had more or less batted MP out of the game, having set them a target of 548 when No. 11 Ishan Porel fell on the fourth ball of the last day. Chasing down such a big total in one day was always an improbable ask, and even if MP were to bat out the whole day for a draw, Bengal would still reach the final having taken a first-innings lead.Left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik returned figures of 5 for 51 as MP were bundled out for 241 in 39.4 overs shortly after lunch. Bengal, who last won the Ranji title back in 1989-90, will now face Saurashtra in the final on February 16 in a repeat of the 2019-20 final. Saurashtra got the better of Karnataka in the other semi-final in Bengaluru.MP knew they had to come out all guns blazing. Yash Dubey got a few boundaries away early but lost his partner Himanshu Mantri to Shahbaz Ahmed for 16. Akash Deep then took out Dubey before Pramanik got among the wickets by knocking over Shubham Sharma’s stumps for 24.Venkatesh Iyer hit a four and a six in his 23-ball 19 and added 43 runs with Rajat Patidar for the fourth wicket in 40 balls, but he was also cleaned up by Pramanik. Patidar was MP’s top-scorer in the second innings scoring 52 off 58 balls with the help of four sixes and two fours. He also stitched a 54-run stand off 52 balls with captain Aditya Shrivastava, but once Patidar fell to Mukesh Kumar, the result was inevitable.Anubhav Agarwal smoked 30 off 12 balls, which included hitting offspinner Karan Lal for four sixes in an over, before Pramanik ended the game with the wicket of Gaurav Yadav, also completing his second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.Akash was named Player of the Match for his match haul of 6 for 60.

It’s Lanning’s five-time champions versus Luus’ first-time finalists. Newlands, are you ready?

Valkerie Baynes25-Feb-20234:01

Moonda: A World Cup win for South Africa at home will lift the nation

Big Picture: A sellout at Newlands

Ask any South African and they will tell you they never expected this – their team in the Women’s T20 title decider, the first senior cricket side from their country to reach a World Cup final. Ask any Australian and they will tell you they expected this – their team one match away from a third straight T20I World Cup crown and sixth in all.After South Africa’s three-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tournament and six-wicket loss to Australia in Gqeberha, they had to defeat Bangladesh in their final group match to reach the semi-finals, which is where this World Cup truly lit up. Australia edged past a courageous India by just five runs to advance before the hosts’ stirring six-run victory over England who, like Australia, had reached the knockout phase unbeaten.

Followers in the US can watch the Women’s T20 World Cup final LIVE on ESPN+

So have South Africa played their final already? Or can they be expected to lift another level before an expected sell-out crowd – a first for a women’s sporting event in South Africa – of nearly 13,000 at Newlands? It is hard to see any dents in Australia’s armour – even in getting a scare from India they did what they so often do and found a way, thanks to a superior fielding performance, their rock-solid top four and calm death bowling from Ashleigh Gardner and Jess Jonassen.The home side, however, are riding a huge wave of emotion and confidence. Their bowling attack is supreme, as shown in their win over England and they were sharp in the field during the semi-final also – especially Tazmin Brits – showing that they can handle the pressure.

Form guide

South Africa WWLWL (all completed matches, most recent first)
Australia WWWWWSune Luus and Meg Lanning pose with the Women’s T20 World Cup trophy•ICC via Getty Images

In the spotlight: Australia’s batting vs South Africa’s bowling

Australia’s batting line-up has been nigh on indomitable over recent years so the likes of Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning, Garnder and Ellyse Perry against Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Marizanne Kapp and Nonkululeko Mlaba looms as the key match-up of this final. Australia have three of the top 10 run-scorers at this tournament so far and South Africa two while each have two bowlers inside the leading 10 wicket-takers. South Africa’s batting really only began to gel in the last two games, with Brits and Laura Wolvaardt putting on opening stands of 117 and 96 so that’s an area they’ll need to fire against Australia, who have proven wicket-takers across the board.Don’t forget the home crowd. An additional 3,000 tickets were made available for the upper tiers at Newlands on Saturday morning and they had all been snapped up by mid-afternoon. Australia know what it’s like to play with a packed house behind them and now that the South African side can expect the same, there’s no telling what that could do.

Team news: Jonassen over King for Australia?

While it was pace duo Ismail and Khaka who did the damage in the semi-final, they have a top-class spinner in Mlaba in their midst too. South Africa played their best XI against England and are unlikely to change that winning formula for the final.South Africa (possible): 1 Tazmin Brits, 2 Laura Wolvaardt, 3 Marizanne Kapp, 4 Suné Luus (capt), 5 Chloe Tryon, 6 Anneke Bosch, 7 Nadine de Klerk, 8 Sinalo Jafta (wk), 9 Shabnim Ismail, 10 Ayabonga Khaka, 11 Nonkululeko MlabaAustralia have all players available for selection heading into the final. They replaced legspinner Alana King with left-arm spinner Jonassen for the semi-final against India and Jonassen’s bowling at the death was a key factor in Australia’s five-run victory so it would be no surprise to see her retain her place.Australia (possible): 1 Alyssa Healy (wk), 2 Beth Mooney, 3 Meg Lanning (capt), 4 Ashleigh Gardner, 5 Ellyse Perry, 6 Tahlia McGrath, 7 Grace Harris, 8 Georgia Wareham, 9 Jess Jonassen, 10 Megan Schutt, 11 Darcie BrownBig demand for tickets for the Women’s T20 World Cup final•ICC/Getty Images

Pitch and conditions

The match will be played on the same Newlands pitch that staged both semi-finals where pace played a part, particularly early in England’s chase as Ismail unleashed her thunderbolts. But by the following day it was looking fairly brown with some cracks appearing under a baking sun and with a drying wind about. Another sunny day is forecast with temperatures of 26 degrees Celsius expected. Almost bang in the centre of the ground, the on- and off-side boundaries are pretty much equidistant.

Stats and trivia

• Australia have won all six of the T20Is between these sides and 14 of 15 ODIs. The only time South Africa avoided defeat was in a tied game in 2016.
• Brits and Wolvaardt have shared 299 partnership runs between them so far. Only Healy and Mooney (352 runs in 2020) have added more runs together in an edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
• Healy has five fifties in her last 10 innings at the Women’s T20 World Cup, where she has scored 407 runs at an average of 45.22 and a strike rate of 138.43.

Quotes

“We know we’re probably not going to be the team that everyone’s cheering for but that’s fine, you know it’s going to be an incredible atmosphere and an incredible game at an amazing venue – so we’re pumped, we can’t wait to get out here and play and no doubt it’s going to be a great contest.”
“That is just it, my friend. It’s history, understand? Tomorrow, it’s a one-off game. You can’t be worrying about Australia and what they’re doing.”

Liverpool remain top of the Premier League table, albeit their advantage isn’t looking quite as healthy as it did a week or so ago.

On Saturday, after falling behind inside 11 minutes, and then seeing Andy Robertson sent off not long after, the Reds actually did remarkably well to hold Fulham to a 2-2 draw at Anfield, twice equalising in front of the Kop, with Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota the scorers.

This is only the fourth time in any competition that Liverpool have failed to win a match since Arne Slot’s arrival on Merseyside, but means they’re now a mere two points clear of in-form Chelsea, albeit with a game in hand.

So, as the Reds go in search of a record-equaling 20th English top-flight title in 2025, could the addition of another forward help push them over the line?

Liverpool preparing bid for new forward

According to a report from Caught Offside, Liverpool, as well as both Arsenal and Manchester City, are all interested in signing Brighton forward Joao Pedro, purportedly prepared to bid up to £54m.

The Brazilian began his career at Fluminense, having joined the Rio de Janeiro-based giants as a ten-year-old, before departing for Watford in 2020, scoring 24 goals in 109 appearances for the Hornets.

These are far from outstanding statistics, but he certainly did enough to attract the attention of those on the South Coast during his time in Hertfordshire because, in the summer of 2023, he moved to Brighton for a club-record £30m.

During his first season with the Seagulls, Pedro scored an impressive 20 goals across all competitions, including six in six in the Europa League, the club’s maiden voyage into continental competition, most notably this famous last-gasp winner when Olympique de Marseille visited Sussex, a strike that booked Brighton’s place in the round of 16.

How much Joao Pedro may cost Liverpool

So far this campaign, Pedro’s impact has been limited by an ankle injury, seeing just 43 minutes of Premier League action between 31 August and 23 November, but he’s still scored four times, goals that have directly added seven points to the Seagulls’ tally.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Having now started five successive matches, Fabian Hürzeler clearly values the Brazilian as an important player, hence why Brighton allegedly value him at around £60m according to the aforementioned report.

Brighton certainly know how to get a good fee for a high-quality, in-demand player: Moisés Caicedo (£115m), Marc Cucurella (£62m), Ben White (£50m), Alexis Mac Allister (£35m) and Yves Bissouma (£25m) are all recent examples from the past three years of the Seagulls’ strong negotiating powers, with all of this quintet sold to so-called “big six” Premier League outfits.

So, if Pedro does depart the South Coast in 2025, you can bet your bottom dollar it’s going to be for a sky-high fee.

How Joao Pedro would improve Liverpool's forward line

Arne Slot already has an array of high-quality forwards at his disposal, namely Mohamed Salah, who is in ongoing contract negotiations, as well as Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez, Gakpo, Jota and summer recruit Federico Chiesa, who’s made little impact so far due to injury.

Described as an “insane dribbler” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, how does Pedro compare to the Reds’ five main attacking options?

Well, playing in that hybrid role between being a centre-forward and a number 10, just like Jota has done at Anfield, he stacks up pretty well in comparison.

Games

50

67

60

83

81

96

Minutes

3,421

5,010

3,005

5,765

4,629

5,531

Goals

24

41

24

25

26

33

Goals per 90

0.63

0.74

0.72

0.39

0.51

0.54

Assists

6

27

9

9

16

12

Assists per 90

0.16

0.49

0.27

0.14

0.31

0.20

Expected goals

19.6

38.6

11.8

20.8

29.9

18.1

Goals – xG

-0.6

-0.6

+4.2

+0.2

-8.9

+1.9

Shot-creating actions

127

247

74

269

142

169

Goal-creating actions

19

37

21

24

24

20

To the surprise of no one, Salah ranks the best in pretty much every attacking metric; you didn’t need a gigantic table full of numbers to tell you he’s good did you?

However, when compared to the other forwards, Pedro is on par with most, ranking highest for goals per 90, while boasting an xG figure superior to both Jota and Gakpo.

Slot has been chopping and changing his centre-forwards this season, particularly since Jota suffered a rib injury against Chelsea in mid-October, with Díaz often getting the nod over Nunez, most notably for the 4-0 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen, in which the Colombian bagged a second half hat-trick.

Meantime, Gakpo has primarily been deployed in his preferred position out-wide, believing he is “more dangerous” under Slot, claiming the manager told him that left-wing “is going to be your position”, having been predominantly deployed centrally by Jürgen Klopp.

So, with Jota having missed 59 matches due to injury since the start of the 22/23 season, and Nunez not living up to the sky-high expectations set by his club-record £85m price tag, the Uruguayan having scored just 36 goals in 116 outings to date, central striker does remain a position of need and Pedro’s numbers suggest he could be a fantastic addition if the Reds are willing to cough up a huge fee for his services.

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