Robinson’s T20 best helped his side amid impressive bowling from Allah Ghazanfar Fynn Hudson-Prentice

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-Jun-2025 Durham win by 16 runsA tremendous half-century from Ollie Robinson led Durham to a 16-run victory over basement boys Derbyshire Falcons in the Vitality Blast.Durham had a nightmare start when they lost an early wicket, but Robinson’s fluent 70, a T20 best for him, helped his side to 168 for 6 amid some impressive bowling from Allah Ghazanfar (2 for 18) and Fynn Hudson-Prentice (2 for 25).Caleb Jewell (33 off 22) made early inroads into the Durham total with a display of controlled aggression, but a two-wicket over from Nathan Sowter (2 for 30) swung momentum back in Durham’s favour.Bar some resistance from Wayne Madsen (37 off 31), the Derbyshire chase didn’t get going after that and Ben Raine (3 for 21) mopped up the tail to bowl the Falcons out for 152.Durham were put in to bat by Derbyshire and it was the visitors who had a dream start with Ghazanfar bowling Alex Lees for 1.Derbyshire then cranked up the pressure further, with Graham Clark falling for 18 as he pulled a Hudson-Prentice delivery straight into the hands of Ross Whiteley on the boundary.Colin Ackermann and Robinson steadied the ship, with Robinson finding the boundary when he reverse swept an Alex Thomson ball for four and he produced the same shot two balls later.Robinson continued to motor as he hit Samit Patel for back-to-back boundaries and he then got his fifty from 32 balls, as he slammed a ball from the Falcons skipper through the offside for four.Ackermann was very much the foil to Robinson’s aggression, but the Netherlands international struggled to get going and he went for 33 as he tried to heave a Martin Andersson ball over the ropes, but Hudson-Prentice had other ideas and produced an excellent grab on the boundary.Wickets then came like buses for Derbyshire as the impressive Ghazanfar picked up Robinson, getting him lbw.Jimmy Neesham looked to kick on but he fell to Hudson-Prentice for 8, however a late flurry from Somerset loanee Kasey Aldridge helped the hosts to 168 for 6.Derbyshire’s chase of 169 got off to a decent start, with Aneurin Donald finding the boundary three times in Callum Parkinson’s first over.Jewell then backed that up with a tremendous shot for six over the fine leg boundary off the bowling of Zak Foulkes, but the New Zealand international bounced back to get Donald for 15 after he hit one straight to Aldridge at cover.Durham got their second soon after with Neesham, who was playing his 300th T20, getting Andersson for two as he chipped one straight to Aldridge at mid-on.Jewell kept on going as he carved an Aldridge ball for six and he guided his side past 50 in the powerplay, but he didn’t last much longer as the reliable Sowter forced the Australian into chopping on for 33.Sowter struck again in the same over as he got Samit Patel LBW for two and Parkinson followed that up as he made a mess of the stumps to remove Brooke Guest for 4.Madsen broke the shackles and swept Sowter for six, he then followed that with a reverse sweep for four two balls later.Derbyshire’s revival was halted by Raine who bowled Whiteley for 13, but Hudson-Prentice hit Foulkes for three consecutive fours.Madsen’s knock of 37 came to an end with Parkinson getting his second of the night and Neesham followed that up by removing Hudson-Prentice for 18.Raine then cleaned up the tail with two wickets in the final over to hand Durham their second win of the campaign.

Mushfiqur Rahim, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das scored 401 runs among them, but the complexion of the game changed after a two-hour rain interruption as Sri Lanka came roaring back late in the day, to leave Bangladesh on 484 for 9 at stumps of day two in Galle.It meant the 20.4 overs bowled in the final session saw five wickets fall for 61 runs, and resulted in a dramatic Bangladesh collapse following two mammoth back-to-back stands – 264 and 149 – between Shanto and Mushfiqur, and then Mushfiqur and Litton.Milan Rathnayake, who had toiled with little reward, was the chief beneficiary of the rain break. His 22.4 overs went for just 38 runs, but once some moisture had returned to the surface, he became instrumental, running through the lower order and tail.Jaker Ali was his first victim, when an 123kph inswinger snuck through his defences. He then got one to seam away from Nayeem Hasan, who edged behind, before angling one into Taijul Islam and castling him.Asitha Fernando, meanwhile, was responsible for breaking both monster partnerships. Shanto had chipped a drive to mid-off in the morning session, and then late in the day Asitha angled one back into Mushfiqur to trap him leg before – a decision that was held up upon referral on umpire’s call.Debutant Tharindu Rathnayake, meanwhile, frustrated Litton Das with defensive leg-stump lines, which eventually resulted in an ill-judged reverse sweep that popped up for Kusal Mendis to come around and grab.In terms of a mood-shifting session, Sri Lanka couldn’t have asked for more, particularly as for most of the day it looked like Bangladesh would continue to pile on the runs in the aim of batting just once this Test.Up until the rain break – and a little after that – rather than Bangladesh getting bowled out, the more immediate prospect seemed to be of them reaching 550, or possibly 600.Sri Lanka had had their chances, but none truly clear cut. Either side of the morning drinks break there were run-out opportunities that went begging. The first a result of the throw being sent to the wrong end, the second a missed direct hit.The very next over, Mushfiqur took on Prabath Jayasuriya, and laced one inches over his head. By the time Prabath put his hands up, the ball had already passed – a half-chance at best. Then at the start of the next over, Litton shanked one low and hard to midwicket, where Pathum Nissanka couldn’t hold on.Milan, who had exited the field earlier in the day with a seeming muscle strain, was back in action after lunch and his persistence seemed to have paid off when he eventually drew a false stroke from Mushfiqur, jagging one back from a good length between bat and pad. The ball struck the back pad in front of middle stump and Milan set off on a celebrappeal. Except the umpire was unmoved.Rain halted Bangladesh’s march in Galle•AFP/Getty Images

The instant review from Sri Lanka showed that the ball had deviated just enough to be hitting the wickets, but not enough to overturn the umpire’s call. The look of frustration, disbelief and defeat on the Sri Lankan faces told a story.The rain came shortly after, and Sri Lanka were forced to sit with that feeling. It was particularly galling in that, at the start of the day, Asitha had similarly trapped Shanto, and that time the finger had gone up only for the DRS to reveal there was some bat involved.But with a change in weather, so did Sri Lanka’s fortunes shift. Litton took it up himself to up the tempo, targeting Prabath in particular – the highlight a pair of delectable late cuts. Mushfiqur however was being kept quiet at the other end, and that allied with some tiredness was probably what led to his dismissal.Perhaps, in hindsight, Bangladesh may also wonder if they should have pressed the scoring rate a little higher when so little was on offer for the bowlers for most of the day. But as it was, Sri Lanka stuck to steady lines and lengths and Bangladesh were happy to proceed at a scoring rate of around three an over. To put it into context, Australia had earlier this year romped at roughly four an over in Galle to really put the pressure on the bowlers.There were periods to be fair when Bangladesh would seek to up the scoring, with Litton in particular happy to take on the bowling – the last ten overs prior to lunch for example went at five an over – but such periods were few and far between and it meant the scoreboard ticked along steadily, but not at a rate Sri Lanka would have been unduly concerned by.In the end it meant the batting line-up apart from Litton, Mushfiqur and Shanto has been limited to 68 runs.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has played a key role in helping to facilitate some Spurs transfer deals since his arrival in N17, with the Dane now believed to be a huge admirer of one player across the continent.

Thomas Frank "key" to Tottenham agreeing Xavi Simons deal

The Lilywhites’ statement summer signing was their £52 million move for playmaker Xavi Simons.

Tottenham hijacked Chelsea’s once-advanced move to sign the Dutchman on a potential seven-year contract which could be worth a grand total of £125 million (Paul O’Keefe) – putting their spectacularly failed deals for Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White behind them.

Appearances

25

Minutes played

2,157

Goals

10

Assists

7

Bookings

5

Shots at goal per 90 minutes

2

Passing accuracy

82.9%

Average match rating

7.32

via WhoScored

Super agent Ali Barat, speaking to RMC Sport this week, revealed that Frank played a very major role in convincing the 22-year-old to join Tottenham over their London rivals.

Speaking after Tottenham’s surprise 2-0 win away to Man City, fellow summer signing Joao Palhinha, who’s enjoyed an impressive start to life back in London overall, also revealed that Frank “pushed” for him to make a Premier League return.

Now, according to reports from Spain, Frank has his eyes on yet another player.

Tottenham plan Morten Hjulmand bid amid Thomas Frank belief

As per one Spanish media source, that man is Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand.

The Denmark international is currently in fine form for Rui Borges’ side, starting all five of their Primeira Liga matches so far this season and averaging a very impressive 92.9 per cent passing accuracy (WhoScored).

After becoming a star for the current Portuguese champions since his move there over two years ago, in a deal worth an initial £15.5 million, Hjulmand’s value has skyrocketed.

His contract includes a £68 million release clause, but Tottenham are planning to test the water with a £52 million bid for Hjulmand.

Frank apparently believes he could be a “key” signing for the club, and with Yves Bissouma very likely to leave in 2026, Hjulmand could come as the Mali international’s perfect replacement.

Sporting realise that the 26-year-old could be tempted by Spurs’ “irresistible” offer of an opportunity to play English football, and there is apparent concern that this season could be the midfielder’s last in Portugal.

The international break is finally over. Just one month until the next one. Still, Newcastle United made progress in the weeks before the October pause, and Eddie Howe’s side have a somewhat favourable run of Premier League fixtures ahead of them.

Convincing wins in the Champions League and top flight the other week have put the Magpies in good stead for the harsh winter months to come. It was winter last season when Newcastle found their groove and mounted a winning run of form and set the paving which led to European qualification and triumph in the Carabao Cup.

And with leaders like Anthony Gordon beginning to play themselves into form, there’s a sense that the St. James’ Park side might rediscover a similar vein of form and use it to knock on the door of the favourites in the Premier League.

Tyneside felt the curtain closing on an era when Alexander Isak was sold to Liverpool for £125m this summer, but, as always, United have adapted and overcome their adversity.

And Gordon has the talent and experience to lead them to even loftier heights, with his recent performances for the Three Lions showcasing his quality.

Gordon's England performances

Gordon has been in fine fettle for Thomas Tuchel’s England over the past week, and it’s becoming clear the German tactician fancies the 24-year-old as his first-choice option on the left wing.

On Tuesday evening, in Latvia, Gordon scored a curling strike after good footwork to open the scoring, consolidating his position.

Gordon’s pace and energy and enterprise down the left wing allow Harry Kane to operate at full capacity in the middle. For Nick Woltemade at Newcastle, who has been described as “similar” to the England captain by Gordon himself, this is promising as he continues to bed into life in the Premier League.

It’s been a testing start to the season for Gordon, who was shoehorned in as a makeshift centre-forward during the early weeks and got himself sent off against Liverpool.

He’s yet to break his seasonal duck in the Premier League but boasts three strikes from two matches on the continent.

Gordon’s Recent England Performances

Match Stats

vs Wales

vs Latvia

Minutes played

90′

71′

Goals

0

1

Assists

0

0

Touches

51

56

Shots (on target)

3 (1)

4 (1)

Accurate passes

30/34 (88%)

31/35 (89%)

Chances created

1

2

Crosses

0/3

1/8

Dribbles

2/3

1/1

Recoveries

2

1

Tackles

1/1

0/0

Ground duels won

4/7

2/5

All data via Sofascore

And now, he has been rekindled for his nation. If the one-time Everton prospect carries that form back over to the domestic scene, there’s every chance he will go from strength to strength and lead Newcastle forward.

His is a desirable profile, after all, and one Newcastle looked to place at the front of their pre-PIF project (if the Mike Ashley era can be so kindly defined as a project). But that Gordon-esque profile fell by the wayside in England’s north east, even though he’s since built a solid career for himself.

Newcastle flop is now playing like Gordon

Gordon wasn’t the only Newcastle man, past or present, to have scored in Europe during the October international break. Woltemade scored his first goal in a Germany shirt as his side defeated Northern Ireland on Monday evening.

However, a former Magpie also found his way onto the scoresheet for Didier Deschamps’ France, scoring as the imperious outfit defeated Azerbaijan 3-0 in their World Cup qualifier on Friday.

The man in question is Florian Thauvin, who, aged 32, was recalled for Les Bleus selection for the first time since 2019 after an impressive start to the campaign in France with RC Lens, and he took his opportunity clinically.

Thauvin arrived in Newcastle with a weight of expectation in 2015, welcoming the 22-year-old from Marseille for a £13m fee after prolific returns in his homeland.

The 2015/16 season we’re sorry to dredge up, as this was the year Steve McClaren oversaw a plummet into the second tier. Thauvin was always up against it in such hostile conditions, and he featured only 13 times in the Premier League, neither scoring nor assisting, before heading back to Marseille on loan in January and again the following summer.

He’s been something of a journeyman, with career ups and downs, but at the autumn age of 32, the winger was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Month for September, having scored a goal and created ten chances across three matches that month, as per Sofascore.

Age is just a number in football, and Thauvin is proving he’s still got it. Data from FBref even reveals he ranks among the top 4% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and the top 3% for both progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Winning over four duels per match in the French top flight this term too, Thauvin embodies the completeness of style that Gordon produces for Newcastle. In fact, FBref’s data reveals that Gordon is one of the Lens star’s most tactically comparable players, both fleet-footed and combative besides.

Given that Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior is also listed as a player of a similar style to the Frenchman, there’s little question that Newcastle were on the money when bringing him over the Channel. In another world, had Thauvin’s arrival aligned with the early days of the Howe era, he might have achieved much more.

While Newcastle would hardly consider a return for the veteran forward, it’s pleasing to see that they have finally struck gold on such a profile through the performances of Gordon, who, even having performed below his best of late, remains one of the most talented and respected wingers in the Premier League.

Related Newcastle star who's becoming a "fan favourite" could be Howe's new Joelinton

Newcastle have recruited wisely since Eddie Howe arrived four years ago.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Oct 15, 2025

Griffith and Franklin to stand-in for absent Vettori as bowling coach in the Caribbean while Wade will be assistant coach for the T20Is

Alex Malcolm20-Jun-2025

Tim Paine will coach Australia A•Getty Images

Former Australia captain and current Adelaide Strikers coach Tim Paine continues his rise up the coaching ranks after being appointed Australia A coach for three series in the second half of this year.Paine has been hired in a consultancy role that includes working across Australia A men’s series and supporting the Australia women’s team while balancing his Strikers coaching duties. He will lead the Australia A team in three 50-over matches and two four-day games in Darwin against Sri Lanka A in July.He is also set to lead an Australia A squad on a tour of India in September and October for white and red-ball matches and will coach in a one-off four-day game against the England Lions that is likely to take place in either late October or early November.Paine has been involved with Australia A and various development teams in recent years as an assistant coach. He worked under Adam Voges when the Western Australia and Perth Scorchers coach led Australia A in a home multi-format series against New Zealand in 2023.Paine also worked as an assistant coach under CA’s national development coach Lachlan Stevens last season when Australia A hosted India A and was head coach of the Prime Minister’s XI when they faced India in Canberra.Related

Renshaw and Sangha to captain Australia A against Sri Lanka A

Peake picked for Australia A after one first-class game

Adam Griffith appointed CA national fast bowling coach

It is understood that Stevens has departed his role with CA and Paine will coach Australia A against Sri Lanka A with support from new national pace bowling coach Adam Griffith, Australian women’s team assistant coach Scott Prestwidge and Northern Territory Cricket’s Pathway and Development coach Trent Keep.Griffith has also been sent to the Caribbean to stand in as Australia’s bowling coach for the first two Tests against West Indies with Daniel Vettori set to miss the whole tour for family reasons. Griffith will return to Australia for the A series and former New Zealand left-arm seamer James Franklin will join Australia’s coaching group for the first time for the third Test and the five T20Is that follow.Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade will also join Australia’s coaching group as an assistant for the T20Is in the Caribbean after working as a consultant coach for Australia’s white-ball series against Pakistan last summer.Meanwhile, uncontracted Queensland left-arm orthodox Zanden Jeh has been plucked out of Queensland Premier cricket and called into the Australia A squad as the sole specialist spinner for the series against Sri Lanka with Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli both unavailable due to signing short-term County deals.Jeh has not played first-class cricket and has only played four second XI matches across the last three seasons for Queensland since graduating from Under-19s cricket in 2022. He has just 11 second XI wickets at 35 but took a five-wicket haul in his last match against ACT. Jeh’s presence in the Australia A squad underscores the desperation of Australia’s selectors to develop more left-arm orthodox bowlers.Jeh is also part of a 12-member Cricket Australia development squad that will attend the MRF Academy in Chennai from July 31 to August 13. Jeh is the only uncontracted domestic player in the squad which includes Australia A squad members Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Ollie Peake and Campbell Kellaway.CA’s MRF Academy squad: Joel Curtis, Harry Dixon, Zanden Jeh, Campbell Kellaway, Angus Lovell, Rafael MacMillan, Ollie Peake, Lloyd Pope, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachlan Shaw

Real Madrid are leading the race for Marc Guehi as the La Liga leaders are reportedly "confident" of beating Liverpool to complete the free signing of the Crystal Palace captain. The 25-year-old centre-back is out of contract at the end of the current season, and with Palace unable to convince him to stay, Guehi has emerged as one of Europe’s most in-demand free agents. The Reds tried their best to get him to Merseyside, but their attempts failed flat on their face after Palace chairman Steve Parish chose to shut the door on the transfer in the 11th hour.

Real Madrid target another quality free-agent

Los Blancos are known to target free agents who can seamlessly slot into the starting XI. They captured Kylian Mbappe for free from Paris Saint-Germain and followed the same blueprint while signing David Alaba from Bayern Munich and Antonio Rudiger from Chelsea. Meanwhile, having already turned down an extension in the summer, Guehi has made his decision clear that his next step will be outside Selhurst Park. And Real Madrid, who have already sensed the opportunity to land one of England’s brightest defenders for nothing, are wasting no time in turning his head toward the Santiago Bernabeu, as revealed by . With both Alaba and Rudiger nearing the twilight of their careers, Madrid have made central defence a top priority. The arrival of Guehi is being viewed as an essential addition, and he should have little trouble settling down in the Spanish capital with Jude Bellingham and long-time friend Trent Alexander-Arnold ready to give him company. 

AdvertisementGetty ImagesBayern and Barca refuse to back down

Real Madrid may be leading the race, but Bayern Munich and Barcelona have not thrown in the towel. Bayern’s sporting director, Max Eberl, has confirmed that the German champions are “exploring the market” for defensive reinforcements, with Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae potentially heading towards the exit door. Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reported that Eberl has already met with Guehi’s agent, Gordon Stipic, to discuss terms as the meeting marked Bayern’s first concrete step toward pursuing the Palace captain. 

Speaking to , Eberl said, "It's absolutely clear that we as Bayern Munich are exploring the market. Our clear goal is to extend Upa's contract. That's our ultimate goal. If that doesn't work out, we have to be prepared. We would be foolish not to. That's the reason. I've not confirmed anything, but we are active in the market."

Meanwhile, Barcelona are also monitoring the situation closely, hoping to tempt Guehi with regular minutes. Eric Garcia remains a weak link in their backline, and Guehi will be a much-needed upgrade on the Spaniard.

Palace have already accepted the inevitable

Palace manager Oliver Glasner has already accepted that his captain’s time in south London is nearing its end. Speaking about the situation, the Austrian boss admitted Guehi had informed the club he would not be signing a new deal.

"I think Marc has already told us that he doesn't sign a new contract, so he will leave next year," he told reporters. "The club wanted [him to stay]. They offered Marc a new contract. But he said, 'no, I want to make something different'. And that's normal. And for us, it's how we can deal with this situation? [What] is the best way to get this next step done? And that's all about how we are talking together."

Adding another twist, Italian outlet has reported that Inter Milan have now joined the hunt for Guehi. The Nerazzurri are believed to be exploring a January swap proposal involving German defender Yann Bisseck, who Palace had previously bid €35 million (£30m/$41m) for last summer. However, it is understood that Guehi is not looking to make a mid-season move elsewhere and wants to fulfil his contractual commitments to Palace. 

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Getty Images SportWhere will Guehi play next?

Guehi is currently going through a purple patch and is arguably in the best form of his career. After helping Palace lift the FA Cup earlier this year and earning plaudits for his leadership under Glasner, the defender is ready to experience the next level. At Real Madrid, he would face competition from Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen, but he will be eager to force his way through and seal a starting berth by impressing Xabi Alonso at Valdebebas. As things stand, Guehi will be free to talk to foreign clubs from January 1, and Real Madrid will be poised to make their move once the window opens. If everything goes to plan, the defender will make a spectacular leap next summer.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin has been handed a one-match suspension after being sent off in the closing moments of Los Blancos' heated 2-1 win over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Ukrainian was the only player dismissed following a brawl sparked by Vinicius Junior’s celebration late in the Clasico.

• Heated Clasico ends in chaos

  It was chaos at the Bernabeu on Sunday night as the high-stakes El Clasico ended in a heated brawl involving players from both benches. What started as Vinicius's celebration right in front of the Barca dugout quickly spiralled into a full-blown scuffle that needed security to calm things down. Los Blancos' second-choice goalkeeper Lunin, who wasn’t even on the pitch, got caught up in the middle of it all. The Ukrainian sprinted from the bench to confront the Barca players and had to be held back by his teammates. Players including Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal and Thibaut Courtois were also seen exchanging words with Lamine Yamal, who didn’t hold back either. However, it was only Lunin who was sent off by referee Soto Grado.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Lunin handed one-match ban after El Clasico brawl

  Lunin’s red card has now resulted in a one-match suspension, confirmed by the Spanish Football Federation's (RFEF) Disciplinary Committee on Tuesday. The referee’s official report stated that Lunin was sent off "for leaving his bench towards the opposing bench in an aggressive attitude, having to be held back by his own teammates.”

  Real Madrid appealed the decision as they felt the call was harsh, but the committee backed the referee’s version of events, calling it a minor breach of sporting conduct. 

  The suspension will keep Lunin out for one game. However, Los Blancos have the option to appeal again if they want to take it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). 

  Meanwhile, none of the other players involved, including Vinicius, Carvajal, Bellingham and Yamal, faced further action. 

• Real Madrid had last laugh after Yamal’s pre-match jab

  Before the Clasico even kicked off, Barcelona’s teenage star had taken a swipe at Madrid, stating that they complain all the time. His comments reportedly sparked anger in Madrid's dressing room, who wanted to teach the young winger a lesson on the pitch. Needless to say, those words by Yamal came back to haunt him. The Barca wonderkid struggled to make an impact at the Bernabeu, managing just two shots and creating a couple of chances as Madrid’s backline kept him quiet. 

  Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring for Los Blancos in the 22nd minute before Fermin Lopez levelled for the visitors. But Bellingham’s strike just before half-time proved to be the winner. Mbappe's second-half penalty miss didn’t cost the hosts as they cruised to a win. Madrid players, including captain Carvajal, made sure to respond to Yamal after the game, which led to further escalation between the two teams.

  As well as the bust-up, Madrid's victory was overshadowed by Vinicius' furious response to his substitution in the second-half. The Brazilian has since apologised to his team-mate's and the club's fans, though he neglected to mention coach Xabi Alonso in the statement he posted on social media on Wednesday.

  Before that, he attempted to explain the fiery nature of the match, saying: "This is how the Clasico is; there are many things happening on and off the pitch. We try to maintain balance, but that's not always possible. We didn't want to offend anyone, neither the young players nor the fans."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Madrid pull clear at the top in La Liga

  The win put the Los Blancos five points clear at the top of La Liga, with nine wins from their first 10 games. Meanwhile, the defending champions are chasing behind with seven wins. With the dust yet to settle from the Clasico, both Spanish giants now turn their attention back to league action. Madrid will host Villarreal later this week without Lunin, who was expected to be on the bench, as they look to maintain their strong form. Meanwhile, Barcelona take on Elche on Sunday, hoping to close the gap at the top.

Sunday features a loaded 15-game slate in Major League Baseball to close out the holiday weekend, and there are a few plays that I absolutely love for today’s MLB Best Bets!

We’re focusing on a trio of moneyline favorites on Sunday that are not the most exciting plays, but they’re all extremely favorable when looking at each pitching matchup., 

Here’s a breakdown of each bet and the latest odds for the July 7 action. 

MLB Best Bets TodayMinnesota Twins Moneyline (-130) vs. Houston AstrosBaltimore Orioles Moneyline (-185) vs. Oakland A’sNew York Mets Moneyline (-130) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Minnesota Twins Moneyline (-130) vs. Houston Astros

There isn’t a bet I love more than the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, as they'll send Simeon Woods Richardson (3.52 ERA) to the mound against Houston's Spencer Arrighetti (6.13 ERA).

Houston is somehow 7-8 in Arrighetti's outings this season, but he has multiple outings with seven or more earned runs in the past month. 

On the other hand, the Twins have thrived when Woods Richardson takes the mound in 2024, going 10-4 in 14 outings. I simply can’t get behind Arrighetti given some of the blowup outings he’s posted as of late. 

Baltimore Orioles Moneyline (-185) vs. Oakland A’s

There’s no doubt that the first place Baltimore Orioles are the superior team in this matchup, but the pitching matchup for Sunday makes this look even more lopsided than you’d think. 

The Orioles are 11-4 when Grayson Rodriguez is on the mound in 2024, while the Oakland A's are just 2-7 in Mitch Spence's nine starts since he joined the rotation. 

Baltimore also has the best OPS in all of baseball this season while Oakland clocks in at No. 25. It’s not ideal to lay the -185 juice, but I’d be shocked to see Baltimore squander the series finale on Sunday. 

New York Mets Moneyline (-130) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are starting reliever Luis Ortiz for the second time this season, and that could spell trouble.

Pittsburgh's bullpen is 27th in ERA (4.48) this season, so using the strategy of an opener certainly leaves the Pirates vulnerable, as they’ll likely need the ‘pen to work several innings in this matchup. 

Plus, New York Mets lefty Sean Manaea has been solid in 2024 with a 3.67 ERA, leading the Mets to a 10-6 record in 16 outings. 

I don’t mind laying this small price on Manaea and company on Sunday.

There are multiple doubleheaders in Major League Baseball on Wednesday, which means we can start betting on the action as early as 1:45 p.m. EST when the Kansas City Royals take on the St. Louis Cardinals. 

With so many games on the slate, I’ve narrowed down my three favorite plays on July 10, including a mix of prop bets and outright picks. 

Let’s break down today’s targets!

MLB Best Bets Today for Wednesday, July 10

• San Francisco Giants Moneyline (-155) vs. Toronto Blue Jays
• Corbin Burnes UNDER 6.5 Strikeouts (-115)
• Tampa Bay Rays Moneyline (-112) vs. New York Yankees

San Francisco Giants Moneyline (-155) vs. Toronto Blue Jays

The San Francisco Giants have ace Logan Webb on the mound at home against the Toronto Blue Jays and Chris Bassitt on Wednesday night. 

Webb is one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, posting a 3.09 ERA and 2.72 FIP through 19 starts. He’s also thrown at least six innings in 11 straight starts, a huge lift to a Giants team that has had some struggles in the bullpen (4.36 ERA) in 2024. 

Bassitt (3.43 ERA) has been solid in 2024, but the Jays are just 7-11 in his 18 outings and have struggled overall on the road, going just 20-26. 

I give Webb the edge here – especially at home where the Giants are 6-2 straight up when he pitches. 

Corbin Burnes UNDER 6.5 Strikeouts (-115)

I don’t want to call this a fade of Corbin Burnes, as his body of work for the Baltimore Orioles this season has been extremely impressive. 

However, he’s failed to clear 6.5 strikeouts in 15 of his 18 starts, only doing so against the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies. In fact, Burnes has recorded six or fewer punchouts in seven of his last eight starts – dating back to late May. 

The Cubs haven’t been great at avoiding the punch out this season (8.97 per game), but even when Burnes has pitched deep into games, he hasn’t been a lock to clear this prop. In his last five starts where he pitched at least seven innings, he’s failed to hit the OVER every time.

I’m playing the percentages here and taking the UNDER since it’s hit  83.3 percent of the time in 2024. 

Tampa Bay Rays Moneyline (-112) vs. New York Yankees

The New York Yankees cannot win a baseball game right now, losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday to fall to 6-17 in their last 23 games. 

Marcus Stroman gets the ball for the Yankees tonight, and he’s struggled as of late, posting a 5.74 ERA and 6.65 FIP in six starts since the beginning of June. 

That’s not going to get it done against Zach Eflin (4.19 ERA, 3.76 FIP), who held the Yankees scoreless across six innings earlier this season. 

The Rays are also an impressive 10-6 in Eflin’s outings in 2024. Until the Yankees prove they can turn things around, I’m fading them at a price like this.

Thomas Frank has made an impressive start to life as Tottenham Hotspur manager, suffering only one defeat within his first nine matches since his appointment in the summer.

The Dane’s only defeat came against Bournemouth in the Premier League on gameweek three and are now currently enjoying a six-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

However, it’s not all been straight-forward for the 51-year-old, with the Lilywhites having to come from two goals down to draw with Bodo Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

His side have scored 17 goals across all competitions in 2025/26, averaging nearly two goals a game to date, highlighting the impressive form of the side in the final third.

Such a record could’ve certainly been bolstered further had the hierarchy kept hold of one player who was sold during Frank’s first window in charge this summer.

Heung-min Son’s successful spell at Spurs

Back in the summer of 2015, few Spurs fans would’ve predicted the superb spell forward Heung-min Son would have at the club after joining from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

The South Korean spent a decade in North London, often being a first-team regular, subsequently racking up incredible figures which made him a huge fan favourite.

The winger racked up over 450 appearances between 2015 and 2025, scoring 173 times, which ranks him fourth in the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.

Despite not starting the Europa League final, he lifted the trophy as captain and helped end the club’s 17-year wait for a trophy in his final outing for the football club.

Son would leave the side this summer in a £20m deal, subsequently joining MLS outfit LAFC, leaving new boss Frank with the near-impossible task of landing a replacement.

Mohammed Kudus was brought into the club during the off-season, but his addition was undoubtedly made to strengthen the options on the opposite flank.

However, the Dane may already have his own version of Son in the near future, with such a talent already on their books in North London – potentially saving the club millions in the process.

The Spurs star who could be Frank’s heir to Son

Spurs have a number of impressive young talents within their ranks at present, highlighting the impressive work of their academy and their recruitment team over recent days.

Graduate Mikey Moore is just one of the players who has made the rise through the youth levels, making 19 senior appearances for the Lilywhites last season despite being just 17.

The injury crisis last season gave him the chance to stake his claim, but he’s been sent on a season-long loan to Scottish side Rangers in an attempt to gain consistent game time to aid his progression.

However, he’s only featured for a total of 215 minutes across all competitions for Russell Martin’s side, with just three of his appearances coming from a starting position.

He’s not alone in being sent out on loan to try and gain valuable experience, with South Korean forward Min-hyeok Yang also spending the 2025/26 out on loan.

The 19-year-old joined the Lilywhites from Gangwon FC back in January, undoubtedly being brought into the club for the future years rather than the present.

Such a deal was undoubtedly an exciting one, with the youngster scoring 12 times in his 38 appearances for his homeland club, prior to his switch to England earlier this year.

Yang would spend the second half of last season on loan at QPR, scoring twice and registering one assist in his 14 Championship outings at Loftus Road.

However, he was once again shipped out to England’s second tier, this time joining Portsmouth on a season-long loan, even netting his first goal for the club against Watford on Wednesday night.

Given his recent spells away from North London, he’s yet to make a single senior appearance for the club, but that could certainly change in the years ahead, given his tender age.

Yang Min-hyeok – stats for Portsmouth
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	3
Goals & assists	1
Pass accuracy	75%
Touches in opposition box	5.6
Fouls won	2.8
Recoveries made	4.5
Shots on target	1.7
Chances created	1.1
Stats via FotMob

At just 19, Yang has plenty of time to live up to the potential he’s arrived with, potentially being the perfect option for the first-team off the left-hand side for many years to come.

Should he get anywhere near the levels produced by his compatriot at Spurs, it would be yet another phenomenal piece of business and one that could save them millions if he turns into a potential world-beater.

Spurs flop is proving to be their biggest waste of money since Ndombele

Tottenham Hotspur appear to have made a huge mistake in signing one talent in recent years.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 2, 2025