Archive June 8, 2025

Cricket World Cup League 2: Scotland v Nepal, Forthill

Scotland 323-6 (50 overs): Berrington 102, Leask 96*; Singh Airee 2-37

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).

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.

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.

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.