Seven no-balls from Southern Punjab highlighted the ill-discipline in a bowling attack that never seriously threatened to defend 174
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2021
File photo – Abdullah Shafique plays a sweep•AFP via Getty Images
An ill-disciplined bowling performance from Southern Punjab saw Balochistan take full advantage, romping home by eight wickets to condemn Sohaib Maqsood’s side to their fifth straight defeat.Southern Punjab got off to the worst possible start, losing three wickets in the first four overs while managing little over a run a ball in that period. A quickfire half-century from Maqsood steadied the innings somewhat, but Umaid Asif and Junaid Khan continued to plug away, removing Hassan Khan and Khushdil Shah, among others, just when they began to look dangerous. Cameos from those two, however, and 25 off 12 from Aamer Yamin at the death helped take Southern Punjab to 174, something that appeared unlikely after the start SP had endured.However, it needed a bowling performance to match if SP were to hold Balochistan off for their first win, and they expressly didn’t get that. Among general sloppiness, there were seven no-balls – five from Dilbar Hussain in two overs that went for 35, and unlike SP’s struggles, Balochistan flew to 57 inside four overs. Abdul Bangalzai and Abdullah Shafique put on 84 for the first wicket, and, in effect, broke the back of the chase there and then. Bangalzai went on to score a half-century, while an unbeaten 35-ball 47 from Haris Sohail ensured SP were frozen out altogether. In the end, Balochistan’s ruthless batting display got them home with eight balls and eight wickets to spare, leaving SP staring elimination in the face.
Somerset’s quarter-final hero hoping to sign off with more silverware despite impending departure
Matt Roller12-Sep-2025Sean Dickson is a sports psychologist in training and does not have to look far to find a compelling case study for his second career.On Saturday night, Dickson walked out to play his final innings for Somerset at Taunton’s County Ground determined to prove the club’s management had made a mistake in not offering him a new contract; 43 minutes later, he walked off having dragged them to T20 Blast Finals Day almost single-handedly.”I was very clear on what I wanted to do: I wanted to sign off, and I wanted to sign off properly,” Dickson says. “It was a fire within me to go and prove that they’ve made the wrong decision, and I wanted to show them that… Normally, nerves are flowing, but I just took a deep breath, looked around, and just took it in for a bit. I set out to go and prove a point.”He proved it emphatically, hitting 71 not out off 26 balls. Somerset needed 33 off the last two overs, then 19 off the final five balls; Dickson took them across the line in four. “That was my best T20 innings,” he says. “Everyone wants to be in that position where they need to score 20 off the last over and hit sixes to win the end of the game… It’s quite nice to say I’ve done it.”Related
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Few would have seen it coming when Dickson, once a first-class triple-centurion with Kent, first signed for Somerset three years ago, ostensibly to strengthen their red-ball batting. He has struggled in the Championship, averaging 20.41, but his T20 record for Somerset is phenomenal: he averages 38.32 for them while maintaining a strike rate of 155.51.Somerset’s decision to let him go is not without logic, and Dickson acknowledges there is plenty of talent in the club’s “remarkable” academy. They have several promising young batters – including Tom Lammonby, Archie Vaughan, and James and Thomas Rew – and know that they need to offer them first-team cricket across formats to keep hold of them in the longer term.But he was clearly hurt by it nonetheless, describing the realisation that he would not be offered a deal as “heart-breaking”. He will instead spend the next two seasons at Glamorgan, who have effectively signed him as a replacement for Sam Northeast; the proximity will enable his young family to stay put in the south-west, where his eldest daughter recently started school.Dickson turned 34 last week and could have several years left ahead of him: during his time at London Spirit in the Hundred, he sought advice from coach Justin Langer on how he could become a “permanent player within the franchise system”. But he is already setting himself up for life after cricket, launching a sports psychology business early last year.His interest in the field started over a decade ago when he was diagnosed with generalised anxiety: “I just thought it was normal to have these situations where there was almost a dissociation from me being able to be in the present moment. It wasn’t.” He has since completed a masters in it, and is working towards his full accreditation.!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}})}();
He has worked primarily with young cricketers at Taunton School and in Somerset’s academy, along with his former Durham team-mate – and fellow South African – David Bedingham: “It’s not something that’s necessarily bringing in chunks of money, but it’s getting me to where I want to be from a transitional point of view once I decide to leave the game.”Dickson believes that conversations he had with James Franklin, the former New Zealand allrounder who he worked with at Durham, helped to change his mindset and unlock a new gear for him as a T20 player. “[We worked] on how you see situations. He harped on a lot on having that intent to get a boundary in your first six balls, and that’s transformed my career.”I was always happy to be 10 off 10… You’re never really going to impact the game [from there]. Him saying that just freed me up a little bit, and it then got me to realise how good I am within my first six balls and how potent I can be – and also, to realise that bowlers bowl their loosest balls to you in your first six balls… It’s just having that self-belief to go out and do that.”The nice thing is being able to lean on my own experience… I can’t show that X-factor if I’m going to fear the outcome, so being able to do what I did on Saturday and then speak to my clients around having that expectation within themselves is quite nice. I can lean on that nicely… ‘This is me putting it into practice.'”Dickson top-scored for Somerset in both the semi-final and the final when they won the Blast two years ago; last year, he dragged them from 7 for 3 to a successful chase of 154 against Surrey before a duck in their defeat to Gloucestershire in the final. He has become a reliable performer on county cricket’s biggest stage, and is targeting more of the same.So what would Sean Dickson, the sports psychologist, say to help Sean Dickson, the cricketer, prepare for Saturday? “He would probably harp on [about] staying as present as you can. I’ve got loads of tools in my toolbox for situations when the pressure’s high, so [I’ll be] relying on those, and also just being true to yourself and understanding who you are in the moment.”If your intuition says you need to play a certain shot or you need to take down a certain bowler and back yourself to do something different, then trust that… You’d rather walk off the field knowing you gave it a shot than walk off knowing you didn’t even give it an attempt in the first place. The most important thing is just to stay as humble and as present as you possibly can.”It has been a “bittersweet” few days for Dickson since his match-winning innings in the quarter-final, with his imminent departure slowly sinking in. But come Saturday, his only focus will be on capping his three years at Somerset with a second Blast title: “That would be the icing on top of the cake… That’d be the best ending for me.”
Cristiano Ronaldo would be “very welcome” at Manchester United, says Teddy Sheringham, but he is expected to “follow in the path of David Beckham”.
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Portuguese took in two spells at Old TraffordAll-time great approaching end of his careerTalk of moves into coaching or club investmentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Portuguese superstar Ronaldo has taken in two spells at Old Trafford as a player. The first of those saw him collect Premier League, Champions League and Ballon d’Or honours. The second ended on a sour note as CR7 was released as a free agent following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
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Ronaldo is still going strong at the age of 39, as a prolific source of goals for Al-Nassr and Portugal, but retirement is no longer a distant thought. Speculation regarding what he will do when record-breaking boots are hung up for the final time has already begun.
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There has been talk of a move into coaching, and ex-Sporting boss Ruben Amorim is preparing to take the reins at United. Ronaldo may be tempted to step in alongside his fellow countryman, but 1999 Treble winner Sheringham can see the all-time great following the lead of another iconic United No.7 who is now working with Lionel Messi in MLS.
WHAT SHERINGHAM SAID
Ex-Red Devils striker Sheringham has told : “Cristiano Ronaldo would be very welcome back at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, but he is onto bigger and better things. I think that Ronaldo will follow in the path of David Beckham in doing things away from coaching, higher profile things around the world. I'm sure he'd be very, very welcome in any capacity coming back to the club, but I doubt that he'll be a coach.”
Celtic are yet to make their first signing of the summer transfer window but still have just under two months left to do any incoming business they want to do.
The Hoops won the domestic double, lifting the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup, during the 2023/24 campaign and could still look to improve their squad to secure more silverware next term.
A new number one is on the agenda for the Bhoys after Joe Hart's retirement, with Newcastle United's Martin Dubravka and Croatia star Dominik Livakovic linked with moves to Parkhead to be Brendan Rodgers' first-choice.
There could also be some changes in the backline for the Scottish giants as the Northern Irish boss could shake up his central defender options.
Celtic's possible centre-back shuffle
Football Insider recently reported that Sweden international Gustaf Lagerbielke is poised to move on from Parkhead before the end of the window.
The outlet did not reveal, however, any current interest from teams or how much the Hoops would be prepared to sell him for, after paying £3m to sign the defender from Elfsborg last summer.
Celtic could ruthlessly ditch the Swedish dud over the coming weeks by securing a deal to sign an impressive free agent as his replacement.
Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke.
The Daily Record have claimed that Scotland international Scott McKenna has been on Rodgers' radar for a 'long' time, which suggests that he may be a target for the club this month if they are in need of a centre-back.
Signing the left-footed titan would then free up the club to cash in on Lagerbielke, as they would have a central defender in the building to keep them covered in that position.
Why Scott McKenna would be a good signing for Celtic
Celtic should swoop to sign McKenna as he is an experienced and reliable centre-back who would also offer natural balance on the left side.
Liam Scales is the club's only naturally left-footed centre-back, with Stephen Welsh, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Lagerbielke, and Maik Naworcki all being naturally right-footed.
This means that the Scottish colossus could come in and provide Scales with competition for his place with his ability to play out from the back on his favoured foot.
Appearances
13
Pass accuracy
90%
Duel success rate
58%
Aerial duel success rate
65%
Error led to shot/goal
0
Penalties committed
0
As you can see in the table above, McKenna caught the eye during his loan spell with Kobenhavn during the second half of last season, as he completed a high percentage of his passes and was dominant in duels without making any major errors.
The 27-year-old titan, who was once dubbed "dominant" by analyst Chris Kearney, completed a higher percentage of his passes than Lagerbielke did (85%) in his seven outings in the Premiership.
Perhaps the 24-year-old dud's passing was an issue for Rodgers, hence his lack of game time, but that should not have come as a surprise after he completed 81% of his passes in the Swedish top-flight in 2023, which shows that he gifts the ball back to the opposition far more regularly than the Scottish enforcer.
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ByDan Emery Jul 1, 2024
McKenna, therefore, could now come in as a free agent and offer reliability in possession and a natural left-footed option to play next to one of the right-footed defenders, which is why he could be a fantastic bargain signing to allow the club to brutally ditch Lagerbielke.
James Hildreth became the fourth-highest first-class run-maker in Somerset’s history on the second day of the LV=County Championship match with Middlesex at the Cooper Associates County Ground. The 36-year-old batter went past Bill Alley’s tally of 16,644 while contributing 39 to his side’s first innings total of 178 for 4 and now lies behind only Harold Gimblett, Marcus Trescothick and Peter Wight.Earlier, Middlesex had moved from an overnight 308 for 6 to 357 all out, Robbie White falling for 92 and Josh Davey claiming three of the wickets in the space of an over.Related
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There were two victims each for Steve Finn and Tim Murtagh when Somerset replied before an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 80 between George Bartlett and first-class debutant Lewis Goldsworthy left honours pretty even.The day began with White, unbeaten on 70, and Luke Hollman adding 24 before Craig Overton uprooted Hollman’s off stump with his score on 16. White had moved to 81 and the total to 338 for 7 off 108 overs when rain interrupted play at 11.50am. The action resumed at 1.20pm with two incident-packed overs.White took two fours and a three off the first of them, bowled by Tom Abell to put his side within a single of a fourth batting point. But his hopes of a maiden first-class century were dashed when he edged Davey’s first ball of the following over to Hildreth at first slip.The crestfallen White dragged himself off, having faced 224 deliveries and hit 13 fours. Two balls later Finn fell lbw, having survived an equally confident appeal first up, and Somerset had their third bowling point. With one run still needed for a fourth batting point, Murtagh swung two boundaries to third-man, before being caught there to give Davey a third wicket.Somerset’s reply had reached 8 without loss when a lighter shower brought a 15-minute interruption. Then both openers fell quickly as Tom Lammonby edged a catch behind off Finn and Tom Banton was pinned lbw by Murtagh.Hildreth looked in good touch as he and Abell took the score to 86 for 2 at tea, the latter surviving two slip chances in the same Tom Helm over, Max Holden and White the guilty fielders.Hildreth had overtaken Darren Stevens as the leading run-maker among players still operating in the domestic game when fencing at the first delivery after tea from Murtagh and being caught behind. Abell then chipped a full ball from Finn to midwicket and departed for 41. With the floodlights on, Bartlett, on 13, was dropped by Sam Robson at second slip off Martin Andersson.Drizzle and light issues brought a further break at 120 for 4. A 6pm resumption of 15 overs saw Bartlett progress serenely to 43 and 20-year-old Cornishman Goldsworthy move stylishly to 34, an innings rich with promise.
Joe Weatherley top-scores with 42 before bowlers close out victory
ECB Reporters' Network11-Jun-2021
Liam Dawson struck in a tight spell as Hampshire beat Essex•Getty Images
Chris Wood lead a superb defensive bowling display as Hampshire Hawks beat Essex Eagles by 13 runs to get their Vitality Blast competition rolling.Left-arm fast bowler Wood’s four overs went for just 15, along with the scalp of Aron Nijjar, with fellow homegrown star Liam Dawson returning a miserly 1 for 17.Joe Weatherley top-scored with 42 as the Hawks struggled to 155 but despite Tom Westley’s 44 the Eagles were bowled out for 142 – losing their last five wickets for 22 runs.Hampshire were stuck in and were contained well by the Essex bowlers as they reached 39 for the loss of James Vince – aggressively pulling Sam Cook to midwicket – in the powerplay.Simon Harmer, for the second match in succession, struck with his second delivery to york Tom Alsop.Cook took career-best T20 figures against Somerset and once again impressed with analysis of 2 for 21 as he had Australian D’Arcy Short caught behind by Will Buttleman – leaving the visitors 59 for 3 in eight overs.Weatherley rebuilt with Dawson and James Fuller through 35 and 33-run stands without any explosion to the run rate.Dawson was stumped off Harmer and Weatherley – having notched 42 from 34 balls – picked out deep midwicket to leave Hampshire facing a below-par total.But James Fuller plopped Jamie Porter for back-to-back sixes back over his head at the River End in the penultimate over to boost the tally, before he skied to cover.Buttleman lasted only seven balls on debut before he hooked Brad Wheal to fine leg.Michael Pepper also departed in the powerplay, caught behind attempting to sweep Dawson, as Essex reached 41 in the first six overs.The impetus was raised as Paul Walter lifted Mason Crane for sixes into the Hayes Close End houses from the first over of the leg-spinner’s first two overs.Westley also lofted over the straight boundary, but Crane got the last laugh, and loud grunting send-off, as Walter danced past a straight one to be stumped, before Westley was run out by a Ian Holland direct hit.Ryan ten Doeschate was bamboozled by Crane, struggling for four dots before slicing to short third man – as the England spinner pulled back his first 13 balls going for 37 to end up with two for 42 from his four overs.Jimmy Neesham clubbed Wheal into the Doug Insole Pavilion with a pull to accompany some powerful fours but he was caught at midwicket with 36 still needed.Nijjar pulled to deep fine leg, Simon Harmer and Sam Cook were run out and Plom was bowled by Wheal to confirm the victory.
da aviator aposta： O São Paulo, além de estar no mercado buscando jogadores para reforçar a equipe, também sabe que precisará vender atletas para melhorar o fluxo de caixa e ter recursos para ajudar a saúde financeira da equipe, que vê a dívida crescer para perto dos R$ 700 milhões.
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da cassino online： Uma das apostas da diretoria do Tricolor é a negociação de jogadores revelados na base. Em 2021, muitos deles foram titulares da equipe como Luan, Rodrigo Nestor, Liziero, Gabriel Sara e Igor Gomes. Outros disputaram posição e tiveram chances como o lateral-esquerdo Welington.
A maioria desses jovens atletas têm um fator em comum: os contratos longos com o São Paulo. Esta temporada foi marcada por renovações dos vínculos.Sara foi o último a renovar o contrato, assinando a renovação em outubro. Antes, o acordo do São Paulo com o meia ia até abril de 2024, mas foi renovado até dezembro do mesmo ano.
VEJA A TABELA DO CAMPEONATO PAULISTA 2022!
O primeiro desse grupo a estender o vínculo foi o volante Luan, que em março, assinou a renovação até dezembro de 2023. Antes, seu contrato iria até dezembro de 2022. No mês seguinte, foi a vez de Rodrigo Nestor ampliar seu acordo após uma longa novela. O camisa 25 renovou de novembro de 2021 para o final de 2024.
Pouco depois, em junho, o lateral-esquerdo Welington renovou o contrato, que ia até outubro de 2023 para dezembro de 2024. Antes de Sara, o último a renovar foi Talles Costa, que em julho, renovou de junho de 2022 para dezembro de 2024.
Planejamento e valorização dos jogadores Com essas renovações, a diretoria do São Paulo vem seguindo com o planejamento de contratos longos com os jovens da base. Isso pode dar mais ‘poder’ ao Tricolor em futuras negociações, já que o clube não ficaria ‘preso’ a uma venda rápida devido ao prazo de um pré-contrato, por exemplo.
Sendo assim, teoricamente, um clube de fora do país teria mais dificuldades em contratar um jovem da base são-paulina. Caso queira, terá que desembolsar um valor próximo ao desejado pela diretoria do Tricolor.
VEJA A DURAÇÃO DOS CONTRATOS DOS JOVENS REVELADOS NA BASE DO SÃO PAULO Liziero (volante) – 31/01/2024 Gabriel Sara (meia) – 31/12/2024 Rodrigo Nestor (meia) – 31/12/2024 Talles Costa (meia) – 31/12/2024 Welington (lateral-esquerdo) – 31/12/2024 Luan (volante) – 31/12/2023 Igor Gomes (meia) – 30/03/2023
Josh Shaw and Ryan Higgins lead way with ball for hosts on green-tinged surface
ECB Reporters' Network08-Apr-2021The opening day of the new LV= Insurance County Championship season saw Bristol over 20 degrees cooler than Chennai, where Rory Burns last walked out in a competitive match, and Surrey felt a chill all day as they made 220 for 9 against Gloucestershire.Josh Shaw, with 4 for 48, and Ryan Higgins, 3 for 35, ensured the home side did not squander winning the toss on a green-tinged pitch. They were denied the chance to finish Surrey off inside the day by late rain.They may even feel a touch disappointed, having conceded 32 boundaries. Higgins, beginning the season averaging just 21 with the ball, was the chief exception, leaking only 35 runs from his 19 overs.”We’re really happy with that,” Shaw said. “We wanted to bowl on that wicket and we’re pleased with how we’ve gone. We probably weren’t at our best but when you’ve got Surrey 220 for 9 not quite firing it’s only a good thing.”Ryan Higgins mentioned changing the angle of the seam for a delivery and I tried it and managed to get a wicket so that was a nice one.”The challenge for Burns was the diametric opposite of that which he faced in India, as the players walked out in conditions that might have felt more like January. But he nonetheless failed, with an angle through the slips for four before he edged to second slip driving at one from David Payne that swung away. Ollie Pope also drove loosely, to backward-point, for 22 in Surrey’s struggle.With England’s batsmen having not contributed, 38-year-old former South Africa stalwart Hashim Amla, now an overseas player with Kolpak registrations ended, guided his side to 91 for 3 at lunch with a series of punchy cover drives and punishment of George Scott’s wide deliveries. He reached an 85-ball fifty, but soon after the break was driving flat-footedly at Shaw and palpably lbw for 56.Ben Foakes, lbw for 26, beaten by one from Higgins that nipped back, and Jordan Clarke, sharply held by wicketkeeper James Bracey standing up to Higgins for 8, quickly fell to leave Surrey in a hole at 144 for 6.From which point regret might linger for Gloucestershire as Jamie Overton made a streaky 40 – edging Payne just wide of second slip and Scott also narrowly past at catcher at takeable height. He went on to flick Shaw to fine leg to raise a batting point but eventually fell dragging Payne into his off stump trying to force off the back foot.Jamie Smith, one of Surrey’s brightest young things, also lost his off stump, for 20, to one that nipped back from Shaw and the same delivery accounted for Gus Atkinson in just his third first-class match.”It wasn’t easy. Being ultra-critical we could have got a few more but I think we’re still right in the game,” Overton said. “You got yourself in and felt a little settled but one just did something out of the blue.”But you can still score on this pitch and we let ourselves down with not taking a couple of partnerships on a little longer.”
When MLB expanded its playoff format to 12 teams in 2022, the hope was that it would create a more compelling final few weeks of the season. Four years in, it seems that mission was accomplished.
With just over a month to play, the races for each league’s three wild-card spots are far from settled. In the American League, five teams are within three games of the final bid. In the National League, the Cubs, Padres and Mets are fighting to fend off the Reds, who are just a game back. As each club jockeys for position, the margins will be thin in determining who makes it to October and who gets left out in the cold.
The household names will need to produce during this crucial time, of course, but so too will the x-factors and complimentary pieces. With a focus on the latter, here’s a pick for who will be each wild-card contender’s key difference maker for the stretch run.
New York Yankees
Current standing: 69–57, AL East 4 GB, AL wild-card 4 GU on fourth place X-factor: SP Cam Schlittler
The rookie has impressed during his first two months in The Show, allowing no more than three runs in any of his first seven starts. Schlittler was considered among the Yankees’ top pitching prospects entering the season and is coming off his best outing when he threw 6 2/3 shutout innings against the Rays on Wednesday, giving up just one hit while striking out eight. Given Max Fried’s continued struggles, New York can use all the quality starts it can get down the stretch, and Schlittler is proving he can provide them.
Boston Red Sox
Current standing: 68–59, AL East 5.5 GB, AL wild-card 2.5 GU on fourth place X-factor: SP Dustin May
Dustin May has allowed just one home run in 15 2/3 innings for the Red Sox. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
May was squeezed out of the Dodgers’ rotation at the deadline, but so far he’s proven to be just what the doctor ordered in Boston. In three outings with his new squad, the righthander has two quality starts and a 2.87 ERA, with 17 strikeouts and just four walks. The Red Sox have been searching for a stable fifth starter for a while now, and May has filled that need with aplomb. Settling on three or four starters for a postseason series might be a more complicated problem, but it will be a welcome one if Boston can get there, and May is critical to accomplishing that goal.
Seattle Mariners
Current standing: 68–60, AL West 1.5 GB, AL wild-card 2 GU on fourth place X-factor: DH Jorge Polanco
Early on this season, Polanco was a pleasant surprise for Mariners fans who might have been frustrated with the team’s relatively quiet offseason. A scalding hot April gave way to an ice cold May and June, but the veteran picked things up in July. Now, Polanco is struggling again, batting .196/.255/.275 in August. Seattle added reinforcements at the deadline in Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor, but that hasn’t come at the expense of Polanco’s playing time. He’s started 14 of the team’s 17 games this month, so the Mariners clearly prefer to see him hit his way out of his slump rather than turn to a replacement player. If Polanco can rediscover his earlier form, it will make a suddenly formidable Seattle lineup that much deeper.
Kansas City Royals
Current standing: 66–62, AL Central 9.5 GB, AL wild-card 2 GB X-factor: SP Ryan Bergert
Kansas City did well in adding Bergert and pitcher Stephen Kolek in exchange for backup catcher Freddy Fermin at the deadline. The Royals slotted Bergert directly into their rotation, and he’s put up a 2.70 ERA through three starts, pitching into the sixth inning in all three. Those contributions will need to continue if Kansas City wants to remain within striking distance of the final wild-card spot, particularly in the wake of Kris Bubic’s season-ending shoulder injury.
Cleveland Guardians
Current standing: 64–62, AL Central 10.5 GB, AL wild-card 3 GB X-factor: 1B Kyle Manzardo
Manzardo picked a great time to go on his best tear of the season, catching fire at the plate to help prop up Cleveland’s otherwise subpar offense. Over his last 28 games, Manzardo is batting .287/.396/.598 with eight homers and 22 RBIs, and the Guardians are 16–12 during that span. Perennial MVP candidate José Ramírez continues to do his part, but he’ll need players like Manzardo to chip in and give the offense more firepower.
Chicago Cubs
Current standing: 73–55, NL Central 7 GB, NL wild-card 6 GU on fourth place X-factor: 3B Matt Shaw
Matt Shaw has rebounded from a slow start to his rookie season. / Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The once-feared Cubs lineup has picked a bad time to go quiet. Through the All-Star break, Chicago ranked second in the majors in runs scored. Since then, the Cubs rank 26th in runs, 28th in on-base percentage and 28th in batting average. Shaw has been the exception, a silver lining that’s almost single-handedly kept the offense from going under. During the second half, the 2023 first-round pick is batting .302/.344/.721 with nine home runs, four stolen bases and 16 extra-base hits in 30 games. After a slow start to his rookie season, the third baseman has found his power stroke, helping pick up the slack for slumping stars Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson.
San Diego Padres
Current standing: 72–56, NL West 1 GB, NL wild-card 5 GU on fourth place X-factor: SP JP Sears
Amid San Diego’s busy trade trendline, you’d be forgiven for overlooking Sears’s inclusion in the deal that sent flame-throwing closer Mason Miller to the Padres in exchange for a package that included top prospect Leo De Vries. Sears is much more than just a throw-in, though, and will likely be counted on to log crucial innings for an injury-starved rotation that’s already seen Michael King land back on the IL. Sears has made just two starts with San Diego and has been up and down from the minors, but it’s a safe bet that the Padres will need him to deliver in the coming weeks. He logged six innings in Wednesday’s 8–1 win over the Giants.
New York Mets
Current standing: 67–60, NL East 7 GB, NL wild-card 0.5 GU on fourth place X-factor: 2B/3B Brett Baty
Mets fans have had a tumultuous relationship with Baty, a 2019 first-round pick and former top prospect who, prior to this year, never quite panned out. Now in his fourth big-league season and still just 25, he’s beginning to look like the everyday contributor the club hoped he’d develop into. Baty has hit .284/.357/.541 since the All-Star break to become a productive bat at the bottom of the lineup. New York has several issues plaguing its roster lately—namely pitching—so there are plenty of candidates to pick for this spot, but Baty can do the team a huge favor by maintaining this form for the next month.
Cincinnati Reds
Current standing: 67–61, NL Central 13 GB, NL wild-card 0.5 GB X-factor: DH Miguel Andújar
The Reds landed Andújar in a deadline deal with the A’s that didn’t grab many headlines, but the well-traveled slugger has quickly made himself right at home on his fourth team in as many years. Since arriving in Cincinnati, Andújar has started 13 of 17 games (mostly at DH) and raked, batting .383/.442/.660 while predominantly hitting out of the cleanup spot. Reds pitchers have put up the league’s third-lowest ERA (3.39) since the All-Star break, and if their below-average offense can get this big of a boost from Andujar down the stretch, it might be enough to run down the teams ahead of them.
Chelsea finish for the international break with plenty to build on under Enzo Maresca, and they could now go big for a forward in January to bolster their striking ranks.
Chelsea rejoice after last-gasp winner vs Liverpool
Last week proved to be a significant one in West London, and plenty of pressure was on the shoulders of Maresca after winning once in five matches leading into the Blues’ double-header against Benfica and Liverpool.
On the face of it, the Italian can count himself slightly unfortunate to be under the spotlight after bringing two trophies to the club during his tenure so far. Nevertheless, the high demands at Stamford Bridge rest for nobody as Chelsea look to place themselves among the Premier League elite.
Chelsea manager EnzoMaresca
A tetchy 1-0 victory over Benfica came at the right time for Maresca, and he followed that up with an excellent 2-1 triumph over Liverpool to move his side into seventh, leading the former Manchester City assistant to a dismissal after enjoying wild celebrations with their support.
Stepping in after the match, his assistant Willy Caballero urged the Blues to take advantage of the international break to come back stronger once they are back in the capital.
He stated: “He’s OK (Maresca after red card). He’s so happy now. Of course, he cannot be here now but we are so happy that we achieved the three points in the last seconds. We are so happy and so proud. The players did a fantastic job. Now is a good break for many of them, and hopefully we can recover a few more players and start the new cycle of games with energy.”
After a brief wobble, things are looking up for Chelsea, and they could now be set to target a January move for one of the most prolific forwards in the top-flight.
Chelsea preparing bid for Antoine Semenyo
According to reports in Spain, Chelsea are preparing a bid worth around £78 million for Antoine Semenyo after his blistering start to the Premier League campaign at Bournemouth.
Moving to Stamford Bridge appeals to the Ghana international after publicly admitting he separates his Arsenal fandom from his job, and the Cherries may find it tough to resist the financial capital on offer despite his return of six goals and three assists in his opening seven top-flight appearances.
Gary Neville: Chelsea star "best" in Premier League and better than Arsenal ace
Neville has delivered his verdict.
By
Tom Cunningham
Oct 5, 2025
Labelled a “special player” by Owen Hargreaves, Semenyo has created an impressive ten chances in the Premier League, per Fotmob, thriving on either flank or whether coming inside to provide a focal point for his teammates.
Semenyo’s rise in England
Transfermarkt Value
October 2022
€3m
October 2023
€9m
October 2024
€20m
October 2025
€40m
Chelsea are in the market for another attacker to mix experience with their youtful frontline. However, they are unlikely to be the only club interested in offering the 25-year-old a new challenge.
With the Blues pushing for the Champions League slots, Semenyo could well be the difference if he were to pitch up in West London.