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The striker situation at Newcastle United has developed into one of the defining sagas of their summer window.

Alexander Isak’s desire to leave the club has left Eddie Howe and the recruitment team scrambling for solutions, with each failed pursuit only heightening the sense of urgency.

Newcastle have already missed out on Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, João Pedro, and Benjamin Šeško – all of whom might have paved the way for Isak’s departure had they been secured.

As things stand, the Swede’s future remains unresolved.

He has made it abundantly clear he does not wish to reintegrate with the squad, even if no sale materialises.

A move to Anfield remains his desired outcome, but Newcastle have been equally firm: no replacement, no transfer.

Newcastle's new contender

That replacement hunt has taken them down multiple avenues. Brentford’s Yoane Wissa has long been admired, but negotiations have stalled.

The Congolese’s absence from Brentford’s win over Aston Villa raised eyebrows, though nothing concrete has yet been agreed.

Jørgen Strand Larsen of Wolves has also been sounded out, though Vítor Pereira’s reluctance to part with the Norwegian makes that transfer unlikely.

With time ticking down, Newcastle have turned their attention to a different profile of forward.

According to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, Newcastle hold an interest in Atlético Madrid striker Alexander Sørloth.

Hope stated: “He has been discussed. He is the latest one in the orbit of players they could move for. It’s Alexander Sorloth at Atletico Madrid. His goal record is quite incredible. Absolutely in the mold of his countryman, Strand-Larsen. Sorloth is one of the names being considered and there are others too.”

The 29-year-old Norwegian is a familiar name to Premier League fans, though his first spell in England was far from remarkable.

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Signed by Crystal Palace from FC Midtjylland in 2017, Sørloth failed to score in 16 appearances before eventually being moved on.

Described as “phenomenal” by Diego Simeone, any deal would likely be complicated. Newcastle would need to convince the Spanish club to part with him, likely at a fee north of his current market value of £30m.

But with Isak’s situation dragging on and the clock ticking, pragmatism may force their hand.

Newcastle's new Andy Carroll

After leaving the south-east London club, Sørloth established himself at Real Sociedad, and then flourished at Villarreal, where his goalscoring exploits earned him a move to Atlético last summer.

Standing at 1.95m, he offers the kind of aerial dominance and physical presence that Newcastle fans associate with Andy Carroll.

His numbers back up that comparison.

In La Liga last season, Sørloth scored 20 goals in 35 appearances, a remarkable tally that underlines his development into one of Europe’s most reliable finishers.

Alexander Sørloth – La Liga – 2024/25

Matches

35

Minutes

1,566

Goals

20

Assists

2

Progressive Carries

32

Progressive Passes

31

The advanced metrics paint an even clearer picture of his value: according to FBref, he ranks in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.90), 97th for total shots per 90 (4.29), and 94th for aerials won per 90 (5.05).

Far from being just a target man, Sørloth also excels in his movement inside the penalty area, ranking in the 93rd percentile for touches in the opposition box.

This blend of attributes would address one of Newcastle’s most glaring issues.

Against Villa, Howe’s side controlled large periods of the game but lacked the cutting edge to make their dominance count.

With Isak unavailable for selection, there was no focal point to convert their possession into clear chances.

Sørloth, who already played at St James’ Park this summer in a pre-season friendly, could provide precisely that.

For Newcastle supporters, the prospect of Sørloth evokes memories of Carroll, who embodied the traditional number nine spirit with his strength, aerial ability, and goalscoring instinct.

Across two spells at the club, Carroll made 134 appearances, scoring 34 goals and adding 26 assists.

His big-money move to Liverpool in 2011 highlighted just how much Newcastle relied on his presence at the time.

Sørloth is not a like-for-like replacement, but the comparison is clear. Both men stand at virtually the same height, both are capable of bullying defenders, and both bring a blend of physicality and technical competence.

Where Carroll was at times let down by injuries, Sørloth has shown resilience in rebuilding his career after early setbacks.

His resurgence in Spain suggests he could thrive in the right system, and Eddie Howe’s structured, attacking side might be the perfect environment.

There is also a strategic angle.

Newcastle’s summer recruitment has been careful, even cautious, reflecting the club’s need to stay within the boundaries of the Premier League’s financial regulations.

Having already brought in Jacob Ramsey, Anthony Elanga, Malick Thiaw, and Aaron Ramsdale, the addition of a proven goalscorer would bring balance to the squad.

Sørloth, available for a fraction of the fee Isak might command, would also represent value in a market where reliable strikers are scarce.

But above all, Sørloth’s candidacy illustrates Newcastle’s willingness to adapt.

Their pursuit of Wissa and Strand Larsen indicates they are exploring different striker types: mobile forwards who press aggressively, and more traditional target men who can hold up play.

Sørloth sits firmly in the latter camp, a player who could give Howe a tactical alternative while easing the transition away from Isak. Whether he is the long-term solution or a stop-gap remains to be seen, but the logic is hard to ignore.

Newcastle’s aspirations extend beyond domestic stability; they are preparing for another European campaign and require depth to compete on multiple fronts.

Sørloth offers something they currently lack: presence, pedigree, and proven productivity at the top level.

Their answer to Guehi: Newcastle weigh up late move to sign £30m "monster"

Newcastle aren’t just looking at forwards as the transfer window enters the final stretch.

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 24, 2025

Manchester United are set for a new era under Ruben Amorim, with the hierarchy backing the manager in his quest for success during the off-season.

He’s already spent around £200m on new additions, largely having to work with the players signed by former boss Erik ten Hag – who was sacked back in October last year.

The Dutchman led the side to third place in the Premier League back in his first year, but his £600m spending spree was ultimately a failure, which saw various talents fail to impress at the club.

Lisandro Martínez and Antony are just two players who followed the former boss from Ajax in the summer of 2022, costing a staggering £142m combined – with the latter set to leave this summer for nearly a third of his original fee.

However, Amorim may be about to repeat the dealings made by Ten Hag at Old Trafford this window, especially if one player makes the move to join the Red Devils.

Man Utd plot move for Carlos Baleba alternative

In an attempt to bolster the midfield department, Brighton star Carlos Baleba has emerged as a key target for United between now and the end of the transfer window.

Whilst he still remains a viable option for the Red Devils, his current £100m price tag could prove to be too much given the recent business, with other talents needing to be considered in due course.

As a result, a shortlist of alternatives have been drawn up by the hierarchy, which has seen Feyenoord star Quinten Timber being considered, according to FootballTransfers.

Their report claims that Amorim’s men are closely monitoring a move for the 24-year-old, who made 26 appearances across all competitions, helping the club win the Dutch Super Cup.

It also states that his current employers, who are managed by former United star Robin van Persie, are open to allowing the midfielder to leave, should they receive an acceptable offer for his services.

Why Timber would be another Ten Hag-esque signing

Despite previously holding talks to land Baleba over the last couple of weeks, a deal between now and the September 1st deadline could appear to be unlikely.

His staggering asking price would see United fork out a club-record fee for the 21-year-old, surpassing the £89m they paid for Paul Pogba back in the summer of 2016.

Ahead of the first Premier League matchday of the 2025/26 season, Seagulls boss Fabian Hürzeler has spoken about Baleba’s future at the club and a potential move away from the AMEX.

He stated that he’s extremely confident the player will stay beyond the summer, which could see the Red Devils go on and pursue a move to land Timber from Feyenoord.

There’s no denying that the Dutchman would be a cheaper signing, but he could also prove to be a better addition if he can replicate his recent form from the Eredivisie.

When comparing their respective stats from the 2024/25 campaign, the Dutchman managed to outperform Baleba in various key areas, potentially handing the manager a better option at the heart of the side.

Timber, who’s been labelled “superb” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, showcased his excellent ability in possession, completing more key passes per 90, with more which being into the opposition’s box – handing the new attacking trio a chance to impress this season.

He also dominated the Cameroonian out of possession, registering more tackles per 90, whilst winning more of the dispossession attempts he entered – offering the ball-winning presence the boss craves.

His aerial ability is also far superior compared to the Brighton star, having the talent to be a needed presence at both ends of the pitch when called upon.

It’s unclear how much the Dutch outfit are currently demanding for Timber’s signature, but it’s clear that he’s a sensational talent who could provide a bargain solution to the midfield issue.

However, caution must also be taken by the Red Devils hierarchy in the coming weeks, needing to take their previous dealings from the Ten Hag era into account before making an official approach.

As previously mentioned, the additions the former boss made from the Dutch top division have so far proved unsuccessful, which would undoubtedly present questions over a move for Timber should he wear the club’s red shirt in 2025/26.

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Manchester United are preparing a move for a new midfielder and it’s not Carlos Baleba.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 15, 2025

Liverpool target Alexander Isak is extremely likely to leave Newcastle United if the Magpies secure a deal for Benjamin Sesko in the coming days, according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.

There have been all sorts of conflicting reports flying around regarding Liverpool’s move for Isak, after the Reds’ first formal offer was officially submitted on Friday.

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ByAngus Sinclair Jul 29, 2025

A bid in the region of £110m was swiftly rejected by Newcastle, and news soon followed that Liverpool would not make another attempt at a deal this summer, such was the firmness of Newcastle’s stance.

However, things have since changed with the news that RB Leipzig star Sesko has chosen Newcastle instead of Manchester United, with reports from Slovenia on Friday evening all but confirming St James’ Park will be his next destination after the Magpies submitted a bid worth €75m (£65.5m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons.

Downie: Liverpool set to make improved bid for Isak

David Ornstein revealed on Saturday that while Isak is set to return to training, Liverpool’s interest remains “ongoing”, and Downie has added further fuel to the fire in a YouTube video this weekend.

Speaking on his personal channel in a video detailing the latest news around Sesko, Downie commented on the Sweden star’s future, and it certainly sounds like good news for those in Merseyside.

Commenting on Isak’s return to pre-season training, Sky’s North East reporter added more confirmation that an exit is only a matter of time.

Liverpool’s business this summer has been remarkable, already spending over £250m on Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, but the sale of Luis Diaz and probable exit of Darwin Nunez means they are still one striker short.

Non penalty goals per 90 – 0.62

88th percentile

Assists per 90 – 0.20

77th percentile

Shot creating actions per 90 – 3.00

84th percentile

Pass completion – 75.3%

77th percentile

Successful take-ons per 90 – 1.37

92nd percentile

Aerial duels won per 90 – 0.85

17th percentile

Speaking about Isak ahead of his side’s return from their pre-season tour in South Korea, Eddie Howe admitted the situation is complicated: “I was made aware there was a bid yesterday. That bid was turned down before I heard about it. There are people back in England dealing with the situation.

“I really don’t know what is going to happen next but, from our perspective, we still support Alex in every way and my wish is still that we see him in a Newcastle shirt again.

“The situation is far from ideal. It is quite complex. I think that is all I have got to say.”

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.

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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By
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Jul 23, 2025

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.

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.

تأكد غياب لاعب جديد عن صفوف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك في مباراة الجونة المقبلة في مسابقة الدوري الممتاز، بسبب تراكم البطاقات الصفراء.

ويستعد الزمالك للقاء الجونة المقرر له يوم الثلاثاء المقبل على ستاد القاهرة الدولي في الجولة الثامنة لمسابقة الدوري الممتاز.

طالع| الزمالك يفقد خدمات لاعبه أمام الجونة في الدوري المصري

وحصل خوان بيزيرا على البطاقة الصفراء الثالثة في مباراة الإسماعيلي التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم في مسابقة الدوري، ليغيب أمام الجونة رسميًا.

كما تأكد غياب محمود بنتايج عن مواجهة الجونة، في الجولة الثامنة، بعد حصوله على الإنذار الثالث أمام الإسماعيلي.

وفاز الزمالك على نظيره الإسماعيلي، بهدفين دون رد، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم الخميس على استاد هيئة قناة السويس في الجولة السابعة لمسابقة الدوري الممتاز.

England 358 (Smith 111, Brook 56, Asitha 4-102) and 205 for 5 (Root 62*) beat Sri Lanka 236 (Dhananjaya 74, Rathnayake 72) and 326 (Kamindu 113, Chandimal 79) by five wicketsJoe Root provided the calm head for a crisis, while Jamie Smith capped a Player-of-the-Match-winning performance with a vital late injection of impetus, as England overcame a spirited Sri Lanka display with bat and ball to seal a five-wicket win in the first Test, late on the fourth afternoon at Emirates Old Trafford.The victory made it four out of four in the 2024 summer to date, following July’s 3-0 win over West Indies, but as had sometimes been the case in that series, England were not allowed to dictate terms with the authority that they might have envisaged at the halfway stage of the match.Thanks to a sublime century from Kamindu Mendis, the bulk of which came in a 117-run stand with Dinesh Chandimal that spanned the entirety of the morning session, Sri Lanka were able to post a taxing target of 205 for victory.And when a bowling display led once again by Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya picked off each of the top three inside the first 16 overs of the chase, it required England to swallow their Bazball pride to chisel a path to victory at an unusually sedate rate of 3.58 an over.Sedate, that is, until Smith got into his stride. Though fresh from his maiden century in the first innings, when Smith strode out to replace Harry Brook with the chase still in the balance at 119 for 4, he found himself pitched into a pressure situation unlike anything he’d yet surmounted in his short career.Jamie Smith drags one into the leg side•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Smith’s defensive technique soon proved up to the challenge as he crept along to six from his first 26 balls, in which period England went 14.4 overs, spread across a full hour, between boundaries: an uncommonly fallow passage of play for this regime. But then, after cracking back-to-back boundaries through the leg-side off Jayasuriya, the shackles were off. A subsequent six bounced off down an access tunnel and onto the concourse, and he added two further hooks for four off Vishwa Fernando to send Sri Lanka’s pressure scattering, before Asitha castled him with a superb inswinger for 39 from 48.By then, England needed just 22 to win, and with the evening light holding up well despite the torrential rain that had dogged much of the rest of the country, Root and Chris Woakes did the needful shortly after 7.15pm, with Root notching the 96th half-century of his career before blazing the winning boundary over long-on… though not before attempting to seal the deal with a miscued scoop into his grille – a final flourish that proved the team’s prescribed ethos may have been dormant on this occasion, but it won’t be kept down indefinitely.England’s target may have been surprisingly stiff, but they would have been chasing significantly more had it not been for a disciplined docking of Sri Lanka’s tail by England’s seamers, armed with the second new ball, shortly after lunch. In losing their final four wickets in the space of 26 balls, including the last three for five in ten, Sri Lanka’s innings ended much as it had begun (on first day and third), but up until that point, their seventh-wicket stand had all but turned the contest completely on its head.Between Kamindu, who recorded his third hundred in the space of four Tests, and Chandimal, who was last man out for 79 despite having retired hurt on the third afternoon, Sri Lanka transformed their match prospects, and with scarcely a moment of alarm across their 30-over alliance.Related

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Having let a promising position slip with the ball on the third morning, Sri Lanka’s focus was unwavering as the pair resumed on 204 for 6, with a slender lead of 82. They had more than doubled that advantage before Gus Atkinson prised out Kamindu for 113 shortly after lunch, to create an opening that Woakes and Matthew Potts were primed to pile through.From the outset, England’s problems had been compounded by the absence of their fastest bowler, Mark Wood. He left the field after feeling a twinge in his right thigh on Friday evening, and may now be a doubt for the rest of the series.There had been some controversy overnight about the advantageous nature of a ball-change after the 41st over that allowed England’s seamers to obtain significant swing on the third evening. However, after 20 further overs of wear and tear, there was little lateral movement on show as Kamindu seized on a hint of width in Woakes’ first over to flash his first boundary of the day through point.That set the tone for a proactive half-hour, with Chandimal following his partner’s lead as he built on his overnight 20 not out. The fact that he was there at all was remarkable, given the gruesome blow to the thumb that Wood had inflicted on the third afternoon. He had retired hurt on 10, but after an X-ray had given him the all-clear, returned with no ill-effects, although he did later relinquish the wicketkeeping duties, with Kusal Mendis taking over behind the stumps.Kamindu Mendis celebrates his third Test hundred•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Pope rang the changes for England, but none of them had any answer to a burgeoning stand. Kamindu came into this contest with an average in excess of 100 after two centuries and an unbeaten 92 in his three previous Tests, and the range of his strokeplay was apparent in back-to-back boundaries off Atkinson, driven and pulled respectively, plus a ruthless eye for anything loose from the spin of Bashir.Neither a 30-minute rain delay in the second hour of the morning, nor a brief sighting of the new ball before the interval could disrupt Kamindu’s focus, as he rushed through to his third Test hundred with a decisive slash through deep third off Woakes, to send England into lunch with a real battle on their hands.Their immediate prospects after the resumption didn’t look much better. Kamindu surged onto the offensive after the break with a trio of off-side boundaries as Atkinson struggled with his line, but after an intervention from Pope, he switched to round the wicket with instant success. Kamindu fenced at the new angle, shaping into his left-handed stance, and Root at first slip held on a sharp low chance.Atkinson was immediately yanked from the attack, with Potts adding his second of the innings courtesy of a juggled take from Brook at second slip, who parried Jayasuriya’s punch off the back foot, but recovered well to snaffle the rebound. Potts celebrated with a pat of his fluttering heart, having watched two key chances go down during his excellent but under-rewarded spell on day three.Woakes added his third when Vishwa Fernando played down the wrong line to be struck in front of middle and leg, and though Chandimal attempted to cut loose with only Asitha for company, the substitute fielder Harry Singh stayed cool at deep cover to end a superbly gutsy innings.England’s reply so nearly got off to a disastrous start when, on 2, Ben Duckett jabbed his third delivery down the leg-side, to be brilliantly caught by Kusal in his outstretched right glove. However, in an echo of Duckett’s reprieve against Mitchell Starc in last year’s Ashes, the decision was overturned because Kusal’s palm was pushing the ball into the ground as he completed the catch.Dan Lawrence launched a huge straight six off Prabath Jayasuriya•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Asitha was the unlucky bowler, but he made amends in superb fashion in his third over, flipping the shiny side of his swinging new ball to graze a more regulation edge through to Kusal, as Duckett played for the inswinger that had done him in in the first innings.Dan Lawrence, by this stage, had launched Jayasuriya for a wonderfully clean straight six, but in his unfamiliar role as opener, his frailties outside off were consistently probed, not least by Asitha, whose command of seam and swing once again made him the pick of Sri Lanka’s attack.It was Jayasuriya who made the next breakthrough, however, as Pope – familiarly skittish at the start of his innings – climbed into a reverse-sweep on a deliberate leg-stump line, but managed only to toe-end a simple chance to Dhananjaya de Silva at slip for his second score of 6 in the match. And when Lawrence, on 34, was pinned lbw by a nip-backer soon afterwards, England had slipped to a dangerous scoreline of 70 for 3.Root’s and Brook’s response was to bed in for an old-school rebuilding job, adding 49 for the fourth wicket at a rate of less than 3.4 an over – a reflection both of Sri Lanka’s disciplined attack, but also of the relative lack of depth in England’s batting in the absence of Ben Stokes.Jayasuriya maintained his restrictive line from over the wicket, frequently tempting Brook to sweep his way through a packed field behind square, and England could have been four-down before lunch had the substitute fielder Ramesh Mendis clung on his outstretched right hand at backward square, when Brook had just 4 to his name.However, it was Jayasuriya’s reversion to round the wicket that prised the next opening. On 32, Brook failed to account for the drift back into his stumps, and chipped a toe-ended drive back to the bowler, whose catch was upheld despite Root’s initial belief that the ball had again been grounded – a stance that earned him a hard stare from Kusal as the replay flashed up on the big screen.With 86 more needed, then, out came Smith. His selection ahead of Ben Foakes had been largely a consequence of Foakes’ perceived limitations as an attacking batter, particularly when marshalling the tail. But here was the polar opposite challenge: an onus on defence, to provide a trusty sidekick to England’s most admirable and obdurate matchwinner.Smith duly proved worthy of the task, and more. But it was Root – his senior status all the more towering in Stokes’ absence – who was England’s main man in the final analysis.

Luke Hollman’s career-best 5 for 16 in the format to no avail at Lord’s

ECB Reporters Network20-Jun-2024 Surrey 185 for 9 (Curran 48, Evans 41, Hollman 5-16) beat Middlesex 129 for 8 (Davies 35, Abbott 5-18) by 56 runsSean Abbott’s 5 for 18, including wickets with successive balls led the way as Surrey crushed London rivals Middlesex by 56 runs at Lord’s to return to the top of the South Group table.The Aussie seamer mixed slower balls with great yorkers to expose the home side’s fragile batting and ensure they were never in the hunt for a victory target of 186.Abbott’s wasn’t the only five-wicket haul of the night with Luke Hollman taking a career-best 5-16 in the format, including three in one over, but Tom Curran (48 from 28) and Laurie Evans (41 from 20) steered Surrey to a challenging 185 for 9 despite the Middlesex leg-spinner’s heroics.For Middlesex defeat was their 13th in a row at home in the Blast, a run now stretching back more than two years.Dom Sibley, dropped on nought by Martin Andersson, soon departed lbw for 5 after Surrey were invited to bat, but thereafter Dan Lawrence and Laurie Evans dominated the remainder of the powerplay for the visitors.Evans was particularly belligerent, upper-cutting one from Henry Brookes over the ropes before bludgeoning Tom Helm over mid-on for a second six. Lawrence was more classical, creaming one for four through the covers and cutting to good effect.The introduction of Hollman though changed the landscape. The leg-spinner began the fightback, pinning Evans lbw attempting to sweep one off the stumps before causing skipper Ollie Pope to sky one to extra cover in his next over.He wasn’t done there producing a trio of wickets in his third over – and it might have been more. Lawrence found the hands of Helm at long-on, while Rory Burns should have been stumped first ball, Jack Davies fumbling the chance, but the wicketkeeper atoned two balls later when Surrey’s red-ball skipper was undone by a googly. And Hollman capped a magical over, trapping Jamie Smith, a man with a strike-rate of 210 this season, lbw.The Brown caps had stumbled to 106 for 6, but Curran remained and counter-attacked fiercely. Three times the allrounder cleared the ropes with Brookes the bowler to suffer most, though the former Warwickshire quick gained some recompense when Curran holed out two short of 50 in the last over.Chasing 186, Andersson perished early caught in the deep off Abbott and when he removed Stephen Eskinazi and Holden with the last two balls of the powerplay, the latter for a first-ball duck, undone by a yorker, the rate was already over 10.Leus Du Plooy, recovered from a virus, fell in the next over to Curran and the hosts, dismissed for a worst ever score of 78 in the format nine days earlier, were staring at defeat once more at 41 for 4.Davies (35) cracked Abbott’s hat-trick ball through mid-on for four, but the usually explosive Ryan Higgins was trapped in front later in the over.At the other end, Curran was forced out of the attack after being struck on the arm, but Hollman was unable to repeat his heroics with the ball bat in hand and Davies became Abbott’s fifth victim as the visitors won comfortably.