CK Updates
Sundowns, ASFAR geared for return leg challenges
Brayan Leon of Mamelodi Sundowns challenged by Mohamed Ben Hamida of Esperance Tunis during the CAF Champions League 2025/26 1st leg match between Esperance and Mamelodi Sundowns at Stade Olympique de Rades in Rades, Tunisia on the 12 April 2026 ©Mehrez Toujani/BackpagePix
Friday Apr 17, 2026. 11:00
Mamelodi Sundowns and ASFAR will be geared to take advantage of their first-leg leads when the return matches for the CAF Champions League semifinals are played on Saturday 18 April in Pretoria and Berkane.
Sundowns rode their luck to claim a 1-0 away win over Esperance de Tunis this past Sunday evening, with Brayan Leon’s goal early in the second half handing the South African club a key advantage as they seek a fourth Champions League final appearance (and a second title, adding to their continental triumph a decade ago).
However, four-time African champions Esperance will back themselves to put pressure on Sundowns at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in an afternoon clash, having dominated the first-leg match at the Hammadi Agrebi Stadium.
“The scoreline doesn’t reflect the match,” said Blood and Gold coach Patrice Beaumelle after the first leg. “We were more aggressive, more committed, and we managed to create several clear chances.
“Nothing is decided at this stage, no team has qualified or been eliminated. The decision will be made in the second leg, where we absolutely must be more efficient and more clinical.”
Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has warned his team that they will need to show even more resilience and determination in the home leg.
“The approach in the first half must be even stronger, even more concentrated, even more determined in terms of application and the tactical approach, so that we can take advantage of the result [in the first leg] and, of course, not go to the second match thinking that the work is done, because it’s not done, of course,” said the Portuguese tactician.
In the evening, attention turns to the Municipal Stadium in Berkane, as RS Berkane look to overturn a 2-0 deficit against fellow Moroccan club ASFAR.
The Royal Armed Forces side secured their advantage at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium last Saturday, thanks to second-half strikes from Ahmed Hammoudan and Khalid Ait Ouarkhane – setting them on course for a return to the final for the first time since their only Champions League triumph way back in 1985.
Al Zaeem coach Alexandre Santos was happy with his team’s showing, but insists that nothing is decided yet: “Now everything is still open, of course. Even if the result is positive, the message remains the same: this is just the first half. We have scored two goals, but the opponent has the quality to score in the second half or in the return leg.”
The aggregate winners will advance to the final, which is set to be played over two legs in May.
CAF Champions League fixtures
Semifinal, second legs. Times CAT. Aggregate scores in parenthesis.
Saturday 18 April
15:00: Mamelodi Sundowns v Esperance de Tunis (1-0)
21:00: RS Berkane v ASFAR (0-2)
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

