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Pakistan bounce back in style, defeat South Africa to square series

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Pakistan bounce back in style, defeat South Africa to square series
Pacers and opening batter Saim Ayub led the charge as Pakistan defeated South Africa by nine wickets in the must-win second T20I game at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Chasing a modest 111-run target, the home side comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just one wicket and 41 balls to spare.

 Pakistan got off to a flamboyant start to the pursuit, with their opening pair of Saim and Sahibzada Farhan putting together a brisk 54-run partnership.

The opening stand was eventually broken by Corbin Bosch in the seventh over when he trapped Farhan lbw with an in-dipper. The right-handed opener scored 28 off 23 deliveries with the help of three sixes.

Ayub was then joined by star batter Babar Azam in the middle, and the duo ensured Pakistan sailed over the line without further setbacks as they registered a match-winning 64-run partnership.

The second-wicket partnership was largely dominated by Ayub, who remained the top-scorer with an unbeaten 71 off just 38 deliveries, smashing six fours and five sixes, while Babar made 11 not out from 18 balls.

For South Africa, Bosch was the solitary wicket-taker.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to field first bore fruit as his team’s bowling unit booked South Africa for a meagre 110 in 19.2 overs.

Youngster Salman Mirza gave Pakistan a dominant start with the ball, by cleaning up Reeza Hendricks (zero) on just the second delivery of the fixture.

The Proteas then lost two more wickets in successive overs, bowled by Naseem Shah and Salman, respectively, and thus had been reduced to 15/3.

Bowling his third over on trot, Salman, who had earlier dropped Matthew Breetzke (five) off Naseem, repented his mistake by bowling the right-handed batter with a leg-cutter.

With South Africa reeling at 23/4 in 4.4 overs, Dewald Brevis attempted to launch a counterattack by going after the Pakistan pacers, but Faheem Ashraf drew curtains on his blistering cameo in the eighth over with a short-pitched delivery.

Brevis remained the top-scorer for the visitors with a 16-ball 25, featuring three sixes.

The all-rounder then dismissed South Africa captain Donovan Ferreira (15) and George Linde in his next two overs, respectively, to strengthen Pakistan’s command.

Naseem added to South Africa’s woes in the 14th over by dismissing their all-rounder Corbin Bosch (11), caught behind.

Following the slump, lower-order batters Ottneil Baartman and Nandre Burger (nine) added valuable runs at the backend, putting together 19 runs for the ninth wicket until the latter was dismissed by Abrar Ahmed in the penultimate over.

Faheem was the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan, dismissing four South African batters for just 23 runs in 3.2 overs, followed by Salman Mirza, who gave away just 14 runs in his four to pick up three wickets. Naseem Shah lent ample support with two scalps, while Abrar chipped in with one.



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Patriots’ Drake Maye ranks wife’s viral TikTok baking recipes ahead of Super Bowl LX

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Patriots’ Drake Maye ranks wife’s viral TikTok baking recipes ahead of Super Bowl LX


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You never know what will be asked at during Super Bowl media availabilities, but for New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, he doesn’t mind a little ranking question regarding his wife, Ann Michael’s, baking.

Maye, who has helped lead the Patriots to the “Big Game” in Santa Clara this week in just his second NFL season, was asked to rank four of his wife’s recipes, which has been talked about throughout the season. Ann Michael shares her recipes on TikTok, some of which going viral during what she called “Bakemas” for the holiday season.

The Patriots’ signal caller already knew what his top choice would be in the kitchen.

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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) speaks to media during Opening Night for Super Bowl LX at San Jose Convention Center on Feb. 2, 2026. (Kyle Terada/Imagn Images)

Drake and Ann Michael Maye

Drake Maye (10) of the New England Patriots and his wife, Ann Michael Maye, pose for a photo prior to the game against the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Dec. 1, 2025. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

“Cinnamon roll snickerdoodle, she just made those for the O-line this week,” Maye said with a smile. That’s my No. 1.”

After that, he had to give it some thought.

“Puppy chow, I’ll put puppy chow No. 3. Pistachio bread, I think it’s good. I’m not a fan, [so] I’ll put that at four. The crumble copycat sugar cookie? Yeah, put that at No. 2.”

DRAKE MAYE ‘SUPER BOWL’ GUY, FORMER COACH SAYS AS PATRIOTS QB REACHED NFL’S BIGGEST STAGE

With nerves and anticipation high for everyone on the Patriots and Seattle Seahawks entering this week, questions like these perhaps make things lighter.

And for the Patriots, it’s always good to have some fresh baked goods as a nice treat before the Super Bowl. Remember Donna Kelce bringing some homemade cookies for her boys, Jason and Travis Kelce, before they faced off in the Super Bowl a few years back?

Drake Maye looks on

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) reacts after the New England Patriots defeat the Denver Broncos in the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. Jan. 25, 2026. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

Maye has spoken on Ann Michael’s TikTok’s in the past, calling her a “superstar” with over 200,000 followers.

“(She’s) in her little journey doing ‘Bakemas’ right now. I get to do the good part of trying all her stuff she bakes. I try to bring some leftovers into the building,” Maye told “WEEI Afternoons.”

“She’s been a big addition for me being up here and living with me.”

Maye loves talking about his wife’s baking, but he knows this is still a business trip to the west coast this week. The Patriots have enjoyed a quick turnaround under new head coach Mike Vrabel, winning the AFC East and three playoff games on the way to the Super Bowl.

Maye, though, hasn’t been his usual, consistent self on the gridiron, which we saw all season long on his way to being an MVP candidate. He hasn’t completed more than 59% of his pass in any of his three games, though he has thrown four touchdowns to two interceptions.

Drake Maye takes questions

Drake Maye of the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LX Opening Night at San Jose McEnery Convention Center on Feb. 2, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Drake Maye walks with his wife

Drake Maye #10 of the New England Patriots and wife Ann Michael Maye hug after the AFC Championship Playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on Jan. 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Kara Durrette/Getty Images)

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Against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, Maye threw for just 86 yards, though the snowy weather played a large factor in that.

With perfect weather expected in the Bay Area on Sunday night, Maye should have the right conditions to get back in the saddle and try his luck against the Seahawks’ top-rated defense this season.

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17 more athletes join lawsuit vs. ex-NC State sports medicine director

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17 more athletes join lawsuit vs. ex-NC State sports medicine director


An additional 17 former North Carolina State male student-athletes have joined a lawsuit alleging “sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation” by the university’s former sports medicine director, Robert Murphy. The amended complaint, filed late Friday, brings the number of plaintiffs to 31.

The lawsuit also names, as defendants, senior administrators of the athletic department, asserting the student-athletes reported the misconduct but the defendants failed to take action. It accuses them of “willful, wanton and/or reckless” conduct “done in conscious and flagrant disregard of and indifference to the rights and safety of others.”

The lawsuit was first filed in Wake County Superior Court in September. There is currently a separate case against the university filed with the North Carolina Industrial Commission, a state agency that has sole jurisdiction to adjudicate negligence cases against state public entities. That case has been stayed pending resolution of the civil case.

“The health and safety of students and student-athletes is paramount to NC State Athletics and the university,” a university spokesperson said in a statement Monday. “Sexual misconduct of any kind is unacceptable, prohibited by NC State’s policies, and in direct opposition to the mission, culture and standards of the university. NC State is reviewing the lawsuit and determining appropriate next steps.”

The spokesperson said the school would not comment beyond the statement. A lawyer listed for Murphy has not responded to ESPN’s request for comment.

The amended complaint accuses Murphy of misconduct during his 2012-2022 tenure at the school by using “his position of trust and confidence to sexually assault, abuse, harass, and/or groom Plaintiffs as student-athletes entrusted to him for required medical care and treatment.”

The former student-athletes allege that Murphy would inappropriately touch their groin during massage treatments or made them uncomfortable during “unnecessarily intrusive urine sample collection methods” during mandatory drug testing.

Ben Locke, one of two named plaintiffs, said he had to shower in front of Murphy less than 24 hours after surgery under the guise that Murphy would help wrap the player’s bandages and make sure it didn’t get wet. Locke said he did not feel empowered to question Murphy, given his sports medicine role.

The complaint also alleges athletes would discuss Murphy’s “tendency to come into the locker room showers, watch male student athletes as they showered, and stare at their genitals.” The plaintiffs say that the behavior was so pervasive it was known as the “Rob Murphy Special,” and they shared a “joke” that “If you had a headache, [Murphy] was probably going to touch your” genitals. One plaintiff complained of a backache, which Murphy treated with a groin massage, the lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiffs say they first reported their complaints to the men’s soccer head coach, Kelly Findley, in 2012, who allegedly reported it to athletic department administrators. They say that Murphy was reassigned to other teams but resumed working with the soccer team in 2014.

Kerry Sutton, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said that student-athletes from eight different sports teams, all men, have come forward so far in the lawsuit and that she “expect[s] to hear from more men in coming days who were sexually harassed or assaulted by Mr. Murphy.”



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The Caps have won two straight. Can they keep it up against the Islanders?

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Washington will host the New York Islanders on Monday night at Capital One Arena.



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