East Zone’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi plays a shot on day three of the Duleep Trophy semi-final. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s aggressive cameo, backed by fiery spells from Mohammed Shami and Mukesh Kumar, helped East Zone storm into the Duleep Trophy final with a four-wicket win over defending champions Central Zone on Tuesday.The 15-year-old Sooryavanshi made a valuable contribution of 40 off 43 balls as East Zone chased down a target of 159 on a turning pitch on the third day of the semifinal.East, winners of the tournament in the 2012-13 season, will face either South Zone or North Zone in the final at Chepauk from September 6.

Sooryavanshi provides early spark before dramatic dismissal

Chasing 159, East needed a steady start as the pitch increasingly aided the spinners. Sooryavanshi initially adopted a cautious approach, scoring his first 15 runs from 30 balls.But once he found his rhythm, the left-hander shifted gears spectacularly. His next 25 runs came from just 13 deliveries, featuring another six and three boundaries.His opening partner Abhimanyu Easwaran was more fluent initially, including a six off off-spinner Saransh Jain over long-on, while Sooryavanshi struggled to find the same freedom against spin.The teenager, however, came alive when Yash Thakur was introduced into the attack. Having already hammered the pacer for four fours and two sixes in the first innings, Sooryavanshi again went after him, smashing three fours and a six in the 14th over.But his attacking approach also brought about his downfall. Sooryavanshi fell in the same over when Rajat Patidar completed a stunning running catch off Thakur.His dismissal suddenly changed the mood of the chase, with East losing wickets at regular intervals. Harsh Dubey then struck twice in successive deliveries, removing Kumar Kushagra and Anukul Roy to leave East at 124 for five.

Shami, Mukesh dismantle Central before Kishan finishes chase

Earlier, Central resumed their second innings at 45 for three but suffered a dramatic collapse in the extended first session. They lost their remaining seven wickets to be bowled out for 158.Shami and Mukesh were the chief destroyers, exploiting variable bounce and the assistance available to the bowlers. Shami finished with 3/56, while Mukesh claimed 4/44 to complete a seven-wicket haul in the match.Mukesh was subsequently named Player of the Match, providing a timely boost to the India seamer who has been out of favour.Central briefly threatened to stretch the chase when Dubey and Arshad Khan added 43 for the ninth wicket, taking their side beyond 150. But East held their nerve to complete the victory.Ishan Kishan then produced a composed 39 not out from 41 balls to guide East home with minimal further trouble.“For a personal point of view, and not only me, the entire team members are looking forward to playing in the final. It will be heartening if we can go on and win that title,” Easwaran said after the match.

Manchester City signed Brazilian winger Allan and reportedly reached an agreement to purchase Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye on Monday in an effort to strengthen its attacking options late in the transfer window.

The 22-year-old Allan moved from Palmeiras for 34 million pounds ($46 million) and takes the place in the City squad vacated by Savio, who joined Tottenham last week. He is likely to have the same role as his compatriot – as a backup winger.

Allan has never played for Brazil or for any of his country’s age-group teams, so he arrives as a somewhat low-profile signing.

“This is a surreal moment for me,” Allan said in a City statement, in which he said it was an easy decision to move to the club.

“Manchester City, with everything they have won over the past 15 years, are one of the most attractive clubs in the world for players. To be able to sit here today and say I have joined them is the proudest moment of my life.” City is set to pay Everton an initial fee of 60 million pounds ($81 million) for Ndiaye plus 5 million pounds ($6.8 million) in potential add-ons, according to reports.

Ndiaye, who can play on either wing, has played for Everton since joining from Marseille in 2024.

They will provide competition for Antoine Semenyo, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden, who are the other players filling the wing spots in City’s squad. There’s also Jack Grealish, but he might be sent out on loan again – potentially to Everton for the second straight season.

City director of football Hugo Viana described Allan as “a really exciting” winger and a team player.

“We watched his progress in Brazil and saw a player that thrives in the big moments and works hard for the team with a superb attitude,” Viana said.

City has started the Premier League with two wins from its opening two games in its bid to reclaim the title from Arsenal.

The transfer window closes on Tuesday.

Ryan Garcia is set to defend his WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn next weekend, and ahead of that bout, fan-favourite three-division world champion James Toney has compared the Californian superstar to one Mexican legend. 

Garcia had been scheduled to challenge for two world titles prior to his world title win, first missing the opportunity to win a belt by missing weight ahead of a shot at Devin Haney’s WBC super-lightweight crown, before losing to Rolando Romero in a quest for the WBA welterweight throne last year.

However, back in February, it proved to be third time lucky for ‘King Ry’ as he dominated Mario Barrios to get his hands on the WBC welterweight marble via unanimous-decision.

For his first defence, Garcia will face Benn, who was installed as the WBC mandatory challenger despite not fighting at 147lbs since April 2022 – and looks to be struggling with the weight cut. 

Speaking ahead of the fight, Toney told ESNews that Garcia reminds him of Salvador Sanchez, who was tipped by many to be one of boxing’s best ever fighters until a tragic and fatal car crash at the age of just 23 years old. 

“[Garcia reminds me of] Salvador Sanchez,

“Salvador Sanchez is the greatest Mexican fighter ever. Period. Not Canelo, Canelo is a great fighter but come on, dog. Look what Salvador Sanchez did in such a short amount of time.”

Sanchez held the WBC featherweight title from 1980 until his sad death in 1982, with his final record reading 44 wins from 46 fights, 32 of those wins by knockout.

As for Garcia’s upcoming fight with Benn, ‘Lights Out’ Toney then went on to predict a statement victory for Garcia, believing that his fellow American will defeat Benn inside the first five rounds. 

“Ryan is a talent, man. I am serious. He is different, it [Benn] is going to be easy work for him. Five rounds.”

Garcia-Benn takes place on Saturday, September 12, with Jai Opetaia scheduled to take on reigning WBC cruiserweight world champion Noel Mikaelian in the co-main event.

Odell Beckham Jr. came into the league in 2014 as the No. 12 overall pick out of LSU, joining the New York Football Giants as an expected star. Since then, he’s taken a number of paths in the league, and it seems all roads lead back to 1 MetLife Stadium Drive in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

On Sunday, NFL teams narrowed down their teams for the upcoming season, needing to be at 53 players by 6 p.m. ET. This means a total of 1,184 players were released by their teams. 

Beckham was not one of those players.

Beckham discussed being in a new position of having to fight for a roster spot, rather than being an automatic in, calling it a “different feeling.” He said making the roster was “an honor and a privilege.”

“I have an opportunity to rewrite some of the last bit of the chapter,” Beckham said. “Don’t know, last year, whatever it is, I just know I’m going to give my all. But definitely had that moment where it was like you could let out some of the pain that I feel like I went through. It was just very healing, very emotional, something I was very happy about.”

Beckham signed with the Giants this offseason, looking not only for a reunion with his old team but also with his former coach. Beckham worked with current Giants head coach John Harbaugh when they were both with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023.

Beckham is also reuniting with his old number. Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt previously wore No. 13, but with him on the practice squad, the number was OBJ’s for the taking.

Before was officially listed as No. 13 on the roster, Beckham was vocal about the significance of it, saying, “I think we all know what that means to me … it would be an honor and a privilege to put that back on.”

Harbaugh complimented Beckham’s efforts as the 33-year-old was working to make the roster. Earlier this week, Harbaugh added that this was OBJ’s “best week” at training camp. 

“Yes, he has done enough to make an NFL roster, for sure,” Harbaugh said. “He’s played well. He’s gotten better as camp’s gone along. He deserves credit for that. He’s done a really good job with it.”

Beckham has some unfinished business with the Giants and feels like he has more to give on the football field, and gets his chance this year with the Giants when they kick off their season on Sept. 13 at home against division rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. 

The Giants’ starting quarterback is Jaxson Dart, with Jameis Winston backing him up. The wide receiver room also includes Malik Nabers, rookie Malachi Fields, Darius Slayton and Darnell Mooney.

“It would mean everything to me if I made it,” Beckham said earlier this week. “… I feel like I gave everything I’ve had. Super grateful for the opportunity. … I know that I have a good feeling about myself. I feel like there is ball to be played, plays to be made. Right now, I’m just truly grateful for that opportunity and experience.”

His journey has included many bumps in the road, injuries, team changes and up-and-down play.

Beckham last saw an NFL regular-season game as a member of the Miami Dolphins in 2024. He was eventually waived in December of the same year. Ahead of the release, he appeared in nine games, finishing with nine receptions for 55 yards.

In October of 2025, Beckham was suspended for six games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He would not play a single snap all season, making his last in-game appearance on December 8, 2024, against the New York Jets, where he had one reception for one yard.

OBJ spent the first five years playing for the Giants, recording memorable moments like the one-handed catch and racking up four 1,000-plus-yard receiving seasons, and earning all three of his Pro Bowl selections during his time with the team.

He was one to watch from the beginning, winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014, but after a solid first year with the Browns, an ACL injury impacted his stat line and playing time in Cleveland. His time with the Browns was not without drama: he played for them in 2019, 2020 and six games in 2021 before joining the Los Angeles Rams in November of 2021.

Beckham played eight games for the Rams, recording 27 receptions for 305 yards on the Super Bowl-winning team. OBJ was sidelined for the majority of the big game after scoring the first touchdown of the contest against the Cincinnati Bengals due to an ACL injury. He didn’t get to play the entire game, but he did get his ring. 

He didn’t end up signing with a team for the following season, sitting out all of 2022 before joining the Ravens for one season in 2023 and Miami in 2024, bringing us to his latest venture. 

Beckham discussed having to sit out two full seasons in his career and the decision to keep playing, even with some roadblocks. 

“It was a tough couple years, taking a step back and deciding whether to move forward with life. Are you done? The mental battles that we go through and just push through, persevere and overcome adversity …” Beckham said.

In his career, Beckham has played 119 games, with 97 starts, totaling 7,987 receiving yards and 59 touchdowns in the air. 

South Africa continued their strong run in the Namibia T20I Tri-Series with another convincing victory over Zimbabwe, securing a comfortable 43-run win in the fourth match at the Namibia Cricket Ground on Tuesday.Lhuan-dre Pretorius narrowly missed out on a maiden T20I century but produced a career-best 94 to set up South Africa’s second victory over Zimbabwe in the tournament. The opener’s sensational knock came off just 51 balls and featured 12 fours and three sixes.Pretorius was named Player of the Match after helping South Africa post 185/7 before their bowlers completed the job by dismissing Zimbabwe for 142 in 17.4 overs.

Pretorius powers South Africa to 185

Put into bat, South Africa made an aggressive start, with Pretorius anchoring the innings and playing a key role in two partnerships of more than 50 runs for the first two wickets.He found an able partner in Dewald Brevis, who struck 41 off 27 balls, as the Proteas built a strong platform. Zimbabwe did manage to fight back with regular wickets towards the latter stages, but South Africa had already done enough damage to reach a competitive 185/7.Pretorius fell six runs short of a century, but the opener insisted the team victory mattered more than his individual milestone.“Yeah, that’s fine. I’m just glad we got over the line. Milestones will come and go, and yeah, it wasn’t meant to be today, but I was just glad because we said at the 14-over mark we wanted to get to 200, and I knew if I got the team to 200 I’d get to the milestone. But yeah, I think milestones come and go, and today was not meant to be, but we won, so it’s good,” Pretorius said.

Jansen, Fortuin dismantle Zimbabwe chase

Zimbabwe needed 186 for victory but struggled to maintain momentum after a promising beginning from Brian Bennett.Their powerplay was derailed by a double-wicket maiden from captain Bjorn Fortuin, and South Africa struck again soon after the fielding restrictions ended.Duan Jansen produced a decisive burst, taking three wickets in four balls across two overs to leave Zimbabwe in serious trouble.Captain Sikandar Raza offered some resistance with 45 off 33 balls, while Newman Nyamhuri added 27 with some aggressive hitting. But the pair could only reduce the eventual margin of defeat as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 142.Fortuin was the standout bowler, finishing with 4/24 from 3.4 overs, while Jansen claimed 3/21. The pair shared seven wickets between them as South Africa repeatedly struck at crucial moments.The result gives South Africa their second win over Zimbabwe in the tri-series, with Pretorius’ near-century and a disciplined bowling performance combining to secure another comprehensive victory.

Maia Bouchier’s sparkling century helped new-look England cruise to a record one-day international target of 282 and a six-wicket win over Ireland at Grace Road.

Bouchier amassed 104 off 95 balls to lay down a marker with Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont retired and Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones, Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell also absent for the three-match series.

With Charlie Dean taking the reins in place of Sciver-Brunt, England were listless in the field as Ireland racked up 281 for five, helped by their hosts conceding 33 extras, including 20 wides.

Dean claimed two wickets, as did Issy Wong, although she was bizarrely denied a third in the final over of Ireland’s innings, the ball hitting Rebecca Stokell’s leg stump flush, only for the bails to remain unmoved.

England’s previous highest chase had been 267 against Australia in 2023, but any notion of an upset receded after a 143-run opening stand between Bouchier and Sophia Dunkley, who made 73 off 61 balls.

Bouchier holed out four balls after reaching her ton with 59 still required, but Alice Capsey’s 41 not out got England over the line in the 39th over after Freya Kemp contributed a breezy 36 off 22 deliveries.

Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought an explanation from its national selection committee over the inclusion of Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq in the Test squad for the ongoing England series, adding another layer to the turmoil surrounding the side.According to a report by Geo News, the PCB issued a notice to members of the selection committee on August 31, asking them to explain the basis and rationale behind recommending Rizwan and Imam for the Test squad.The notice, a copy of which was seen by Geo News, directed committee members including Aqib Javed, Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq to submit written explanations detailing the players’ performances, selection criteria and other factors considered during the process. The members have been given 24 hours from receipt of the notice to respond.

PCB questions selection process

The notice reportedly referred specifically to a selection committee meeting held on June 2, 2026. The minutes of that meeting were submitted on July 1, with members tasked with considering players for Pakistan’s Test squads for the tours of the West Indies and England.Rizwan and Imam were subsequently shortlisted on the committee members’ recommendations.The PCB’s move comes after Pakistan endured a disastrous start to the three-match Test series against England. They suffered an innings-and-103-run defeat in the opening Test before going down by 194 runs at Lord’s, handing England an unassailable 2-0 lead.Both Rizwan and Imam were subsequently released from the Test squad ahead of the third match at Edgbaston, beginning September 9.

Misbah set to step down amid overhaul

The PCB’s demand for an explanation comes amid a sweeping overhaul of the Pakistan Test setup.A day before the notice emerged, the board announced that seven players had been released from the squad. Alongside Rizwan and Imam, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were also sent out.Pakistan have brought in seven replacements, including Test-capped batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, while Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah have also been added.The coaching staff has undergone a major change as well, with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul removed from their positions. White-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke have been brought in to oversee the side for the remainder of the England tour.The developments have also triggered uncertainty within the selection committee itself. Sources close to Misbah-ul-Haq said he has decided to resign from the committee, informing the PCB of his decision and agreeing to serve a notice period before formally stepping down.The former Pakistan captain’s reported decision adds another twist to an already chaotic period for Pakistan cricket, with the board now seeking answers from the very selection process that produced a squad it has subsequently overhauled midway through the England series.

Creamline Cool Smashers’ Jaja Santiago-Minowa the during a game vs Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City in the PVL Invitational Conference. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Creamline showed a preview of how dangerous an 11-time champion club could be when a towering and international player, Jaja Santiago-Minowa, joined their winning culture after winning their first two games in the PVL Invitational Conference.

With Minowa leading the balanced attack, Cool Smashers proved too much for Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City in the third set, leading as many as 18-1 and wrapping up the frame in just 12 minutes en route to a 25-18, 25-16, 25-6 sweep on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

READ: PVL:Jaja Santiago says Creamline will get even better

Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses has been enjoying the addition of the 6-foot-5 middle blocker on his ‘not-so-tall’ team, which has been the most successful club in the decade-old league.

“Our team isn’t that big, so having Jaja in front is really intimidating for our opponents. Her presence alone makes it difficult when you’re playing against her,” said Meneses in Filipino. “With her leadership and experience, our defense becomes much easier when she’s at the net.”

But the eight-time PVL champion and 2025 Coach of the Year believes that the best is yet to come.

Jaja Santiago-Minowa and the Creamline Cool Smashers during a game vs Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City in the PVL Invitational Conference. –PVL PHOTO

“We’ve only played two games with Jaja, so there’s still a lot more we can improve and hopefully we can keep getting better until the end. Of course, we also need to stay healthy every game. Having Jaja definitely makes things easier for Creamline,” he said.

“We’ll help each other every game because we won’t get the championship right away just by having Jaja. We still have to stay focused and work hard for it. All of us, especially Jaja, really want to win the championship, but it won’t be easy. We’ll have to work hard for it.”

READ: PVL: Back in old stomping ground, Jaja Santiago shines for Creamline

Good thing for Meneses and the Cool Smashers, Minowa has been displaying not just her talent — honed in Japan since 2018 — but also her discipline, championship poise, and humility.

“We knew we had the lead, but we couldn’t afford to become complacent because Vietnam can fight back at any time. We kept reminding everyone to stay focused and continue working hard on every ball,” said Minowa in Filipino.

“I think that’s the most important thing. No matter how big your lead is, or even if the opponent is ahead, we need to stay composed and focus on what we need to do.”

With four more days remaining in her limited time with Creamline before playing in the US next year, Minowa will continue to make the most out of her PVL homecoming.

“For the first two games, my mindset has always been to contribute to the team, especially in attack and blocking. Whatever I can share with them—my experience, leadership and communication—I try to give consistently,” Minowa said.

“It’s not difficult because they’re doing the same thing. They’re also sharing their thoughts and experiences with me. Our connection and communication have been smooth so far.”

The Los Angeles Angels are the latest professional sports team to be sold in 2026. The Angels have been purchased by Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke, his company announced Tuesday.

The deal is expected to close early in 2027, per that statement.