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Legspinner takes 6 for 51 as Division Two’s leaders tighten grip on contest

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Jul-2025

Derbyshire 189 (Rehan 6-51) trail Leicestershire 398 (Hill 151, Rehan 115, Handscomb 101, Reece 6-56) by 209 runsEngland all-rounder Rehan Ahmed claimed career-best figures as Leicestershire took control of the Rothesay County Championship match against Derbyshire on a record-breaking day at the Central Co-op County Ground.Rehan followed his hundred on day one by taking 6 for 51 from 20 overs with his leg spin to bowl the hosts out for 189 in reply to the Division Two leaders 398.Lewis Hill scored 151 and Peter Handscomb 101 but the visitors collapsed spectacularly to Luis Reece who took 5 for 12 in seven overs to finish with 6 for 56.Leicestershire’s total is the lowest completed innings to include three centuries in the history of country cricket, beating 422 by Essex against Glamorgan at Swansea in 1995.When they resumed on 357 for 3, their sights would have been set on 500 plus but they managed only 41 more as Reece ran through them.Handscomb completed his hundred in the second over of the morning but then played at one from Zak Chappell that moved away to take the outside edge,The rest of the session belonged to Reece whose relentless disciplined line was too much for the visitors.Ian Holland edged a drive to be caught by Brooke Guest standing up and after Hill on drove Reece for four to reach 150, he pushed at the next ball and was caught behind.Louis Kimber, having survived a hard head high chance to short cover, then drove an easier catch to the same fielder two balls later before Reece struck twice in an over.Ben Green was beaten by swing and former Derbyshire bowler Logan Van Beek was also snared at cover, the fourth Leicestershire player to be out without scoring.When Liam Trevaskis was bowled by Alex Thomson in the next over, the visitors had lost their last seven wickets for 38 runs.Derbyshire lost David Lloyd in the first over of their reply when he shouldered arms to Holland but Caleb Jewell and Harry Came then dug in until Ahmed struck either side of tea.The pair batted sensibly,both passing 50, to add 112 from 215 balls but Came then dragged a pull into the hands of mid on.Wayne Madsen went in the leg-spinner’s next over, caught at slip playing a big drive, and Ahmed claimed Jewell’s wicket immediately after the interval.The Australian was trapped lbw going back in his crease and Aneurin Donald was caught behind cutting after a brief counter attack.Ahmed turned one past Reece’s defensive push before bowling Chappell to become the first Leicestershire player to score a hundred and take six wickets in an innings since Phil Simmons against Durham in 1996.Derbyshire’s slide continued with Guest edging a drive at Trevaskis to slip before Thomson was run out and Kimber removed Jack Morley in the final over to leave Derbyshire trailing by 209.

The incident occured during the third ODI against Sri Lanka, following Babar’s dismissal

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Nov-2025

Pakistan batter Babar Azam has been fined 10% of his match fee for hitting the stumps with his bat before leaving the crease, following his dismissal in the third ODI against Sri Lanka. Babar was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”In addition, a demerit point has been added to his disciplinary record, making it a first offence for Babar in a 24-month period. The incident occurred in the 21st over of Pakistan’s innings, when Babar, batting on 34, was bowled by Jeffrey Vandersay.On-field umpires Alex Wharf and Rashid Riaz, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi levelled the charge while Ali Naqvi of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees proposed the sanction.Since Babar admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction, there was no need for a formal hearing. Pakistan went on to clinch a 3-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka with Babar playing a lead role with the bat, scoring 165 runs – the most in the series – which included a 20th ODI ton.Babar’s next international assignment is the T20I tri-series at home, against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, starting Tuesday.

Would it be hyperbole to suggest that Kobbie Mainoo provided the best, or most significant, moment at Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era?

Faced with an imperious Manchester City side in the 2024 FA Cup final, Erik ten Hag’s men defied the odds to claim a richly deserved 2-1 win, a year on from having tamely been defeated by their neighbours en route to treble glory.

Alejandro Garnacho had pounced early on to open the scoring, before fellow academy graduate Mainoo popped up at the backpost to add a second, slotting home perfectly following Bruno Fernandes’ ingenious reverse pass.

The then-teenager, like the thousands decked out in red at Wembley, roared in celebration, revelling in the crowing moment of a stunning, six-month rise from relative obscurity.

The Old Trafford faithful have been wedded to United’s golden boy since then, although there has been no such warmth from new boss Ruben Amorim.

What Amorim said about Mainoo after West Ham

From the highs of that Wembley showpiece, and his subsequent role in England’s run to the final at Euro 2024, Mainoo’s impact has plummeted since then, having hardly had a look-in following an injury-hit start to 2024/25.

Seemingly fighting a losing battle from the off following Amorim’s arrival in November 2024 – having failed to start the Portuguese’s first game in charge against Ipswich Town – the Stockport native has drifted onto the periphery, with 2025/26 proving particularly frustrating thus far.

The forgotten man, Mainoo is yet to start a single Premier League game this season, playing just 171 minutes in all, having been an unused substitute for the fourth time against West Ham United in midweek.

Speaking after that dismal 1-1 draw, Amorim went on the defensive regarding his treatment of the youngster, while laughing off suggestions that the midfielder could have been an “offensive” alteration.

Asked if he understood why Mainoo’s status as a homegrown talent made him such a talking point for fans and pundits alike, the 40-year-old replied:

Mainoo, unsurprisingly, is seeking a January exit amid his bizarre fall from grace, although he surely isn’t the midfielder INEOS should be looking to move on.

Man Utd must sell flop who's getting the Mainoo treatement

Perhaps the biggest source of frustration regarding Mainoo’s situation is that Amorim isn’t exactly blessed with regard to midfield depth, with his current squad boasting just four recognised, senior midfielders to choose from.

For much of 2025/26, the ex-Sporting CP boss has selected ever-present skipper, Fernandes, alongside the ageing Casemiro, with both Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte limited to mere late cameos off the bench.

Like the FA Cup final hero, Ugarte has also become a notable talking point amid his limited role under Amorim, despite having previously worked with the 3-4-2-1 boss in Lisbon.

Indeed, it was reported last month that the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man had been criticised by his manager in front of teammates at Carrington, following the Europa League final defeat.

Like Mainoo, who enjoyed just a mere last-gasp cameo in Bilbao, Ugarte was also something of an afterthought even as United toiled, having failed to even make it off the bench on the night.

Games

9

10

Starts

0

2

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Big chances created

0

0

Key passes*

0.6

0.1

Pass accuracy*

87%

86%

Total duels won*

36%

60%

Balls recovered*

1.1

2.0

Dribbled past*

0.1

0.4

Much like Mainoo too, the Uruguayan has been forced to settle for a watching brief for much of this season, starting just twice in the top-flight, while notably being hooked at the break following an “embarrassing” display against Grimsby Town, in the view of writer Alex Turk.

Of course, there isn’t the groundswell of support for Ugarte like there is for his midfield colleague, with the decision to fork out almost £50m on the 24-year-old standing out as one of the worst decisions of recent years at Old Trafford.

Whether the £120k-per-week talent, again like Mainoo, is being helped by his manager is another matter, however, with Amorim hardly backing his man after revealing that Ugarte is “struggling” to adjust to life in the Premier League.

Either way, if it comes down to choosing between which peripheral midfielder needs to be shown the door, it should surely be Ugarte whom INEOS cash in on, with the safe and steady asset doing little to warrant a third-season stay in Manchester.

Cunha 2.0: INEOS to fast-track Man Utd bid for 'best winger in England'

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for one player in the upcoming January window.

ByEthan Lamb 6 days ago

Can Rob Edwards save Wolverhampton Wanderers from relegation?

During the international break, the 42-year-old controversially left Middlesbrough, currently second in the EFL Championship, to take over the reins at Molineux, returning to the club for whom he made 111 appearances as a player, but he has a massive task on his hands.

Wolves currently have just two points on the board after 11 matches, no side in Premier League history has ever survived from this position, losing four on the spin ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to the Black Country on Saturday afternoon.

The Old Gold’s eight-year stay in the top-flight is under serious threat, so if Edwards harbours any realistic hopes of leading Wolves to a great escape, he must surely unleash a new-look forward line in attack.

Jørgen Strand Larsen's downturn in form

Last season, his first after arriving from Celta Vigo, only nine players scored more Premier League goals than Jørgen Strand Larsen’s tally of 14, an impressive figure considering Wolves finished 16th.

This saw Newcastle make multiple bids to sign the 25-year-old, the highest of which was £55m, despite the fact he had cost the Old Gold only €30m (around £26m).

Wolves rejected all of these bids, with Strand Larsen instead signing a new five-year contract, but now they desperately need him to rediscover his best form.

So far this season, the striker has just three goals to his name, bagging a Carabao Cup double against West Ham in August, while his only goal in the Premier League thus far was a penalty during the infamous 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Burnley that ultimately cost Vítor Pereira his job.

Strand Larsen did find the target last Sunday as Norway crushed Italy 4-1 at San Siro, officially confirming his country’s place at next summer’s World Cup, so will be hoping to take confidence from that back into his club form.

Nevertheless, Wolves could be doing more to get the best out of their number nine, underlined by the fact that Strand Larsen’s shots and shot on target per 90 statistics have significantly decreased this season, so could partnering him alongside a “huge talent” be the solution?

Rob Edwards must unleash Wolves' next Jimenez

Wolves only made five senior summer signings, all of whom have had varying degrees of little impact, namely Fer López, Jhon Arias, David Møller Wolfe and Jackson Tchatchoua.

The last of the additions, arriving on deadline day, was striker Tolu Arokodare, joining from Genk for £24m, and he is possibly the most exciting of the quintet, even if the Wolves faithful have seen very little from him thus far.

The 24-year-old has taken an unusual route to the Premier League, beginning his senior career at Latvian club Valmiera, scoring 22 goals in just 34 appearances, hence why Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout described him as “simply too good” for the Virslīga, currently ranked the 36th best league in Europe.

​​​​​​​

After a brief and unsuccessful stint at Köln, scoring no goals for die Geißböcke, Arokodare​​​​​​​ rediscovered his mojo at Amiens, netting 21 times across two seasons for the Ligue 2 side, earning a move to Genk, scoring on 41 occasions for the Smurfs.

Of these goals, 21 came in last season’s Jupiler Pro League, which Global Football Rankings believes to be the sixth-strongest league in the world, and the Nigerian international’s statistics make for impressive reading.

The table makes for interesting reading, emphasising the fact that Arokodare is a penalty box presence, considering all 21 of his goals came inside the area, while also ranking first for shots, shots per 90 and touches in the opposition area.

Meantime, he is also excellent in the air, scoring three headers while also ending up third for aerial duels won, behind only Daan Heymans​​​​​​​ and Aurélien Scheidler​​​​​​​; the former joined Genk to replace Arokodare, while the latter moved to Royal Charleroi to replace the former.

The statistic though that leaps off the page most is the fact that Arokodare missed 34 Opta-defined big chances.

For comparison, the leaders in this metric across other European leagues last season were Ollie Watkins in the Premier League (27), Kylian Mbappé in La Liga (29), Serhou Guirassy in the Bundesliga (21) and Roberto Piccoli in Serie A (26), so no one came close to the Nigerian’s 34, which shows he is often in the right position, albeit is regularly an erratic finisher.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Despite this, Arokodare is still highly rated, with journalist Graeme Bailey​​​​​​​ labelling him a “huge talent”, while the aforementioned Kulig notes that “physicality, heading and link-up play” are his primary assets.

This all sounds rather reminiscent of Wolves’ best striker of their current stint in the Premier League, Raúl Jiménez, who is the club’s all-time leading scorer in the competition with 40.

After bouncing around Club América, Atlético Madrid and Benfica, the Mexican really flourished at Molineux, very much considered to be one of the best centre-forwards in the division prior to suffering a horrific fractured skull in November 2020.

Arokodare certainly possesses all the raw attributes to be as good as Jiménez, so now is the time for him to prove this.

Well, Wolves supporters have been treated to a mere amuse-bouche of what their new striker could offer so far, scoring in EFL Cup ties against Everton and Chelsea, starting only once in the Premier League thus far, not doing so in any of Wolves’ last six.

So, pairing him with Strand Larsen would certainly give opposition defences something to think about, with the duo possessing similar but also complementary skillsets.

With Palace captain Marc Guéhi a doubt due to a foot injury, surely Wolves’ best hope of claiming a first win of the season is to deploy the two strikers together.

£55m spent & Hackney signs: Dream Wolves XI Edwards can build in January

This is the dream Wolves starting line-up that Rob Edwards could build in the January window.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 11, 2025

Pick between the two as we begin to identify The Greatest Test of the 21st century

Sruthi Ravindranath04-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The SL-IND 2015 Galle Test moves to the round of 16.Herath chokes India – Galle, 2015
In the opening match of the series in Galle, India had not only taken a sizeable first-innings lead but also needed only 153 to win with nine wickets in hand at the start of the fourth day. A rearguard by Dinesh Chandimal, who followed up his 59 in the first innings with a 162 not out in the second, had given Sri Lanka a second-innings total of 367, and set India a target of 176.The in-transition Sri Lankan team turned to their veteran Rangana Herath, who was fighting sore knees and a dodgy back. The hosts made the target look much bigger than what it was as they choked the life out of India’s chase. Sri Lanka made India work hard for every run on a turning pitch, and India couldn’t get past the then 37-year old Herath and young offspinner Tharindu Kaushal, as they folded for their lowest total against Sri Lanka. The only form of resistance after Shikhar Dhawan fell for 28 came from Ajinkya Rahane, who made 36 and was the penultimate man to fall with India at 102 for 9. India could add only ten more as they folded for 112.Herath finished with figures of 7 for 48, as Sri Lanka won by 63 runs in a memorable start to Kumar Sangakkara’s farewell series.Shakib stuns Australia – Dhaka, 2017
Australia were in a strong position on the fourth day of the Test. But Shakib Al Hasan changed it all, bowling Bangladesh to a thrilling, historic win over Australia.Set 265 for victory, Australia began the day at 109 for 2. David Warner scored a century and compiled a 130-run partnership with Steven Smith as the visitors tightened their grip further. Enter Shakib, playing his 50th Test, who pinned Warner in front for 112, and had Smith caught behind for 37. Australia still needed another 94 runs, with six wickets in hand. But on a pitch offering turn and variable bounce, Bangladesh hit back quickly as Australia lost five wickets for 41 runs. The damage was mostly done by Shakib, but he was ably supported by Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the other spinners in his team.Pat Cummins, however, was threatening to spoil Bangladesh’s day as he struck 15 runs off a Mehidy over to slash the requirement from 36 to 21. But Taijul got Cummins’ last-wicket partner Josh Hazlewood out to hand Bangladesh a maiden win against Australia. Shakib finished with figures of 10 for 153 in addition to a crucial contribution of 84 runs with the bat in the first innings.

Carlos Correa is back.

One day after the Twins traded Correa back to the Astros, Correa was present with the team ahead of their game against the Red Sox on Friday.

"It's been great. [His former Astros teammates] treated me like I never left," Correa told reporters. "It feels good to be in this clubhouse again and spend the time with great guys and great players."

At just 17 years old, Correa became an Astro when they selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft. He made his MLB debut in 2015, and by 2017, made his first All-Star Game and helped the Astros win the World Series. He went on to make three All-Star Games with the Astros and was part of the organization for nearly a decade before signing with the Twins in March 2022.

Correa has spent the past three and a half seasons with the Twins, but with Minnesota trading away many players and not looking like contenders anytime soon, Correa opted to waive his no-trade clause and return to Houston.

" I never thought this would happen," Correa said. "When it started developing, we were in constant conversations with the front office of Minnesota. When it finally happened, I called my wife. That's when it started kicking in. It was surreal."

The Gold Glove-winning shortstop will now play third base as he re-joins the Astros. He will look to help Houston maintain their lead in the American League West and go after their third World Series title.