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“By owning what I did and being given an opportunity to use my story as a massive educational lesson for the next generation, it’s kind of been worth it,” Lou Vincent says

AAP12-Oct-2025Former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent has swapped the pitch for the stage, addressing a conference in Melbourne about match-fixing.Just over ten years ago, Vincent was banned for life for his involvement in attempting to manipulate multiple matches around the world, including in England, South Africa, India and Bangladesh.Ahead of a Victoria Police symposium on Tuesday that will look at a range of integrity-related issues in sport, Vincent told AAP it’s not just international cricket that is susceptible to match-fixing, but any sport that is live-streamed.Related

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“It’s not so much just cricket, it’s all sports – you’ve got third grade soccer in New Zealand that nobody knows and you’ve got ten people watching but because it’s live-streamed on internet, it can be bet on,” Vincent said. “Anything that’s filmed and [is] live on the internet, they find a way to underground betting sites and anything can be bet on so it’s not so much just the professional sport, it’s the amateur sport.”That’s why we’ve got to do everything possible to protect corruption in all sports at all levels.”While sport governing bodies are doing their bit to educate their athletes, Vincent said nothing beat a first-person warning.”I’ve got a powerful message to the next generation and the future generation of sports players where they can easily be manipulated or corrupted into this dark underworld, which I’ve lived first-hand,” he said. “I pretty much destroyed my life, destroyed my career, destroyed my future in sport, but this is a small part of giving back, to help educate.”The biggest influence I can have and we can have in the sports integrity world is purely education and the more young athletes know about it, the more they’ll be aware of the signs and the people to avoid.”Having played 23 Tests – he scored a century against Australia on debut – and more than 100 ODIs, Vincent became involved in spot-fixing back in 2008 when he had lost his New Zealand contract.

“In a strange way, by owning what I did and being given an opportunity to use my story as a massive educational lesson for the next generation, it’s kind of been worth it”Lou Vincent

Signing up to play in the short-lived Indian Cricket League, he initially rebuffed offers from a bookmaker in a hotel room as a “down payment” and reported it. But the then 28-year-old then decided to take the next opportunity when approached by a team-mate, admitting greed as well as wanting a sense of belonging were motivating factors.”I was a prime target to be dragged in; a brotherhood who will look after you,” he said. “The league that we were playing in wasn’t sanctioned by the ICC, so how it was sold to me was like, these games we’re playing in, it’s not real cricket… so you’re not doing anything wrong and everybody’s doing it.”Vincent said a simple example of how he would spot-fix during a T20 match was to score between 10 and 15 runs off 20 balls, and then get out.With threats to his safety or that of his family, he described it as a “noose around his neck”, which only disappeared when he retired and came clean.Two years ago, the global life ban was partially relaxed and Vincent has been able to “participate” at the professional domestic level or below.Working as a builder in New Zealand, he said he would continue to make amends and share his story. “I’ve had to start life again and missed out on a career in a sport I love,” he said. “In a strange way, by owning what I did and being given an opportunity to use my story as a massive educational lesson for the next generation, it’s kind of been worth it.”

This improving Manchester United side was given more than just a fresh lick of paint over the summer, with the signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, in particular, breathing new life into Ruben Amorim’s ranks.

That said, for all the delight over Mbeumo, following his return of six goals in his first 12 United games, a key problem still needs to be solved – central midfield.

Casemiro, to his credit, has silenced the doubters amid his recent resurgence, although the Brazilian’s inability to last the full 90, alongside the lack of an adequate replacement for him, is becoming a growing problem.

Of the 20 goals conceded across the Premier League and Carabao Cup, 15 of those have come when the 33-year-old was not on the pitch, with Manuel Ugarte’s diminishing status highlighted by reports that he received a dressing down from his former Sporting CP boss at Carrington late last season.

With the more attack-minded Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo the only other senior central midfielders in the first-team ranks, hopes of the Red Devils kicking on surely rest in that department being addressed in 2026 – be it in January or next summer.

Adam Wharton, rising star at Crystal Palace, remains a leading target to fill that void – but is he the only solution?

Latest on Man Utd's interest in Adam Wharton

The frustration surrounding United’s errant recruitment in recent years is perhaps best pinpointed in the case of Wharton, with respected journalist Andy Mitten having revealed that the Old Trafford side were offered the chance to sign the elegant left-footer from Blackburn Rovers, prior to his move to Selhurst Park.

Unfortunately, the powers that be didn’t appear to see the merit in prising a relatively unproven teenage talent from the Championship, with Wharton going on to join Palace for a fee of around £20m in the 2024 winter window.

That investment has paid off handsomely for the Eagles, with the 21-year-old now a central figure in a side that claimed FA Cup glory last term, resulting in claims that the south London club had placed a £100m plus price tag on his head over the summer.

Amid parallel interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, reports in the recent window did suggest that Amorim and INEOS were keen on potentially reviving their prior interest in the England international, although the £250m outlay on their four actual signings likely put paid to that transfer chase.

Now, with January looming, United could go back again for the in-demand talent, with reports last month indicating that they are keen to steal a march on Real Madrid by making a £60m offer for his services.

Wharton, in an interview with The Athletic’s David Ornstein, has addressed such speculation, wisely suggesting that he pays little attention to the rumours:

Whether he actually wants to join or not, a problem still remains with the price tag that Palace could demand. With that in mind, might an in-house solution be the best bet for United’s sake?

Man Utd's answer to Wharton at Carrington

In the darkest of days in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, each manager has found a shining light from the academy set-up, be it Adnan Januzaj under David Moyes, to Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo under Erik ten Hag.

Surprisingly, Amorim – who helped to kickstart the career of 17-year-old Geovany Quenda in Lisbon – has thus far refrained from dipping into the youth ranks too readily, with this season yet to see the new boy wonder emerge.

Chido Obi, for what it’s worth, did make eight appearances last term amid United’s centre-forward injury crisis, although the Danish teenager hasn’t been seen since, with promising full-back Harry Amass also allowed to go out on loan after making his senior debut at the back end of 2024/25.

Tyler Fredricson

vs Wolves

20/04/25

Harry Amass

vs Leicester

16/03/25

Chido Obi

vs Spurs

16/02/25

Toby Collyer

vs Liverpool

01/09/24

Ethan Wheatley

vs Sheff Utd

24/04/24

Omari Forson

vs Wolves

01/02/2024

*in Premier League only

The lack of European involvement has been a factor in Amorim’s decision to overlook the young crop, with little need to rotate his side right now – not least amid this five-game unbeaten run.

Central midfield is one area the Portuguese coach does need to quickly address, however, hence why turning to a figure like Jim Thwaites could prove to be a masterstroke.

Still only 17, the dynamic midfielder is of slight frame and stature, although he has certainly caught the eye at Carrington of late, with recent comparisons even being made to the likes of Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.

Like Wharton, he isn’t an imposing physical specimen, yet Thwaites makes up for that with his eye-catching technical prowess, with analyst Ben Mattinson – now a scout for Serie A side Como – suggesting that he looks as if he’s “stepped out [of] La Masia”.

La Masia remains the birthplace of the best and brightest that Barcelona has to offer, from Xavi to Gavi, the Catalan outfit certainly know how to cultivate the next midfield star of the future.

Like those at Camp Nou – as well as Wharton – Thwaites has that ability to collect the ball from a deep-lying role in between the centre-backs, before either producing a progressive carry or pass to spring United into life.

Already this season, the rising star has scored twice and provided one assist from his ten U18 Premier League outings, as per Transfermarkt, a respectable haul considering he has operated as a number six in each of those appearances.

The Bolton-born maestro – who is set to turn 18 next month – is certainly not as far along in his development as Wharton, although amid the prospect of having to fork out over £100m for the latter man, INEOS could well do with starting to develop their own future superstars instead.

At a club renowned for its academy work in the past, United need to get things back on track again. Thwaites, while it’s still early days, might be the best place to start.

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Manchester United could have a wildcard solution to their midfield woes…

ByRobbie Walls Nov 13, 2025

Leeds United travel away from West Yorkshire and Elland Road to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Whites are looking to win back-to-back matches in the Premier League for the first time this season, after they beat West Ham United in their last outing.

Daniel Farke’s side won, thanks to goals from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon, and Anton Stach did not play a single minute of the match at Elland Road.

Why Leeds should unleash Anton Stach

Despite beating the Hammers, Leeds can improve on their performance from last time out because they failed to put the game out of sight for the away side, which led to a nervy ending when they pulled a goal back.

After Rodon’s goal, the Whites did not create a single chance that was worth more than 0.14 xG, per Sofascore, and they allowed West Ham to get back into the game, albeit they were able to hang on for all three points.

Stach, who did not get on the pitch, has proven that he can provide a threat at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position, with one goal, 1.8 key passes per game, and two ‘big chances’ created in eight appearances, per Sofascore.

The summer signing from Hoffenheim has shown that he can be a difference-maker with his individual quality, which could help Leeds to capitalise on a shaky Brighton defence that has conceded 15 goals in the Premier League.

Chalkboard

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

In order to bring Stach into the starting line-up, though, Farke would have to ruthlessly ditch Ao Tanaka, whose performances he has recently defended.

Why Leeds should drop Ao Tanaka

After the win over West Ham, the Japan international stated that he is “not good enough at the moment” and that he will be using these experiences to improve as a player.

Asked about Tanaka’s honest admission, Farke said: “He had a really good start to the season with us. I didn’t expect him to be man of the match [vs West Ham], being in his first match after injury back in the starting line up, but I think he was quite solid and showed a really, really good performance.”

In spite of his defence of the central midfielder’s comments and performance, the German head coach should drop the midfield maestro from the XI because Stach may be able to offer more quality against Brighton.

As you can see in the table above, Tanaka has struggled to influence games in the Premier League this season, as he has offered little in the final third whilst being dominated by opposition players physically.

The Japanese midfielder is seemingly still adjusting to the step up from the Championship, which is understandable, but Stach has shown that he can make an impact offensively and hold his own defensively in his eight starts in the division.

Given Brighton’s defensive struggles this season, conceding 15 goals in nine games, it could be the right time to bring the German central midfielder back into the starting line-up to give the Whites the best chance of causing their defence problems.

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By
Dan Emery

Oct 30, 2025

Therefore, Farke should ruthlessly drop Tanaka from the XI, despite his defence of the midfielder’s display against West Ham, because it may improve the team’s chances of winning this afternoon, given the context of the opposition.

The Los Angeles Dodgers put on a clinic in their first road game of the NLCS on Wednesday night, shutting out the New York Mets 8-0 to take a 2-1 series lead. There is still plenty of baseball left to be played, but the team to take a Game 3 in a knotted seven-game series gains an edge, to be sure.

Following the win, Fangraphs simulates that the Dodgers have a 77.6% chance of winning the LCS, up 15.8% from before Game 3.

In a shutout win with so many runs scored and eight runners left on base for New York, there's no shortage of people to credit, but the first people looked to are the pitching staff and offensive contributors. Shohei Ohtani (3) and Enrique Hernandez (2) both batted multiple runs in, while the five Dodgers pitchers (Walker Buehler starting) combined for a 0.889 WHIP.

Roberts made sure to credit catcher Will Smith, who will not get many of the headlines.

"This entire postseason I think Will Smith is doing a fantastic job catching the baseball, calling the game. Not trying to get too predictable, and appreciating the game score and all that stuff. He's done a great job with the starters, relievers. It was just game management."

Roberts specifically pointed to one of the crucial moments of Game 3 where Buehler struck Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor—who has one of New York's three RBI in this series—out in the second inning with the bases loaded. The pitch called was a knuckle curve, a pitch Buehler threw 16 times in Game 3. Here's how they panned out between 10 strikes and six balls:

Outcome

Swinging Strike

6

Called Strike

3

Foul

1

In Dirt

2

Called Ball

4

Here's how that seven-pitch at-bat against Lindor played out:

Pitch number

Pitch type

Velocity (MPH)

Outcome

1

Knuckle Curve

77.9

Ball

2

Fastball

95

Swinging Strike

3

Knuckle Curve

78.8

Swinging Strike

4

Knuckle Curve

78.2

Ball (dirt)

5

Fastball

95.1

Foul

6

Fastball

94.5

Ball

7

Knuckle Curve

78

Swinging Strike

Buehler and Smith attacked the at-bat with a mix of velocity and the slow, deceptive movement of the knuckle curve, oscillating back and forth. The clinching knuckle curve was precariously placed, close to middle-middle in the strike zone, but Lindor swang just over the top of it as the ball dropped. A gutsy call from Smith to be sure, but one that shows he had all the confidence in the world of Buehler's ability.

It also pushed the Mets' win probability down 8.2% to 27.9%, a massive at-bat for the second inning that positioned the Dodgers for success the rest of the night.

A number of decisions made by TV umpire Adrian Holdstock during the Barbados Test between West Indies and Australia have come in for scrutiny

Andrew McGlashan27-Jun-2025West Indies coach Daren Sammy has raised questions about the work of TV umpire Adrian Holdstock during the opening Test against Australia in Barbados after the second day’s play involved a number of contentious reviews.Sammy met with match referee Javagal Srinath after play on Thursday to seek clarity over the decision-making, adding that he held concerns about Holdstock’s officiating from the recent ODI series in England, where he was TV umpire for two matches and on-field for the other.The two key decisions which West Indies felt went against them on the second day were an lbw against captain Roston Chase off the bowling of Pat Cummins, despite what they believed was evidence of an inside edge, and Shai Hope being brilliantly caught behind by Alex Carey off Beau Webster with the catch ruled clean after it was sent upstairs by the on-field umpires.Related

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“We are just trying to find some sort of understanding as to what the process is,” Sammy said. “We only hope for consistency. That’s all we could ask for. When there is doubt in something, just be consistent across the board.”I have noticed, especially with this particular umpire, it’s something that for me started in England. It’s frustrating. I just ask for consistency in the decision-making.”When asked to clarify whether he was specifically referencing Holdstock, Sammy said: “Yeah, look, you don’t want to get yourself in a situation where you’re wondering about certain umpires. Is there something against this team? But when you see decision after decision, then it raises the question. I know he’s here for the series. You don’t want to go in a Test match having that doubt.”So I want to have that conversation as to the process… so we could be all clear. Because, at the end of the day, you don’t want to be going into a Test match not trusting the umpires. And that’s not what our team is about. So we’re just looking for some clarity as to the decisions.”Asked whether West Indies would be lodging a formal complaint, Sammy said, “You’ll have to wait and see for that.”

“We know the rules. We know fines going all across the board. I don’t want them [the players] to focus on that. Yes, we’re kind of shooting ourselves in the foot by dropping so many catches, but look at the Test match, [us] against our own selves, some of these decisions, and we’re still in a position to win”Daren Sammy

On Chase’s dismissal, which came at a crucial moment after lunch with the sixth-wicket stand with Hope on 67, he said: “In our opinion, we saw the ball deviated onto the pad.”With regards to Hope’s wicket, an inside edge that was held to his left by a diving Carey, Sammy did not say he did not believe it was a clean catch but drew a comparison with the reprieve Travis Head received on the first day when a catch taken by Hope behind the stumps was ruled to not have carried.”I’m just saying, judge what you see,” Sammy said. “If you see the same thing and one is not out, there is even more doubt on the other one than you give it out. Again, I don’t know what he’s seen but from the images that we’ve seen, the decisions are not fair enough for both teams. We’re all humans. Mistakes will be made. I just want fairness.”Australia also thought they had a decision go against them in the first over of the day when an lbw appeal against Chase was referred with the belief it was pad first, which initial replays suggested could be the case, before Holdstock determined there was insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision. Mitchell Starc questioned whether the images and audio on the replays were matching up.The Test is still in the balance with West Indies striking on the second evening after taking a lead of ten runs•Randy Brooks/Associated Press”There’s been some interesting ones,” Starc said. “Obviously a couple more have gone against the West Indies than us. One for us [against Chase] looked like there was a gap between the bat and the ball, it cost us 40-odd runs, but then a contentious one to then get the wicket.”As players, you can only ask a question. We don’t use the technology to make that decision. It sort of felt like, or looked like, that the Snicko and the images were out of sync to some capacity.”Starc added that the Australians thought that Head’s edge through to Hope the previous day was out.Sammy, meanwhile, was aware of the risk of commenting on the match officials and had not wanted his players speaking on the decisions after play. “We know the rules. We know fines going all across the board,” he said. “I don’t want them to focus on that. Yes, we’re kind of shooting ourselves in the foot by dropping so many catches, but look at the Test match, [us] against our own selves, some of these decisions, and we’re still in a position to win.”

There has been a general acceptance across the opening weeks of the 2025/26 season that Liverpool have not quite clicked into gear yet.

Arne Slot’s side have struggled to control games and win comfortably, instead drawing upon their deep-rooted winning mentality to come up trumps in the late stages of fixtures.

But against Crystal Palace in the Premier League last weekend, the Reds were on the receiving end of a last-minute winner, ending their flawless start. And in the Champions League on Tuesday night, in Istanbul, Liverpool were soundly beaten by Galatasaray.

Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have been pillars of strength for so many years for the Anfield side, but these veteran talismans need some support. They need some younger Liverpool superstars to step up and accept some responsibility.

Liverpool's leaders need more support

Much has been made of Liverpool’s defensive fragility this season, but the blame cannot be attributed to the captain. Van Dijk has been as redoubtable as ever at the rear, but he’s been failed by unpolished full-backs and an error-stricken partner in Ibrahima Konate, who was woeful once again against Galatasaray.

Salah is 33 years old, and he practically hauled Liverpool’s frontline to the Premier League title last season, scoring 34 goals and supplying 23 more across all competitions.

Yes, he’s not been at his sharpest or liveliest this season, but he hasn’t exactly been helped out by a fully functioning frontline and a robust and active build-up system behind him.

The Egyptian King was benched for the midweek European clash, but this shift mattered little as Liverpool toiled away and lacked any sense of fluency.

There was one man whose poor performance perhaps went under the radar, but whose performance was the most detrimental of the lot.

Ryan Gravenberch has been a revelation under Slot’s wing, but he suffered a truly wretched showing against Galatasaray.

Gravenberch's worst game under Slot

Gravenberch has been incredible since Slot replaced Klopp in the Liverpool dugout. The disparity in performance between the Dutchman’s first two terms in the Premier League bears testament to that.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

37 (37)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

4

Touches*

28.8

66.5

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.7

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.5

Total duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.0 (57%)

Already the 23-year-old has scored two goals and assisted one more in the Premier League this term, making gains in advancements and beginning to add an invaluable dimension to his game.

It goes without saying that Gravenberch, the 24/25 Hublot Young Premier League Player of the Year, is crucial to the Slot machine operating at full capacity.

And so it’s no surprise that his poor showing in Turkey directly impeded Liverpool in their build-up play and their control – or lack thereof – in the centre of the park.

Indeed, courtesy of data from Sofascore, Gravenberch lost 85% of his duels on the evening (five out of six), and failed to make even a tackle or interception in spite of the hosts’ relentless press.

He was hooked shortly after the hour mark. While Slot will have had one eye on the strip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday, it also begs the question as to whether the coach had seen enough and felt a tactical change was needed too.

Journalist Beth Lindop remarked only a few weeks ago that “he’s on par with Salah and Van Dijk as Liverpool’s most important players.”

This remains true, but perhaps shines a brighter light on his importance. If Gravenberch has an off-day, Liverpool are currently lacking the answers to overcome that ever-larger hurdle.

Not Isak: Liverpool star is their own version of Arsenal icon Thierry Henry

Liverpool have enjoyed incredible success with this talent in their mix.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 29, 2025

Mukesh Kumar bagged 4 for 33 for DC, who hit back after an 87-run opening stand

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Apr-2025Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) started well after being put in at the Ekana Stadium, but Mukesh Kumar led a remarkable Delhi Capitals (DC) fightback to restrict the hosts to 159 for 6. After being on 87 for 0 in the tenth over, LSG managed only 72 off the last ten.LSG captain Rishabh Pant didn’t walk out to bat until his team was five down, with just two balls left in their innings. After stepping out to his first ball and missing, he didn’t connect with a reverse-ramp next ball and ended up deflecting the ball back on to the stumps off his pads for a duck. Mukesh came away with figures of 4-0-33-4.Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh had dominated the powerplay, taking LSG to 51 for 0. It was Dushmantha Chameera, who was playing his first game of the season, who ended the opening stand on 87, when he had Markram holing out to sweeper cover for 52 off 33 balls.Having taken the new ball, Axar Patel bowled four overs on the trot, conceding 29 runs off them. This allowed him to backload Kuldeep Yadav’s overs. Kuldeep bowled the 11th, 13th, 15th and 17th, conceding 33 runs for no wickets.Mukesh struck twice in the 14th over, dismissing Abdul Samad (2), who was promoted to No. 4, and Marsh (45). Impact Player Ayush Badoni’s 36 off 21 balls gave LSG’s total a modicum of respectability before Mukesh cleaned him and Pant up in the last over. At the break, Badoni suggested that though the pitch was slow, 180 was the par score. At the toss, Axar had reckoned that dew would make conditions easier for batting during the chase.

Varun Chakravarthy and Vaibhav Arora join the logjam at third place among bowlers

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Apr-2025Orange Cap leaderboardLucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) Nicholas Pooran continues to be the top run-scorer with 189 runs at an average of 63.00 and a strike rate of 219.76. He scored 44 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) following returns of 75 from 30 balls against Delhi Capitals (DC) and 70 from 26 against SRH earlier.Gujarat Titans’ (GT) B Sai Sudharsan is in second position after his 49 off 36 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). In the earlier two games, Sudharsan had scores of 74 and 63. His overall tally – 186 – is just three short of Pooran’s.Next on the Orange Cap list is another GT batter: Jos Buttler. Batting at No. 3 this IPL season, Buttler scored a match-winning 73 not out off 39 balls on Wednesday night to steer GT’s chase. In all, he has 166 runs at a strike rate of 172.91.2:53

Boucher: Arora’s length and swing caused trouble

Purple Cap leaderboardNoor Ahmad continues to wear the Purple Cap in IPL 2025. Turning out for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who also have R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in their starting line-up, Noor has been by far the most successful, his left-arm wristspin bringing him 4 for 18, 3 for 36 and 2 for 28 so far. That’s nine wickets, five more wickets than Ashwin and Jadeja combined.Mitchell Starc is just one wicket behind Noor, with eight from just two games for DC. He was expensive in his first game, against LSG, conceding 42 runs for his three wickets, but against SRH, he had his career-best T20 returns – 5 for 35.There’s a six-way tie for the third spot. Varun Chakravarthy and Vaibhav Arora picked up three wickets each for KKR against SRH, taking their tally for the tournament to six. They have joined four others for third place: GT’s R Sai Kishore, RCB’s Josh Hazlewood, LSG’s Shardul Thakur and CSK’s Khaleel Ahmed.Highest batting strike rates
Best bowling economy rates
Most sixes
Best bowling figures in a match

Devon Conway played the perfect support act to the charging Kane Williamson, the pair producing New Zealand’s highest ODI partnership against South Africa

Firdose Moonda10-Feb-2025

New Zealand have qualified for the Pakistan Tri-Nation Series final after completing the third-highest successful chase in Lahore to beat an under-strength South Africa by six wickets. The result means the next match, between Pakistan and South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday, is a knockout.Kane Williamson and Devon Conway, both back in New Zealand’s ODI squad for the first time since the 2023 World Cup, scored 133 not out and 97 respectively and shared in a record partnership for New Zealand against South Africa (187). Conway’s score was the first time he crossed fifty since the opening match of the 2023 World Cup, 11 innings ago. Williamson’s century was his first in 22 innings, dating back to his 148 against West Indies in Manchester in the 2019 World Cup. It was also Williamson’s second fastest ODI hundred, off 72 balls. Between them, the pair eclipsed a remarkable achievement by Matthew Breetzke, who became the player with the highest individual score on ODI debut – 150 – and the fourth South African to score a century in his first match.Breetzke accounted for just under a half of South Africa’s total, which is the first indication of where things went wrong for them. They scored too slowly in the middle of the innings, especially given the flat nature of the track. The second issue was a severely uninspired attack, albeit not a first-choice one. Three of the bowlers – Eathan Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy and Mihlali Mpongwana – were on ODI debut and could be forgiven but lack of punch from Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi, who conceded 116 in 16 overs between them will be a concern ahead of the Champions Trophy.Devon Conway brought up his half-century off 64 balls•PCB

South Africa have now lost five ODIs in a row, their longest losing streak in 20 years, but have played all their matches without a full strength side. While they’re unlikely to have too many positives to take from this defeat, they may console themselves with the knowledge that, Rachin Ravindra aside, New Zealand were at full strength and played like it.After choosing to bowl first in the only day game of the series, New Zealand struck early when Will O’Rourke bounced Temba Bavuma out as he edged a pull. Bavuma had looked confident for his 23-ball 20 but New Zealand’s O’Rourke’s consistent and aggressive approach with the short ball paid off.Breetzke and Jason Smith combined for a second-wicket stand of 93 but their scoring rate of 5.31 runs to the over was testament to New Zealand’s squeeze. South Africa struck only two fours and three sixes in the 17 overs between Bavuma’s dismissal and Smith’s run-out, as they tried to take on Mitchell Santner but were largely kept quiet. In that time, Breetzke brought up fifty off 68 balls.A perfect start to Matthew Breetzke’s ODI career went in vain•AFP/Getty Images

When Smith was run-out, New Zealand had an opportunity to get into an inexperienced middle order and they took it. Kyle Verreynne tried to reverse-sweep the fourth ball he faced, missed and was bowled by Michael Bracewell. Another quiet period followed, in which South Africa only hit one boundary in 11 overs, as the combination of Ben Sears, Bracewell and Matt Henry stuck to their disciplines.South Africa were 196 for 3 entering the last 10 overs and 280 looked a distance away. Breetzke took it on himself to get them there. He dispatched O’Rourke through deep third to bring up his century off 128 balls in the 41st over, and then put foot down. His next fifty runs came off 19 balls as he brought out his full range. His 150 came in an over where he hit Sears for 20.Just as it seemed Breetzke could be eyeing a double, he mis-read a Henry slower ball and was caught at mid-off. Wiaan Mulder, who had largely operated as a spectator to that point, had the responsibility to finish off the innings but was fortunate to have an inside-edge trickle away for four before he established some control. He reached his second ODI fifty with a crunching cover drive off Henry, off the 54th ball he faced, and took South Africa over 300 with a four through short fine in the penultimate over. South Africa got only four runs off their final eight balls.Eathan Bosch celebrates after getting rid of Will Young for his first ODI wicket•Associated Press

It was not enough. New Zealand built slowly but got ahead of the required run rate just after the halfway stage of their innings and were in full control from there. They had only lost Will Young at that point, for 19, though he should have been out for 6 in the third over. Smith dropped Young at backward point off Ngidi but the miss did not prove too costly.His dismissal brought Conway and Williamson together and there was one nervy moment, when Williamson inside-edged Junior Dala past Verreynne but he soon settled into a rhythm and put on a masterful display of run-scoring, all around the wicket. His wagon wheel was almost entirely symmetrical, with 67 runs on the off side and 66 on the leg side and the highlights included four strong cut shots and a creative ramp over Verreynne as he leaned back to an Ngidi delivery.Equally, Williamson’s pacing of his innings was perfect. He gave himself time to get in, all while scoring at a run-a-ball, and then took over the more dominant role from Conway, who got to fifty first. Conway’s half-century came off 64 balls, before Williamson’s reached his, off 44 balls, with a massive six over mid-on off Shamsi. It was also Williamson’s fourth successive fifty-plus ODI score in Pakistan. He took a liking to Mpongwana and Ngidi’s short-balls while Conway took on Shamsi and South Africa had no answers.Kane Williamson is a fan favourite in Lahore as well•AFP/Getty Images

Williamson got to his century in the 34th over with a single off Dala. Conway was not far behind and eager to get there but, when he was on 97, he tried to cut Dala past point and found Muthusamy, who moved to his left and took the catch.Muthusamy was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers and dismissed Daryl Mitchell, thanks to a stunning catch from Mulder at long-on, and Tim Latham off successive balls but Glenn Philipps partnered Williamson to the end. Williamson hit the winning runs in the 49th over, to give New Zealand victory with eight balls to spare.

Trent Alexander-Arnold pulled up injured just three minutes into Real Madrid's Champions League clash with Marseille on Tuesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu. The English full-back, handed his Champions League debut in the white jersey by head coach Xabi Alonso, lasted just three minutes before pulling up in pain.

From dream start to disaster

Alexander-Arnold had barely broken into stride when disaster struck. Sprinting forward with the ball, he suddenly clutched at his left hamstring. The look on his face said it all, another cruel twist for a player who has had rotten luck since swapping Merseyside for Madrid.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLimping off but no stretcher

Alexander-Arnold sank to the turf, grimacing and shaking his head in disbelief. But in a small mercy for the fans, he managed to walk off on his own, declining a stretcher and showing at least some signs of mobility.

Alonso's rotation plans in tatters

Alonso has been keen to rotate his full-backs this season, giving Carvajal and Alexander-Arnold two La Liga starts apiece in the opening four fixtures. The plan was to keep legs fresh, competition fierce, and options plentiful across all competitions. But that strategy is now under threat. Carvajal, a club stalwart and academy graduate, has once again shown why prising the role away from him is near-impossible. With Alexander-Arnold sidelined, the Spaniard has a grip on the starting spot.

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AFPA blow to Trent's new chapter

For Alexander-Arnold, the timing could not be worse. Moving from Liverpool to Real Madrid was meant to be the fresh start to supercharge his career. Instead, his Bernabeu story has already hit a stumbling block. The full-back has shown flashes of his trademark passing range and attacking instincts, but the sheer presence of Carvajal has prevented him from truly planting his flag in Spain. This latest setback leaves him scrambling to prove his worth all over again.