Why Glentoran chief Ali Shams Pour's game-changing argument has made me change my mind on Oval funding
In a special edition this week, my colleagues Keith Bailie and Steven Beacom grilled owner Ali Shams Pour on all aspects of running Glentoran Football Club.
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BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Cox thrills as Invincibles hit record Hundred score
The Hundred men's competition, The Kia OvalOval Invincibles 226-4 (100 balls): Cox 86* (29)Welsh Fire 143 (93 balls): Bairstow 50 (28)Oval Invincibles won by 83 runsScorecard. Table Jordan Cox lit up The Hundred as Oval Invincibles smashed the record for the competition's highest total by piling up 226-4 in an 83-run victory over Welsh crashed 86 not out from just 29 in a thrilling display of six hitting at The Oval and the Invincibles comfortably passed the previous record score - Manchester Originals' 208-5 against Northern Superchargers in right-hander Cox hit 10 of the innings' 17 sixes in front of a jubilant home Tawanda Muyeye and Will Jacks laid a platform of 76 in 39 balls before Cox, after a steady start, exploded into life by hitting four sixes in one set of five balls from Hundred debutant Ajeet Singh seamer then dropped Cox on 45 but the only further catching opportunities came for those in the stands. Cox put on 97 in only 39 balls with Sam Curran who made 34, while Jacks' 38 from 28 was the next highest score. Invincibles' dominance continued into the chase as Stephen Eskinazi was caught off Jason Behrendorff's first ball and Cox then produced one more special moment by clinging on to a spiralling catch running back from mid-on to dismiss Steve Smith for were bowled out for 143, making it the third-biggest defeat in The Hundred, although by hitting eight further sixes they ensured the match featured the most sixes in one match in the defending champions Invincibles join Superchargers and Trent Rockets on 12 points at the top of the table but go top courtesy of their impressive net run-rate. Cox creates carnage at The Oval The 17 sixes hit by Invincibles is the most in a Hundred innings across its four previous seasons. Cox's 10 also equalled the individual record held by Liam he took only eight runs from his first eight balls before flogging Singh Dale over the leg side for his first three boundaries.A wide and a dot ball followed after which Cox, who was left out of England's white-ball squads on Friday, played an audacious reverse scoop over third man to the seamer's final there the hitting was relentless. If Invincibles bowled short Cox whipped the ball over fine leg or powered it over extra cover. When the seamers went full they were hit at a strike-rate of 308."None of the bowlers seemed to be able to calm themselves down and it multiplied," former England bowler Steve Finn told BBC Two. "The way Jordan Cox played was freakish."It wasn't bludgeoning. It was timing the ball."After Curran was caught, Donovan Ferreira emerged and crashed his first ball for six. The 200 was reached in 91 balls and when Tom Curran flicked the 96th for four a new highest Hundred score had been reached. There was still time for two more Cox sixes - one a glorious checked drive - but Muyeye perhaps summed up his side best."For me it feels like playing for [Michael Jordan's six-time NBA winners] Chicago Bulls in the 90s, in terms of cricket," he said. "That's how good everyone is." What is happening on Sunday? The highlight of Sunday's action is the cross-Pennine derby between Manchester Originals and Northern women's game at Old Trafford begins at 11:00 BST and the men's 14: Phoenix also host London Spirit on women's game is at 14:30 and then men's 18: can follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.
BBC News
09-08-2025
- BBC News
Imperious Invincibles crush Originals
The Hundred men's competition, The OvalManchester Originals 128 all out (100 balls): Salt 41 (32); Rashid 3-19Oval Invincibles 129-1 (57 balls): Jacks 61 (26), Muyeye 59* (28)Invincibles won by nine wicketsScorecard. Table Will Jacks and Tawanda Muyeye shared a blistering 114-run stand as defending champions Oval Invincibles inflicted a nine-wicket thrashing on Manchester Originals in The skittled the visitors for 128 at The Kia Oval, Invincibles bludgeoned their way to victory from 57 balls - the joint second-fastest win in the men's competition in terms of deliveries remaining - to maintain their perfect start to the finished unbeaten on 59 from 28 balls, while Jacks fell for 61 from 26 with just 15 required for leg-spinner Rashid Khan was the pick of the Invincibles bowlers, taking 3-19, while fast bowler Saqib Mahmood also impressed with being put in to bat, Originals were in trouble early, with opener Matty Hurst and England star Jos Buttler both dismissed without Phil Salt smashed three sixes in his 41 from 32 balls and put on 50 with New Zealand's Mark Chapman to give the away side hope before both fell to the irresistible wickets kept tumbling and matters only got worse for the Originals with the ball as Jacks and Muyeye went to was responsible for 21 of the 25 runs taken from Jimmy Anderson's first 10 balls but the England legend was not alone in going the bowler was under threat as Jacks made the early running, hitting 10 fours and two sixes in total, before Muyeye joined the party and briefly overtook his opening was 24-year-old Muyeye who reached his half-century first, from 22 balls - a delivery quicker than Jacks - and he was there at the end as a Jordan Cox boundary put the winless Originals out of their misery. What is happening on Sunday? It's another four-game day on Sunday with double-headers in Southampton and starts at the Ageas Bowl with Southern Brave against Birmingham Phoenix (11:00/14:30 BST) before Trent Rockets face Northern Superchargers (14:30/ 18:00 BST) at Trent can follow ball-by-ball commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.
The Independent
07-08-2025
- The Independent
I ‘never considered' not attempting to bat with my arm in a sling
Chris Woakes admitted he 'never considered' not attempting to bat with one arm in a sling as England sought victory in the fifth Test against India. England required 17 runs for victory at the Oval when the 36-year-old stepped out at number 11 to partner Gus Atkinson, suffering from a suspected dislocated shoulder sustained in trying to prevent a boundary on day one. He was not made to face a ball but was required to run four times before Atkinson was bowled by Mohammed Siraj as India edged a dramatic finale by six runs to level the series at 2-2. 'I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I didn't try,' Woakes told The Guardian. 'I'm still gutted, devastated really, that we couldn't get the fairytale. But I never considered not going out there, even if it had been 100 runs still to win or whatever. 'But any other player would have done the same. You couldn't just call it off at nine wickets down.' Woakes had initially found his usual right-hand stance too painful following the injury when practising in nets, instead opting to attempt to bat left-handed, putting his healthy right arm at the top of the handle. 'I defended one normally (right-handed) and it was agony,' he said. 'We soon worked out that a left-hander's stance would shield the shoulder and at least allow me to sort of block with my top hand in control. I hit a few, missed a few, but it felt like the only way to survive.' Coach Brendon McCullum had initially ruled him out of the remainder of the match ahead of day two, but by the fourth day and with England requiring 374 to win, Woakes was photographed wearing his whites ready to bat. He emerged to a standing ovation after Josh Tongue was bowled with England 17 adrift, despite some security staff appearing to believe the match was over. 'You just know you're part of something bigger,' he said. 'It's not just you that you're playing for out there, it's your team and your team-mates. All the hard work and the sacrifices they put in, the people watching at home and in the ground – you just feel a duty to do it for everyone. 'The first (run) was the worst. All I had taken was codeine and it was just so sore. Instinct took over here, even with my arm strapped down I tried to run as you naturally do. 'I genuinely worried my shoulder had popped back out again.'
