Nepal 321 (50 overs): Sharki 73, Kami 67; Jones 3-55
Scotland won by two runs
Scotland survived a major scare to beat Nepal in a thrilling Cricket World Cup League 2 match at Forthill.
Nepal won with one ball to spare when the sides met at the same ground on Monday before beating the Netherlands two days later.
They came close to a third straight win on Scottish soil, but fell two runs short in a chase of 323 in a game that swung back and forth throughout.
A magnificent sixth one-day international hundred from Scotland captain Richie Berrington, along with an unbeaten 96 off just 62 deliveries from Michael Leask propelled the hosts to an imposing total.
Nepal ultimately fell two runs short as debutant Mackenzie Jones took three wickets, while Leask and Safyaan Sharif claimed two apiece.
“I don’t think I was ready for another close game like that,” captain Richie Berrington said.
“Delighted to get over the line. Credit to Nepal for the way they fought back and it’s great to see the guys hold their nerve.
“Mackenzie Jones took really important wickets and then Safyaan Sharif showed all his experience at the end.
After Berrington won the toss, opener Charlie Tear played well for his 68 after George Munsey and Brandon McMullen both fell victim to the new ball.
His contribution, paired with his captain’s fine effort, allowed Leask to attack in the final 10 overs.
Scotland’s number seven struck 12 fours and three sixes on his home ground in a brutal display of power hitting.
Berrington’s side then started in fine fashion with the ball, reducing Nepal to 34-3, including a first international wicket for Jones.
Nepal rebuilt through Bhim Sharki (73) and Aarif Sheikh (39), but when they were removed by Leask and Jones, respectively, Scotland appeared to be in total control.
However, a partnership of 105 for the seventh wicket between Dipendra Singh Airee (56) and Sompal Kami (67) brought Nepal right back into the contest.
Jones caught Singh Airee off Charlie Cassell’s bowling and removed Kami himself as the ball followed the Essex seamer on his first Scotland outing.
Nepal needed seven to win off the final over – bowled by Safyaan Sharif – and Jones was called into action again, taking a towering catch at long-leg to remove the dangerous Karan KC.
It left Nepal needing five off three balls, but Sharif held his nerve to bowl Lalit Rajbanshi and win the game for Scotland.
If the casual football fan wasn’t already familiar with the name Rayan Cherki, they certainly are now.
On Thursday night, videos of his incredible goal during France’s 5-4 defeat by Spain in the Uefa Nations League semi-final went viral.
After controlling a bobbling pass and setting himself up in one touch, the 21-year-old rifled a hip-height volley on the swivel past Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simon at full stretch.
You just don’t see instinctive goals like that very often, certainly not from a player 15 minutes into his senior international debut.
Cherki is one of the most sought after talents in world football right now and could soon be heading to the Premier League as Manchester City want the Lyon midfielder as part of their summer squad overhaul.
The player will soon enter the final year of his contract, but Lyon have reportedly rejected City’s opening offer of 30m euros (£25.3m).
‘An absolute master, a wizard with the ball’ – who is the magical Frenchman?
Cherki is only the latest talent fresh off the Lyon production line, but may be the best yet.
He joined Lyon at the age of seven from AS Saint-Priest and, aged 16 years and 140 days, Cherki became the youngest goalscorer in the Ligue 1 side’s history in a French Cup tie back in January 2020.
Before that in November 2019, a Champions League debut came against Zenit, while he also helped France reach the quarter-finals of the European Under-21 Championships in 2023.
Previously linked with Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea, in 2020 he admitted to Lyon TV “my dream is to play for Real Madrid”.
His footballing idol is Cristiano Ronaldo, can play as a winger but his preference is a more central number 10 role.
Cherki has just enjoyed a break-out campaign in Ligue 1, providing 11 assists, 22 big chances – the most in the league – 13 through-balls and 48 successful dribbles.
A return of 12 goals in all competitions is by far the best of his short career, but it is his work and understanding of the game off the ball that has arguably improved the most this term.
French football expert Julien Laurens, speaking on the Euro Leagues podcast, said: “He has been incredible this season. Since he was 16 – even before that – the talent is there, left foot or right foot.
“A player at this level who takes corners with each foot depending on which side of the corner it is, to be an inswinger every time is just incredible.
“He is one of the greatest technicians in Europe right now.”
The stats support Cherki’s ambipedal qualities. Of the 44 shots he took with his feet in Ligue 1 last season, 22 came with the left and 22 with the right.
Cherki’s growing reputation was only enhanced by Thursday’s stunning international debut on Thursday against Spain, where he sparked France’s comeback from 5-1 down.
Three days later he made his full international debut as Les Bleus beat Germany 2-0 in the Nations League third-place play-off.
Laurens certainly isn’t Cherki’s only admirer.
France legend Thierry Henry has previously said he has “never seen a player in history who dribbles as quickly as him”, while Lyon’s captain Alexandre Lacazette described him as “special”.
The former Arsenal striker added: “This season, he has managed to raise his level. I would put [Mesut] Ozil in a different category but, with time, Rayan can get close to him.”
Cherki, also part of the France squad that finished runners-up at the 2024 Olympics, scored in both legs for Lyon against Manchester United in a Europa League quarter-final defeat last season.
Speaking to BBC Sport in April about him, Lyon’s former Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland-Niles said: “He is the best natural talent I’ve ever seen. An absolute master, a wizard with the ball.
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How would Cherki fit in?
Pep Guardiola wants to have Cherki in his squad next season, but how would he fit in at Manchester City?
The Premier League club have wasted no time in strengthening after enduring their worst campaign since Guardiola took charge nine years ago.
A £46.3m deal has been agreed with AC Milan for Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, while a £31m move for Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri will be completed imminently.
With Reijnders capable of playing anywhere in midfield, Cherki would likely play in an advanced role just behind Erling Haaland.
Guardiola traditionally prefers his midfielders to keep the ball and be patient rather than play in a direct, transitional style. However, he now has a Kevin de Bruyne-shaped hole to fill following the Belgian’s departure.
Cherki could also be deployed on the right wing, with wide players Jeremy Doku and Savinho struggling for consistency last season and Jack Grealish open to leaving the club.
It’s an exciting time for a player who may, in the space of seven days, go from making his international debut to joining one of the world’s best clubs.
That said, he clearly isn’t getting ahead of himself.
Public outcry over the UK government’s plans for significant defense reforms comes at the expense of welfare programs.
Protesters have gathered in London under the slogan “welfare not war” and are opposed to the British government’s plans to increase military spending while reducing social support.
In light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United Kingdom is under pressure from the United States to take responsibility for its own security, just like its European allies in NATO.
However, the majority of Europeans are experiencing a cost-of-living crisis, and they may be just as opposed to the British.
Can NATO allies create a defense force capable of retaliating against Russian threats without US assistance?
And how will European leaders address a potential public discontent?
Presenter: Elizabeth Puranam
Guests:
Analyst for defense Paul Beaver
Senior fellow at the Democratic Strategy Initiative, a political think tank, Aaron Gasch Burnett
London Pulse produced a determined display to move back to the top of the Netball Super League with a 58-48 win at Manchester Thunder.
Pulse were 17-10 in front after the first quarter but the hosts reduced the deficit to three points as the visitors led 27-24 at half-time.
However, Pulse stepped up their game and were 44-37 up at the end of the third quarter before going on to secure victory.
Olivia Tchine scored a game-high 27 goals for Pulse, while Elmere van der Berg scored 23 for the Thunder, who remain third with one round of fixtures to go before the play-offs.
“The second quarter, in particular, was a bit disappointing,” said London Pulse head coach Sam Bird.
“We just took our foot off the pedal a little bit. We just lost a little bit of focus. That is certainly something I want to be improving on.
“When they got their brains back together and they came out really hard I thought they did really well.
“It’s a difficult place to come. It’s really good for the players to play that well away.”
The three points meant Pulse are two points clear of second-placed Loughborough Lightning.
Both teams are guaranteed a top two finish and will contest the major semi-final in the play-offs with the winner going through to the final.
Loughborough Lightning had briefly gone top of the table with a dominant 79-58 win against London Mavericks on Friday.
Lightning, who have won three of the previous four Grand Finals, were in control throughout and opened a 23-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
That set the tone for the contest, with Samantha Wallace-Joseph finishing with 24 goals for the victors, and Ella Clark and Berri Neil also impressing with 14 and 13 goals respectively.
Emily Andrew contributed 24 goals for the fourth-placed Mavericks.
Birmingham Panthers won 75-69 in the opening match of the round on Thursday.
Acting legend Bruce Willis tried various things to carry on his 40-year acting career before his dementia forced him to retire, with a new book revealing all about his final films
Bruce Willis was determined not to give up his 40-year acting career, but sadly it wasn’t to be(Image: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock )
Hollywood legend Bruce Willis tried to carry on acting despite his dementia diagnosis, his wife reportedly claims in her upcoming book. The 70-year-old made his last on-screen appearances in action movies Assassin and the Detective Knight series in 2023.
It was in February of that year that his family made the heartbreaking announcement the actor – famous for films from Die Hard and Pulp Fiction to The Sixth Sense and Death Becomes Her – had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a rare form of the illness, at the age of 67.
Prior to this the Hollywood legend had been diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that causes speaking or the ability to understand language is impaired. It was this that led to his retirement from acting in 2022.
Since then he has lived out of the spotlight while he is cared for by his family, including wife of 16 years Emma, ex-wife Demi Moore and the three grown up daughters he shares with Demi – Rumer, 36, Scout, 33, and 31-year-old Tallulah.
READ MORE: Inside Bruce Willis’ reduced life now as tragically ‘nonverbal’ with around-the-clock care
Bruce with wife Emma (in red), ex-wife Demi and their three daughters back in 2019 (Image: Getty Images for goop)
But before his diagnosis was made public, it’s been revealed Bruce tried to find ways to solider on with his 40-year film career. In her new book – which is said to be a self-help book to help families going through the same thing, as well as a memoir – Bruce’s wife Emma opens up on life with the star as his condition has worsened.
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Australian news site News.com.au reports that Emma’s book, The Unexpected Journey, will reveal how the actor continued to work for so long despite his condition.
It reports: “Before making his condition public, Willis had found ways to soldier on with his acting. Having directors scale down his dialogue and getting a trusted friend to feed him his lines through an earpiece on films, such as Assassin and the Detective Knight series.”
At first the deterioration in Bruce’s health wasn’t immediately obvious to anyone as he’s always had a slower speech pattern due his lifelong stutter. This meant his inner circle were not immediately concerned when he began stumbling over his words a bit more than usual.
In a previous appearance on chat show Parkinson, he even joked: “It’s how I got my sense of humour, because I realised, yeah I stutter, but I could make people laugh by doing stupid stuff.
“I also learned that when I got on stage, I magically stopped stuttering. You can still hear a little bit of it in my voice. You’ll still hear that little pause in my voice while I catch myself and think about what I want to say next.”
But as his symptoms became worse, Bruce sadly had to withdraw from acting and public life altogether. His family have since shared he now requires round-the-clock care and is ‘non-verbal.’
Sharing details about her upcoming book – which will be released in September – on Instagram, Emma said: “I’m honoured to share the cover of my first book, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope and Yourself on the Caregiving Path.”
The 46-year-old continued: “Born from grief, shaped by love, and guided by purpose, this is the book I needed back when Bruce was first diagnosed and I was frozen with fear and uncertainty.
“This is the book I trust will help the next caregiver. It is filled with support, insight, and the hope needed to navigate this journey. This book is for all of us finding our way through the unknown with love, grit, and courage. You are not alone.”
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Emma Heming-Willis: The Unexpected Journey will be released on September 9 and is available to preorder now
READ MORE: Zara McDermott shares ‘unreal’ £30 hair waver that’s been creating her go-to summer hair
Devoted Coleen has told how her four boys inspired her to meet with displaced families suffering because of the years-long Russian invasion
Coleen Rooney today revealed she thought of her children as she made a mercy dash to meet bombed-out kids left devastated by Vladmir Putin’s bloodthirsty war in Ukraine.
The devoted mum, 39, told how she was inspired by her four boys – Kai, 15, Klay, 12, Kit, nine, and Cass, seven – as she jetted into Poland to meet families who fled their homes as the conflict erupted. And the former I’m A Celebrity… star, 39, revealed she thought of her adopted sister, Rosie, who died aged 14 in 2013 after a lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, as she met disabled refugee kids. The war in Ukraine has displaced families at a scale and speed not seen since World War Two.
READ MORE: Russia blames UK for Ukraine drone attack that ‘risks escalation to World War 3’
Coleen Rooney met with Ukrainian children who were displaced by Putin’s bloody war(Image: Jan Brykczyński / UNICEF)
Almost nine million people have fled into Poland since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 2022. And during a trip to a UNICEF Educational Rehabilitation School, Coleen met fitness coach Kateryna and her seven-year-old son, Murat, who has learning difficulties and is unable to speak.
They fled Nikolayev – the frontline of Volodymyr Zelenskyy defense against Putin’s brutal regime – and made a two-day bus trip of nearly 700 miles to find safety in Krakow.
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror about her encounter with stricken mothers forced from their homes, Coleen said: “As a mum, your first thought was what would you do? What goes through your mind is just to protect the children and make sure that they are OK. And that’s exactly what these mum’s were doing, they got out of Ukraine.
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“I spoke to one lovely mum, Kateryna, who said a tank blew up outside her house. They had their son behind double walls in the house so that if anything hit the house, they were protected by the outer wall.”
Coleen Rooney UNICEF High Profile Supporter (center) talks with Yuliia Karpenko (left) her daughter Anastasiia Karpenko and Yuliia’s sister Olisia Popadiuk (right from the back)(Image: Jan Brykczyński / UNICEF)
“She showed me videos of what was happening and that resonates with you, because of that protective instinct.” She added: “I can relate to being a mum and the first thing in that situation is to get out of danger, to just make sure the kids are OK. But I couldn’t imagine what was going through their heads, the emotions.”
Almost 1.6 million refugees are in Poland and around 90 per cent of them are women and children. Exclusive footage given to the Mirror shows children swarming over Coleen as she met children at a UNICEF centre catering for disabled youngsters.
Coleen said she grew up in an environment similar to the one some Ukrainian children are now going through(Image: Jan Brykczyński / UNICEF)
And today Coleen, who tied the knot with football legend Wayne Rooney, 39, in 2008, told how the trip evoked memories of her beloved younger sister, Rosie. Coleen said: “One of the schools was for children with disabilities. And I grew up in that environment, my sister went to a school like that.
“It was just like where they were, with music therapy, physiotherapy and all those things for the sensors. I felt so comfortable, it wasn’t a shock. That was probably the easiest visit of my time in Poland.”
Coleen said seeing children recuperating in Poland ‘wasn’t a shock’(Image: Jan Brykczyński / UNICEF)
“Because I’ve experienced that and I felt comfortable there.” Coleen also visited a Spilno Hub, in Krakow, which supports families who’ve fled the war, providing psycho-social support to help them deal with the horrors of war. She met Yuliia, her sister Olisia and Yuliia’s daughter Anastasiia – known as Nastia, aged four.
They have been in Krakow for three years, travelling from Kryvvi Rih on an evacuation train carrying just a backpack each. As they fled they turned their phones off to help them go undetected by missiles.
Coleen said artwork done by some of the displaced children was ‘upsetting to see’(Image: Jan Brykczyński / UNICEF)
Now Coleen has told how the trip helped “open her eyes” to the reality of war and the devastating impact it has. Coleen said: “I wouldn’t say it’s affected me, but it’s given me a big insight into what’s going on around the world and the aftermath. You know, you think it is over, it’s not. These people have been hit with trauma and it’s hard for them to move on.
“They’re doing what they can but it could affect them for their entire lives. That’s what struck me, we see things on the news, but we don’t think that much into it.”
The mum said she gained ‘big insight’ into the lives of displaced Ukrainians(Image: Jan Brykczyński / UNICEF)
“It was a real eye opener to see the disruption to people’s lives.” She added: “It’s quite a humbling thing to see.
“But I think the great thing is that despite the tragedies there are people that are willing to go above and beyond for people out there.”
Coleen and Wayne with their sons Kai, 14, Klay, 11, Kit, eight, and Cass, six
But despite the harrowing trauma suffered by children during the conflict, Coleen said the mental care they were receiving was paying dividends.
She added: “There was one place we visited and what really stuck with me was, they showed me all the artwork the children had done when they had initially arrived from Ukraine.
Coleen Rooney is a high-profile UNICEF supporter(Image: Jan Brykczyński / UNICEF)
“There were lots of dark colours and it was really quite moody and it was quite upsetting to see. But after being there for a while they clearly lifted and the artwork was full of lots of colour. The children have been receiving therapy and it shows that it really works.” Coleen visited Krakow with UNICEF to see how donations to the Soccer Aid charity game support refugee children.
Husband and ex-Man United and England legend Wayne is taking on a player-manager role alongside the likes of comedian Paddy McGuinness, Olympic hero Sir Mo Farah and One Direction star Louis Tomlinson.
Coleen joined some of the children during therapy sessions(Image: Jan Brykczyński / UNICEF)
Coleen said: “Soccer Aid is a big part of our family, it’s been a yearly thing in the calendar for the last, I don’t know how many years. And my boys love attending and Wayne obviously is involved so we’re looking forward to seeing him. And then my youngest Cass is going to be one of the mascots, so it’s a real family affair.”
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Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 will take place on Sunday June 15 at Old Trafford, and will be shown live exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
