Finn Allen struck a sensational unbeaten century as New Zealand demolished 2024 runners-up South Africa by nine wickets to reach a second Men’s T20 World Cup final.

Chasing 170 after a 27-ball half-century from Marco Jansen had rescued South Africa from 77-5, Allen bludgeoned 100 not out from 33 balls, including 10 fours and eight sixes, as New Zealand romped to victory with 43 balls to spare.

Tim Seifert thrashed a brisk half-century of his own (58 off 33) as New Zealand’s openers put on 117 runs (55 balls) for the first wicket before Allen kicked into overdrive.

He smacked 42 runs off just 11 deliveries to dominate his 56-run stand with Rachin Ravindra, including dispatching Jansen for five consecutive boundaries to complete an emphatic win.

South Africa were previously unbeaten at this tournament, including a seven-wicket victory over the Black Caps in the initial group phase, but faltered with the bat after losing the toss.

They lost Quinton de Kock (10) and Ryan Rickelton (0) to consecutive deliveries in the second over to slump to 12-2 while Aiden Markram (18 off 20) and David Miller (6) both failed to capitalise on being dropped on three.

When Dewald Brevis (34 off 27) chipped a routine catch to Mitchell Santner in the covers in the 11th over, it felt like game over for South Africa but Jansen found a stable partner in Tristan Stubbs (29 off 24) before bursting into life in the final five overs to propel the Proteas from 108-5 to 169-8.

Jansen put on 73 runs (48 balls) for the sixth wicket with Stubbs and struck five sixes in his unbeaten 55 off 30 balls.

However, it quickly proved nowhere near enough, with New Zealand never looking back after their destructive openers took the opening six overs for 84 runs.

A.J. Brown isn’t exactly on the trade block, ready to go to the highest bidder, but the Philadelphia Eagles are listening to offers for the star wide receiver. Brown has been the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason as his relationship with the team has seemingly started to sour.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, both general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni were noncommittal about Brown remaining with the Eagles in 2026, but it sounds like it would take a herculean effort for a team to actually pry the former All-Pro pass catcher out of Philly.

As the NFL nears the start of free agency, we’re getting a clearer picture of what the Eagles are looking for to even begin entertaining a Brown trade. NFL Media reported Wednesday that Roseman is looking for a Quinnen Williams-esque return. For those unaware, the report references a trade between the Cowboys and Jets at last season’s trade deadline that saw Dallas ship a 2027 first-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick and defensive tackle Mazi Smith in exchange for Williams.

Judging by this report, the Eagles are looking for at least a first-round pick along with a second-round sweetener if they are to part with Brown. The report adds that if Philadelphia doesn’t get that level of return, it would simply keep the player.

Now that we know the starting ask for Brown, the next question centers on whether a team will be willing to actually pay that much to land him.

Earlier this offseason, I concocted a handful of potential trade packages for Brown using prior deals as precedent, and none reached the level of a team shelling out a first-round pick. However, that doesn’t mean a team won’t decide to push its chips into the middle, so let’s dive a little deeper to see if any teams are desperate enough to meet the asking price.

A.J. Brown mock trades: Five blockbuster deals for Eagles WR that could shake up the NFL

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Which teams may be willing to meet the Eagles’ asking price?

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo is one of the teams it wouldn’t be too surprising to see pay up to secure a player like Brown, even if that means shipping away its 2026 first-rounder (No. 26 overall). The Bills missed a golden opportunity to reach the Super Bowl in what was a depleted AFC playoff field last season, and a key reason why was their lack of weapons in the passing game. Khalil Shakir led the team with just 719 receiving yards, and the Bills do not have a pass-catching weapon opposing defenses truly need to build a game plan around.

Brown would instantly give them that and create quite the QB-RB-WR trio with Allen and James Cook. Because they are firmly in a Super Bowl window with Allen in his prime — and arguably the best quarterback in the league — now could be the time to take this home run swing.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos made it to the AFC Championship last season, but they can’t rest on their laurels and expect to reach the NFL’s final four again in 2026. The entire conference is expected to be much tougher next year, with quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson slated to return to the playoff conversation after missing out in 2025.

That means Denver needs to continue loading up around Bo Nix, which could include adding Brown. The team has been on the hunt for another pass-catching option opposite Courtland Sutton, and inserting Brown into Sean Payton’s offense could be just the boost they need. Because their first-round pick lands at the end of the round (No. 30), it’s possible the Broncos would be more willing to part with it, especially if they believe Brown puts them over the top.

Are the Eagles asking for too much?

Never underestimate a desperate team, so it’s wise for Roseman and the Eagles to ask for the moon in a potential Brown trade. However, a first- and second-round pick would be a seismic return that could prove too rich for the rest of the NFL due to a few different factors.

While Brown has continued to be a 1,000-yard receiver, his play has slipped just a touch, begging the question of how long he’ll remain a top-flight No. 1 option. Moreover, there are injury concerns surrounding the player, specifically with his knees.

Then there’s the contract. Brown is under team control through the 2029 season, but his guarantees run out after next season. That means a team acquiring Brown would likely need to restructure his deal or rip up his current contract and hammer out a new one.

Inking a player entering his age-29 season to a new contract while also shipping out a first- and second-round pick feels like too much of an ask.

Could the Eagles’ price come down?

Of course. This reported asking price of a Quinnen Williams-like return could simply be the starting point for the Eagles and doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t let Brown go for less.

If they believe Brown has run his course in Philadelphia and a team offers a premium Day 2 pick (potentially along with other assets), the Eagles will likely think long and hard about pulling the trigger. After all, the team would probably like some clarity on where it stands with its personnel and financial flexibility before free agency.

Currently, the Eagles have about $12.5 million in salary cap space and would be able to create roughly $7 million in additional room if they traded Brown with a post-June 1 designation.

It is no secret that Zion Williamson has had his struggles.

Nearly three years ago, the NBA star admitted to dieting struggles, and in a recent interview with ESPN, he said the lowest point of his career was missing his third season with a broken foot and being criticized for his “weight” and “care for the game.”

ESPN star Stephen A. Smith has ripped Williamson on those critical issues in the past, and he did so again on Tuesday, going as far as to suggest that the New Orleans Pelicans actually “encouraged” him to attack Williamson.

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Left, Stephen A. Smith speaks onstage on day 2 of the 2025 HOPE Global Forum at Signia by Hilton Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, on Dec. 2, 2025. Right, Zion Williamson (1) of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 31, 2026. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

“The information that emanated about Zion Williamson, it came from inside the organization. It came from people even closer than that to Zion Williamson, I’m gonna leave it at that,” Smith said on Tuesday’s “First Take.” “People that called up and encouraged us to get in his a– because of some of the things that he was doing. You got people that are alcoholics, you got people that are drug addicts and stuff like that. What was Zion’s problem? Food! Food addict!

“The joke was everybody in New Orleans that cooked, it could be everybody from a restaurant, a chef, to your grandmama. Everybody that cooked knew about Zion Williamson. And he knew them! They were on a first-name basis. Cause that brother ate a lot! You even have rumors, and literally, I’m here thinking it was a joke, and somebody told me to go on the air and point out how he got busted hiding food under his bed. This is the kind of stuff that was happening.”

Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 1, 2024 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

Smith’s comments prompted the Pelicans’ social media team to troll him and his athletic abilities, which is hardly a new phenomenon. They did the same in 2024.

“Stick to solitaire Stephen,” the team posted with a montage of Smith’s embarrassing athletic moments.

Pulling out stuff from a decade, two decades, three decades ago, ???? No problem. See y’all tomorrow on First Take. Remember one thing: YOU ASKED FOR THiS!!!!” Smith replied.

Host Stephen A. Smith in conversation with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) at a SiriusXM Town Hall event at SiriusXM Studio on Nov. 19, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

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Williamson transformed his body over the offseason, and it has resulted in him playing 46 games — his second-highest total since the 2020-21 season. His stats have taken a hit, as he’s averaged a career-low 21.5 points.

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New ⁠Zealand stormed into the Twenty20 World Cup final ⁠with a nine-wicket demolition of South Africa in ⁠the first semifinal at the Eden Gardens.

Put into bat, South Africa recovered ‌from a precarious 77-5 to post a competitive 169-8 after Marco Jansen led their recovery with a belligerent 55 not ⁠out.

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Finn Allen smashed an ⁠unbeaten 100 off 33 balls, however, and shared a 117-run ⁠opening stand with Tim Seifert (58) as ⁠New Zealand romped ⁠to their target in only 12.5 overs.

Allen’s achievement was the fastest century scored at a T20 World Cup.

“We wanted to start well and put them on the back foot early,” Allen said. “It is easy for me when Tim [Seifert] is going like that. The way he batted got us off to an absolute flyer.

“It is easy in semifinals to stay up for the fight and with Tim [Seifert] we keep each other in it, and we enjoy it out there together.”

Earlier Jansen’s fifty came in response to Kiwis spinners Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie took two wickets each before Tristan Stubbs and Jansen put on 73 to rescue the innings at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.

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Stubbs (29) and Jansen, who hit two fours and five sixes in his 30-ball knock, helped set New Zealand a target of 170 to reach the final.

India successfully chased 196 against the West Indies on Sunday on the same ground.

South Africa were the only unbeaten team in the tournament, while New Zealand had edged into the semifinals on net run-rate.

McConchie struck first in the second over with his off-spin to send back Quinton De Kock for 10 and Ryan Rickelton next ball, but Dewald Brevis avoided the hat-trick.

Aiden Markram was reprieved on three when Ravindra dropped him at midwicket off pace bowler Lockie Ferguson.

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Left-arm spinner Ravindra made amends when he had the South Africa captain caught in the deep by Daryl Mitchell for 18.

David Miller was dropped on three by Glenn Phillips but fell for six to Ravindra five balls later, with Mitchell again taking the catch at long-on.

South Africa had lost half their side in 10.2 overs when Jimmy Neesham cut short Brevis’s knock on 34.

Ferguson bowled Stubbs but Jansen hit him for six to reach his fifty.

Pace bowler Matt Henry, who arrived back only on Tuesday night after going home for the birth of his child, took 2-34.

The bowling figures for South Africa will be ones to quickly forget, as the figures to focus on – and the moment to remember – belonged to Allen.

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“You take the positives from this game, celebrate little moments of success,” Allen added “Then we have a final to play on Sunday and we look forward to that.”

Defending champions India take on ‌twice champions England in the second semi-final in Mumbai ‌on ‌Thursday, ahead of Sunday’s final.

Manchester United defender is set to be available for the club’s match against Newcastle tonight despite being handed a suspended sentence by Greek authorities on Wednesday.

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire will appeal to Greece’s Supreme Court after a 15-month suspended sentence was imposed on Wednesday in relation to an incident in Mykonos in 2020.

The Press Association understands Maguire intends to challenge the sentence, which was reduced in length from an initial 21-month sentence imposed in 2020.

Maguire’s legal team had been fighting to clear his name for the best part of six years. A panel of judges decided to uphold his conviction on Wednesday, but his original sentence was reduced to 15 months and 20 days and he was fined €1,500.

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The decision to appeal to a higher court will have the effect of quashing this new judgment, as was the case when Maguire appealed against the first sentence in 2020.

Sources close to the player said Maguire and his legal representatives had rejected multiple efforts to settle the case out of court with a financial offer – including one made during the recess in Wednesday’s hearing – because he is committed to proving his innocence.

It is understood Maguire did not attend the hearing in Greece and is available for United’s match against Newcastle on Wednesday evening.

Sources close to the player said there were no travel restrictions on Maguire, which means as things stand he would be eligible to be part of England’s World Cup squad this summer.

Maguire was initially found guilty in 2020 of assaulting a police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. According to reports, Wednesday’s 15-month suspended sentence was imposed for non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery.

Maguire claimed that his younger sister, Daisy, was approached by two men, injected with an unknown substance and began drifting in and out of consciousness. He attempted to get her to a hospital but was instead taken to a police station, where he alleged he was beaten on the legs by uniformed men who he believed were impersonating officers.

Fearing he had been caught up in a kidnap attempt, he tried to flee but was apprehended and spent two nights in custody. The 32‑year‑old defender has denied any bribery accusations and rejects claims that he said: ‘Do you know who I am?’, as prosecutors alleged

Maguire is yet to comment following Wednesday’s sentencing, but told the BBC in August 2020 he was “scared for his life” and was concerned he, along with his family and friends, were being kidnapped.

“We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us,” Maguire told BBC Sport.

“They were hitting my leg saying my career’s over: ‘No more football. You won’t play again’.

“And at this point I thought there is no chance these are police or I don’t know who they are, so I tried to run away, I was in that much of a panic, fear, scared for my life. All the way through it.”

Maguire’s brother, Joe, was acquitted of attempted bribery. However, the appeals court upheld charges of aggravated assault and verbal abuse of the police.

Manchester United have been approached for comment.

President Donald Trump will host a White House roundtable regarding college athletics reform later this week.

The panel is expected to include prominent coaches, college sports and pro sports league commissioners, and other professional athletes, according to OutKick.

The group will meet March 6 to examine solutions to key challenges, including NCAA authority; name, image and likeness issues (NIL); collective bargaining; and governance concerns. 

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President Donald Trump holds a football presented to him during a ceremony to present the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the US Naval Academy football team, the Navy Midshipmen, in the East Room of the White House on April 15, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

The meeting Friday will include big names like Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Adam Silver and Tiger Woods. Trump has been adamant about “saving college sports,” even signing an executive order setting new restrictions on payments to college athletes back in July.

However, ESPN college analyst Paul Finebaum, who has previously hinted at a congressional run as a Republican, remains a bit skeptical.

“The easiest thing, guys, is just to say this is ridiculous,” Finebaum said to Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic on WJOX. “And I read the other day, ‘Why is Nick Saban going?’ Why is anybody going? The bottom line is this. If something doesn’t happen very quickly, and I mean in the next short period of time, we’re talking about weeks, not years, then this thing could blow up.

“However it came about, I’m in favor of. The question now becomes, with some of the most powerful people in Washington in the same room, including the most powerful person in the country, can anything get done, or will it be a circus? Will it be just another show?”

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with former Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban as Trump takes the stage to address graduating students at Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Trump’s order prohibits athletes from receiving pay-to-play payments from third-party sources. However, the order did not impose any restrictions on NIL payments to college athletes by third-party sources.

A House vote on the SCORE Act (Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements), which would regulate name, image, and likeness deals, was canceled shortly before it was set to be brought to the floor in December.

The White House endorsed the act, but three Republicans, Byron Donalds, Fla., Scott Perry, Pa., and Chip Roy, Texas, voted with Democrats not to bring the act to the floor. Democrats have largely opposed the bill, urging members of the House to vote “no.”

President Donald Trump looks on before the college football game between the US Army and Navy at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, on Dec. 13, 2025.  (Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

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The SCORE Act would give the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption in hopes of protecting the NCAA from potential lawsuits over eligibility rules and would prohibit athletes from becoming employees of their schools. It prohibits schools from using student fees to fund NIL payments.

Fox News’ Chantz Martin and Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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Two-division world champion Lawrence Okolie has laid out his thoughts ahead of Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois’ upcoming showdown for the WBO heavyweight world title, after sparring both men.

A white-collar star, the rise of Wardley has been inspirational, giving hope to boxers of all levels that they too can reach the top with the correct discipline, hunger and attitude.

After moving up to world level last year, the Ipswich fan-favourite has come from behind to halt both Justis Huni and Joseph Parker to earn the WBO Interim heavyweight title, before being elevated to full world champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.

Now, Wardley seeks to prove his legitimacy as a world champion, accepting a difficult voluntary defence for his first world title affair, taking on fellow Briton and former heavyweight ruler Dubois.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Okolie, who has shared the ring with both men behind the scenes, revealed that he gives Dubois the edge due to his superior experience and punch power.

“I think that Dubois is going to win because he has got a lot more experience at the level and he has beaten better guys.

“I think that, stylistically as well, if they do start trading, unless Fabio is that much quicker than him, Daniel definitely punches harder than him and is more concussive, so I think he will probably hurt him.

“However, with his [Wardley’s] confidence and Ben Davison, who I think is a really good coach, they might work on the right sequences to catch Dan and if they catch Dan early and hard, then we could see a few repeats of some of his performances.

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“I would be favouring Dan in that fight.”

Wardley-Dubois takes place on Saturday, May 9, at the Co-Op Live Arena, for what will be the sixth heavyweight world title contest to have ever taken place in Manchester.

NEW DELHI: England captain Harry Brook says unity, belief and staying calm under pressure have helped his team reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals — and they don’t need to play a “perfect game” to win the title.England, two-time champions, will face fellow two-time winners India in the semi-final for the third straight edition. While India were labelled favourites at the start, both teams have had ups and downs in the tournament.

When asked if England would need a flawless performance to beat India at home, Brook said: “No, I don’t believe that we need a perfect game to win the competition to be honest.” He added, “The games that we have won have been nowhere near perfect and we’ve still managed to get the wins convincingly in some of them and then tight (in) the other games.”Brook credited team spirit. “But it’s just the unity that we’ve had to be able to get across the line, the belief that everybody’s shown throughout the games and the calmness that we’ve had when the bowlers have stood at the top of the mark,” he said.Calling the clash special, he said, “It’s up there for sure. It’s a dream come true for most of us to play in a World Cup semifinal against the home nation on a very iconic ground, so we’re all really looking forward to it.”Though confident, he admitted, “we haven’t quite played that perfect performance (yet) and I feel like it’s just around the corner… Hopefully, it’s tomorrow (Thursday) night.”Brook also backed out-of-form former captain Jos Buttler, saying, “There should be no reason to question why he’s on the team.”He dismissed concerns about playing spin and said one big individual effort could decide the match: “We don’t feel like we’re ever out of a game so far… I feel like there’s a big individual performance to come.”