Category News

First T20, Sophia Gardens

South Africa 97-5 (7.5 overs): Markram 28 (14); Wood 2-22

England 54-5 (5 overs): Buttler 25 (11); Jansen 2-18

South Africa won by 14 runs (DLS method)

England suffered a 14-run defeat by South Africa in a farcical rain-affected opening T20 at Cardiff.

A delayed start meant the match was reduced to nine overs per side, and the Proteas blitzed 97-5 in 7.5 overs before another rain disruption.

England’s target was revised to 69 in five overs and with little choice but to attack from the outset, they reached 43-5 needing 26 from five balls.

From there, the recalled Sam Curran whacked a six to offer the hosts a glimmer of hope, but the tourists eventually closed out a comfortable win as England finished on 54-5 with two wickets apiece for Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen.

Jos Buttler had kept England alive with 25 from 11, including three sixes, but they were left to rue top-order wickets as Phil Salt was caught at fine leg from the first ball of the chase, Jacob Bethell chipped to cover for seven and captain Harry Brook made a chaotic four-ball duck.

Earlier, Jofra Archer was replaced by Luke Wood in a late change, and the seamer removed Ryan Rickelton in the first over before captain Aiden Markram led the charge with 28 from 14 balls.

Dewald Brevis, who became the SA20’s most expensive player in Tuesday’s auction, made an entertaining 23 from 10 balls before he fell to the recalled Curran’s first ball while Donovan Ferreira finished unbeaten with 25 from 11.

England chose not to risk Archer on the sodden outfield, despite the fast bowler being named in the team 24 hours earlier, but his replacement Wood added the scalp of Lhuan-dre Pretorius to his dismissal of Rickelton.

Markram and Brevis then expertly targeted the unique dimensions of the Cardiff ground with its short straight boundaries, taking down spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson with flat, powerful sixes.

England were lucky to not be punished further by dropping Markram – he was put down by Salt on 24 – when he was caught by Wood off Adil Rashid in the following over.

After the tourists reached 73 in six overs, Brevis was furious to be deceived by one of Curran’s ultra-slow deliveries, clocked at just over 50mph, as he skewed a catch to backward point.

Tristan Stubbs played an audacious ramp for six which saw the ball fly out of the ground, but tried and failed a second time to be bowled by Jamie Overton for 13.

After rain curtailed their effort in the field, England learned very little with the bat, when their only option was to come out swinging.

Needing a run-rate of more than 13 per over from the beginning – it would have been the highest successful five-over chase in men’s T20s.

Salt’s miserable night continued as he fell to Kagiso Rabada’s first ball and Bethell hit one six before departing one ball later.

Brook played and missed, attempted two ramp shots after which he fell over both times, before nicking behind off Bosch’s medium pace.

Buttler played his own ramps and scoops to perfection, again utilising the shorter boundaries with three sixes, but Curran’s 10 was the second highest contribution.

Manchester United are looking at a move for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Arsenal make progress in extending Bukayo Saka and William Saliba deals, and a young Ajax defender is attracting extensive interest.

Manchester United are eyeing a January move for Nottingham Forest and England midfielder Elliot Anderson, 22. (Teamtalk)

Arsenal are advancing in talks to extend the deals of England winger Bukayo Saka and France centre-back William Saliba, with the pair, both 24, out of contract at the end of the 2026-27 season. (Teamtalk)

Cameroon keeper Andre Onana, who is close to a loan move to Trabzonspor, turned down offers from a number of clubs – including Monaco – in the summer as the 29-year-old was told he would be Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim’s first choice this season. (The i Paper – subscription required)

Manchester United and Netherlands left-back Tyrell Malacia, 26, could be set for a season-long loan at Turkish Super Lig side Eyupspor. (Sun)

Liverpool and Manchester United are among a host of top clubs tracking Ajax’s teenage Dutch defender Aaron Bouwman, 18. (Teamtalk)

Hamburg have an option to turn 25-year-old Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira’s loan move from Arsenal into a permanent switch for €20m (£17.3m). (Bild, via Goal)

Spain international and former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte, 31, is waiting to find out if Fifa will allow his move to Athletic Bilbao from Al-Nassr to go through after it fell through in the summer transfer window. (AS – in Spanish)

English midfielder Josh Brownhill, 29, has completed a medical at Al-Shabab and is set to join the Saudi club on a free transfer having left Burnley at the end of last season. (Fabrizio Romano)

Brazil midfielder Casemiro, 33, had been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia but Manchester United could keep him until his contract expires next summer as he has become an important part of manager Ruben Amorim’s team. (Caught Offside)

Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen has signed for Wolfsburg after leaving Manchester United at the end of last season.

The 33-year-old joins the Bundesliga club on a contract that runs until the summer of 2027.

Eriksen made 107 appearances and scored eight goals across three seasons at Old Trafford, helping United win the Carabao Cup in 2023 and FA Cup in 2024.

“Wolfsburg is my first club in the Bundesliga – I’m really looking forward to this new adventure. I’m convinced we can achieve something together,” said Eriksen.

“I immediately sensed that [Wolfsburg manager] Paul Simonis has a clear vision for the team and for me personally.

“The fact that there are several familiar faces in the squad from the Danish national team makes Wolfsburg a particularly attractive proposition for me.”