Sciver-Brunt ton, Ecclestone four-for help England brush aside Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka put in a spirited display, but couldn’t stop England from going top of the table

Madushka Balasuriya11-Oct-2025

Nat Sciver-Brunt brought up a scintillating century•ICC/Getty Images

Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 10th WODI hundred and a four-wicket haul from Sophie Ecclestone helped England brush past a spirited if flawed Sri Lankan side in Colombo completing a dominant 89-run win, as they made it three wins in three at the World Cup – and with it go top of the group. It was Sri Lanka’s second defeat in as many games, though they have a point on board courtesy their washed out game against Australia.Here, Sri Lanka were up against it with just 17 runs on the board when Chamari Athapaththu was stretchered off the ground after she pulled up with what looked like hamstring strain in the sixth over of the chase. It was later revealed to be nothing more than cramps impacting her right calf, allowing her to bat later in the innings, but at that point Sri Lanka might have been fearing the worst.As it transpired the rest of Sri Lanka’s top order responded admirably. Vishmi Gunaratne struck consecutive boundaries off Lauren Bell to kickstart the chase, but before she could do any real damage she was done in by a ripper from Charlie Dean, turning sharply through bat and pad.This brought Harshitha Samarawickrama to join Hasini Perera in the middle, and the pair set about stitching together Sri Lanka’s best partnership of the innings – 58 off 66. During this period, you wouldn’t have blamed the boisterous crowd, one filled with several young fans, from entertaining thoughts of a famous victory.Sri Lanka had moved to 89 for 1 after 18 overs by the time Ecclestone – the number one ranked bowler in WODIs – was brought into the attack, but it wasn’t until her second over that she would begin to tighten her stranglehold on the game.The first to go was Perera, who chipped one to straight to mid-on. That over would be a wicket maiden – one of three maidens she would bowl – as Ecclestone proceeded to almost singlehandedly end Sri Lanka’s chase.Sophie Ecclestone derailed Sri Lanka’s chase•ICC/Getty Images

Such was her impact she ended up bowling her entire 10 overs in a single spell, during the course of which she picked up the wickets of pretty much the entire Sri Lankan top order.Samarawickrama was the next to fall, top edging a sweep off Ecclestone to short fine. Kavisha Dilhari then missed an arm ball, before arrived the coup de grace – one that dipped and turned, luring the recovered Athapaththu into a drive, before turning it viciously through bat and pad to crash into the stumps.That last wicket silenced the crowd for good, and the remaining wickets fell with little fuss – even Sciver-Brunt was able to get in on the action, rounding out her day with the wickets of Anushka Sanjeewani and Dewmi Vihanga. Sri Lanka eventually folded for 164.It was the proverbial icing on the cake for Sciver-Brunt who had earlier been on a one-woman mission to help her side overcome a tough pitch and Sri Lanka’s army of spinners.England were helped by a host of misfields littered throughout their innings, though perhaps the defining moment occurred in the 14th over.Sciver-Brunt was on three at the time, when she whipped one from Inoka Ranaweera hard and straight to Udeshika Prabodhani at midwicket, who just couldn’t hold on. It was the only drop of the innings, but ended up costing Sri Lanka north of 100 runs.England had started strong, going at around five an over in the opening powerplay, thanks to Tammy Beaumont’s 32 off 29, but an ill-advised single saw the back of Amy Jones before Beaumont herself sliced one high to point.From that point on though Sciver-Brunt was the common denominator as England strung together a spate of partnerships through the middle overs.Nat Sciver-Brunt gave the England innings momentum•Getty Images

The highest was 60 from 73 between Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight, a stand that had threatened to take the game away from Sri Lanka as the pair worked the field expertly, utilising deft sweeps and dabs, allied with calculated risks over the infield.The partnership was broken against the run of play as Knight gloved a reverse-sweep to slip. It was given not out on the field, but keeper Sanjeewani petitioned heavily for the review to be taken – and it was eventually, with just two seconds on the clock.That wasn’t Sanjeewani’s only intervention, as she also effected two sharp stumpings and helped complete a run out, in what was a consummate day out.Like against India, Ranaweera once more shifted the momentum of the innings, this time through a jarring intervention in the 35th over. Emma Lamb was first bowled around her legs, before a sharp bit of glove work from Sanjeewani saw Alice Capsey short of her crease after she had been deceived in the flight.Suddenly from 141 for 3 in the 31st over, England found themselves 168 for 6 a little over three overs later.Prior to this England had been eyeing up a total in excess of 270 but just as they had been looking to accelerate, they had to hold back. It meant that between the 40th and 48th over just two boundaries were struck, as England and Sciver-Brunt prioritised inching the total up to decent territory, if not imposing.The first real show of intent at the death came in the penultimate over, when Sciver-Brunt struck a sumptuous inside-out six over extra cover – to bring up her century – and followed it up with another loft down the ground.The final two overs brought more runs, as England struck 28 runs in that patch to boost their total past the 250-mark, and in the end it proved to be more than enough.

RB Bragantino x Flamengo: onde assistir ao vivo, escalações e horário do jogo pelo Brasileirão

MatériaMais Notícias

RB Bragantino e Flamengo se enfrentam neste sábado (4), pela quinta rodada da Série A do Brasileirão. A bola vai rolar a partir das 18h30 (de Brasília), no Nabizão, em Bragança Paulista (SP), com transmissão do Premiere.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalpites de HojePalpite: Bragantino x Flamengo – Campeonato Brasileiro – 4/5/2024Palpites de Hoje04/05/2024FlamengoPressionado no Flamengo, Tite busca novas soluções para amenizar crise e quebrar tabu diante do BragantinoFlamengo04/05/2024NotíciasZebra Rubro-Negra! Aposte R$100 e ganhe R$243 se o Flamengo vencer o BragantinoNotícias03/05/2024

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Na última rodada do Brasileirão, o Flamengo foi derrotado pelo Botafogo, enquanto o Bragantino empatou com o Fortaleza.

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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
RB BRAGANTINO X FLAMENGO
BRASILEIRÃO SÉRIE A – QUINTA RODADA

🗓️ Data e horário: sábado, 4 de maio de 2024, às 18h30 (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Nabizão, em Bragança Paulista (SP)
📺 Onde assistir: Premiere
🟨 Árbitro: Paulo Cesar Zanovelli da Silva (FIFA-MG)
🚩 Assistentes: Guilherme Dias Camilo (FIFA-MG) e Celso Luiz da Silva (MG)
🖥️ VAR: Daniel Nobre Bins (FIFIA-RS)

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⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
RB BRAGANTINO (Técnico: Pedro Caixinha)
Cleiton; Nathan Mendes, Pedro Henrique, Eduardo Santos e Juninho Capixaba; Jadsom, Eric Ramires e Gustavo Neves; Vitinho, Mosquera e Eduardo Sasha

FLAMENGO (Técnico: Tite)
Rossi, Wesley, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira e Ayrton Lucas; Allan, Igor Jesus, Gerson e De la Cruz; Pedro e Bruno Henrique

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BCB elections on October 6; Tamim accuses board president of 'interference'

Tamim Iqbal is standing for election himself; new BCB president will serve four-year term

Mohammad Isam21-Sep-2025

Tamim Iqbal: ‘Elections should be open and fair for everyone’•AFP via Getty Images

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) elections will be held on October 6, the board’s election commission announced on Sunday. The general members body, known as the councillors, will elect 23 of the 25 board directors, and the BCB president will be elected from that pool of 25 to serve a four-year term.The announcement was made less than an hour after former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal accused BCB president Aminul Islam of “interference” in the election process.Tamim, who recently announced he was standing for election, held a press conference in Dhaka along with several other aspirants and former BCB directors. He said Aminul’s signed letter, dated September 18, instructing the country’s sports secretary that he has extended the deadline for nomination submission, was a unilateral decision taken by the board president.”The election commission is in charge since their appointment, which in this case was from September 6,” Tamim said. “The BCB president extended the deadline for nomination submission twice. The deadlines for submitting nominations were first set for September 17. He extended it to September 19, and then September 22. The second extension was signed off by the president himself, which is highly irregular. The BCB’s chief executive is supposed to send out these letters, but he didn’t issue the letter for the second extension. The president signed off the letter.”Tamim alleged the BCB’s constitution was violated when the board representatives from the country’s eight divisions and 64 districts were nominated by an ad-hoc committee, rather than seasoned sports organisers being nominated. “Typically, in districts and divisions, those involved in sports can nominate councillors through the district administration. This has been the practice for many years. But this time, an ad-hoc committee was formed and only its approval would be valid for nominations.”It isn’t mentioned in the BCB’s constitution. Moreover, we have seen people being removed from or added to the ad-hoc committee at will. If elections are conducted this way, it is no longer an election but a selection. Elections should be open and fair for everyone.”Tamim urged the authorities to respect the original councillors’ list. “I hope that those declared as councillors on September 17 remain unchanged. There should be no modifications. Cricket must remain for everyone – not for a specific person or group. I hope the election is impartial and free from interference.”According to the election schedule, the draft voter list will be published on September 22, followed by the final list on September 25.The election will have three categories. In the first, ten directors will be elected from the divisions and districts in the country. In the second category, 12 directors will be elected from the representatives of the Dhaka clubs. In the third category, one director will be elected from a pool of former cricketers, national captains, security forces, and councillors nominated by the National Sports Council. The Bangladesh government will also select two directors to sit on the board.

The new Alexis: Arsenal ready to spend £80m to sign "world-class superstar"

Although they have yet to win the Premier League since leaving Highbury, Arsenal have had some sensational players represent them at the Emirates Stadium.

The likes of Mesut Özil, Cesc Fàbregas, and more recently Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were, or are, world-class internationals, but perhaps the best of them all was Alexis Sanchez.

The former Barcelona star might have sullied his reputation among the fans by joining Manchester United in 2018, but during his time in North London, he was practically unplayable and racked up a monster tally of 124 goal involvements in 166 games.

So, fans should be seriously excited about reports linking Arsenal with another international superstar who could be their new Sanchez.

Arsenal target another Sanchez

Unlike last season, Arsenal aren’t finding it too difficult to score goals this year, with four players on four or more goals across all competitions this season.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, injuries have once again become a problem, and while Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have stepped up this year, it would be unwise for Arteta and Co to solely rely on them to hold down the left flank for the rest of the campaign.

It seems that the club share this opinion, as they now appear ready to go all in for a potentially game-changing Sanchez-esque winger in the winter window.

At least that is according to reports from Spain, which claim Arsenal have maintained a significant interest in Rodrygo.

In fact, the report goes further than that, revealing that as things stand, the Gunners are ready to spend €90m on the Real Madrid star, which is about £80m.

It won’t be an easy deal to get over the line, particularly with Liverpool and Chelsea supposedly interested, but it’s one worth pursuing, especially as Rodrygo could be another Sanchez-type signing for Arsenal.

Why Rodrygo would be another Sanchez

Now there are more than a handful of apparent similarities between Rodrygo and Sanchez, with one of the biggest being where they’d be coming from were the former to join Arsenal.

Real Madrid's Rodrygo looks on

Like the Chilean superstar, the Brazilian international would be coming from one of Spain’s big two, and more than that, he would be leaving a side where he’s a bit-part player to become a leading figure at the Emirates.

Furthermore, while he has spent a lot of time on the right, he, like the former Barça star, is primarily a left-sided attacker, and that’s where he’d play in North London.

And finally, if Arteta can get the best out of him, the 24-year-old could have a similar game-changing effect on the Gunners’ attack.

After all, while he’s not having the best of seasons this year, he has been incredible for Real in the past, and were he platformed correctly out on the left, he could elevate Arteta’s attack.

Rodrygo’s Real Record

Appearances

283

Starts

181

Minutes

16512′

Goals

68

Assists

53

Goal Involvements per Match

0.42

Minutes per Goal Involvement

136.46′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, even though he has been forced onto the right for much of the last two years or so, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has amassed a tally of 68 goals and 53 assists in 283 appearances, totalling 16512 minutes.

In other words, the former Santos gem has averaged a goal involvement every 2.33 games, or every 136.46 minutes for Los Blancos.

Moreover, he has scored 25 goals and provided 16 assists in 67 Champions League games, with eight of those goals coming in the knockouts.

Ultimately, while he is not having a great season, Rodrygo’s immense talent and ability to turn games around are undeniable.

Therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to sign him in the winter window, as he could be another Sanchez-type signing.

تشكيل ليفربول المتوقع أمام آيندهوفن اليوم في دوري أبطال أوروبا

يخوض فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي مباراة في دوري أبطال أوروبا 2025-2026، مساء اليوم الأربعاء، حيث يواجه آيندهوفن الهولندي.

ويستقبل ملعب “آنفيلد” مواجهة الفريقين، ويستقبل ليفربول نظيره آيندهوفن، ضمن مباريات الجولة الخامسة لمرحلة الدوري بدوري أبطال أوروبا.

طالع | تشكيل ليفربول الرسمي أمام آيندهوفن في دوري أبطال أوروبا.. موقف محمد صلاح

وسيكون مركز الظهير الأيمن هو ما يشغل المدرب آرني سلوت، ويتواجد جو جوميز مع ليفربول، لكن حسب ما أوضح المدرب اضطر لتلقي حقنة في ركبته خلال الأسبوع الماضي.

وأكد سلوت خلال مؤتمره الصحفي قبل المباراة، أنه سيعتمد على لاعبه دومينيك سوبوسلاي، لكن لم يحدد مركزه بدقة. تشكيل ليفربول المتوقع أمام آيندهوفن اليوم

حراسة المرمى: أليسون بيكر.

خط الدفاع: جو جوميز، إبراهيما كوناتي، فيرجيل فان دايك، روبريتسون.

خط الوسط: ريان جرافينبرخ، ماك أليستر، دومينيك سوبوسلاي.

خط الهجوم: محمد صلاح، هوجو إيكتيكي، كودي جاكبو.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

Perfect for Bruno: Man Utd preparing club-record bid for "world-class" star

Manchester United supporters have for so long been used to countless levels of success and trophies – often having the bragging rights over the supporters of their rivals.

However, over recent years, the Red Devils faithful have often been disappointed, with only a handful of FA Cups and Carabao Cups to show for their efforts.

The club have also gone an unthinkable 12 years without a Premier League triumph, with no manager able to win the title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try his luck at Old Trafford, with the hierarchy already handing the 40-year-old over £200m worth of additions since his arrival 12 months ago.

However, despite his spending spree in the summer transfer window, he could be about to be handed another significant backing from the board to aid his quest for success in the role.

United’s hunt for a new midfielder in the January window

The recent additions may have massively improved the options in the final third, but neglected the central midfield department, which desperately needs addressing in the winter.

Jobe Bellingham has been one name mentioned with a potential move to Old Trafford in recent weeks, after failing to nail down his side in Borussia Dortmund’s starting eleven.

The 20-year-old has started just two Bundesliga games in 2025/26, which could see the Englishman being tempted to return to his homeland to reignite his once-promising career.

However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Nottingham Forest sensation Elliot Anderson another midfielder the Red Devils hierarchy are targeting.

According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s side are currently preparing a bid in the region of £100m for the England international – a deal that would be a club-record, surpassing the fee paid for Paul Pogba.

The report also states that the hierarchy have been closely monitoring the 23-year-old in recent months and are preparing a move before his value soars further amid his recent international success.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect for Bruno

Bruno Fernandes has for so long been a shining light within the United ranks, but he’s had to take on a new responsibility within the first-team side in recent weeks.

As a result of the big-money additions in the final third, he’s had to drop into a slightly deeper number eight role – a position which is a slightly unfamiliar one to him.

Given his previous attacking midfield role, the 31-year-old still likes to get forward and impress – as seen by his tally of four chances created against Forest – the most of any player on the pitch.

However, if Bruno is to continue to do so during Amorim’s spell, he desperately needs a deep-lying option alongside him to regain possession and allow him to reach the heights he achieved last season.

Casemiro has recently partnered the Portuguese international, but at 33, he’s coming to the back end of his career – with a long-term replacement needed in January.

Anderson could provide Amorim with just that, with the 23-year-old having the talents to be an immediate fan-favourite whilst having the potential to improve further in the years ahead.

He’s developed into an elite-level number six in 2025/26, with the Englishman ranking at the top of 13 different categories for all midfielders in the Premier League this season.

Numbers such as 2.6 tackles won and 7.7 duels won per 90 showcase his ball-winning capabilities, which have led to one commentator labelling him as “world-class.”

Such numbers would allow Bruno to operate in his slightly more advanced role, taking the defensive responsibility away from him and reach his peak levels – as seen in 2024/25.

Elliot Anderson – PL stats (25/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

10

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

87%

Progressive passes

8.9

Passes into final third

8.8

Take-ons completed

2.5

Ball recoveries

8.5

Tackles made

2.6

Duels won

7.7

Stats via FBref

Anderson has also thrived with the ball at his feet, subsequently registering 8.9 progressive passes and 8.8 passes into the final third per 90 – figures which would hand Bruno the ammunition he needs to create chances in attacking areas.

Other numbers, such as 2.5 take-ons attempted and 8.5 ball recoveries made, further highlight his phenomenal all-round quality – with the younger certainly one of the country’s hottest properties.

A deal for his signature would certainly cost the hierarchy a pretty penny, but it would allow the club to land the deep-lying option they have been craving for many months.

The prospect of Anderson partnering with Bruno at the heart of the side is one for the fanbase to get excited about, with such a duo potentially leading Amorim to new heights during his tenure at Old Trafford.

Not Bruno or Mbeumo: Man Utd star is becoming one of the "best in the world"

Manchester United have already unearthed a new world-class under Ruben Amorim.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 7, 2025

Aaron: 'Axar ahead of Samson? I do not understand it'

Despite losing five wickets inside 15 overs, India’s reluctance to send in Samson raised questions

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-20252:57

Chopra questions India’s batting order logic

India’s continuous shuffle to their batting order came under the scanner after they were restricted to 168 for 6 in their Super Four match against Bangladesh in Asia Cup 2025. After being inserted, India were 72 for 0 in the powerplay, and 112 for 2 after 11, but could score only 56 for 4 in the last nine overs.On ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out, Aakash Chopra called India’s batting order “inexplicable”, while Varun Aaron was left “perplexed” by Sanju Samson not coming out to bat at all. After Rishad Hossain dismissed Shubman Gill in the seventh over, Shivam Dube came in at No. 3 and holed out to long-off in the same over for 2 off three balls.”When Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma were batting, it looked like a very good batting surface – you can play through the line. You could actually hit wherever you wanted. But then a wicket falls, and then the batting order is inexplicable,” Chopra said. “What India were trying to do with the batting order is baffling to say the least. [Bangladesh] bowled alright but we [India] just compounded our problems with a very weird batting line-up. I cannot wrap my head around it.”Related

Kotak on India's flexible batting line-up

Abhishek Sharma is on his way to becoming an elite six-hitter

Sloppy but unbeaten India storm into Asia Cup final

Aaron echoed those thoughts: “They thought they could get Dube on to take down the spinners. But Sanju Samson is another option; he could have been slotted in early today. We know how he enjoys [batting] slightly up top.”At the post-match presentation, Suryakumar explained the logic behind the move. “Looking at their bowling line-up – they had a left-arm spinner [Nasum Ahmed], they had a legspinner [Rishad] – Dube was a perfect match-up at that moment. And his entry point was perfect – seven to 15 overs. So we took that chance. It did not go well, but in the games ahead, we might try doing that [again].”India have been flexible with their batting order throughout the tournament, with their batting coach Sitanshu Kotak saying “everyone is prepared to bat at any number”. A reason behind that is to maintain a left-right combination at the crease. When Samson opened the innings before the Asia Cup, the No. 3 position was taken by Suryakumar Yadav or Tilak Varma, depending on whether Samson or Abhishek fell.Rishad Hossain picked up two wickets•AFP/Getty Images

Since Gill’s return to the top of the order, Samson has batted only once at No. 3 in five games – against Oman. Against Bangladesh, even after Gill got out, a left-hand batter, Dube, came in. Even at the fall of the fifth wicket in the 15th over, India held back Samson and sent in Axar Patel, who made 10 not out off 15 balls.”Axar ahead of Samson? I do not understand it,” Aaron said. “The man [Samson] got three T20I centuries last year, you’ve got to cut him some slack.”There’s not much difference in the strike rates of the Indian batters. It is not like we have four batters who strike above 150 and have a couple who can only play run a ball. Every batter in that top eight can bat at a very high strike rate. I don’t see any motive behind so much chopping and changing in the batting line-up.”Dube’s spin-hitting prowess also has been on the wane, raising questions about the move to send him to take on Rishad. While he averaged 73.4 and struck at 166.1 against spin in T20 cricket from January 2023 to April 2024, since then those numbers read 21.1 and 121.8.”I am also thinking, can you actually take a bowler down and throw him out of the attack in the seventh over?” Chopra said. “You can maintain left-right combination but the game still has 13 overs to go. Dube is the guy [to bat] if Rishad and Nasum are bowling in the 14th-15th over. You can then say, ‘This is the game.’ That will change everything that would unfold, because the options [for a bowling captain] are either exhausted or ones you can’t use. So he would be searching for answers. But in the seventh over, they are not falling behind.”

CBF fecha com diretor do Palmeiras; saiba se clube buscará substituto

MatériaMais Notícias

Cícero Souza foi confirmado nesta terça-feira (5) como novo gerente de seleções da CBF e deixa o Palmeiras após quase 10 anos na direção do futebol alviverde.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Cícero aceitou o convite de Rodrigo Caetano, executivo geral da CBF, e posou em uma foto com a camisa do Brasil estampada com o numero 10 e o seu nome, ao lado do presidente Ednaldo Rodrigues.

➡️ Tudo sobre o Verdão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Palmeiras

Enquanto a CBF ganha um profissional que deixa o Verdão com muita moral com a exigente torcida palestrina, a diretoria alviverde não promete fazer muito esforço para buscar uma reposição imediata para a vaga de Cícero.

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➡️ Veja os grupos e datas dos confrontos no Paulistão

Segundo o portal “Nosso Palestra”, Leila Pereira não pensa em um substituto para o gerente de futebol do Palmeiras. Agora, Anderson Barros ficará “sozinho” como o grande nome diretivo do Verdão.

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