Mandhana's fifty lights up inaugural women's Test at Lord's

London: Smriti Mandhana's sparkling unbeaten fifty led India to 122-3 against England at lunch on the opening day of the inaugural women's Test at Lord's on Friday. esporist.com

Mandhana was 56 not out after making a run-a-ball fifty including eight fours and a six, with India sent in to bat.

Harmanpreet Kaur, the India captain, was unbeaten on 14.

After 142 years -- and 150 matches -- of men's Test cricket at the London ground, this four-day fixture represents another landmark in the evolution of a now fast-developing women's game.

This match is also taking place 50 years after the first major women's match at Lord's, a one-day international between England and Australia.

Members of the England team that day gathered on the outfield Friday to ring the five-minute bell signalling the start of play.

In contrast to that 1976 team, England were playing their second match at Lord's in under a week following their defeat by arch-rivals Australia in Sunday's T20 World Cup final -- with India knocked out of the tournament by the eventual champions in a group-stage game at the same ground.

And in a feat women cricketers of the amateur era could scarcely have envisaged, Friday's match meant Mandhana became the youngest women to feature in 300 international games across all formats at the age of 29 years and 357 days.

But before Mandhana got going, opening partner Shafali Verma suffered the disappointment of a duck when well-caught by diving wicketkeeper Amy Jones off Lauren Filer.

Left-hander Mandhana, however, cover-drove Lauren Bell for several fours in classic style and also pulled the fast bowler to the boundary and later slog-swept spinner Sophie Ecclestone for six.

Yastika Bhatia (12) was bowled by a superb Bell delivery that swung in and seamed away.

But Jemimah Rodrigues helped Mandhana put on 64 for the third-wicket before she unluckily dragged on against Issy Wong for 35.

Marseille have reportedly joined the race for Haissem Hassan, while Real Oviedo rejected an offer from Celtic.

Marseille have reportedly joined the race to sign Egypt winger Haissem Hassan after Real Oviedo rejected an opening offer from Celtic.

The Scottish giants submitted a bid worth about €4 million, or £3.4 million, for the 24-year-old following his performances at the World Cup.

Oviedo rejected the approach and are referring interested clubs to Hassan’s €12 million release clause. The clause had previously been set at €18 million, but fell in value after the Spanish club’s relegation from La Liga.

Oviedo sporting director David Fernandez said the club would retain control over any departure. Fernandez made the comments during his presentation as sporting director amid reports linking the Egyptian winger with Celtic and other European clubs.

Marseille are monitoring the winger’s position, according to French reports, while clubs in England and Saudi Arabia have also been linked with a move.

Hassan’s transfer value increased after Egypt’s run to the World Cup round of 16. He started the 3-2 defeat by Argentina and assisted Mostafa Zico’s second goal after a counterattack led by Mohamed Salah.

The France-born winger joined Oviedo from Villarreal in 2024 and is under contract until 2027. Villarreal are entitled to 40% of a future transfer, according to Spanish reports.

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Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida announced a contract renewal for Hossam Hassan after the national team’s World Cup run.

The Egyptian Football Association has officially announced the board’s approval of the renewal of Hossam Hassan’s contract as national team head coach.

In its statement, the EFA said the board also approved a new deal for team director Ibrahim Hassan, with formal procedures to be completed at the board’s next meeting after the squad returns home.

The FA said the decision was taken to continue the national team’s project and build on the Pharaohs’ recent World Cup campaign.

The 59-year-old had said earlier in the tournament that he had been working without a contract since February 2026.

Hossam Hassan took charge of Egypt in February 2024. He led the team to the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations before guiding them through their deepest World Cup run.

Egypt claimed their first World Cup victory under Hassan with a 3-1 win over New Zealand in Group G. They then beat Australia on penalties in the round of 32 before narrowly losing 3-2 to defending champions Argentina in the round of 16.

So far, the length and terms of the contract have not yet been announced.

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Federal prosecutors and FBI agents have begun taking testimony on the Argentine Football Association’s operations in the United States.

U.S. federal prosecutors and FBI agents have begun taking testimony about the Argentine Football Association’s financial operations in the United States, according to reports.

Investigators are seeking to reconstruct how the AFA, headed by Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, moved hundreds of millions of dollars through the U.S. banking system.

So far, the inquiry is focused on whether transactions linked to the AFA could fall under U.S. jurisdiction as potential money laundering or bank fraud.

One witness was businessman Guillermo Tofoni, who previously denounced Tapia and the Argentina FA treasurer Pablo Toviggino for alleged fraud. Tofoni was interviewed last week by video conference for about three hours by prosecutors and FBI agents based in Washington, D.C. and Miami.

The inquiry centres in part on TourProdEnter LLC, a U.S.-registered company linked to producer Javier Faroni and Erica Gillette that handled the collection of AFA revenues.

The funds reportedly included payments from international commercial partners, including $60 million from Adidas and $40 million from Warner.

The measures taken so far do not amount to indictments or a formal criminal case. Investigators are in a preliminary stage aimed at mapping the financial circuit and identifying the actors involved.

AFA representatives have rejected any assumption of guilt. The association’s representative for the United States and North America said investigative steps alone “do not determine responsibility or guilt.”

Tapia has led the AFA since 2017. He has also faced legal scrutiny in Argentina over alleged improper withholding of tax and social security contributions.

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