CK Updates
Confidence boost for Ghana ahead of CHAN qualifying – 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
Salim Adams of Ghana during the 2025 International Friendly match between South Africa and Ghana at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto 16 December 2025 ©Zamani Makautsi/BackpagePix
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025. 13:10
Kassim Mingle, head coach of Ghana’s Black Galaxies, believes his side showed its quality and received a confidence boost despite losing 1-0 to South Africa at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday.
The two sides met in what was a send-off and warm-up for Bafana Bafana ahead of its participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which begins on Sunday.
The Black Galaxies is made up of Ghanaian players who ply their trade in the local Ghanaian Premier League and is set to begin qualification for the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN), which permits countries to only use players from their respective domestic leagues.
Ghana missed out on this year’s CHAN tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda but is determined to qualify for the next edition.
Mingle, whose preparations were hampered by Ghana’s domestic league, was pleased with what he saw from his side, facing off against a nearly full-strength South African team.
“I’m satisfied with their performance. Because it’s a new team that we’re building. A new team to actually take time before their team starts playing. And I will congratulate Bafana Bafana, because if we were to [play] any other team, I bet you we would have beaten them,” said Mingle following the match.
The 68-year-old believes that playing tough opposition will instill confidence in his players as they approach CHAN qualification.
“[South Africa] are one of the contenders of the African tournament. So it’s an exposure to the boys, playing high international profile matches like this. It builds their confidence. So I’ve also got confidence in them.
Some of them, about six key players, couldn’t come. They have injuries, and team commitment too. So I think we’ll be continuing like this, with a strong team. I have confidence we can qualify for the tournament,” he said.
Having only been at the reins of the Black Galaxies for three months, Mingle is building a strong team filled with ambition that seems set to challenge for continental silverware.
By Nic Gleeson
CK Updates
Commonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales
Gymnast Ruby Evans has won Wales’ first Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow with victory in the floor final.
Evans, 19, performed the final routine of the women’s programme and defeated England’s Abigail Martin into silver, with her team-mate Shantae-Eve Amankwaah securing bronze.
Evans left the arena in tears on Sunday after her disappointing sixth in the all-round individual competition, that after Wales finished fourth in the team event.
Now, after Welsh identical twins Abigail and Emily Roper won bronze medals within a couple of hours of each other on Monday, Evans has delivered gold.
It was the first victory for Team Wales in Scotland and a ninth medal alongside two silver and six bronze.
There is also a guaranteed podium position for boxer Connor Williams after he reached the semi-finals.
CK Updates
Saltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating
An amateur cricket match has made global headlines after a fielder was accused of cheating by clicking his fingers to get a wicket.
The North Yorkshire and South Durham Cricket League has started an investigation into a second XI Division 2 game between Saltburn and Norton.
A viral video on social media appears to show a Saltburn fielder clicking his fingers as the ball passes Noman Shabir’s bat before being caught by wicketkeeper Josh Bowes. Saltburn appeal and the umpire gives Shabir out.
It has been suggested that the finger-clicking was designed to trick the umpire into thinking the batter edged the ball.
Saltburn won by 159 runs and are top of Division 2 by 17 points.
“The league have received a formal complaint regarding alleged incidents in a Division Two game on Saturday,” the league said in a statement on X.
“A full investigation has been initiated and until such time as the formal processes are complete no further comment will be made.”
Last week Bowes took eight catches in Saltburn’s 22-run win over Shildon Railway. The men’s Test record for catches by a keeper in an innings is seven.
Bowes leads the league standings with 31 catches, 10 more than any other player.
Rory Cotterill, who captained Middlesbrough second XI during a 29-run defeat by Saltburn last month, responded to a social media post containing the video and alleged two further incidents of cheating by Saltburn in that match.
The original video of the incident has had more than three million views on X, with publications in Australia and New Zealand among those to report it.
The BBC has contacted the league and Saltburn. Norton declined to comment.
CK Updates
West Indies v Pakistan: Justin Greaves takes five wickets for none in incredible spell
First Test, Tarouba (day three of five)
West Indies 311 (Hope 92; Ali 4-50) & 126-7 (Chanderpaul 35, Abbas 3-14)
Pakistan 282 (Masood 109; Greaves 5-27)
West Indies lead by 155 runs
West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves took five wickets without conceding a run in an incredible spell of bowling on day three of the first Test against Pakistan.
Greaves, who is playing in his 17th Test, claimed his maiden Test five-wicket haul to help dismiss Pakistan for 282 in response to West Indies’ first-innings total of 311.
The 32-year-old Barbadian’s spell – five consecutive wicket maidens – was all the more remarkable given he had bowled six overs earlier in the day for 27 runs without taking a wicket.
“When I came on captain Roston Chase just said ‘continue to be disciplined in what you are doing’ and to see if I can get some wickets for the team,” Greaves said.
“The ball nipped around and I got some reward. Anytime I get the ball in hand the team looks to me to be that solid player for them [and] try to dig us out of situations.
“To get five wickets for the first time in Test cricket, I’m really happy, but there’s still a lot of work to do in the game.”
Pakistan captain Shan Masood was Greaves’ first wicket at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad when he was bowled for 109 in the 64th over following a superb set-up.
Greaves had pushed the ball wide to the left-hander from over the wicket before he tailed a delivery back into Masood who played down the wrong line and inside edged on to his stumps.
Aamer Jamal had his middle stump uprooted in Greaves’ next over as the seamer speared one through his defences.
Greaves then trapped Ali Usman lbw before he had Mohammed Rizwan and Mohammad Abbas both caught behind as Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 38 runs.
West Indies reached stumps on day three on 126-7 in their second innings – a lead of 155 runs – to leave the match finely poised.
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CK Updates23 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: Scotland’s Archie Goodburn on battling brain cancer
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CK Updates11 hours agoSaltburn-Norton match investigated over alleged ‘finger clicking’ cheating
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CK Updates5 hours agoCommonwealth Games 2026: Gymnast Ruby Evans wins first gold for Wales
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CK Updates17 hours agoWest Indies v Pakistan: Justin Greaves takes five wickets for none in incredible spell

