What started as a rather miserable summer with the sacking of Ange Postecoglou has turned into what could be a brilliant one for Tottenham Hotspur.

Thomas Frank has a massive task ahead of him both domestically and on the continent next season, but Daniel Levy and Co appear intent on giving him what he needs.

After making the required signing of another young prospect in Japanese defender Kota Takai, the North Londoners made the massive £55m purchase of Mohammed Kudus.

The former West Ham United star is undoubtedly going to add something special to Frank’s attack, and now the club appear likely to land another Premier League star who’d be his dream ten.

Tottenham Hotspur target Premier League stars

In an understandable bid to improve their terrible domestic form ahead of next season, Spurs have seemingly made a concrete effort to target players who did exceptionally well in the Premier League last season.

Transfer Focus

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

One of those is Yoane Wissa, who, according to reports, could be available for around £50m.

That might sound like a lot for a 28-year-old Brentford player, but with 20 goals and five assists to his name in 39 appearances last season, he’d be more than worth the outlay.

That said, being a centre-forward, he is obviously not the target who could be Kudus’ dream ten; that tag goes to Morgan Gibbs-White.

Yes, in what is now turning into the latest transfer saga involving the North Londoners, a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Spurs have maintained their desire to sign the Nottingham Forest star.

The Italian journalist has claimed that, despite the Tricky Trees threatening legal action following the Lilywhites’ activation of the Englishman’s £60m release clause, the club remain confident that they will get their man.

That’s undoubtedly due to the player’s desire to make a move happen, with journalist Graeme Bailey also reporting that Gibbs-White has told Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis that he wishes to sign for Spurs. That’s despite interest from Manchester City.

Indeed, earlier in the window, it was reported that the Citizens have been working on a deal to sign the creative midfielder this summer and had allegedly already agreed on personal terms. Yet, they have preferred other options up to this point, namely new signing Rayan Cherki.

This deal would represent a serious financial commitment from the Europa League champions, but given Gibbs-White’s form last season, it’d be one worth making, especially as he’d be a dream ten for Kudus.

Why Gibbs-White would be a dream ten for Kudus

While there are several reasons why Gibbs-White would be a dream number ten for Kudus, one of the most crucial is simply his output.

For example, in just 34 appearances last season, totalling 2824 minutes, the “exceptional” midfielder, as dubbed by Pep Guardiola, scored seven goals and provided ten assists.

That means he averaged a goal involvement every other game, or one every 166.11 minutes, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that Forest only scored 58 goals in the league.

Appearances

34

Minutes

2824

Goals

7

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.5

Minutes per Goal Involvement

166.11′

Just imagine then how many goals and assists the former Irons star could amass playing alongside someone that creative and effective.

Moreover, when we take a look at the 25-year-old’s underlying numbers, we can see some of the ways in which he could get the ball up to his potential future teammate.

For example, FBref ranked him in the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers for passes into the final third in the Premier League last season, and the top 9% for through balls, per 90, demonstrating exactly why some analysts believe that he is a “monster” in transitional phases of play.

Finally, it’s easy to overlook the simple fact that the Stafford-born ace is already proven in the league, so there should be little need for a bedding-in period, and therefore, he could start providing chances for the Ghanaian international from day one.

Ultimately, it will be an expensive deal, but Spurs look to be onto a winner with Gibbs-White, especially in tandem with Kudus.

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ByEthan Lamb Jul 14, 2025

Have West Ham United reinvested the money that they gained from selling Declan Rice to Arsenal in 2023 well? They made over £100m from that sale, and whilst they have signed plenty of big-name players since then, including the now-departed Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta, they have yet to have a better season than when Rice was in their midfield.

Of course, losing your captain to a London rival is never going to be an easy pill to swallow. However, they have spent money on two midfielders since his departure, namely Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, and signed Guido Rodriguez for free and Kalvin Phillips on a brief loan.

Yet, there still feels like a Rice-shaped hole in the midfield for the Hammers. Perhaps that will change this summer.

West Ham’s latest midfield target

It has certainly been a frustrating time for the Hammers when it comes to replacing their captain, and an England starter. Rice’s influence in the middle of the park has certainly been missed as they slowly slide down the table.

Transfer Focus

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

However, a report from Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via Sport Witness, suggests that the Hammers may have found the man to finally replace Rice, in the form of Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz. The report states that the Hammers have actually made a loan bid with an option to buy the Brazilian.

Indeed, the option to buy the 27-year-old could become obligatory if certain conditions are met. Luiz, who earns £138k-per-week according to Capology, would cost the Hammers £8.6m ahead of the loan.

They’d then need to pay a further £26m if he ends up moving to the London Stadium permanently.

Why Luiz would be a good signing

Despite a tough campaign for Juve in the 2024/25 season, with the midfielder constantly out of favour under a couple of managers, his quality is undeniable. He has already had success in the Premier League with Aston Villa.

His single season playing for the Old Lady so far certainly did not go to plan. He only made 27 appearances last term in all competitions, without scoring or assisting. The former Villa star notched up just 877 minutes, the equivalent of only 9.7 full 90-minute games.

Despite the outrageously low number of minutes played for Juve to date, Luiz certainly has the mettle to play in the Premier League. He racked up 204 Villa appearances, scoring 22 goals and registering 24 assists in that time. Statman Dave described him as a midfield “engine”, which is certainly what the Hammers are looking for.

Stepping into the shoes of Rice at the London Stadium will not be an easy task for Luiz. Let’s not forget just how much of an iconic figure the former Hammers captain is at the club.

He lifted the Conference League as captain in 2022/23, just weeks before he left.

In total, the London-born midfielder played 245 times for the East Londoners, scoring 15 goals, including this solo effort in their run to the Conference League final. Chelsea and England legend John Terry described him as “the best in his position in world football” back in 2021.

So, for former winger turned pundit Jermaine Pennant to claim that Luiz “can do everything that Rice can do and better” shows just how good of a midfielder he is. Indeed, there are stats which back up this bold claim from the former Liverpool winger.

Looking at numbers on FBref from 2023/24, Luiz’s last season in the Premier League, there are some standout stats. For example, that season he averaged 5.53 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, compared to 4.97 each game from Rice, while providing more of an impact in terms of goal contributions.

Luiz and Rice key stats 2023/24 PL season compared
Stat (per 90)	Luiz	Rice
Goals and assists	0.42	0.35
Pass accuracy	85.7%	83.4%
Passes into penalty area	1.17	1.11
Blocks	0.96	0.86
Ball recoveries	5.53	4.97
Stats from FBref

Signing Luiz on a loan deal with an option to buy him could be the dream move for West Ham. He is proven in the Premier League, and perhaps better, whisper it quietly, than Rice, a player they have struggled to replace over the last two years.

This relatively risk-free move could be ideal for the Hammers to help strengthen in midfield and climb back up the table.

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By
Kelan Sarson

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A group called “Shakibians” demanded Shakib be reinstated in the Test squad, but was chased away by another group

Mohammad Isam20-Oct-2024

Security officials stand guard outside the Shere Bangla National Stadium•Rakib Hasan

A clash broke out between pro-Shakib Al Hasan and anti-Shakib Al Hasan groups outside the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday, the day before the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa.A group called “Shakibians” chanted slogans, demanding Shakib be reinstated in the Test squad, but was chased away by another group in the presence of security forces. All this while the South Africans were training inside the stadium. There were no injuries reported, but the Dhaka-based said that security forces had detained one person.Until this clash, the two sets of protesters – those who want Shakib to get a chance to play a farewell Test series and those who are politically opposed to Shakib, who was a member of the Awami League party whose government was overthrown in August – had carried out their protests separately.Related

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Shakib had been picked in Bangladesh’s squad for the first Test against South Africa last Wednesday, but a day later, a group called Mirpur Chhatra Janata (a student body) sent the BCB a letter demanding his removal from the squad. Things moved quickly after that. Shakib told ESPNcricinfo on Thursday that he wouldn’t be traveling to Bangladesh for the game. The BCB withdrew him from the team the following day, with sports adviser Asif Bhuiyan confirming that he had told Shakib not to travel to Bangladesh because of security concerns.Shakib’s fans gathered outside the Shere Bangla for the first time on Friday, demanding his reinstatement in the Test squad. They repeated the protests on Sunday, though this time they were barricaded by security forces.Shakib, a globetrotting cricketer, lives primarily in New York City, and hasn’t been in Bangladesh since May this year. At the time of the anti-government protests, which led to the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina (Awami League) government, Shakib – a member of parliament from the party at the time – was in Canada taking part in Global T20 Canada. Prior to that, he was in the USA for Major League Cricket and, since then, he has played Test cricket in Pakistan and India apart from playing one game for Somerset in the County Championship.

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، التطورات الجديدة في ملف مفاوضات النادي الأهلي مع البرتغالي برونو لاج لتولي مهمة القيادة الفنية لفريق الكرة بالقلعة الحمراء خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وترددت أنباء أن الأهلي يرغب وبقوة في التعاقد مع برونو لاج ليصبح الأخير هو المدير الفني الجديد للمارد الأحمر خلفًا لخوسيه ريبيرو المقال من منصبه.

الأهلي أقال ريبيرو من منصبه كمدير فني للفريق خلال شهر أغسطس الماضي، في ظل سوء نتائج الفريق وتراجع الأداء، مختتمًا مسيرته بالهزيمة أمام بيراميدز في الدوري المصري.

وقال أحمد شوبير في تصريحات إذاعية عبر أثير “أون سبورت إف إم”: “برونو لاج المدرب البرتغالي نعم حصل تفاوض بينه وبين الأهلي، وحصل كلام، وحصل تقارب، ولكن لا يزال هناك بعض نقاط الخلاف، لكن التفاوض مستمر”.

وأردف: “لم يصلوا إلى اتفاق نهائي، وأنا أقول لك معلومة دقيقة، لكن التفاوض قوي، وكان هذا التفاوض حتى أمس أو أول أمس على الأكثر، وكان تفاوضًا جديًا وقويًا، ولديّ التفاصيل الكاملة، لكن احترامًا للمصدر، سأقتصر على ما قلته”.

طالع | أحمد شوبير: الخطيب لم يحسم موقفه من الترشح لرئاسة الأهلي.. ويكشف أبرز المرشحين لخلافته

وأكمل: “الرجل هناك ينتظر رد النادي الأهلي، وبرونو لاج عرض كل طلباته، والأمور كانت قريبة جدًا بين الطرفين، فهم ينتظرون الرد النهائي من الأهلي بشأن الطلبات التي طرحها الرجل والتي تحدث عنها”.

Heung-min Son’s departure from Tottenham Hotspur was confirmed on Wednesday night, closing the curtain on what has been an incredible decade at the club for the South Korean.

He joined the Lilywhites from Bayer Leverkusen back in 2015, with no supporter able to predict the successful spell enjoyed in the first team in North London.

The forward made over 450 appearances for the club, scoring 173 times, a tally that puts him fourth in the club’s all-time highest goalscoring list – joining former teammate Harry Kane in the top five.

However, it was undoubtedly the perfect time to depart the club, helping them end their 17-year wait for a trophy by claiming the Europa League title last season.

There’s no doubt he will be a huge miss, leaving a huge hole in the attacking department, which could see boss Thomas Frank delve into the transfer market in the coming days.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Real Madrid star Rodrygo has been strongly touted with a move to join Spurs this summer, after he was made available for transfer by new boss Xabi Alonso.

It’s been reported in recent days that the Lilywhites are preparing an opening offer to land the 24-year-old, who scored 14 times for the Spanish giants last season.

However, he’s not the only Brazilian currently on their radar, with Manchester City star Savinho a player they’re considering, according to GIVEMESPORT.

Their report claims no bid has yet been made for the 21-year-old, but Frank’s side have held internal talks for the forward, who registered 14 combined goals and assists in 2024/25.

It also states the player may fall down the pecking order at the Etihad throughout the upcoming campaign, which could see the attacker, who’s valued at £61m by FootballTransfers, depart Pep Guardiola’s side.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be the perfect Son & Kulu hybrid

Despite Son’s departure from Spurs, new boss Frank will be hoping to rely upon Dejan Kulusevski within the final third this season, with the Swede able to continue his tremendous form from the 2024/25 campaign.

The 25-year-old has had injury struggles in recent times and is expected to miss the start of the new campaign, but could prove to be a vital option if the side are to rise up the table in the near future.

The Swede registered 21 combined goals and assists in his 50 outings for the club last season, subsequently offering a versatile option within the attacking areas for the Lilywhites.

He can operate off either flank or in a number 10 position, something which could prove to be useful after it was confirmed James Maddison needed surgery on his ACL injury.

Savinho could also prove to be another key option, having similar levels of adaptability, able to feature across the frontline, which could see him be a suitable replacement for the outgoing South Korean.

He’s been labelled as a similar player to both Son and Kulusevski by FBref, managing to outperform the pair in numerous key areas – showcasing why he’d be such an excellent addition this window.

Savinho, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by current boss Guardiola, completed more passes into the opposition box per 90, along with a higher tally of key passes – showcasing the creativity he possesses in attacking areas.

Games played

29

30

32

Goals & assists

9

16

11

Pass accuracy

81%

78%

73%

Key passes made

2.5

2.1

2.4

Passes into the 18-yard box

2.4

2.1

1.9

Progressive carries

7.1

4.1

4.3

Shot-creating actions

5.7

5.1

4.8

Take-on success

46%

34%

32%

Carries into the 18-yard box

3.8

1.8

1.5

Crosses completed

4.3

3.3

3.3

He also notched more progressive carries per 90, with more of his dribbles with the ball going into the 18-yard box, adding another direct option to Frank’s already potent front line.

The Brazilian achieved a better take-on success rate and completed more crosses per 90, arguably being the perfect blend of the departed Son and current first-team star Kulusevski.

It’s unclear how much City would be demanding to part ways with the 21-year-old this summer, but it’s clear that he would be an excellent option for Frank in his quest for success in North London.

If he can replicate the levels produced by the aforementioned duo at the Lilywhites, he will certainly be a fan favourite and one that can add a new dimension to the club’s attacking department.

The next Maddison: Spurs preparing approach for "exceptional" £22m talent

Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a move for a new attacking midfielder for Thomas Frank.

1 ByEthan Lamb Aug 6, 2025

Manchester United are honing in on targets to strengthen under Ruben Amorim and could now turn to a star with top-flight pedigree to put pressure on Andre Onana between the sticks, per a report.

Manchester United narrow down hunt for new additions

Without a doubt, news that Manchester United have narrowed down their striker shortlist to Benjamin Sesko or Ollie Watkins has sparked mass debate among supporters over who would be the best fit for their forward line.

Speaking on the Devils’ Advocate podcast, Gaz Drinkwater believes Sesko would need to prove himself at Old Trafford, albeit he also noted he is a better alternative than Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee to fill the attacking void.

He stated: “He is absolutely better than what we have got, but whether he can transfer what he has done before into the Premier League is a totally different question.

“He is young as well – maybe we need a bit more experience up front. I’m not talking about someone like Jamie Vardy, but someone with a bit more experience I would like.”

Intriguingly, Manchester United had been known admirers of Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani. However, it now appears he won’t be headed for Old Trafford after successful loan spell at Juventus.

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Either way, addressing the need for a striker isn’t the only priority Amorim has to consider, especially when factoring in Andre Onana’s precarious position at the club.

Competition for places is key if Manchester United are to have a revival season after a dismal showing last term, and they may now have identified a candidate to push the Cameroon international for a starting slot.

Manchester United plotting surprise Nick Pope move

According to talkSPORT, Manchester United could turn to Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope in the event Aaron Ramsdale moves from Southampton to St James’ Park this window.

The latter is reportedly close to swapping the South Coast for the North East, leaving Pope ‘vulnerable’ as he enters the last year of his deal under Eddie Howe.

Nick Pope’s Premier League statistics – 2024/25 (FBRef)

Save percentage

71.7%

Matches played

28

Goals against

35

Post-shot expected goals against

34.8

Earning £60,000 per week at Newcastle, the 33-year-old is said to fit the ‘profile’ needed to offer a genuine challenge to Onana. Leeds United were also keen on the England international before they opted to sign Lucas Perri from Ligue 1 outfit Lyon.

Dubbed a “top-class goalkeeper” by Howe, Pope kept nine clean sheets in 32 appearances across all competitions last term, though he has caught fire for his distribution from a section of Magpies’ supporters.

Nevertheless, the former Burnley man is likely an affordable addition for Manchester United and still has plenty to offer in the Premier League should Amorim opt to roll the dice.

Alejandro Garnacho has already been left exhausted in Chelsea training as the former Manchester United star was spotted struggling for breath in one of his sessions. Garnacho fell out of favour under Ruben Amorim after his public clash with the manager following the club's Europa League final defeat to Tottenham last season. After being part of Amorim's 'bomb squad' this summer, the winger signed for the Blues.

Garnacho exhausted after a Chelsea training sessionCouldn't move his legsJoined Chelsea from United this summer Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Towards the end of the summer transfer window, Garnacho finally exited Old Trafford as he signed a seven-year contract with Chelsea after the two Premier League clubs agreed a deal worth a fixed £40 million fee ($54m) with a 10 per cent sell-on clause. The Argentine is now undergoing rigorous training, and after one such intense session at Cobham, Garnacho was left exhausted.

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Emerging through United’s youth academy, Garnacho made his senior debut for the club in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League in April 2022. He then became a regular in the first team, helping the club win the Carabao Cup in 2022-23 and the FA Cup in 2023-24 under Erik ten Hag’s stewardship. However, the Argentina international endured a difficult relationship with current United boss Amorim.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR GARNACHO?

Garnacho will hope to make his Chelsea debut once action resumes after the international break, although it's unclear just how fit he is. Enzo Maresca's side are scheduled to face Brentford on September 13.

Tottenham Hotspur have been on the hunt for a new attacking midfielder throughout the summer transfer window, but so far, their quest has been to no avail.

Morgan Gibbs-White appeared to be Thomas Frank’s main target earlier in the transfer window, even triggering the England international’s £60m release clause.

However, the Nottingham Forest star was also set for a medical before Evangelos Marinakis intervened and put the deal on hold, before the 25-year-old signed a new contract at the City Ground.

After missing out on his signature, the Lilywhites hierarchy have been hunting for added reinforcements to help bolster their Premier League ambitions in 2025/26.

Multiple players have since appeared on their radar, which could see numerous top-level talents make the switch to North London ahead of the new campaign.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

After missing out on Gibbs-White, Spurs have targeted Liverpool star Harvey Elliott in recent weeks, with the Englishman available for a fee in the region of £40m this summer.

However, they could also be about to miss out on the 22-year-old, after Bundesliga side RB Leipzig entered the race to prise him away from Anfield in recent days.

He’s not the only attacking midfielder currently on their radar, with Leicester City star Bilal El Khannouss a player the club are considering, according to Ben Jacobs.

He claims that the hierarchy are preparing an approach to land the Moroccan international, who made 32 appearances for the Foxes in the Premier League last season.

Jacobs also states that the 21-year-old has a £22m relegation release clause in his current contract, opening the door to a bargain deal for the Lilywhites this summer.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be their next Maddison

James Maddison has been Spurs’ main option in the number ten position over recent seasons, after he made a £40m transfer from Leicester City back in the summer of 2023.

The 28-year-old has registered 16 goals and 19 assists in his 75 appearances for the Lilywhites, with last campaign being his best since moving to North London.

However, his impact in 2025/26 could prove to be limited, after he suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the recent pre-season clash against Newcastle United.

Boss Frank confirmed that the injury could be a serious one, suffering another issue with the knee that caused him bother towards the back end of the previous season.

Their previous hunt for another talent in such a role showcases their ambitions of strengthening their squad, potentially turning to El Khannouss as a result of Maddison’s setback.

Any move for the Moroccan star would see a repeat of a deal for the Englishman, joining the Lilywhites from Leicester, before making a key impact in the first team.

He even managed to outperform Maddison in numerous key areas last season, undoubtedly one of the shining lights within the Foxes’ squad despite their relegation back to the Championship.

El Khannouss, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by analyst Ben Mattinson, posted a higher tally of progressive carries per 90, whilst completing more carries into the final third – handing Frank’s side an added threat with the ball at his feet.

He also managed to complete more key passes per 90, along with a higher tally of through balls per 90, subsequently able to register an end product to his mazy runs in attacking areas.

How El Khannouss & Maddison compare in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

El Khannouss

Maddison

Games played

33

31

Goals & assists

6

16

Progressive carries

2.9

2.2

Key passes made

2.7

2.1

Take-on success

57%

42%

Carries into final third

2.1

1.9

Aerials won

47%

41%

Through balls completed

0.9

0.6

Stats via FBref

The 21-year-old further bettered Maddison in terms of aerials won, an asset that would make him a tremendous all-round option for the Lilywhites ahead of 2025/26.

If he can replicate such talents in North London, he would be another excellent addition to the squad, following in Maddison’s footsteps of being a fan favourite after moving from Leicester.

His £22m release clause would make him a bargain addition, such a move handing the Moroccan the platform to improve massively in the years ahead, given his tender age.

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South Africa 308 (Verreynne 114, Mulder 54, Taijul 5-122) and 106 for 3 (De Zorzi 41, Stubbs 30*, Taijul 3-43) beat Bangladesh 106 (Mulder 3-22, Rabada 3-26, Maharaj 3-34) and 307 (Mehidy 97, Jaker 58, Rabada 6-46) by 7 wicketsSouth Africa have moved up to fourth place on the World Test Championship table after a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in Mirpur. They chased a target of 106 in 22 overs to seal victory before lunch on the fourth day after Kagiso Rabada finished the match with nine wickets.This was their first Test win in the subcontinent in 15 matches, dating back a decade to when they beat Sri Lanka in Galle in 2014.Aggression and intent was the tone of final exchanges South Africa hit 15 fours and two sixes, and ticked along at a shave under five runs an over. They lost three of their top four in pursuit but the batters were largely comfortable on unfamiliar surfaces and new No. 3, Tristan Stubbs, who was unbeaten on 30, impressed with his ability to adapt.Related

• Mehidy pulls up Bangladesh's top order after home Test defeat to South Africa

• Markram hopes Mirpur win will end South Africa's Asia hoodoo

With a small total to defend, Bangladesh opened the bowling with their sole seamer Hasan Mahmud and their most successful bowler of the first innings, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam. His first ball was a full toss, which Aiden Markram slashed through extra cover and the take down of Taijul had begun. Three balls later, Markram drove Taijul through the covers and in his next over, Tony de Zorzi took two boundaries off him.Hasan was more threatening upfront and drew an edge from de Zorzi, which fell short of second slip and Taijul thought he had a breakthrough when he had Markram given out lbw in the eighth over, on 13. Markram missed a sweep and was hit on the pad but reviewed straight away and replays showed he had under edged the ball.South Africa were undeterred by the incident and de Zorzi finished the over by sweeping Taijul past square leg for four more. The opening pair put on 42 inside 10 overs before Taijul finally had some success. He bowled Markram through the gate, with South Africa still 65 runs away.De Zorzi and Stubbs shared a stand of 29 in 32 balls and had settled well but de Zorzi became a little too ambitious. He advanced on Taijul to try and hit him out of the ground but dragged the ball to Hasan at long-on. Again, there was no slow-down. Stubbs took 10 runs off the rest of the over.David Bedingham was done by a good delivery from Taijul that turned away and took the edge and was dismissed with victory nine runs away. Taijul finished with match figures of 8 for 165, after a first-innings five-for.Earlier, South Africa needed just 4.5 overs to bowl Bangladesh out and keep their target to just over 100 after the hosts’ lower-middle order forced the match into a fourth day. Bangladesh’s lead grew to 81 on the third evening when they faced the second new ball for five overs as South Africa were forced to use spinners in fading light. That changed on the fourth morning. The second new ball was available and taken and it had an almost immediate impact.Rabada opened proceedings and his third ball seamed in to Nayeem Hasan and struck him on the front pad. Nayeem’s wicket gave Rabada a 15th Test five-for to cap off a memorable game in which he also took his 300th wicket.Mehidy moved into the 90s with a boundary off Wiaan Mulder but was tested by Rabada, who teased the outside edge and induced an aerial flick that was dropped by Tony de Zorzi. Bangladesh’s 300 came up when Taijul Islam hit Mulder through gully but his fun didn’t last long. Two balls later, he feathered one to second slip to leave Mehidy with the last batter.He was in a rush to get to his hundred and was on 97 when tried to ramp Rabada, but the length was not quite right and he steered the ball to slip instead. Rabada finished with 6 for 46. Bangladesh had added 24 runs to their overnight score and even if they felt they had something to bowl at, South Africa soon showed that was not enough.South Africa have played Tests in Bangladesh just twice in the last 16 years and both matches of their 2015 series were washed out. The last time they won a Test in the country was in 2008, when they won both matches by an innings. The second match in this series starts next Tuesday in Chattogram. Thereafter, South Africa have four home Tests, two each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. If they win at least four of their remaining five matches, they will be in with a good chance of getting to the WTC final.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, are bowing out of the competition with just a sole win

S Sudarshanan12-Oct-2024South Africa got the better of Bangladesh in Dubai to end the league stage of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 with six points and a net run rate of 1.382. It was the final game of the league stage for both teams, with Bangladesh bowing out of the competition with just a sole win.Both teams batted cautiously throughout. Bangladesh only managed to post 106 for 3 in 20 overs, the lowest total made by a side batting their full quota for a loss of three or fewer wickets in a T20 World Cup game. For a large part of the chase, South Africa barely scored at over a run a ball and finally completed their win with just 16 balls to spare; only Tazmin Brits (42 off 41)and Chloe Tryon (14 off 13) scored at a strike rate in excess of 100.Captain Laura Wolvaardt lost the toss but was happy to bat second to “control NRR while chasing”. At the end of the evening, though, South Africa’s net run rate dipped from 1.527 to 1.382, and they will be left watching nervously as England and West Indies complete their league fixtures over the next few days.Maximum intent, minimum runsYou could not fault Bangladesh’s batting approach after they chose to bat. They lost Dilara Akter in the first over, nibbling an edge to the wicketkeeper, but did not go into a shell. For starters, South Africa surprised many by keeping their fast bowlers on through the powerplay; spin came on only in the eighth over. Shathi Rani tried hard to break the shackles but to no avail. She walked down the track, skipped down, moved around in the crease but couldn’t find a boundary in the first six overs.She faced 23 balls and played out 18 dots. But she tried attacking shots in 11 of those balls. Rani tried to attack 50% of the balls she faced but had only one four and a six and a strike rate of 63.33 to show. Only Tazmin Brits attacked more balls (16) than Rani (15) in the entire match.Mostary and Nigar save face againWhen Rani holed out two balls after hitting her six – a whack over wide long-on, Bangladesh were only 36 for 2 in the eighth over. There was a danger of them finishing with a score under 100 for the second time in three games. But Sobhana Mostary and Nigar Sultana added 45 for the third wicket in 56 balls to help Bangladesh motor along, even if not threaten South Africa with a huge score. Boundaries were hard to come by and so was strike rotation. But they kept at it, and more importantly, frustrated South Africa by not crumbling.Sobhana Mostary hits one behind square•Getty ImagesThe bowlers tried hard and it was Nonkululeko Mlaba, who finally managed to get enough purchase from the pitch to beat a Mostary’s heave and bowl her. It was her ninth wicket in the competition, and she equalled Marizanne Kapp’s record for most wickets in a single edition of a T20 World Cup for South Africa. In the last two overs, Bangladesh managed to score 23 with Nigar hitting a four and running well between the wickets with Shorna Akter. The pair managed six doubles in the last two overs of the innings to help Bangladesh cross 100.Brits shoulders the South African chaseBrits got off to a fast start, hitting three fours in the first two overs as South Africa were 17 for 0 in two overs. Wolvaardt managed to flick one to the right of mid-on and beat deep midwicket to her left to open her boundary count, using her feet in a bid to put legspinner Fahima Khatun off. But Fahima managed to exact revenge next ball, lobbing one up and deceiving Wolvaardt in flight to get her stump.Nahida Akter managed to draw a few false strokes – including a leading edge off Brits – in the fourth over while Fahima beat Anneke Bosch twice with a slider. Brits and Bosch could not break free and the pressure almost did the trick for Bangladesh. But Fahima could not hang on to a simple offering at deep midwicket when Brits slogged one straight at her, and parried it away for four. Brits was on a run-a-ball 21 at that point. The next three overs went for 21 before Fahima came back to dismiss Bosch.By then, Brits had gotten in and South Africa were in control. So much so that even her dismissal in the 14th over did not send jitters in the South African camp. Kapp and Tryon added the finishing touches, even without much swag, to get the job done. South Africa have the points but they will be on the edge concerning their NRR, just the scenario they had set out to avoid when the game began.