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On what was a hugely disappointing day for Celtic, Hyun-jun Yang was one of the few players who came away with credit after Saturday’s loss at Parkhead, which resulted in Wilfried Nancy’s dismissal.

The South Korea international scored his second goal of the season in the Scottish Premiership with a brilliant run and thumping finish to put his side 1-0 up.

Unfortunately, the rest of the team were unable to get the game over the line, as they coughed up three cheap goals in the second half to lose 3-1 to their rivals.

Despite that stunning goal, there should still be a question mark over his place in the starting line-up because he has only produced two goals and no assists in the league this season, per Sofascore.

Celtic in talks to sign new winger

Yang’s spot in the side could come under increased pressure amid claims that the club are in the market to sign a player in his position this month.

Transfer Focus

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

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According to Herald Scotland journalist Josh McCafferty, Celtic are interested in a deal to sign Red Bull Bragantino winger Ignacio Laquintana in the January transfer window.

The reporter claims that the Hoops have “held talks” with the Brazilian side over a potential deal for the right winger, as they look to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

McCafferty adds that they could agree an initial loan until the end of the 2025/26 campaign for the attacker, with an option to make it permanent in the summer transfer window.

He also reveals that Laquintana is “keen to join Celtic” before the end of the current window, which suggests that personal terms will not be much of an issue for the club.

Why Celtic should sign Laquintana in January

The Hoops should push to get this deal over the line in the days to come because he has the potential to arrive at Parkhead as an even better option than Yang, despite the South Korean star’s stunning goal on Saturday.

As aforementioned, the current Celtic winger has not offered enough in the final third on a consistent basis to say that he deserves to start week-in-week-out in the wing-back role, with only two goal contributions to his name heading into the second half of the league season.

Laquintana, however, has shown real promise in his time with Red Bull Bragantino and could be an exciting addition to the squad, as a winger who has the potential to offer more quality than Yang has so far this season.

Sebastian Tounekti, James Forrest, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, and Yang have all failed to deliver more than two goals or two assists in the Premiership this term, per WhoScored, whilst Laquintana managed more than two goals and more than two assists on his own in the Brasileiro in 2025.

The Uruguay international, who has scored one goal in two caps for his nation, produced four goals and three assists in 23 appearances in the league for Bragantino last year, per Sofascore.

Stats

Laquintana (2025 Brasileiro)

Yang (25/26 SPL)

Appearances

23

14

Goals

4

2

Big chances missed

1

6

Big chances created

4

1

Assists

3

0

Cross accuracy

16%

12%

Possession lost per game

6.7x

9.9x

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Laquintana’s form last year suggests that he has the quality to provide a greater threat than Yang at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops, if he can carry his form over to Scottish football.

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The 26-year-old forward is a more efficient finisher, given his superior goals to ‘big chances’ missed rate, and has more creativity to offer, with three times as many ‘big chances’ created in less than twice as many appearances.

Therefore, he could be an even better option than Yang on the right flank for the next boss, possibly with Bournemouth loanee Julian Araujo to support him down the right side at right-back.

Signing him on a loan-to-buy deal would also provide Celtic with an opportunity to properly assess him over the next few months before making a decision on whether or not to activate their buy option in the summer.

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This means that if he is unable to hit the ground running in Scotland and his form tails off, they can look elsewhere or continue with Yang as the first-choice in that role ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Fulham substitute Harrison Reed’s outrageous last-gasp goal to steal victory away from Liverpool summed up Arne Slot’s side’s season.

Though Cody Gakpo had scored what he thought was the winner moments earlier, bundling home following a crisp cross from substitute Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool were unstuck by a wonder goal, marking successive draws in the Premier League.

Truthfully, the champions have been well below the expected standard this season, and though their unbeaten run stretched to nine in all competitions, there is so much work to do for a laboured and uninspiring side.

Liverpool had the lion’s share of the ball, and as Slot asserted, Fulham rarely tested Alisson’s goal. But this is a team shorn of confidence and initiative and creativity, and it showed at Craven Cottage.

What went wrong for Liverpool at Fulham

Slot spoke post-match of the gains made in recent weeks, but there’s no question that Liverpool fans are fed up, with their side lacking so much of their previous sparkle and coherence as an elite attacking force.

Liverpool are not only duller than before but blunter too. And that having spent something close to £450m in the summer transfer window, breaking the British transfer record not once but twice through deals for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

The boarding that props up this project is creaking, and soon it will splinter. In fairness, Liverpool did improve. The second half gave rise to more purpose and drive, but the Merseysiders still only created an xG total of 1.45 across the contest, with their makeshift frontline unable to produce and sustain fluent offensive football.

Reed’s stunning strike will have left the visitors feeling rather aggrieved, but this is the latest example of inefficient attacking play, and a creative unit that is unable to focus and direct itself.

Slot has sought to establish more control at Liverpool, but this has come at the expense of creative expression. However, there are a few who have been singled out as struggling to achieve the kind of balance and modulation in the starting line-up, with one even branded Liverpool’s new version of Darwin Nunez.

Liverpool have found their new Darwin Nunez

Jamie Carragher can be a contentious online presence at the best of times, and the Sky Sports pundit proved this once again by claiming before Liverpool’s contest in west London that Milos Kerkez is “like having Darwin Nunez at left-back”.

This was a harsh twist on previous effusions laid on Trent Alexander-Arnold, but there’s something to be said of the Hungarian’s erraticness and lack of poise down the left channel, yet to bring it all together after completing a £45m transfer from Bournemouth.

Pundit Jamie Redknapp also branded the 22-year-old a “nervous wreck” earlier in the campaign, after Manchester United scored a shock victory over Slot’s side at Anfield.

While he’s improved along with his team from a defensive standpoint in recent weeks, Kerkez remains a mixed bag, lacking purpose through his playmaking. This was clear after his performance at Fulham.

Liverpool World gave him a 6/10 match rating and acknowledged his capable defending, but Kerkez flattered to deceive from a more attacking slant, failing with each of his three attempted crosses and unable to create a single chance for a side crying out for more inspiration, as per Sofascore. Moreover, the 64-touch talent didn’t even attempt a dribble or have a shot. He did, at least, win all of his duels, including a solitary tackle.

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Looking at how he compares this season against his PFA Team of the Year-awarded 2024/25 campaign with Bournemouth, it’s clear to see that he’s struggling to produce the same level.

Milos Kerkez in the Premier League

Stats (* per game)

24/25

25/26

Matches (starts)

38 (38)

19 (16)

Goals

2

1

Assists

5

0

Touches*

59.6

53.7

Accurate passes*

28.6 (80%)

30.5 (87%)

Chances created*

1.0

0.7

Succ. dribbles*

0.6

0.3

Recoveries*

4.7

2.7

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

2.0

Clearances*

2.6

2.6

Duels won*

4.0 (54%)

3.7 (61%)

Errors made

4x

2x

Data via Sofascore

Kerkez has to do more, but it’s undeniable that he has been hamstrung somewhat by Slot’s coaching, more conservative to be less porous in recent weeks. He’s aggressive, but that aggression must be controlled and moulded into something that can help Liverpool penetrate through tough defences.

It’s worked, but Kerkez remains a somewhat unconvincing prospect, and he needs to develop the completeness that evaded Nunez throughout the Uruguayan’s three terms on Merseyside.

All told, this is a young player who has stepped into a system that has failed to click together this season. Improvements are needed, but with time, there is hope that Kerkez will make the necessary gains and start drawing more positive comments.

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Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool tenure was characterised by precision in the transfer market. That among other things.

Truly, though, the German manager was a terrific tactician, and he got the best out of so many players, snapped up so many prospects for sharp sums and fashioned them into superstars. Take Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane. Andy Robertson. Gini Wijnaldum.

The list goes on. The German was brutal, though, and he cut out the deadwood quickly. The likes of Mario Balotelli and Christian Benteke.

Now, Arne Slot’s Anfield side are in a different stratosphere to that sorry squad that predated Klopp’s reign. But Slot’s Premier League champions are in a rut, and are looking to make a signing or two in the January transfer market.

But might they be about to repeat a botched Balotelli-esque bid from before?

Liverpool lining up January forward signing

With Alexander Isak out injured with a broken leg and Salah currently away at the African Cup of Nations, it’s so surprise that Liverpool are interested in adding to their attack, even after pulling back in the race for Manchester City-bound Antoine Semenyo.

Liverpool’s frontline is chock-full of talent, with sweeping and expensive changes made this summer. It’s for this reason that FSG and sporting director Richard Hughes may be on the lookout for an astute piece of business.

And according to Brazilian outlet Bolavip, Liverpool are considering a bargain buy for Corinthians striker Memphis Depay, with the Netherlands star available for just €10m (about £8m).

The 31-year-old is vastly experienced and would add depth and dynamism across the frontline for the business end of the season, with the Merseysiders said to be ‘very keen’ to strike a winter deal.

But, would this be the right move for the Reds?

Why Liverpool want Memphis Depay

Depay has led a storied career, and having joined Corinthians in Brazil in September 2024 after his contract with Atletico Madrid expired, he has scored 19 goals and supplied 14 assists across 65 matches.

But Liverpool are not in a position to offer an ageing forward playing away from Europe a shot in their struggling squad. Any activity this month must hit the jackpot.

Would Liverpool be making a front-footed move here? Is Depay, whose £31m transfer from PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United in 2015 turned out to be a disaster, the answer to Slot’s attacking troubles?

It doesn’t feel like the Dutchman would represent fantastic value for money, especially when considering he’s earning £173k per week in the Brasileiro Serie A.

Once hailed by pundit Rio Ferdinand as a “maverick” of a forward who moved to the Theatre of Dreams too young, Depay has since rebuilt himself and now sits at the autumn end of his career as an accomplished forward, one of the Netherlands’ finest.

Netherlands – All-time Top Scorers

Player

Apps

Goals

Memphis Depay

102

52

Robin van Persie

102

50

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

76

42

Patrick Kluivert

79

40

Denis Bergkamp

79

37

Arjen Robben

96

37

Data via Transfermarkt

For Liverpool to move for this player now would reek of desperation, and it would even be comparable to a long-ago move for Balotelli, who was the ostensible replacement for Luis Suarez when the Uruguayan legend was sold to Barcelona in 2014.

Balotelli, now 35, had previously won the Premier League with Manchester City and enjoyed prolific campaigns in his Italian homeland, but he arrived at Anfield at the wrong time, with the Brendan Rodgers era falling apart.

Balotelli was something of a nomad himself, and when he joined Liverpool from AC Milan for £16m, playing only one season at the club and scoring only one Premier League goal all year.

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The notorious forward left with few fond memories, describing his time at the club as “the worst mistake” of his life.

As for Depay, he’s a skilful player who has accomplished much, using that flopped spell at Man United to kick on and establish himself as a key player across various grounds before settling with Corinthians at this later-career stage.

As with Balotelli way back when, however, Liverpool would be panic-buying here, patching over deep attacking issues with a stop-gap.

Ex-Man Utd man Paul Parker might have described Depay as being a versatile forward who was at a higher level than Cristiano Ronaldo when he was 21 years old, but development isn’t linear, and it’s fair to say that Portuguese man has outstripped him since.

It would not be the answer to Slot’s problems, especially given the pace and intensity of the Premier League, and how Depay fell by the wayside last time, all those years ago.

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	New eco-friendly technology will further enhance the spectator experience at Lord’s © MCC / Steve Jones

The MCC are busy installing a new scoreboard and replay screen system at Lord’s during the close season.Three new permanent, state-of-the-art colour LED replay screens, which will be ready for the start of the 2008 season, will be situated in the Compton, Edrich and Allen Stands. These Lighthouse screens are each made of 88 modules that have been specially imported from Hong Kong. The screens will not only offer enhanced scoring display opportunities but also enable live and recorded video footage and colour images to be shown during both international and domestic matches.The new screens are also more environmentally friendly, using less energy to power them – the three combined need one third of the energy of one of the old bulb-based boards to run them.

	The old bulb-based scoreboards had become increasingly unreliable © Martin Williamson

“Installing the new scoreboards fulfilled several aims for MCC,” John Stephenson, the MCC’s head of cricket, explained. “To improve the visibility and visual quality of scoreboard information for spectators – the new screens will have five times more screen resolution than the existing scoreboards. To provide the action replay and associated visual information expected at major cricket venues in 16:9 widescreen. Finally, to reduce significantly on-going energy consumption, materials replacement and maintenance costs associated with old technology.”The scoreboards are part of an ongoing investment in Lord’s by the MCC. The next major improvement should be the erection of permanent floodlights.

Andrew Symonds says he will do everything he can to be ready for the World Cup © Getty Images

Andrew Symonds is happy with the way his arm injury is progressing and is delighted the ICC has allowed him to be picked – and perhaps replaced – in Australia’s World Cup squad. Symonds had surgey for a torn biceps on Sunday and Trefor James, the team doctor, said the next week of his recovery would be crucial.”I will be doing everything I possibly can to be right in six weeks or so,” Symonds said in the Herald Sun. “We will be realistic about my chances, but at least we’ve got something to work towards. I’m happy with how things are going so far.”Australia’s selectors are expected to finalise the 15-man squad today, but it is unlikely to be announced until after the second final against England on Sunday. The team has been given permission by the ICC to choose Symonds and then replace him if the injury does not heal in time. Dr James told the paper it was possible Symonds could take part in the World Cup, which starts on March 13 and ends on April 28.”We are seeing how he responds to the surgery over the next week or so,” he said. “That is really important. Everyone is a bit different in how they come out of surgery. But it certainly is possible he will be available.”

By choice, Trinidad and Tobago will go into their second match of the Carib Beer regional four-day tournament without their most senior player and bowler. Daren Ganga, the captain, said it was not an easy decision to make and he promised that the omission did not mark the end for the discarded West Indies pacer with the national team.”It was very difficult given the fact that Merv Dillon has the most experience on the team and has done well for West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago in the past. It was a tough call,” Ganga said. However, despite an eight-year regional career of 29 matches in which he has so far taken 98 wickets, Ganga and his fellow selectors decided to look beyond Dillon for the match against the Jamaicans starting tomorrow at the University of the West Indies ground in St Augustine in preference to all-rounder Richard Kelly and fellow seamer Rayad Emrit.Ganga said, “It’s a matter of choice based on form.” He also added in the case against Dillon that, “Dillon is nursing a finger injury that hampered in the first game [against the Leeward Islands] and the practice games as well and in the end, the decision was made to go with Emrit and Kelly.”The skipper said however, that Dillon, 31, a veteran of 38 Tests and 108 one-day Internationals for West Indies had not been left in the dark over his omission. “He is quite aware of the thinking,” Ganga said. “We had a good forum where we discussed the decision. It’s something that had to be done. It’s just unfortunate that Dillon had to be the one missing out. I personally know that he is going to bounce back and make an impact on the latter half of this Carib Beer Series.While Dillon’s absence is confirmed, the presence against Jamaica of Dave Mohammed is still in doubt. Mohammed, the left-arm wrist spinner, who missed T&T’s disastrous KFC Cup regional one-day campaign last October because of a finger injury, will have a fitness test this morning for another finger problem, this time to his right hand, suffered in the final warm-up last weekend. It is a test Ganga will be anxious for Mohammed to pass given his preference for playing two spinners against the defending champions at UWI.Should Mohammed fail to be fit however, Ganga still has the option of using steady offspinner Amit Jaggernauth and rookie leg-spinner Sanjiv Gooljar.

The all-round aggression of James Hopes won him a New Zealand tour spot© Getty Images

James Hopes, the surprise new Australia allrounder, was worried about keeping his Queensland place at the beginning of the season when Shane Watson returned from Tasmania. But Hopes survived the danger and grabbed Watson’s spot after his teammate dropped out of contention for the New Zealand one-day tour with a side strain.A 26-year-old golf lover, Hopes was stunned to hear of his call-up from Michael Brown, Cricket Australia’s operations manager, and celebrated his first couple of minutes as an Australia representative in silence. "I didn’t say a word and he said, `You don’t seem very impressed’, and I said, `I’m just shocked," Hopes said. His nearest and dearest, his father and girlfriend, didn’t believe it either.Hopes made his debut for Australia A this season after finally turning his potential into regular substance with 513 runs and 13 wickets in the Pura Cup and 291 and 11 in the ING competition. A stroke-playing batsman and brisk medium-pacer, Hopes made his Queensland one-day debut in 2001 and was spruiked as a future international even as he fought to hold a state place."I got to play for Queensland by the way I play in club cricket which is being fairly aggressive, batting and bowling,” Hopes told The Australian. “I never trusted that I could do that at the next level, but Terry Oliver [the Queensland coach] put that trust in me and over the last season-and-a-half I’ve turned around. People can say what they want about the way I play, but I’m not going to change.”While Hopes was disappointed to miss the end to Queensland’s season and make up for the disappointing ING Cup final loss last season, he said he did not want to be limited to New Zealand dressing rooms. “If I do get a game I want to do well and actually contribute to a win in some way,” he said. The first ODI is on February 19 at Wellington.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Yasir Hameed, Kamran Sajid and Asif Iqbal hit centuries for their teams while Allied Bank Limited scored a quick textbook win over Pakistan Education Board (PEB) on day 2 in the second round of Inter-Department Qualifying Tournament.Salman Butt, who recently played his debut Test against Bangladesh at Multan, scored 190 for National Bank who amassed 325 for three from 83 overs in reply to ZTBL’s 282 at Lahore Country Club in Muridke.Mohammad Hafeez hit 152 at Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot to help Sui Gas accumulate 349 for five in reply to Habib Bank’s modest 97. The bankers, trailing by 252 runs, were 145 for four when stumps were drawn.PIA’s Kamran Sajid (124) and Yasir Hameed (127) featured in a 227-run second wicket partnership to help the airline to a comfortable 183-run first innings lead over Pak PWD. PIA, resuming on 81 for one on the second day at the Quaid-e-Azam Park in Karachi in reply to PWD’s 144, declared at 327 for five. Pak PWD, in their second innings, were in dire straits at 49 for five with Umar Gul following up his first innings 5-51 with three for 16.Asif Iqbal hit a fine unbeaten 137 but it was not enough to help Service Industries to a first innings lead as they were bowled out for 300 while chasing PAF’s 302 for nine at Gymkhana Ground in Okara.Allied Bank Limited rushed to a ruthless win over PEB by an innings and 72 runs as the students, who were dismissed for 52 in their first innings, were shot out for 128 in the second.Saga were also sensing an easy win after their pace duo of Umair Khan (4-19) and Tauqeer Hussain (4-44) bowled out LEO International for 111 to force the debutant team to follow-on. At stumps, LEO International were 164 for five and still trailing by 17 runs.Pakistan Customs were also in sight of victory when they took a 226-run first innings lead over Pakistan Navy and then reduced almost sank the sailors to 196 for eight – thanks to fine bowling by Shahid Mahmood who took 5-49.Scores in brief (day 2 of 3):Pool A:
At Quaid-e-Azam Park, Pak PWD 144 in 52 overs (Zeeshan Pervaiz 33, Umar Gul 5-51, Fazle Akbar 3-32, Nadeem Khan 2-31) and 49-5 (Umar Gul 3-16) vs PIA 327-5 in 83 overs (Kamran Sajid 124, Yasir Hameed 127, Bazid Khan 31).
At PCB Academy, Pakistan Navy 86 in 37.4 overs (Junaid Zia 6-19, Imran Ali 3-29) and 196-8 (Kamran Ahmed 47, Rashid Ali 43*, Shahid Mahmood 5-49) vs Customs 312 (Kashif Siddique 76, Azhar Shafiq 65, Junaid Zia 47, Bilal Khilji 33, Farman Shah 3-88).
At UBL Sports Complex, KESC 156 in 58 overs (Javed Mansoor [3×4, 108b, Kamran Mansoor 42 [5×4, 106b], Azam Hussain 7-40) and 46-1 vs DHA 196-9 in 83 overs (Aamer Iqbal 97 [4×6, 78b], Wajid Ali 36, Saeed Khan 3-61).Pool B:
At KRL Stadium, KRL 213 in 80.5 overs (Saeed bin Nasir 89 [13×4, 181b], Yasir Arafat 41 [6×4, 2×6, 38b], Mohammad Khalil 4-51, Mohammad Hussain 4-85) and 95-5 (Ali Naqvi 42, Mohammad Hussain 3-21) vs PTCL 112 in 50.5 overs (Yasir Arafat 3-22, Ali Naqvi 3-23, Mohammad Asif 3-25).
At Army Cricket Ground, Pakistan Army 160 (Zubair Watoo 44, Farooq Iqbal 3-7) and 34-3 vs Wapda 355 in 71.5 overs (Mohammad Zaman 76, Tariq Aziz 62, Atiq-ur-Rehman 47, Hasan Adnan 47, Nabeel 3-36, Zubair Watoo 3-74).
At Shalimar Ground, POF 260-8 in 83 overs (Ahsan Masood 90, Usman Tahir 62, Imran Ali 41, Naseer Ahmed 4-83) vs PTV.Pool C:
At Railway Stadium, Railway 295 in 83 overs (Afzal Shah 75 [9×4, 146b], Asif Butt 50 [5×6, 30b], Khalid Bashir 40, Fahad-ul-Haq 40 [4×4, 68b], Mohammad Shoaib 3-33, Atif Ijaz 2-50, Shoaib Maqsood 2-78) and 50-2 vs HEC 265 in 83 overs (Amjad Ali 61, Atif Ijaz 43, Khalid Bashir 6-54).
At Country Club Muridke, ZTBL 282 in 77.1 overs (Zeeshan Mohsin 46, Zahoor Elahi 42, Javed Hayat 40, Faisal Naved 37, Imran Abbas 30, Aleem Moosa 3-85, Mohammad Javed 3-56) vs NBP 325-3 in 83 overs (Salman Butt 190, Naumanullah 76, Akhtar Sarfraz 39 not out).
At Gymkhana Ground Okara, PAF 302-9 in 83 overs (Shakeel Sharif 118, Naseer-ud-Din 45, Nadeem Farooqi 33, Rizwan Ahmed 4-67) vs Service Industries 300 in 83 overs (Asif Iqbal 137, Kashif Nizami 46, Tahir Masood 33, Mohammad Asif 32, Naseer-ud-din 4-107, Asif Khan 3-89).Pool D:
At Jinnah Stadium Sialkot, HBL 97 in 22.3 overs (Wasim Khan 8-41) and 145-4 (Saleem Elahi 53 not out) vs Sui Gas 349-5 in 83 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 152, Misbah-ul-Haq 79, Ali Hussain 40, Sohail Idrees 32, Abdul Rehman 3-100).At Saga Ground, PEB 52 in 16.3 overs (Abdul Rauf 5-36, Tanvir Ahmed 4-15) and 128 (Shahid Pervez Abbasi 67, Tahir Mughal 3-20, Abdul Rauf 2-40, Tanvir Ahmed 2-20) vs ABL 252-2 in 42 overs declared (Wajahatullah Wasti 107*, Farhan Adil 65, Ijaz Ahmed Jnr 35*). Result: Allied Bank won by an innings and 72 runs.
At Jinnah Stadium Sialkot, Saga 292 in 74.5 overs (Ashraf Ali 107, Kamran Younis 42, Shaiman Butt 39, Mustafa Bashir 4-83, Usman Nabi 3-69) vs LEO International 111 in 32 overs (Umair Khan 4-19, Tauqeer Hussain 4-44) and 164-6 (Safdar Niazi 50, Hasnain Abbas 37, Fahad Liaquat 31 not out).

The England Women’s Cricket team made a winning start to their tour of India today, beating a Women’s Cricket Association of India XI (WCAI) by 6 wickets in a warm-up match at the Guru Nanak College Ground, Chennai.England’s bowlers shared the wickets as the Association fielded the India international opening batting partnership, Gulshan Sharma (0) and Jaya Sharma (30). 21-year-old Nottinghamshire off-spinner Dawn Holden, who travelled to India from Australia having played for Western Australia State this winter, took two wickets as did England’s most experienced player, Clare Taylor, touring India for the fourth time.Surrey’s Sarah Clarke, making her full England debut, took the wicket of Reema Malhotra for 4 runs. Gulshan, Sudharani and Patel were all out for 0.In reply, England’s young openers Caroline Atkins (Sussex) and Arran Thompson (Lancashire) reached 21 without loss, with Thompson finally finishing on 65* in the 46th over, beating her previous highest England score of 44*. England Captain Clare Connor finished on 13* having also taken the wicket of Sharma.The England team are staying in Chennai, and play the first one-day international match against India on Sunday 6th January at the Gurunanak College Ground.WCAI XI won toss and elected to bat.Women’s Cricket Association of India XI : 137 for 9 from 50 oversEngland: 138 for 4 from 46 oversENGLAND WON BY 6 WICKETS

By the end of the second day in this County Championship match atCanterbury, the scoreboard shows that Kent trails Derbyshire by as few as216 runs with six first innings wickets still at its disposal. Happily forthe visitors, though, it fails to express how admirably they have fought toseize a definitive upper hand by the game’s halfway point.With their ranks as stretched as they are for this battle, the visitorswill undoubtedly derive particular pleasure from their effort inextendingtheir first innings tally to a final mark of 279 upon the match’sresumption today. Notwithstanding the notion that only four of theirplayers ventured past a score of 13, this was an innings built not onlyaround steady accumulation but also collective hard work, a quality whichhas generally eluded the team this season. By its completion, the onlyhint of a sour note to emerge was that, in taking more than one and a halfdays to get there, they seemed to have limited their chances of gaining themass of points they need from this fixture to set about the task ofaverting Division One relegation.For batting highlights, much of the responsibility was left to MatthewDowman. His 77, an innings which stands out as his most encouraging in asummer in which he has so far struggled to adjust to the demands of playingfor a new county, featured an array of well composed drives. While his ownunflinching patience tested that of the spectators, Simon Lacey (41) alsoproved a handy foil, sharing with the dogged Dowman in a valuable stand of68 for the seventh wicket.To then make matters more frustrating for the local crowd, they were forcedto watch on helplessly as their team was brilliantly undone by an exemplaryspell of seam bowling from Kevin Dean (4/17). It was Dean’s influencewhich took the edge off Kent’s reply and laid the platform for his team toassume almost complete command of of proceedings. On the road to recoveryafter a string of back and hip injuries, the left armer took a little timeto warm to the task but, on finding his rhythm, produced a devastating tenover spell to dispense with David Fulton (16), Rahul Dravid (2), Ed Smith(2) and Matthew Walker (0) in eerily quick succession.