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Wednesday night's game between the Mariners and Blue Jays was a slugfest from start to finish. Ultimately, it was Toronto's offense that had the upper hand, leading the charge for a 13–4 road victory.

In total, there were eight home runs hit between the two teams, which ties the MLB postseason record. Previously, only two playoff games in league history had as many home runs; Game 2 of the 2017 World Series between the Astros and Dodgers, and Game 3 of the 2017 NLDS between the Cardinals and Cubs.

Despite the loss, it was Seattle that struck first on Wednesday night. Julio Rodriguez opened up the scoring with a two-run home run in the first inning. Toronto answered in the third inning when they racked up five runs, including a two-run shot from Andres Giménez. George Springer added a solo shot in the fourth inning and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did the same in the fifth.

Also homering in the game for the Blue Jays were Alejandro Kirk and Addison Barger, while the Mariners got late home runs from Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh, though it wasn't enough to mount a comeback.

Toronto ended the night with a franchise-record 18 hits, the most in a postseason game by any team since 2021, and 37 total bases.

The two teams will meet again Thursday night for Game 4, with the Blue Jays hoping to even up the series at 2–2. First pitch is slated for 8:33 p.m. ET.

The former Australia allrounder was the franchise’s head coach in the first three seasons of the MLC

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Oct-2025Shane Watson, the former Australia allrounder, has parted ways with the San Francisco Unicorns after a three-year stint as head coach of the Major League Cricket (MLC) franchise.The Unicorns have not announced Watson’s successor yet. “In an effort to strengthen the Unicorns’ long-term strategy, the organization is shifting to a year-round coaching model,” the franchise said in a statement. “Watson’s ongoing commentary commitments and the rapid growth of his acclaimed performance coaching brand, BEON Performance, prevent him from taking on a full-time role with the Unicorns.”Under Watson, the Unicorns finished fifth out of six teams in the inaugural edition of the MLC in 2023 before reaching the playoffs in both 2024 and 2025; their best finish came in 2024 when they lost the final to Washington Freedom.”It has been a true privilege to lead the San Francisco Unicorns over the last three seasons,” Watson said. “I’m proud of what we accomplished, and am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with world-class stars and incredible young talent in Major League Cricket, which continues to be an exciting new frontier for the sport.”Apart from the Unicorns stint, Watson has also coached in other franchise leagues; he was assistant coach of Delhi Capitals in the 2022 and 2023 seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and head coach of Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2024.”Shane was the natural choice to be our first Head Coach, and he played a key role in building the Unicorns from the ground up,” Unicorns CEO David White said. “We are eternally grateful for Shane’s dedication across his three seasons in charge, and the Unicorns wish him every success in his future endeavors.”

Weston McKennie and Jonathan David are in different situations for their club and, with the World Cup around the corner, need to start playing their best soccer.

On Tuesday evening, two CONCACAF stars finally made the difference for Juventus in the Champions League. Their influence was overdue in a 3-2 win that flirted with embarrassment, but when Juve needed someone to steady the ship, first Weston McKennie and then Jonathan David delivered.

McKennie struck first, smashing home a 60th-minute equalizer against Bodo/Glimt. David followed with a stoppage-time winner that secured three points — and, frankly, spared Juve from dropping points in a game they had no business complicating. It was about time for both. McKennie remains an enigma in Turin: ever-present, yet often difficult to pinpoint in terms of tangible impact. David, meanwhile, chose a club with two established strikers and has spent the autumn trying to carve out space for himself. It’s only November, but both feel like they’re approaching a crossroads.

And in recent weeks, that has only gotten worse. Juve did what Italian clubs often do and fired their manager, Igor Tudor, after a poor start to the season. They then responded by hiring Luciano Spalletti, a coach of immaculate pedigree but seemingly a poor fit for the squad.

It is a puzzling situation for both. Spalletti has done little to indicate that he rates David. McKennie has been a regular, but far from the star he could perhaps be elsewhere. In short, the American and the Canadian are struggling – albeit in different ways. And at an unpredictable club quickly falling out of Serie A contention, something has to change.

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  Spalletti and what the new manager brings

  Spalletti should have made sense. In truth, he still might. This is a frighteningly early time to jump to any conclusions. But what Juventus have is a Serie A–proven manager who showed he can do a lot with a little when he won the league with Napoli in 2023. That team was propelled by Victor Osimhen and a young Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but it was also wonderfully balanced, with legs in midfield and solidity at the back. Spalletti’s sides can attack, but they can also defend.

  His time with the Italian national team was admittedly mixed. The talent pool had dried up, and he argued that he didn’t have the time to shape the squad before Euro 2024. Italy lost in the Round of 16, and he took responsibility:

  “We failed because of my team selection; it is never down to the players.”

  It was expected that he might leave after the exit, but instead stuck around for another year. He was let go for good in June after losing to Norway in Italy's first World Cup qualifying fixture. 

  When Juve appointed him, they hoped for the Napoli version of Spalletti. There could yet be some magic here.

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  Early results are mixed

  The early results have been somewhat mixed. Spalletti looks very much like a coach still figuring it out – tinkering with his personnel despite having a recognized system. There is, however, one major constraint to his game. Juve's squad has been assembled to play in some version of a 3-4-3. There will, in whatever tactical vision Spalletti ultimately holds, a base construction of three central defenders, wing backs and two central midfielders. 

  That's a problem. At Napoli, he used a 4-3-3 of sorts. For Italy, he tinkered but tended to favor a back four system. He has been given a squad, then, that doesn't quite fit his usual needs. That is not necessarily Spalletti's fault. Juventus have only had a director of football for five months. They are, structurally, a mess, and have appointed three managers in just over a year. He's not been given the best tools here. 

  He started his reign by beating Cremonese, 2-1. That was followed by three straight draws in which Juve scored just twice. On Tuesday evening, he had his first big win. The conceded first against last year's Europa League darlings Bodo/Glimt and mounted a second-half comeback to seal three vital points in the Champions League. 

  There have been some tactical innovations here. With too many central midfielders to get into his side – and a feeling that Khephren Thuram, Manuel Locatelli, and Teun Koopmeiners are all undroppable – Spalletti moved Koopmeiners into his back three, and tasked the midfielder with playing a crucial role in build-up play. That has certainly made his side more dynamic on the ball – yet the end product is yet to be seen. 

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  McKennie's value amid uncertainty

   What this means for McKennie, though, remains unclear. Every summer brings the same message: the American is no longer valued at Juve, a move is imminent, his time is up. And yet, somehow, he always works his way back into the fold. Sometimes out of necessity, but more often because of his quality. McKennie is a gifted, versatile footballer who should be more than a utility man, though a succession of managers have been reluctant to leave him out.

  Spalletti has treated him much the same way, using the Texas native as a right-sided player in various roles. McKennie has started all five of Spalletti’s games so far and has played all but five minutes. Three starts have come at right wing-back; two have come as either a winger or an advanced midfielder. And McKennie has been entirely agreeable. He does everything right without quite standing out. He hasn’t scored or assisted, but he’s a steady 7/10: winning more tackles than he loses, completing passes at a solid rate, and creating a couple of chances each game.

  Then, on Tuesday, he came alive. Juve were struggling and trailed Bodo/Glimt 1-0 at half-time. Lois Openda pulled one back early in the second half. And McKennie came up with the next crucial moment. His go-ahead goal wasn’t particularly pretty, but he timed his run perfectly and rose to meet a lofted ball. Juve went on to win 3-2.

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  David, who can barely get a kick

  And David also got in on the fun. It has been a frustrating few months for the former Lille man. He was linked with plenty of high-profile moves after scoring for fun in the French league. Arsenal and Liverpool were both reportedly in the mix. A few other big names were mentioned here and there. Juve, in truth, seemed an odd choice, especially given that they had Dusan Vlahovic up front. David needed to start, and it didn't seem like the club could offer him many minutes. 

  So far, those doubts have proven valid. Thus far, David has started five out of 11 Serie A games, registering one goal and one assist in league play. He was bright in the first month of the season, but Spalletti has been reluctant to use him. Davif hasn't started a domestic game under the new boss, and played just four minutes against Sporting CP in the Champions League on Nov. 4. 

  His underlying numbers, though, look pretty good. David is in the 90th percentile for shot-creating actions and 99th in pass completion percentage according to . His defensive numbers are as reliable as ever. These are small sample sizes, but the player is still very much there. 

  And he proved it in style Tuesday evening. Juve seemed set to kick on after McKennie's second goal. But the home side grabbed an equalizer in the 87th minute. A point wouldn't have been disastrous. Still, in these games, you need all three. David's goal was all instinct. Kenan Yildiz had a shot well parried, and David floated in, reacted first, and turned home. Whether that goal kicks off his Juve career in full remains to be seen, but it was a solid moment for a struggling player.  

Tottenham are believed to be at the front of a queue for one of Europe’s most exciting strikers as we slowly head into the January transfer window, according to a new report.

Tottenham poised for active January after attacking struggles

Spurs’ struggles this season have exposed a glaring deficiency that threatens to derail their campaign — the absence of a reliable, clinical striker capable of converting chances on a regular-enough basis.

As January approaches, manager Thomas Frank faces mounting pressure to address what has become the most pressing issue hampering Spurs’ progress.

Since the start of 25/26, they’ve registered the second-lowest rate of shots on goal out of every Premier League team, and currently sit 17th in the division for expected goals per game.

Their lack of attacking edge was on display for all to see during Spurs’ 4-1 defeat to North London rivals Arsenal on Sunday, with the Lilywhites barely managing to lay a glove on the home side, barring Richarlison’s out-of-this-world lob from the half-way line.

Dominic Solanke’s persistent injury troubles have crippled Tottenham’s forward line since pre-season.

The England international underwent ‘minor ankle surgery’ in October and has managed just 47 minutes of football all campaign, depriving Frank of his primary goalscoring outlet.

The absence of Tottenham’s club-record signing has left a massive void that nobody has adequately filled. His latest setback follows multiple injury problems throughout last season, with the 28-year-old’s record proving a major concern for Frank.

This, combined with Randal Kolo Muani’s own fitness problems, Richarlison’s inconsistency and Mathys Tel’s rumoured unrest, means that Spurs have been repeatedly linked with a new centre-forward.

One of their chief targets, according to multiple reports, is FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa.

The young Spaniard is being targeted by Spurs ahead of the January window, alongside the likes of Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney, who has reportedly held direct talks with Frank over a move to London in the winter.

Aghehowa was once close to joining Chelsea in 2024 before he pulled out of the move to Stamford Bridge, and that decision has paid dividends.

The 21-year-old has scored 36 goals in 60 total appearances in all competitions since the start of last season, with Aghehowa now having his pick of Premier League suitors ahead of 2026.

Tottenham lead Chelsea, Newcastle and Arsenal in race for Samu Aghehowa

According to CaughtOffside and journalist Mark Brus, Tottenham are currently leading the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle in the race for Aghehowa as they show the strongest interest.

This follows a report from Tuesday that Spurs are prepared to strike a deal for the forward as early as January, but Porto apparently won’t budge on his £88 million release clause.

The former Deportivo Alaves sensation, who Brus describes as ‘one of the most exciting young strikers in the game’ right now, has also been revered as a ‘madman’ number nine by other members of the press.

Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange, Spurs’ new co-sporting director duo, could have more funds to play with in January thanks to the Lewis family trust’s recent £100 million capital injection.

Some of these funds could be reinvested into their recruitment drive, and the signing of Aghehowa would certainly be a mid-season statement in Frank’s hunt for silverware and a top four finish.

The Dodgers’ plan to slow play Shohei Ohtani, the pitcher, back to top form is working to perfection. Ohtani looked so good throwing six shutout innings against the Diamondbacks Tuesday night that he is a full-bore Game 1 option for manager Dave Roberts when the National League wild-card series begins Tuesday.

And when Ohtani does make his first career postseason start on the mound while taking his usual spot as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter, he will replace Babe Ruth as the starting pitcher to hit from the highest spot in the batting order in a postseason game. Ruth hit sixth for the Red Sox in Game 4 of the 1918 World Series.

Three other postseason starting pitchers have batted in a spot other than ninth, all in the eighth spot: Zack Greinke in the 2021 World Series for the Astros and Kyle Hendricks and Jason Hammel twice each in the ‘16 postseason for the Cubs.

In his 14th game on the mound since a second elbow procedure, Ohtani reached season highs against Arizona in innings (six), pitches (91) and batters faced (22). Most impressively, Ohtani pitched off his fastball, which was electric, and held his stuff deep into his start. Here are the key numbers:

Inside Ohtani’s Tuesday start vs. Diamondbacks

Roberts likely won’t announce his Game 1 starter until playoff matchups are set, but Ohtani has made 11 straight starts on at least six days of rest and if (and when) he starts NLWC Game 1 he will have … six days of rest.

The start Tuesday was the 100th pitching appearance for Ohtani in MLB. His 670 strikeouts through 100 games are the 11th most in history.

That’s impressive enough. But know this: that same all-time pitching talent also this year became the first player in history with 50 homers, 100 walks and 19 stolen bases in a season. Amazing.

And one more note about the incredible two-way talent of Ohtani:

The Two-Way Power of Shohei Ohtani in 2025

The Dodgers’ plan to slow-play not just Ohtani but also all their top starters appears to have worked well. Los Angeles pitchers have made only 19 starts this year on four days of rest or fewer, the fewest in MLB (Houston is next at 23) and the seventh fewest in any full season. Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are all throwing well, giving Roberts good choices about how he wants to line up his postseason rotation.

Now he must fix his bullpen, and Roki Sasaki may be the answer. Sasaki, who is expected to be activated Wednesday, hasn’t pitched in MLB since May 9 because of a right shoulder impingement. After making five rehab starts in the minors, Sasaki made his past two appearances out of the bullpen for Oklahoma City. Each time he threw one shutout inning. He hit 100 mph with his fastball.

Roberts is expected to give Sasaki two relief outings this week as further trials for a high-leverage postseason role, which could include anything up to closing games.

Following his mid-season arrival at Manchester City, Nico Gonzalez went through the strange experience of being hailed as an oven-ready replacement for Rodri during his first week at the Etihad Stadium, only to then be ignored by Pep Guardiola during the most important stretch of the campaign. Any fears, however, that he would become an expensive flop have since disappeared, with Gonzalez having stepped back in to anchor City's resurgence as they emerge as Arsenal’s main rivals in the Premier League title race.

The midfielder, who is known just as Nico to his team-mates even though he has a namesake in the squad in Nico O’Reilly, looked like a luxury signing when he arrived from Porto for £50 million ($65m) on transfer deadline day back in February 3. The son of Deportivo La Coruna legend Fran and a Barcelona academy graduate, Gonzalez arrived as a barely disguised stand-in for Rodri while the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder continued his recovery from an ACL injury.

Guardiola did not try to hide it, hailing the new signing as ‘Mini-Rodri’ after an excellent Premier League debut against Newcastle in which he towered above everyone else in midfield and laid the platform for fellow January addition Omar Marmoush to shine in a crushing 4-0 win. It has not been an entirely smooth ride since, but in the last couple of months Gonzalez has developed into one of City’s most important players as they prepare to face the Magpies again on Saturday.

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  Big presence

  Although he was raised in Barcelona’s La Masia academy and raised by one of Spain’s most technical footballers in his father, Guardiola appeared to value Gonzalez’s physical attributes the most when he first watched him up close. 

  "The presence of Nico helped a lot, the 50-50s. If there are 10 balls. he wins seven of them," the coach said after the Spaniard’s impressive debut against Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium. "He's like a mini-Rodri. It's a big compliment. He's miles away from Rodri, he's the best, but we have the feeling he'll help us in the last part of the season with his presence."

  Guardiola started Gonzalez in City's next five league games, although he couldn’t quite build on his exploits against Newcastle, as the dethroned champions lost to Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, leaving them with a fight on their hands to finish in the top five and qualify for the Champions League.

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  Bottom of the pile

  Yet in the thick of that battle, Guardiola preferred other options. Gonzalez was an unused substitute for the derby at Manchester United in April and for the crunch game with Aston Villa later that month, which was effectively a shootout for a place in the top-five. In the end, he started just three of the eight matches in the Premier League run-in. 

  Gonzalez, meanwhile, played a grand total of 37 minutes in City's run to the FA Cup final, getting one minute in the semi against Forest and none in the defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley – and that was despite Mateo Kovacic being out injured. Gonzalez’s situation did not improve at the Club World Cup, where he appeared in just one of City’s four games as Rodri returned to the fold.

  Gonzalez’s lack of playing time led to reports that the player was open to cutting short his stay and leaving in the summer. However, that is understood to not be true, with sources insisting Gonzalez had no interest in leaving. City instead decreased their squad size by offloading Ilkay Gundogan, among others.

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  Seizing his chance

  Gonzalez started the first two games of the new season before retaking his place on the bench at Brighton when Rodri came back in following another injury setback. But with the 29-year-old’s return from knee surgery continuing to be disrupted by a series of niggling issues, Gonzalez got another chance and seized it. 

  He has started nine of City’s last 12 games in all competitions and has arguably been their most important player in the last two months, with the obvious exception of Erling Haaland.

  "It’s not easy sometimes arriving in a new club and playing a different style to maybe playing in the past," Guardiola said of Gonzalez last month. "But we’re really pleased with his behaviour and I’m pretty (sure) he’ll get better and better."

  Gonzalez is far from the first player to need a transition season when getting to grips with Guardiola's methods. Jack Grealish, Josko Gvardiol and even Rodri are just some of the big-money signings who took their time to adapt to City’s way of playing. Gonzalez, though, appears to close to cracking the code within 10 months of first playing under the Catalan coach.

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  Fundamental

  While Gonzalez fell behind Kovacic, Gundogan and occasionally Bernardo Silva and even Kevin De Bruyne in the holding midfield role last season, he is now only second to Rodri, who last started a game on October 5 and who has only played 60 or more minutes on five occasions this season.

  "Right now, the first option when Rodri cannot play is absolutely Nico Gonzalez," Guardiola said before City’s game against Bournemouth earlier this month. He went on to dominate that match, playing important roles in both of Haaland’s goals by progressing the ball.

  Gonzalez also impressed in City’s 2-0 win over Everton in October and in the Carabao Cup win over Swansea City, brushing off an error that led to the opponents scoring by shepherding City to a comeback win.

  "Now he’s fundamental for us," said Guardiola after City’s win in South Wales. "He’s so young, a lovely guy. I’m really pleased because these types of football players that are incredibly coachable – they deserve the best."

South Australia paceman credits off-season hobby for marked increase in bowling speed and stamina

Alex Malcolm23-Mar-2025Brendan Doggett is slightly torn about his upcoming stint with Durham in the County Championship.On the one hand, the 30-year-old is excited about a great opportunity to continue playing after a season in which he got himself back into Australia’s Test squad following an outstanding performance for Australia A, and has helped South Australia reach the Sheffield Shield final.On the other hand, he misses out on doing something that he has loved over the past few Australian winters, something he believes has helped his cricket career immensely, and that is compete in the Port Macquarie and Cairns Half Ironman triathlon events.”It’s bit of a left-field one to be honest,” Doggett told ESPNcricinfo. “I did two last off-season, one the off-season before.”But I just think running and riding and swimming, most of it’s low impact besides the running.Related

• 'I'll be ready' – Doggett waits on an Ashes call after six wickets on Shield return

• 'They saved my career' – Sangha repays South Australia's faith with Shield final heroics

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• Hazlewood ruled out of second Test; Abbott, Doggett added to squad

• Doggett released for BBL duty with Adelaide Strikers

“I start seasons fit and fresh. I feel like that’s been a little bit of success to my injury woes. It’s just helped me stay fit and strong and healthy, and then, the mental side of it too is sort of taking me away from cricket, and allowed me to dive into something else that’s physically demanding in a way, but it’s allowed me to have a little hobby outside of the game.”Peter Siddle, who has just retired aged 40 after an extraordinary 20-year first-class career that included 67 Tests, got heavily into road cycling in the latter part of his career to help maintain an incredible fitness base whilst not overloading his body.But Half Ironman’s are another step up altogether. The triathlon includes a 1.9km swim, 90km ride and 21.1km run.While most professional fast bowlers opt to lower their golf handicaps during their time off, Doggett has been spending his off-season weeks riding 250-300kms, running 30-35kms and swimming 6-10kms in preparation.There were no concerns in terms of the impact that type of training would have on his cricket as South Australia’s sports science staff saw nothing but upside. Swimming was great for his shoulder mobility and his back and core strength. The only issue they saw was road running and hence his weekly running loads were capped compared to what an elite triathlete might do. He does not do any triathlon training during the season.He got into the sport via his brother Samuel, who also competes. But Doggett hasn’t just been making up the numbers in the races either.Doggett claimed a career-best 6 for 15 against India A in Mackay•Getty ImagesDoggett competed in two last winter prior to his domestic pre-season starting with South Australia. In May 2024, he completed the Port Macquarie course in 4 hours, 30 minutes and three seconds (4:30:03) to finish 47th out of 1104 competitors and 10th of 152 in his age group. Less than six weeks later, he completed the Cairns race in 4:17:23 to finish 37th overall. He finished less than 17 minutes behind race winner Sam Musgrove, who went on to finish top five in his age group at the World Championship in Hawaii later in the year.”I felt like I was more nervous at the start line of a Half Ironman than taking the new ball for a Big Bash game or a Shield final,” Doggett said.The benefits have been enormous on his game. His last two Australian summers have been his best in first-class cricket. He’s taken 65 wickets at 22.55 across two seasons, including a career-best 6 for 15 for Australia A against India A in Mackay. He also has bowled 236.4 overs this summer in eight games, the most overs and appearances he has ever made in an Australian first-class season since his debut summer of 2017-18.”I don’t know whether that’s part of it, or if it’s just getting older, the body’s maturing and learning how to bowl long spells,” Doggett said.All that propelled him back into the Test squad as cover for the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests against India after Josh Hazlewood suffered a side strain. It was the first time Doggett had been in a Test squad since he was a shock inclusion on the 2018 tour of the UAE for a two-Test series against Pakistan.”It was nice to be in and around that environment again after quite a long break,” Doggett said. “But I guess for me and my journey in cricket, I was fairly injury-ridden there for probably five or six years and just never felt like I was ever going to get to that place again.Brendan Doggett has been part of a formidable South Australia attack•Getty Images”Last year and this year have been game-changers for me with my body. I’ve held out throughout the seasons. My perspective on the game has changed a lot. I’m here to enjoy it and make sure that I’m always having fun. That comes with being a new dad, I’ve got a two-year-old now so the game looks very different.”I think that’s been a big change, just the attitude and not too much pressure on. It’s helped me succeed, I guess, and play with a bit more freedom and bowl how I want to bowl and walk off the field feeling satisfied and happy.”Australia’s selectors are big fans of Doggett’s skill-set. He can sustain higher speeds than most in Australian domestic cricket throughout long spells and is a weapon on flatter surfaces with his ability to keep the stumps in play. He could be considered for an Australia A tour of India that is likely to take place in either August or September this year.He will get another opportunity to impress for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield final at Karen Rolton Oval this week. He has already won two Shield titles with Queensland and performed well in both his previous finals, taking bags of 5 for 101 from 31 overs against Tasmania in the 2017-18 final and 3 for 37 against New South Wales in the 2020-21 decider.”I was trying to sit back and reflect on how I felt leading into both my previous Shield finals, I was probably a bit naive to be honest,” Doggett said. “I was the younger squad member, so I sort of had people to lean on. But it’s a bit of a different situation for me now, a bit more of a senior figure in our squad, and especially in our bowling attack.”Thereafter he is set to play four games at Durham, linking up with two former Australian players in coach Ryan Campbell and director of cricket Marcus North.”My body is feeling good so it’s a good stage of my career to go over there and play some more cricket,” Doggett said.

Nawaz took 5 for 19 – including a hat-trick – as Afghanistan chose the most important day of the series to put in their worst performance

Danyal Rasool07-Sep-2025A remarkable five-wicket haul from Mohammad Nawaz – including a hat-trick – on a surface that gripped on a dewy Sharjah night helped Pakistan steamroll to the tri-series title, scything though Afghanistan for 66 and securing a 75-run win. The 141 Pakistan put up in a spasmodic display after electing to bat first appeared inadequate halfway through, but an astonishing spell either side of the powerplay saw Afghanistan lose five wickets for four runs. It asphyxiated the chase before it began, giving Pakistan a handy boost ahead of the start of the Asia Cup next week.No side has lost a match after batting first throughout this tournament, and Salman Agha made no secret that was the reason he opted to set a target at the toss. Pakistan ran into early trouble when Sahibzada Farhan’s quiet series whimpered out as he fell for a first-over duck. Pakistan rebuilt cautiously but with Afghanistan’s spinners assisted by the deck, never truly breaking free. Several batters fell after starts, and by the end of the stuttering innings, none had crossed 30.But it didn’t matter once the chase rolled around. Shaheen Shah Afridi dispensed with Rahmanullah Gurbaz early to trigger a phase where the runs were strangled. It created the perfect conditions for Nawaz to come in and wrench the game from Afghanistan’s hands. It included four wickets in six balls before rounding the spell off with Rashid Khan’s scalp in front of a now-silenced Afghan-majority crowd that saw their team choose the most important day of the series to turn in their worst performance.Nawaz the matchwinnerOnly one place to start. Three years ago, Babar Azam famously referred to Mohammad Nawaz as a matchwinner, and over the past couple of months, the left-arm spinner has begun to fit that characterisation. Thrown the ball in the fifth over, he was slightly fortunate with an lbw shout he positively squeezed out of the umpire under duress with the strength of his appeal, before following up Darwesh Rasooli’s dismissal with an edge that got rid of Azmatullah first ball.Mohammad Nawaz hit a couple of sixes in his 21-ball 25•ACC

On a hat-trick, a lovely bit of flight drew Ibrahim Zadran out of his crease and Mohammad Haris whipped off the bails to catch him out stranded. Three balls later, an already incredible spell veered into the surreal with a fourth wicket to reduce Afghanistan to 32 for 6, trapping Karin Janat in front when he miscued a sweep. That kind of day would almost inevitably conclude with a five-wicket haul on a day Nawaz credibly looked like he might take a wicket off any delivery he wanted.Rashid Khan’s takedownPakistan’s display with the bat was little more than ordinary, but perhaps a now-forgotten over late in the first innings stood out as an exception to the trend. With the innings petering out, their run rate was just a smidge over six after 16 overs and five wickets down, Rashid Khan entered the attack for his final over to try and burrow into the tail.Salman Ali Agha was enduring a torrid time, having scratched his way to 12 off his first 23 balls. But when Rashid darted one in, he launched it towards square leg, clearing the fence before doubling up two deliveries later. Rashid did come back off the penultimate to get rid of the Pakistan captain, but Faheem smashed his first ball for four to bleed him for 17 in the over. In a game where spin found so much assistance, Pakistan’s ability to take 38 off one of the world’s best spinners was particularly impressive.

Nottingham Forest are on the lookout for solidity under Sean Dyche and could now be set to make an intriguing move courtesy of owner Evangelos Marinakis.

The Tricky Trees had a fairly ominous start to the Premier League campaign that culminated in the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo, which was followed by Ange Postecoglou’s short tenure at the City Ground that ended under acrimonious circumstances.

Now, Dyche is the man at the helm and there is a feeling that improvement is starting to take shape on the River Trent, characterised in clear fashion by their convincing victory over Leeds United before the international break.

Ultimately, Forest are still in the relegation zone and have their work cut out to ensure they survive in the top-flight this campaign, though the fact that players such as Elliot Anderson are earning rave reviews from Thomas Tuchel is a reason for some optimism in the East Midlands.

Paying tribute to the Three Lions midfielder, the England coach labelled him as ‘one of the best midfielders in the Premier League’ before a routine victory in World Cup qualifying over Serbia, emphasising the value of his services that the Tricky Trees have at their disposal.

Even then, a tricky fixture at Anfield awaits for Forest on the other side of the international break before a quickfire double header against Malmö and Brighton, requiring squad rotation to make sure Dyche has fresh options to choose from.

Stability is something that hasn’t always been easy to come by at the City Ground, and club owner Marinakis doesn’t wait around when it is time to make a decision, something he could again demonstrate in January.

Nottingham Forest set for intriguing Christos Mouzakitis pursuit

According to Tuttosport, Nottingham Forest are among a clutch of clubs that are keen on Olympiacos star Christos Mouzakitis, who is also wanted by Arsenal, Manchester United, Aston Villa, AC Milan and Napoli.

Intriguingly, the Greek giants are owned by Marinakis, and he is said to be the one who will have the final say on his next destination amid their £30 million asking price for the 18-year-old midfielder.

Mouzakitis is described by Tuttosport as a player who’s ‘already one of the greatest talents in Greek football history’, with a clutch of Premier League sides taking notuce.

However, Forest may well have an edge given their close ties to the teenager via their owner.

Known to idolise AC Milan veteran Luka Modrić, Mouzakitis is a recipient of the TuttoSport Goldenboy Web Award and has registered two assists in 13 appearances this season across all competitions.

Nevertheless, he is under contract until 2029, and Olympiacos will hold the cards should a bidding war start to take place for his services, making it a tough ask for any suitors to land their man for anything less than a premium.

Either way, Marinakis could be the defining factor for Nottingham Forest in this one, and it may be worth keeping an eye to see what developments occur over the coming weeks and months.

Nottingham Forest could also be set to allow a surprise departure

England are expected to be handed a triple injury blow ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is likely to miss out after seeing a blow to his foot leave him on crutches, while Newcastle duo Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope are also poised to be ruled out of Thomas Tuchel’s plans with the Three Lions.

• Palace defender Guehi nursing bruised bone

  Tuchel named his squad on Friday, with there already fears at that point regarding Guehi’s potential involvement. He figured for Palace the previous day in their Conference League clash with AZ Alkmaar.

  The defender suffered bruising to the bone of his foot during that fixture and was unable to line up for the Eagles in their Premier League date with arch-rivals Brighton. With no risks being taken on his fitness, official withdrawal from the England camp is likely to be confirmed shortly.

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  Medical tests revealed extend of Guehi's injury

  Palace boss Oliver Glasner told reporters when delivering a fitness update on Guehi heading into the meeting with Brighton at Selhurst Park: “He can't even walk at the moment so the last two days he was on crutches. That's why he can't play. I don't know how this develops over the next couple of days. At the moment, it looks like he can't play for England as well.”

  BBC Sport claims that Guehi underwent scans on Friday to assess the full extent of his injury. Significant bruising was identified at that stage, much to the 25-year-old’s frustration. He will now be denied the opportunity to add to his collection of 26 senior international caps.

• Why Gordon & Pope are set to miss out with England

  It appears as though Gordon and Pope will face a similar fate. The former did not travel with the Newcastle squad for their 3-1 defeat at Brentford, while the latter was replaced 77 minutes into that contest after a heavy fall when coming to collect a high ball.

  Magpies boss Eddie Howe confirmed that a hip problem would be keeping Gordon out of England duty, while Pope requires a period of rest after suffering concussion. Howe said: “Nick Pope suffered a concussion and that’s why we took him off. As soon as we were made aware of that, he was withdrawn. Initially, I wasn’t told anything in the sense that he was concussed and then a message came that he wasn’t feeling too well and he had to come off. He won’t go with England. It’s 12 days (recovery), I think. Anthony has a minor injury, so he’ll miss England.”

  Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Palace keeper Dean Henderson are the other shot-stopping selections at Tuchel’s disposal. It remains to be seen whether cover will be drafted in for Pope, with three options always favourable.

  England remain well stocked in the forward department, despite losing Gordon, with Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford able to fill berths on the flanks. Gordon was, however, another option to cover for captain Harry Kane down the middle as Tuchel has only selected one out-and-out central striker, as the likes of Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney have been overlooked.

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  Will Tuchel bring in cover for late withdrawals?

  With Guehi absent, former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah – who is now in Germany with Bayern Leverkusen – could move up the pecking order as he waits on his senior bow. Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa and John Stones are the other options to line up at centre-half. Tuchel must again decide whether he wants to make late additions to his ranks.

  The Three Lions are in a position where they can experiment, with qualification for the 2026 World Cup having already been secured. They have been faultless through the group stage, picking up maximum points from six games while being yet to concede a goal. They are now looking to maintain momentum.

  Serbia will be welcomed to Wembley Stadium on Thursday, before England then travel to Albania three days later to wrap up their campaign. Tuchel has selected three uncapped players, with Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and Manchester City full-back Nico O’Reilly falling into that category alongside Quansah.