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Kevin De Bruyne scored a pair of penalties as Belgium boosted their bid to qualify for the World Cup with a crucial 4-2 win against Wales on Monday.

Rudi Garcia’s side trailed to Joe Rodon’s early opener at the Cardiff City Stadium.

But De Bruyne levelled from the penalty spot and Thomas Meunier fired Belgium ahead before half-time.

De Bruyne converted another penalty in the closing stages before Nathan Broadhead got one back for the hosts.

Leandro Trossard extinguished Wales’ hopes of a dramatic finish as Belgium moved to the top of Group J.

Belgium are one point clear of second-placed North Macedonia, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Kazakhstan on Monday.

They will be guaranteed to qualify if they win either of their remaining games against Kazakhstan or Liechtenstein in November.

The Red Devils haven’t lost a qualifier for the World Cup or European Championship in 46 games since Gareth Bale sealed Wales’ shock victory against them in 2015.

Wales sit in third place after squandering a chance to move a step closer to next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Craig Bellamy’s team are four points behind Belgium, with both sides having two games to play, while North Macedonia have one match remaining.

Belgium were held 0-0 at home by North Macedonia on Friday, a result that had put Wales’ World Cup destiny in their own hands.

Wales knew three wins from their last three matches would clinch a World Cup place.

But now they face a potential play-off route if they cannot overhaul Belgium, with a trip to Liechtenstein before a home game against North Macedonia.

“We knew we needed to win. We had momentum, but the penalty gave them a lift, and even the crowd died down,” Bellamy said.

“I have no complaints about the second penalty. But the first… what are we supposed to do with our hands? This is not sour grapes.

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“We didn’t deserve it at that time. We had to react, but they reacted better in that period. It’s no consolation, but let’s get the next six points.”

Wales were beaten 4-3 by Belgium in Brussels in June, with De Bruyne bagging the late winner.

Once again, the Napoli midfielder proved to be their nemesis.

Wales’ blistering start reaped a deserved reward in the eighth minute when Leeds defender Rodon exploited Belgium’s woeful marking as he rose to head home from Sorba Thomas’s corner.

But against the run of play, Belgium were handed a lifeline in the 18th minute.

Charles De Ketelaere’s long-range shot hit Ethan Ampadu’s arm in the area.

Ampadu hardly extended his arm away from his body, but Daniel Siebert awarded the penalty after consulting the pitchside monitor, and De Bruyne calmly stepped up to send Karl Darlow the wrong way from the spot.

If the visitors’ first goal was controversial, there was no debating the merits of their second in the 24th minute.

Thomas was caught napping as the irrepressible Jeremy Doku galloped into acres of space on the right flank to whip a low cross into the Wales area.

Meunier timed his run perfectly to guide a clinical finish past Darlow from an acute angle.

Bellamy had made a bold decision by dropping Brennan Johnson after his recent struggles, but, in need of inspiration after Belgium seized the momentum, he sent on the Tottenham winger in the 58th minute.

However, Johnson’s most notable contribution was to usher away a rat after it ran onto the pitch to briefly halt play.

As the rat left Wales’ sinking ship, Bellamy’s men were finished off in the 76th minute.

Jordan James needlessly handled Trossard’s flick in the area, and the nerveless De Bruyne again slotted home from the spot.

Broadhead’s 89th-minute finish from the edge of the area, after Kieffer Moore robbed Trossard, looked like it was setting up a tense finale.

But Trossard made amends seconds later as the Arsenal forward drilled home from Timothy Castagne’s cross.

READ: India beat West Indies by seven wickets to sweep Test series 2-0

DELHI: Opener KL Rahul hit an unbeaten 58 as India beat the West Indies by seven wickets in the second Test to sweep the series 2-0 on Tuesday.

Chasing 121 for victory, India resumed on 63-1 and reached their target in the first session after losing two wickets on day five at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.

West Indies skipper Roston Chase struck twice with his off-spin to send back overnight batter Sai Sudharsan for 39 and skipper Shubman Gill for 13.

Rahul hit the winning four and India celebrated victory over the visitors, who had launched a spirited fightback while following on.

India’s left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav returned a match haul of eight wickets, including 5-82 in the first West Indies innings.

Kuldeep claimed 12 wickets in the series, followed by pace bowler Mohammed Siraj, who took 10, to be India’s leading wicket-taker this year with 37 wickets in eight matches.

India remain a team in transition under 26-year-old Gill, after the retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

Gill’s India won the opening Test by an innings and 140 runs, having secured a thrilling 2-2 draw in their five-Test series in England in June-August.

With the West Indies missing pace bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, both injured, India’s batsmen flourished.

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Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored with 175 in India’s mammoth first innings of 518-5 declared. Gill made an unbeaten 129.

The West Indies have endured years of decline after the team ruled world cricket.

This was a second successive Test whitewash, after they went down to Australia 3-0 at home.

There were a few promising signs, at least in the second Test.

Left-handed opener John Campbell and Shai Hope made 115 and 103 as they put on 177 runs for the third wicket to thwart India’s attack on a slow pitch that had little for the bowlers.

India had enforced the follow-on after they bowled out the West Indies for 248, a deficit of 270 from the hosts’ first innings.

The visitors sprang into life in their second innings through Campbell and Hope, and then Justin Greaves and number 10 Jayden Seales.

Greaves with an unbeaten 50 and Seales (32) put on 79 runs for the final wicket to frustrate India after the West Indies slipped to 311-9 in the second session on day four.

That show of defiance forced the Test into the final day and gave the West Indies a glimpse of brighter days ahead.

READ: Noman Ali breaks Iqbal Qasim’s long-standing record in Lahore Test

LAHORE: Pakistan’s seasoned spinner Noman Ali carved his name into the record books on Tuesday, surpassing the legendary Iqbal Qasim’s tally of five-wicket hauls during the opening Test against South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The 39-year-old left-armer delivered a masterful spell, picking up six wickets in the innings to guide Pakistan into a dominant position with a first-innings lead of 109 runs.

His latest effort marked his ninth five-wicket haul in Test cricket, making him the most successful Pakistani left-arm spinner in terms of five-fors, one ahead of Iqbal Qasim, who held the record for decades with eight.

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Noman now stands alone atop an elite list that includes Pervez Sajjad (3 five-fors), Abdur Rehman, and Zulfiqar Babar (2 each), underscoring his consistency and longevity in the longest format.

South Africa, resuming the third day on 216-6, were relying heavily on Tony de Zorzi to narrow Pakistan’s advantage.

The left-hander brought up a fine century, his second in Tests, but fell soon after for a gritty 104 off Noman’s bowling, ending an innings decorated with 10 fours and two sixes.

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Off-spinner Sajid Khan provided crucial support from the other end, removing Senuran Muthusamy early in the session to open the floodgates.

The remaining wickets came quickly, with South Africa bowled out for 269 before lunch.

Simon Harmer remained unbeaten on 19 as Noman cleaned up the tail to finish with impressive figures of 6 for 113, while Sajid bagged 3 for 98 and Salman Ali Agha chipped in with one.

READ: Noman Ali helps Pakistan book South Africa for 269 in first Test

LAHORE: Noman Ali struck twice in the last session of the day three, putting  Pakistan on top with South Africa reeling in the opening Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Set 277, South Africa were 51-2 at stumps, still requiring 226 runs for victory.

Ryan Rickelton made 29* from 76 with the aid of three fours, and the only centurion in the match, Tony de Zorzi, battled out for his 16* from 44 in challenging conditions.

Noman continued from where he left off in the first innings, castling Proteas skipper Aiden Markram for five while Wiaan Mulder followed him in quick succession. The right-hander could not open his account.

As a result, South Africa were put in early trouble, hence reduced to 18-2. However, De Zorzi and Rickelton added 33 runs and survived the last few overs like they did in the first innings, which lifted the visitors out of the trouble.

Earlier, South African spinner Senuran Muthusamy produced a sensational bowling performance, claiming five wickets in the second innings to help the visitors bundle Pakistan for 167

Having already taken six wickets in the first innings, Muthusamy added another five to his tally, finishing with match figures of 11 wickets, as Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse in the final session.

Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 17 runs after Tea, with Muthusamy running through the lower order. The hosts could only set South Africa a target of 277 runs.

The home side resumed their innings at 36-2 after lunch, with Abdullah Shafique (21) and Babar Azam (1) at the crease.

The pair looked steady before Muthusamy struck again, dismissing Shafique for 41 off 73 balls, including six boundaries, to break a 31-run third-wicket stand.

Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel then stabilized the innings, adding 55 runs for the fourth wicket and pushing Pakistan’s lead beyond 200.

However, South Africa clawed back as Kagiso Rabada removed Babar for 42 off 72 deliveries, shifting momentum once more.

Shakeel looked fluent with 38 off 53 balls, but Muthusamy returned just before tea to dismiss him, halting Pakistan’s progress. At the interval, the hosts were 150-5, with Mohammad Rizwan unbeaten on 14.

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Pakistan started their second innings with a lead of 109 runs. However, Harmer quickly dismissed Imam-ul-Haq for a two-ball duck in the second over, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position at 2-1.

Skipper Shan Masood joined Shafique at the crease but struggled to score, making only seven runs before also falling to Harmer.

Babar Azam then came to bat, and together with Shafique, they managed to see out the first session without any further loss of wickets.

The 16-wicket day started with Noman Ali completing a six-wicket haul to help Pakistan bowl out South Africa for 269.

Resuming the day at 216-6, South Africa were banking on Tony de Zorzi to carry them closer to Pakistan’s total of 378.

The left-hander, who began the morning on 81, completed a well-deserved century, his second in Test cricket, before falling to Noman after a hard-fought 104 that featured 10 boundaries and a couple of sixes.

Sajid Khan struck early in the day to remove Senuran Muthusamy for 11, while Noman wrapped up the tail swiftly, leaving the visitors all out for 269.

Simon Harmer remained unbeaten on 19 as South Africa’s innings folded within the first session.

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Noman’s figures of 6-113 stood out as the defining performance of the innings, while Sajid supported ably with 3-98. Salman Ali Agha chipped in with one wicket.

Earlier, it was South Africa’s own spinners who shone on the second day, as Muthusamy’s six-wicket haul had helped the Proteas bundle Pakistan out for 378. However, the tourists failed to build on that momentum with the bat.

Openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton gave South Africa a steady start before lunch on day two, but Noman broke the stand soon after by removing Markram for 20.

Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder then stitched together a brief partnership, with both batters looking settled before Noman struck again to dismiss Mulder for 17.

De Zorzi, who arrived next, found early fortune with a few edges flying past the slip cordon but soon looked in control.

Alongside Rickelton, he added 94 runs for the third wicket, the best partnership of the innings. Rickelton made a solid 71 off 137 deliveries before falling to Salman Ali Agha.

That dismissal triggered a collapse as South Africa lost three wickets for just 25 runs, slipping from 175-3 to 200-6. The middle order offered little resistance with Tristan Stubbs (8), Dewald Brevis (0), and Kyle Verreynne (6) all falling cheaply.

By the close of play on the second day, the Proteas were 216-6 with de Zorzi unbeaten on 81, but the next morning belonged entirely to Pakistan’s spinners.

READ: Cape Verde creates history with first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification

Cape Verde beat Eswatini 3-0 on Monday to secure a spot at the FIFA World Cup 2026, booking their place in football’s global showpiece for the very first time.

The team from an archipelago off the coast of Senegal has about 550,000 inhabitants, making Cape Verde the country with the smallest population to represent Africa in the global showpiece.

Cape Verde won Group D with 23 points, four more than Cameroon, who hold the African record for World Cup appearances with eight. Cameroon drew 0-0 with Angola in Yaounde.

After dominating the first half of the 2026 qualifier, but seldom threatening to score, the Blue Sharks struck twice through Dailon Livramento and Willy Semedo in the first nine minutes after half-time before a 15,000 flag-waving crowd in Praia.

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Livramento claimed his fourth goal of the 10-round qualifying campaign in 48 minutes, and Semedo struck six minutes later. Both goals came from close-range tap-ins.

Cape Verde added a third goal in added time when Stopira, a substitute for Joao Paulo, pounced on a loose ball to score.

Cape Verde rely heavily on players born outside the nation to Cape Verdean parents or grandparents. Livramento was born in Rotterdam and Semedo near Paris.

Eswatini had come to the 10-island archipelago with little attacking ambition, adopting a 5-4-1 formation in front of goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala.

But after conceding twice, there was no way back for the team from southern Africa, who lost seven qualifiers and drew the other three.

Cape Verde spread the national team net wide with three starters based in Portugal and one each in the United States, Republic of Ireland, UAE, Romania, Russia, Netherlands, Turkey, and Cyprus.

The remarkable qualification of Cape Verde came after they made a disappointing start to the 10-match campaign, drawing 0-0 at home with Angola and slumping to a 4-1 loss in Cameroon.

Those results left the Blue Sharks with four points from a possible nine, having won away to Eswatini in between.

READ: De Klerk stars again as South Africa edge Bangladesh in Women’s World Cup thriller

VISHAKAPATNAM: Chloe Tryon and Marizanne Kapp scored gutsy half-centuries before Nadine de Klerk stepped in late and calmly nudged South Africa over the line against Bangladesh in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

Set a challenging 233 run target, South Africa hit the winning runs on the third ball of the last over, losing seven wickets in the process.

After losing Tazmin Brits for a golden duck in the second over, skipper Laura Wolvaardt batted with responsibility alongside Anneke Bosch, adding 56 runs for the second-wicket partnership.

South Africa were cruising at 58-1; however, Bangladesh made a roaring comeback on the last ball of the 14th over. The Tigers removed Wolvaardt, who made 31 from 56 balls with the help of five fours.

The wicket sparked a mini collapse and the Proteas slumped to 78-5 in 22.1 overs.

Following the collapse, Chloe Tryon and Marizanne Kapp forged a strong 85-run stand, hence lifting the team out of trouble. The pair’s rescue act brought the team’s total to 163 in 40 overs.

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Tryon made 62 from 69 balls, studded with six fours and a six, while Kapp struck four boundaries and a maximum on her way to 56 from 71 deliveries.

The duo’s wickets brought Bangladesh back into the game, with South Africa reduced to 198-7 in 44.5 overs.

At this stage, South Africa required 35 runs from 30 balls. Yet, Nadine de Klerk, fresh from a match-winning innings against India, scored 37 from 29 balls, including a six and a four in the last over, which took her team over the line.

For Bangladesh, Nahida Akter scalped two wickets in her 9.3 overs while giving away 44 runs.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Bangladesh posted 232-6 in their 50 overs, courtesy of skipper Nigar Sultana and Shorna Akter’s half-centuries.

Both added 78 runs for the third-wicket partnership, which drove Bangladesh’s innings.

Akter’s 50 from 77 included five boundaries, while Akter’s brisk 51 from just 35 balls was laced with three fours and three sixes.

For South Africa, Nonkululeko Mlaba scalped two wickets in her quota of 10 overs.

READ: India close in on Test series sweep despite West Indies fightback

India closed in on a 2-0 series sweep in the second Test despite some spirited West Indies batting led by centuries from John Campbell and Shai Hope on Monday.

Needing 121 for victory after bowling out the West Indies for 390, the hosts reached 63-1 at stumps on day four at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.

KL Rahul, on 25, and Sai Sudharsan, on 30, were batting in a stand of 54 at the close of an absorbing day’s play.

Yashasvi Jaiswal fell early for eight after left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican had the Indian opener caught at long-on while attempting an ambitious heave.

Rahul and the left-handed Sudharsan steadied the ship, and the pair kept up the scoring with singles and occasional boundaries against a persistent West Indies spin attack.

Earlier, Justin Greaves with an unbeaten 50 and Jayden Seales (32) put on 79 runs for the final wicket to frustrate India after the West Indies slipped to 311-9 in the second session.

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Greaves and the left-handed number 10 defied the bowlers for 133 deliveries with straight-bat shots before Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Seales in the final session for his third wicket.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav also took three wickets to add to his five-wicket haul in the West Indies’ first innings.

Campbell (115) and Hope (103) had steered the West Indies into the lead after the tourists resumed the day on 173-2 while following on.

The left-right batting pair of Campbell and Hope put on 177 runs for the third wicket.

Opener Campbell reached his first Test ton with a six off Ravindra Jadeja before the left-arm spinner trapped him lbw in the morning session.

Hope kept up the charge after lunch and reached his first Test hundred in eight years with a boundary off pace bowler Mohammed Siraj.

Siraj had his revenge soon after when the batter dragged his delivery onto his stumps.

Kuldeep then took over to send back wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach, trapped lbw for two.

The left-arm wrist spinner then struck twice in three balls, including skipper Roston Chase for 40, before Greaves and Seales put on a defiant partnership.

India bowled more than 200 overs on a slow pitch that made life tough for bowlers.

The visitors had waged a fightback after being reduced to 35-2 in their second innings on day three, but the batters made sure the game will go the distance to day five.

India enforced the follow-on after they bowled out the West Indies for 248, a deficit of 270 from the hosts’ first-innings 518-5 declared.

The hosts won the first Test, in Ahmedabad, by an innings and 140 runs.

READ: WATCH: Pakistan train ahead of Women’s World Cup clash against England

COLOMBO: Pakistan women team underwent an intense training session here at the Colombo Cricket Ground on Monday ahead of their encounter against England in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. 

Women in Green underwent fielding, running, and catching training in a three-hour session. National cricketers also practiced bowling and batting in the nets, alongside receiving tips on skill development.

Pakistan will play its next game against England on October 15 at RPS Stadium, Colombo.

For the unversed, the women in Green are winless in the World Cup and are yet to get off the mark on the points table.

Pakistan has suffered defeats at the hands of Bangladesh, India, and Australia. Currently, seven-time winners Australia are on top of the points table with four victories in four games.

Pakistan Team Remaining Fixtures

• 15 October – vs England
• 18 October – vs New Zealand
• 21 October – vs South Africa
• 24 October – vs Sri Lanka

Pakistan squad for ICC Women’s World Cup 2025

Fatima Sana (captain), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (vice-captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wicket-keeper), and Syeda Aroob Shah

Non-traveling reserves: Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar

READ: Noman Ali eyes big lead after spinning South Africa into trouble

LAHORE: Pakistan left-arm spinner Noman Ali shared his views after spinning a web around South Africa’s batting lineup on day two of the first Test here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

South Africa were cruising at 175-3 after the tea break; however, Noman Ali paired up with Sajid Khan, which derailed South Africa’s batting lineup.

Noman, particularly cut through South Africa’s middle order, and the visitors slumped from 175-3 to 200-6 in the span of 10 overs.

Tristan Stubbs was caught behind for eight while Dewald Brevis fell for a golden duck. Kyle Verreynne could not trouble the scorers much as he made six from 19.

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At the close of play, the visitors were reduced to 216-6 with Tony de Zorzi unbeaten on 81 from 140 balls, whereas Senuran Muthusamy remained not out on six from 19 deliveries.

Noman Ali bowled an excellent spell and bagged four wickets, which put Pakistan in a commanding position.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Noman shed light on team plans and eyed quick wickets on day three.

“We will try to dismiss South Africa as quickly as possible and take a good lead,” he said.

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He mentioned that bowling in tandem with Sajid Khan provides an edge, and Pakistan have an ample chance after posting a good first innings score.

“Sajid Khan and I bowl as a pair, which is beneficial. If he gets wickets, I support him, and we try to bowl in partnership. Considering the slow side pitch conditions, I expect a low bounce going ahead into the match.

“We have posted a good score Our aim is to get South Africa out for as few runs as possible. We’ll try to gain a lead of over 100 runs so we can set a strong target for South Africa in the fourth innings,” he concluded.

READ: Former Pakistan cricketer Wazir Mohammad passes away

Former Pakistan Test cricketer Wazir Mohammad passed away at the age of 95 in Solihull, Birmingham, earlier this Morning.

The deceased was the elder Brother of Hanif Mohammad, also known as the little master.

Wazir played 20 Tests for Pakistan and scored 801 runs with the help of two centuries and three half-centuries.

Born on December 22, 1929, Wazir was also the third-oldest living men’s Test cricketer after Australia’s Neil Harvey and New Zealand’s Trevor MacMahon.

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Notably, he remained a vital part of Pakistan’s initial journey in the cricketing world during the 1950s and 60s.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, expressed profound grief over the passing of cricketing legend and expressed his heartfelt condolences.

“Wazir Mohammad was a good batsman and a very sophisticated person. May Allah Almighty rest the soul of the deceased in peace and grant patience to the bereaved family. Amen,” he said.

READ: Aiden Markram achieves major milestone in first Pakistan Test