Archive August 24, 2025

Old Trafford’s Hundred women’s competition, and Old Trafford

Birmingham Phoenix 111-3 (100 balls): Perry 55* (48), Kalis 43* (39)

Manchester Originals 95 (100 balls): Smale 29 (34), Schutt 3-14

Birmingham Phoenix defeated Birmingham by 16 runs.

After falling to Birmingham Phoenix by 16 runs at Old Trafford, Manchester Originals’ chances of making it to the women’s team were hampered.

The Originals lost four powerplay wickets before being bowled out for 95 in what should have been a routine chase of 112.

After earlier lowering Birmingham Phoenix to 17-3, they were left disappointed that they had missed out on opportunities to dismiss Ellyse Perry and Sterre Kalis, who had combined for an unbeaten 94-run fourth-wicket partnership to avenge a match-winning total.

The Originals, who have never previously advanced beyond the women’s group stage, knew that a top-three finish would come after their final two matches.

The Originals have since lost four points, falling behind London Spirit in terms of net run-rate and trailing second-placed Northern Superchargers by four points in Headingley on Tuesday.

Before Perry and Kalis combined to rebuild their side’s innings, Phoenix lost three wickets in 30 balls, with Georgia Voll, Emma Lamb, and Amy Jones all missing for single-figure knocks and Mahika Gaur taking 1-5 from her 15 powerplay deliveries.

Perry had to have been stumped on eight balls to get her second half-century in as many games. Meanwhile, Alis capitalized on Beth Mooney’s 13-point drop to score 43 (39).

The Originals responded with a terrible start, with Kathryn Bryce needlessly being run out on the third inning. After being caught for a four-ball duck, Megan Schutt (3-14), Alice Monaghan and Melie Kerr both left the batting line with a score of 14-4.

The Originals’ slim chances of winning were lost when the big-hitting Deandra Dottin was caught by Ailsa Lister for 13 on the boundary.

Sophia Gardens, The Hundred women’s competition

Trent Rockets 145-6 (100 balls): Sciver-Brunt 38 (26), Davies 3-26

Welsh Fire 122-9 (100 balls): Dunkley 26 (23), King 3-17

By 23 runs, Trent Rockets won.

Welsh Fire’s 23-run victory over Trent Rockets kept their flimsy qualification hopes alive in the Sophia Gardens women’s competition.

The Rockets are now just four points outside of the top three heading into their final group game against Phoenix on Wednesday, combined with the defeat of the Manchester Originals.

Rockets successfully defended a close call at 145-6 while Fire, who had already lost, struggled to find partners in their 122-9 reply.

They were perplexed by the world-class spinners Ash Gardner and Alana King, both of whom took five wickets each.

With 3-17, Leg-spinner King seized control and turn from the Cardiff surface, while Gardner’s relentless accuracy saw her smash the key wickets of Hayley Matthews and Sophia Dunkley.

With 20 balls left, the Rockets were set for a formidable total of 120-2, but Fire regained some control as both set batters dropped in six balls, Sciver-Brunt scoring 38 and Gardner finishing with 36.

At the end of the third ball, Freya Davies took two wickets in two balls, but despite their strong fightback, the result was far too much for a batting line-up that had had a difficult campaign.

London Spirit will need to beat Oval Invincibles at 15:00 BST to increase their top-three hopes in the women’s competition, which is a crucial day for them as they aim to do so.

At 18:30 BST, Invincibles has already confirmed a spot in the knockouts, and Spirit has already left.

Despite being substituted early in the Gunners’ 5-0 win over Leeds United, scans on Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard suggested neither had sustained long-term injuries.

Saka left the field with a rumored hamstring injury in the second half while Captain Odegaard was forced to miss the first half due to a shoulder injury.

Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his concern after the game that Saka’s injury was “significant,” but sources have since said neither player will be ruled out for a significant amount of time.

Saka missed four months due to a serious right hamstring injury last season, but the problem was resolved in Saturday’s game.

Kai Havertz has been sidelined with a knee injury, but Arsenal quickly recovered with the signing of Eberechi Eze for £60m from Crystal Palace.

Due to injury, Havertz, Christian Norgaard, and Gabriel Jesus also had to miss the game against Leeds.

Sophia Gardens’ Hundred men’s competition

Welsh Fire 150-6 (100 balls): Eskinazi 53 (42), Cook 2-17

Trent Rockets 152-7 (99 balls): Root 64* (41), Green 2-34

Trent Rockets won by three wickets.

Trent Rockets won the match against Welsh Fire 2-0 thanks to Joe Root’s sublime 64 not out, clinching their place in the Hundred men’s standings.

With 25 balls left, Rockets were cruising at 151, but they lost five wickets for 20 runs as Fire’s bowlers dragged themselves back into contention.

With 14 needed from 5, David Payne made Fire the favorites after Marcus Stoinis and David Willey were required to score 18 from 10 balls for the visitors.

Sam Hain scored the winning runs with a ball with no trouble as Root held his nerve and whacks a six and a four to regain control.

With their victory, Rockets moved into contention with the top three teams and defeated the rest, joining Northern Superchargers and Oval Invincibles at the top of the table.

Payne had Root caught at point from the fourth ball of the innings when he was yet to score, but the third umpire confirmed that the seamer had decisively overstepped. Fire were left to rue this.

Tom Banton’s 32 was the next highest contribution, with four four fours and three sixes remaining from Root’s 41-ball knock remaining chanceless.

Before that, Fire’s own innings sprang into question as they sprinted around a run per ball for the first 60 deliveries, with both Jonny Bairstow and Steve Smith both falling early for eight.

Opening batsman Stephen Eskinazi added 97 for the third wicket with Tom Abell as he recovered his knock, taking 53 from 42 balls, including a six off David Willey, which cleared the Sophia Gardens pavilion.

At the end of the inning, Fire struggled to get started without a set batter as the pair fell in consecutive balls.

The table toppers advance straight to the final on August 31; however, the final standings of the men’s table are still to be determined.

London Spirit will need to beat Oval Invincibles at 15:00 BST to increase their top-three hopes in the women’s competition, which is a crucial day for them as they aim to do so.

At 18:30 BST, Invincibles have already confirmed a spot in the knockouts, and Spirit has already been eliminated.

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (6) 23

Tries: Flanagan, Gagai, and McGowan.

Warrington (10) 10

With a defeat at Huddersfield Giants, Warrington Wolves’ chances of winning the Super League play-off ended in a potentially fatal blow.

The hosts took control through Aidan McGowan’s try in a game filled with twists and turns.

Warrington came out in front 10-6 at halftime thanks to Connor Wrench and Toby King.

A George Flanagan try double, a Jacob Gagai try, and an Oliver Russell drop-goal gave Huddersfield the lead.

When McGowan crossed in the corner, the Giants rose to victory despite being under early pressure.

The video referee overturned a first-time no-try decision, concluding that Flanagan’s superb work and timely conversion from a challenging angle had resulted in a fair grounding.

After Marc Sneyd’s forward kick, Warrington responded when Flanagan lost the ball to Wrench on the line. Before Sneyd failed to convert from close range, the video referee gave an official confirmation of the decision.

In a fifth game in a row against Huddersfield, Matt Dufty, back in the Wolves side, fed King with the extras, turning the situation around.

The hosts early in the second half forced Warrington to retreat, but they kept fighting back. Russell’s searching kick on the line was effectively cut out by Wrench as Gagai persisted intently.

After some brilliant improvisation, Gagai crossed for his 10th try of the season 15 minutes from time. Flanagan missed his kick, giving him the lead.

The Giants’ desire was only fueled by that failure, though. When Gagai fed Flanagan, who drove over the line before turning in his own try, they saw an opportunity and seized it.

I’m extremely pleased with how they went about it. We had a little trouble moving the ball, which was disappointing. We were always going to be a little clunky, but I applauded everyone’s efforts and drive, and we succeeded.

Ollie Russell doesn’t play, which is a fact. “We don’t win the game.” When young children aren’t ready, I don’t want them. The club supported my decision to bring him back, and that drop-goal was a really nice decision.

Interchanges: Burgess, English, Wilson, and Golding

Warrington: Dufty, Jake Thewis, Wrench, King, Josh Thewis, Williams, Sneyd, Yates, Walker, Matterson, Stone, Fitzgibbon, and others. Currie

Thomas, Powell, Holroyd, Harrison, and others.

US Open 2025

Dates: August 24 through September 7 in Flushing Meadows, New York

Emma Raducanu defeated Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara to claim her first US Open victory since her unforgettable 2021 title triumph.

On the day of the New York hard-court Grand Slam, British tennis champion Raducanu won 6-1, 6-2. In just 62 minutes, Raducanu was able to claim a 6-1, 6 6-2 victory.

It was her quickest Grand Slam main-draw victory to date.

Although there was little guidance or input required, Rafael Nadal’s new coach Francisco Roig, who helped him win 22 major titles, led the vocal support from her courtside box.

It’s my first victory here since 2021, according to Raducanu.

As a teenage qualifier, 22-year-old Raducanu had previously been burdened by her return to the scene where she shocked the world.

In addition to missing the 2023 tournament due to injury, the 2022 and 2024 opponents faced second-round defeats.

She returns to Flushing Meadows this year with improved form and renewed energy.

Due to her extensive injuries over the past four years and the mental strain of such intense attention, Raducanu has only just begun to consider the US Open as her “happy place.”

Raducanu has transformed her body since arriving in New York last weekend, particularly when she competed alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the revamped mixed doubles competition.

She believes she can fulfill her potential on it best by feeling more at ease and carefree off the court.

As a result of her straightforward victory over Shibahara, the 130th-ranked player quickly settled down as Louis Armstrong Stadium was whipped around by gusty winds.

A strong statement of intent from Raducanu set the stage for a dominant opening set that she finished in 26 minutes by fizzing serve wide.

Raducanu struggled to recover from her opponent’s lack of quality, despite her well-moving and few unforced errors.

As her baseline game sank, Shibahara, who is only in her second Grand Slam main draw, suffered four of her seven break points and made 36 errors.

On her increasingly threatening serve, Raducanu, who played cleanly from the back court, was barely troubled.

In the second round, Raducanu will face either Janie Tjen, an Indonesian qualifier, or Veronika Kudermetova, a Russian 24th seed.