Birmingham City’s opening Championship match of the season at home to Ipswich Town is growing ever closer.

It would be quite the statement to make on the end of the Blues if they were to get the better of the recently relegated Tractor Boys on the first, action-packed night of the division, with a win being the best possible way to storm out of the traps and to ease any potential nerves.

The aim for the reigning League One champions will be to achieve the unbelievable feat of back-to-back promotions up to the Premier League, with the first month of the season, and beyond, making it clear to everyone if Davies’ men are made of stern enough stuff to secure this wild goal.

If they were to triumphantly leap into the Premier League, this would be the first time the West Midlands side had played in the top division since the 2010/11 season, with forgotten heroes from Birmingham’s past, such as Nicola Zigic, leading the line all that time ago.

Zigic's heroics at Birmingham

Birmingham supporters have likely put Zigic’s exploits to the back of their mind for some time now, with the likes of Jay Stansfield and Alfie May being cheered on instead.

However, looking back on the 6-foot-8 Serbian’s career at St. Andrew’s will be tinged with lots of pleasant nostalgia, with his most memorable contribution in Birmingham blue coming when he headed home the opener against Arsenal in 2011 at Wembley, as Alex McLeish’s men surprisingly lifted the League Cup.

Across a varied career that saw him play in Spain for Valencia, alongside lining up for several different sides in his native Serbia, Zigic is likely most fondly remembered by Birmingham fans, with the towering giant ending his 158-game association with the club by netting 36 goals and picking up 18 assists.

Seven of those efforts would be picked up during his final full season in England as Birmingham bravely staved off relegation in the Championship, as his ability to be in the right place, at the right time to score a vital goal for the Blues won him cult hero status.

One brand new striker target on Birmingham’s rumoured shopping list will hope he’s remembered in a similarly glowing way down the line, as the experienced goal machine in question looks to secure a deal to join Davies’ ranks before the early September deadline.

The "extraordinary" star who could be Zigic 2.0

Adding in another striker to Davies’ camp might well feel like a wasted move, considering the Blues boss already has Kyogo Furuhashi and the aforementioned Stansfield ready for selection.

Yet, if Birmingham were to win the services of Werder Bremen star Marvin Ducksch – who the Championship side are ‘quietly confident’ about winning as per recent reports by GIVEMESPORT – the 31-year-old should be able to offer the second-tier newcomers something unique in attack, much like Zigic gifted the Blues all those years ago.

For starters, Ducksch would be entering into his new surroundings at St. Andrew’s as a seasoned attacking option that won’t be fearful of the testing Championship, with Zigic also possessing that same level of calmness when walking through the door in 2010 as a 29-year-old menace from Valencia.

Moreover, the 31-year-old would also be moving to England with lots of pedigree attached to his name. Zigic was very much in the same boat when he made the daring move from Spain to St. Andrew’s, having bagged 59 goals in total for Valencia, Racing Santander, and Red Star Belgrade.

Ducksch’s career numbers in Germany by division

Division played in

Games played

Goals scored

Assists

Bundesliga

130

34

28

2. Bundesliga

138

71

34

3. Liga

54

19

14

Sourced by Transfermarkt

His goal-heavy 6-foot-2 counterpart has even more strikes to shout about when plying his trade all across his native Germany, with a stunning combined haul of 124 strikes tallied up by Ducksch as he made his way up the German pyramid, all the way to the top in the Bundesliga.

This sublime goalscoring form for Bremen and many other sides has resulted in the robust attacker even being labelled as “extraordinary” by teammate Mitchell Weiser for what he can offer up top.

Zigic was often referred to in a similarly positive tone at St. Andrew’s – with one of his ex-Blues bosses Lee Clark dubbing him “extremely talented” – as Davies and Co. in the here and now hope their ongoing pursuit of Ducksch results in them winning an up-to-date iteration of the much-loved colossus.

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Posts 2 ByCharlie Smith Jul 31, 2025

Dele Alli could be heading back to British football following his release by Como, with three teams said to have shown interest.

• Ex-England international released by Serie A side
• Made one substitute appearance since February 2023
• Championship teams mulling over contract offers

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  English midfielder Dele finds himself in the free agent pool once again after experiencing a nightmare spell in Italy. The 29-year-old managed just one appearance for Como before seeing his deal terminated.

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  That solitary outing, which came off the bench in a meeting with AC Milan, lasted less than 10 minutes before he was shown a red card. Ex-Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas – who is now in charge of Como – has brought a failed experiment to a close.

  Dele has not started a game since February 2023, when his final outing for Besiktas during a troubled loan spell in Turkey was cut short when being hauled off at half-time in a match. No upturn in fortune was enjoyed after returning to Everton.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The ex-Tottenham star is now waiting on another offer and a fresh start. According to the , ambitious Championship outfits are mulling over moves for Dele. A return to the EFL ranks, where he previously represented MK Dons, could help to get him back on track.

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  The Mail claims: “Birmingham City, Wrexham, and West Brom have emerged as the favourites in the beauty contest to sign Alli. The first two offer the tantalising appeal of glitz and glamour.

  “Birmingham, partly fuelled by the cash and interference of NFL legend Tom Brady, have made a strong start to life in the Championship.

  “Wrexham, their fellow promotees from League One, have the Hollywood draw of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney – did anybody mention? – and splashed £33 million on medium-to-big-name Championship signings this summer.”

It’s hard to think of a summer which has felt more positive for Chelsea.

Not only are Enzo Maresca’s side Conference League champions, but they are also World Champions after they demolished Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain over a week ago.

Add to that the fact they’ve already completed the seriously exciting signings of Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, and it feels like they could achieve something seriously special in the Premier League next season.

Moreover, the Blues have been heavily linked with the exciting Xavi Simons, although if reports are to be believed, they could now be targeting someone who’d be an even better signing.

Chelsea target Simons upgrade

Even though Chelsea have already been incredibly busy in the transfer window this summer, the club continue to be linked with potentially game-changing acquisitions, such as Simons.

Transfer Focus

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

The RB Leipzig gem enjoyed another stellar campaign in Germany last season, but has made it clear he now wants to leave for a fresh challenge, and alongside teams like Arsenal, the Blues have been one of the teams most liked for a move for him.

Based on reports from earlier this week, it looks like the West Londoners would have to pay as much as £95m for the 22-year-old’s services, and while that isn’t a crazy amount, it now looks like they’re eyeing up another young star, someone who’d be an even better signing.

At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which has confirmed that Chelsea are still very interested in Morgan Rogers.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Pensioners are now preparing an offer for the Aston Villa star that would see them offer Benoît Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo, plus a small fee, to try and secure the Englishman’s services.

It might sound like overkill to offer three players plus money, but that might be what is required, considering other reports from this summer claim the Claret and Blue value their young star at up to £100m.

It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but Rogers would certainly be worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a better signing than Simons.

Why Rogers would be a better signing than Simons

While both players are incredibly talented and look like they’re set for brilliant careers at the very highest level, there are a number of reasons why Rogers would be a better signing for Chelsea than Simons, and the first is due to his experience.

While the Dutchman has played plenty of top-flight football across his career to date, he’s never played in the Premier League, and that is a significant disadvantage, as it would likely take him some time to adapt, whereas the Villa ace could potentially slot right into Maresca’s side with no problem at all.

Moreover, while the Bundesliga is a great competition in its own right, it is only the fourth-toughest league in world football, whereas the Premier League takes the top spot, and quite comfortably so.

In fact, when we compare their output from the one competition they both played in last season, the Champions League, the difference in their effectiveness is really quite stark.

For example, in 12 appearances in Europe’s top competition, totalling 1025 minutes, the Claret and Blue’s game-changing “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, scored four goals and provided three assists.

Appearances

12

5

Minutes

1025′

337′

Goals

4

0

Assists

3

0

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

0

Minutes per Goal Involvement

146.42′

N/A

In other words, the England star managed to average a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 146.42 minutes, which is all the more impressive given that it was his first time playing in it.

In contrast, the former PSV Eindhoven gem made five appearances, totalling 337 minutes and failed to score a single goal or provide a single assist.

Ultimately, Chelsea would do well to sign either Simons or Rogers this summer, but given his experience in the Premier League and his proven ability in Europe, the latter would be the better signing.

Their new Hazard: Chelsea set to hold talks to sign £95m "superstar"

Chelsea could be set to hold talks to sign a Dutch superstar

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 21, 2025

Former Aston Villa midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has talked up the idea of Birmingham City signing an £8.6m-rated player in the summer transfer window.

Davies ecstatic after memorable Birmingham win

The Blues picked up a dramatic 2-1 win away to Blackburn Rovers in the Championship on Saturday, scoring twice in stoppage time to secure a memorable turnaround. Chris Davies was understandably in great spirits after the match, loving what he saw from his players.

“We showed our quality. We looked fit and strong. When there was a chance to counter attack we did it, and there were six red shirts bursting out there, but I love that about us. The determination, the desire, and the belief that they wanted to win it.“There is no destination in football, there’s memories, and there’s moments.

“For those fans that travelled all the way here, who paid their money, stood out there and supported the team. We heard them. Even at 1-0 down they were singing louder than ever. That’s the team, and the club, everyone together, and that pushes us on. To give them that moment, I’ll never forget that for the rest of my life and I don’t think they will.”

It’s now a case of Birmingham trying to get more names through the door this summer, including bolstering Davies’ attacking options, in order to aid their Championship promotion push.

Hendrie reacts to Birmingham links for £8.6m striker

Speaking to Football League World, Hendrie discussed Birmingham’s interest in signing Porto striker Danny Namaso, saying he would be an ideal summer signing.

“Obviously, there’s interest in Namaso. He’s a player that’s had a spell at Reading, but he’s 24 years of age. He can play in the 10 and can play as a striker. They’ve got a lot of reinforcement in that area, I think, but I know they have been looking for someone who can fit the bill of playing in that 10, who can have that bit more of a creative flair.

“You think this would be a real big signing for Birmingham on top of what they’ve bought already. I mean it just shows their intent and where they want to go this season, and that’s to the Premier League. Spending the likes of €10m (£8.6m) on a player, again, their recruitment has been spot on from last season up to now, so a really good signing and, as I say, he can play in a number of positions as well.”

Namaso could be perfect for Birmingham, coming in as a statement signing who has already proven himself at a high level in his career to date.

He has 24 goal contributions in 106 appearances for Porto – 14 goals and 10 assists – and he has actually played 28 times in the Championship in the past during a spell at Reading.

Cameroon

2

0

England Under-20s

9

1

England Under-19s

10

4

England Under-18s

7

0

England Under-17s

14

6

England Under-16s

8

4

Capped across five different youth age groups for England, Namaso is now a two-cap Cameroon international, too, so he would bring international pedigree to Birmingham’s squad.

Gio Reyna is confident he will be at the 2026 World Cup after joining Borussia Monchengladbach, insisting he’s ready to reach a higher level.

Reyna swaps Dortmund for GladbachUSMNT recall remains key targetCareer reset after injury strugglesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Reyna has expressed confidence that he will be part of the United States squad for the World Cup after sealing a summer move to Monchengladbach. The attacking midfielder and winger left Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth up to €7 million, aiming to relaunch a career that once promised superstardom before injuries and inconsistent form took their toll. 

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Once heralded as America's brightest talent, Reyna’s rise stalled at Dortmund due to fitness setbacks and a lack of regular playing time. His transfer to Gladbach is seen as a career reset, with the Bundesliga side offering him a platform to rediscover his form and confidence. For the USMNT, where coach Mauricio Pochettino has only used him sparingly since March, his club performances will determine his international role ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil.

WHAT GIO REYNA SAID

In an Interview with , the former Dortmund player said: "I believe I'll be there. That was one of the reasons for my move. I'm in open contact with the coach. If I play well at Borussia, I'll definitely find my way back to the national team."

He added: "I'm now at a point where I want to take the next step and take my career to a higher level. I feel ready for it – and that's why I came to Gladbach."

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Reyna was left out of Gladbach’s 1-0 defeat to Stuttgart but, after playing 70 minutes in a recent friendly against Schalke, the 22-year-old hopes to make his competitive debut against Werder Bremen on Sunday. 

"Whether I can play from the start is a coach's decision. I felt good after the 70 minutes against Schalke – but a Bundesliga game is obviously something else entirely," he added.

Despite interest in Callum Wilson, West Ham United have now reportedly launched their first approach to sign a Serie A forward who outscored the former Newcastle United man last season.

West Ham in talks to sign Wilson

After losing Michail Antonio and Danny Ings earlier this summer, West Ham always needed to turn towards the transfer market for attacking additions ahead of next season. And whilst they’ve been patient with their approach, it looks as though they are finally attempting to solve Graham Potter’s biggest problem.

Having reportedly opened talks to sign Wilson, the Hammers will be hoping to welcome the veteran free agent, who needs no telling where the back of the net is. But that’s not to say there won’t question marks if Wilson arrives. As clinical as he is, to score goals a player needs to be on the pitch and that’s been the 33-year-old’s biggest problem over the years.

Callum Wilson’s injury record	Games missed (via Transfermarkt)	Season
Hamstring injury	14	24/25
Back injury	15	24/25
Illness	2	23/24
Chest injury	10	23/24
Calf injury	6	23/24
Hamstring injury	6	23/24
Hamstring injury	4	23/24

In the last two seasons alone, Wilson has missed a staggering 57 games through illness or injury. And at 33 years old, it seems unlikely that those problems will suddenly disappear with a move to the London Stadium.

The former Newcastle man is a proven Premier League goalscorer, but it must be mentioned that he is also a proven injury-prone player and West Ham can’t afford to get things wrong in search of a striker for the second season running.

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Instead, those at the London Stadium should set their sights on a candidate in the prime of their career and one who ticks the box for both goals and reliability – something one Serie A star would certainly do.

West Ham launch approach to sign Piccoli

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, as relayed by Sport Witness, West Ham have now launched an approach to sign Roberto Piccoli and have insistently enquired about sealing his signature this summer.

The Cagliari striker is reportedly valued at around €30m (£25m), which would force West Ham to splash the cash to welcome the Italian. But he is likely to be worth every penny of that fee as the Hammers seek a solution to their striker problem at long last.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Piccoli	Wilson
Minutes	3,127	370
Goals	10	1
Assists	1	0
Expected Goals	12	0.4

When compared, once again it’s Wilson’s lack of availability that can be highlighted. Managing just 370 minutes last season – around four games – the forward scored just one goal. Piccoli, meanwhile, found the back of the net on 10 occasions in Serie A after playing 3,127 minutes.

The only concern for West Ham should be that the 24-year-old underperformed his expected total, which stood at 12 goals, but that may improve with further experience.

On paper, even for £26m, Piccoli stands out as the option that West Ham should be prioritising instead of Wilson this summer.

Glasgow Rangers and the 49ers Enterprises are now eyeing as many as three more specific signings for manager Russell Martin this summer, according to a promising new Ibrox transfer claim.

10 signings for Rangers already this summer

The Gers have had an extremely busy summer to date, bringing in 10 new signings in total, with some arriving permanently and others coming in on loan.

Oscar Cortes’ loan switch to Ibrox from Ligue 1 side Lens has been made permanent, for example, and Oliver Antman is an exciting attacking addition from Go Ahead Eagles.

Meanwhile, highly-rated Tottenham teenager Mike Moore was an eye-catching loan addition, with Martin no doubt wanting to take him up a level before he likely returns to north London next summer, and Djeidi Gassama has added an attacking threat out wide after his move from Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday.

Despite this, Rangers’ start to the season has been unconvincing, with back-to-back draws in their opening two Scottish Premiership matches, highlighting the need for further signings this month. A fresh update bodes well in that respect.

Rangers’ summer signings in 2025 to date

Signed from

Price

Oscar Cortes

Lens

£4.5m

Oliver Antman

Go Ahead Eagles

£3.8m

Thelo Aasgaard

Luton Town

£3.4m

Emmanuel Fernandez

Peterborough United

£2.5m

Djeidi Gassama

Sheffield Wednesday

£2m

Joe Rothwell

Bournemouth

£397,000

Lyall Cameron

Dundee FC

Unknown

Mikey Moore

Tottenham

Loan

Nasser Djiga

Wolves

Loan

Max Aarons

Bournemouth

Loan

Jayden Meghoma

Brentford

Loan

Rangers looking to sign three more players

According to a new report from Football Insider, Rangers and 49ers Enterprises are now targeting three different positions to strengthen in before the summer transfer window reaches its conclusion.

It is claimed that a striker, winger and centre-back are the “priority targets” for Gers currently, with Martin “keen to upgrade on the likes of Cyriel Dessers after a slow start to the season.”

This will be music to the ears of Rangers supporters, who will no doubt be frustrated at the start they have made to the 2025/26 season, with Martin possibly already under some pressure from a section of the fanbase.

The Gers have already shown that their squad doesn’t possess the depth and quality to fight Celtic until the end in the Scottish Premiership title race this season, and Hearts are posing a bigger threat than them after two matches.

A new striker is a must, in order to boost the firepower at Martin’s disposal, including in Europe, with Maccabi Tel Aviv marksman Dor Turgeman a potentially excellent option to lead the line.

Meanwhile, Brentford left-back Jayden Meghoma is the most recent player who the Gers have signed and said after joining:

“I am very excited to be here, it is a fantastic club, and I know a lot about the rich history of Rangers. When the deal was presented to me, I thought straight away that it would be a fantastic opportunity for myself and my family. The main thing for me is getting results. Rangers is a big club, and I am ready, I am hungry and excited to get going.”

Related Rangers submit opening £1m+ offer to sign another Championship ace

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Aug 15, 2025

It promises to be a busy remaining few weeks of the transfer window at Ibrox, with 49ers looking to work their magic, giving Martin the best possible chance of success, both this season and beyond.

Liverpool kicked off their pre-season tour in Asia with a 4-2 loss against AC Milan. Results do not matter in pre-season, of course, but it is interesting to see the likes of Florian Wirtz in action.

The attacking midfielder, who joined the Reds from Bayer Leverkusen for a British-record £116m fee in June, was all neat flicks and cute turns and intelligent one-twos. The German maestro is the real deal, all right, and could be the difference-maker as Arne Slot looks to defend his Premier League title while chasing glory across other fronts.

Hugo Ekitike didn’t feature, for he only played out his first training session with his new club on Friday, having finalised his £79m move from Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the week.

You can be sure to expect the Frenchman’s participation in the weeks ahead. Though in what capacity remains to be seen, with the Reds chasing a deal for Alexander Isak, who has informed Newcastle United that he wants to sign for the Merseysiders.

However, one player who won’t be taking part is Joe Gomez, who has been dealt another cruel injury blow and has been forced to head home.

Liverpool's defensive situation

Jarell Quansah was sold to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m last month, thinning out Slot’s backline. In Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool have an elite pairing, but little else in the way of depth.

However, Gomez does have a chance to shine at the rear next year, having been utilised centrally by Slot last term after principal full-back displays across Jurgen Klopp’s final term.

Well, that was the case until the England international had to withdraw from Liverpool’s summer camp due to what has been reported as a ‘minor Achilles injury’.

There’s no doubt that this blow exacerbates Liverpool’s comparatively frail defensive depth, and may well see sporting director Richard Hughes forge ahead with plans to sign Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.

Liverpool emerged as leading contenders for Guehi in June, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the Anfield side’s interest in the centre-back.

With just one year left on his current deal, the Reds are optimistic that they can sign the 25-year-old in a cut-price £40m package. Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also keen.

Why Liverpool must sign Marc Guehi

It’s funny that Liverpool have spent so heavily this summer and yet still feel fragile and thin at the back.

And with the non-committal Konate entering the final year of his £70k-per-week deal, and with Real Madrid hoping to snap him up, it feels crucial that the Reds add a player of Guehi’s quality to their ranks.

The one-time Chelsea prospect has made quite the name for himself at Selhurst Park, playing 132 games in the Premier League and winning the FA Cup last season, keeping a clean sheet against Manchester City in the final.

Liverpool need a centre-back, but Guehi isn’t any old defender. He’s perfect for Slot’s expressive yet composed system, hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as “England’s best player” at the 2024 European Championship and described as a “monster in defence” by reporter Bobby Manzi.

Indeed, as per FBref, Guehi ranked among the top 9% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goal contributions, the top 12% for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for through balls and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90.

The 6 foot titan, not the tallest, made up for his so-called weakness in regard to stature by winning 63% of his ground duels in the Premier League last term, as per Sofascore, underscoring the kind of first-class defending Slot would be welcoming to his ranks.

There’s even a case to be made for Guehi being a more important signing than Isak.

Make no mistake, the Sweden forward is a world-class player. Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher even said that he was “the best striker in the Premier League” last season, and it’s praise that many would agree with.

Mohamed Salah, as is so often the case in the record books, was the only man to have outscored Isak in the league last year, and the Newcastle man played just 31 matches altogether, bespeaking his clinical style.

Now, while Isak would prove an incredible, level-raising signing, have Liverpool not already added Ekitike to their ranks? Data-led site FBref even reveal that the Newcastle man is one of Ekitike’s most statistically comparable players.

And with Liverpool already such a devastating attacking force, the French forward is in the perfect place to foster his burgeoning skills.

1.

Liverpool

1st

80

2.

Man City

4th

66

3.

Newcastle

3rd

65

4.

Arsenal

2nd

63

5.

Tottenham

16th

62

However, Liverpool are but a Van Dijk injury away from disaster at the back, and it would be inconceivable to enter the fresh campaign, primed to defend their title, having sold themselves short in spite of such heavy spending.

That’s why Guehi’s signature could prove such an important one for Slot’s vision. Gomez simply isn’t reliable enough to serve as the skipper and Konate’s deputy, having missed the entire second half of the 2024/25 campaign with a hamstring injury; he returned in May but failed to make it off the bench.

Liverpool know that they need to get their purse out once again this summer, turning away from the spending up front and fashioning a complete and deep defensive line.

There are many centre-halves who could make a difference, but Guehi would be the pick of the bunch, and he might even prove a more important signing than Isak when the campaign is well and truly underway.

Bigger loss than Diaz or Nunez: Barcelona charge into race for £70k-p/w Liverpool star

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ByTom Cunningham Jul 26, 2025

Pakistan turned in their best all-round ODI performance across all three series over the past six weeks, dismantling South Africa by 81 runs and sealing a third straight ODI series win.Shaheen Afridi sizzled with the ball after half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam and Kamran Ghulam helped Pakistan amass 329 in the second ODI in Cape Town. South Africa never quite got partnerships going despite a heroic 74-ball 97 from Heinrich Klaasen. Afridi, however, got his mojo back, menacing at the top and lethal with the reverse swinging ball at the death, finishing with four wickets as South Africa were bowled out for 248.South Africa began the chase in much the same way as they started off in the first innings in Paarl – with conviction and purpose. From the moment the returning Temba Bavuma flicked Afridi off his pads for four off the first ball, South Africa were up and running, routinely piercing the thickset infield to find the boundaries they needed to keep the asking rate in check. When Naseem Shah drew a leading edge from the South Africa captain to draw first blood, Tony de Zorzi and Rassie van der Dussen carried on at the same brisk tempo, and South Africa had much the better of the opening powerplay.However, the hosts were beset by the clumps of wickets Pakistan have found a knack of taking to stymie opposition momentum. De Zorzi, van der Dussen and Aiden Markram all fell within 39 runs of each other, immediately placing all the pressure on Klaasen to pull off another Houdini act. Alongside David Miller, he appeared to have set South Africa back on course with a partnership that combined security with aggression, the run-a-ball 72 they added bringing the hosts right back into the contest.But Afridi picked his moment to deliver perhaps his most impressive spell since picking up the injury two years ago that has somewhat stalled his career. With the lights taking full effect and the contest balanced on a tightrope, he found it in himself to bowl closer to the 140kph mark, angling his wrist position to take advantage of the reverse swing that suddenly appeared to be on offer. He fizzed one past Miller, cutting him in half – or so we all thought; Afridi was sure it had kissed the inside edge, and when they went upstairs, the technology bore him out.But it was the dismissal of Marco Jansen that had the greatest technical purity to it. Coming around the wicket, it angled into middle stump before appearing to deviate away, with Jansen’s bat nowhere near it as it crashed into the base of middle and off. He was finding late swing at such pace even the umpire struggled to pick it up, and it required another review to establish Andile Phehlukwayo had been struck on the toe before the ball hit his bat, and that he was indeed plumb in front.Shaheen Afridi produced a three-wicket spell•AFP/Getty Images

All this while, Klaasen had been fighting a lone, and, as became increasingly obvious, losing battle. He was particularly ruthless taking down last game’s hero, Salman Agha, stepping onto the back foot for his trademark hook over cow corner, and using his range efficiently to carve the ball into the off side. If anything, he was guilty of not shielding the strike better as he approached his own hundred, and, in the end, ran out of partners when he whacked Naseem to deep midwicket in a doomed attempt at reaching a hundred he richly deserved.Babar scored his first half-century in 22 innings, combining with his old friend Rizwan in a 115-run third wicket partnership as Pakistan set South Africa an imposing 330 to chase. That number never looked as steep when those two were batting, though, and only ballooned thanks to a blistering late flurry from Ghulam, who bludgeoned 63 off 32 balls. They were helped by South Africa falling away sharply with their lines as well as in the fielding.Bavuma had opted to field first on a picture-perfect day at Newlands, and South Africa made a similarly dreamy start when Marco Jansen knocked over Abdullah Shafique for a second successive duck. But South Africa only truly perked up when Saim Ayub was removed at the tailend of the powerplay, slashing at a wide one off debutant Kwena Maphaka, and finding van der Dussen well placed at deep third.Pakistan’s level of urgency tailed away immediately, with Babar and Rizwan opting for the more classical pacing that comes so naturally to them. Both were trying to work their way back into the runs, and with South Africa happy to strangle the scoring than go after the wickets, it appeared for a while that the game entered a passage of play where each side was getting what they wanted.There were still moments of belligerence, such as when Rizwan smeared Markram over cow corner for six, and Babar milked the spinners for the occasional boundary. But the asking rate steadily hovered between 4.75 and 5.1, and it was evident Pakistan were backloading the innings.Babar had gone past 50 and seemed to be edging towards that elusive hundred, but then he slapped Phehlukwayo straight to Markram at short midwicket, who just about held on after it thudded into his chest. Maphaka got rid of Rizwan with a splendid diving return catch, and South Africa suddenly had the momentum.But Ghulam put paid to any such notions. Alongside Salman, who punished some errant bowling, Ghulam demonstrated his value as a lower-order power hitter, making splendid use of his bottom hand as he smashed five sixes in a whirlwind of a knock. The half-century came up in just 25 deliveries, with both pace and spin taken to task. Irfan Niazi, Shaheen and Haris Rauf were good value for the odd six from the other end, but until he holed out to Maphaka in the final over, and the late charge which saw Pakistan score 128 in the final 12 overs was largely down to Ghulam.That it was possible, though, was because Pakistan had done something which has eluded South Africa all series. They had paced their way through an ODI innings while keeping wickets in hand. Klaasen may well have been just as adept at playing the Ghulam role at the death, but, as he went down on his knees after Pakistan sealed victory, he simply had no one to play it with.

Thunder’s captain was given a life and made Hobart Hurricanes pay to set up a meeting with Brisbane Heat

AAP27-Nov-2024

Phoebe Litchfield played the key innings in Sydney Thunder’s chase•Getty Images

Phoebe Litchfield steered Sydney Thunder to within one win of the WBBL grand final, helping her side end Hobart Hurricanes’ season with a tense six-wicket victory at Drummoyne Oval.With Thunder chasing 127 for victory in the knockout final, they appeared to be in trouble with 26 runs required from the final three overs.Enter Litchfield and Anika Learoyd, who got the job done for the Thunder with six balls to spare. The pair took 16 runs off the 18th over from Heather Graham, before Litchfield struck Nicola Carey for six off the first ball of the next over.The 21-year-old was eventually bowled trying to scoop Carey and finish the game off, but by the time she walked from the field on 46 the game was effectively over.Litchfield controlled the chase calmly, twice breaking the tension by driving Hurricanes’ bowlers to the rope when the pressure appeared to be building. She hit five fours in her 36-ball knock with Hurricanes left to rue a crucial missed stumping chance when Litchfield was on 23 and Thunder still needed 42 to win.Her runs came as Learoyd played a supporting hand with an unbeaten 23 from 24, while Chamari Athapaththu hit 31 up top after also taking two wickets with the ball.The victory means Thunder will play Brisbane Heat in Friday night’s Challenger, with the winner of that to face the Melbourne Renegades in Sunday’s final at the MCG.Elyse Villani had given Hurricanes a small hope of victory with an unbeaten 49 after the Hurricanes had fallen to 47 for 4 from their opening 10 overs.Athapaththu’s 2 for 24 did the bulk of the damage with the ball, bowling Carey for 1 and then having Heather Graham caught cutting to cover cutting on 10.Litchfield also took two neat catches, while Taneale Peschel got the key wicket of Lizelle Lee for 23.And while Molly Strano’s 1 for 8 from four overs and Amy Smith’s 1 for 17 from three threatened to strangle Thunder, Litchfield was in the end too good after being offered a second life.