Davis Thompson put in record-setting performance as he wrapped up victory at the John Deere Classic and secured a spot in the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.
Thompson’s final total of 28 under par in Illinois eclipsed the previous tournament record of 27 under set by Michael Kim in 2017 and earned him a first PGA Tour title as well as a debut appearance in the British major from July 18-21.
The 25-year-old carded a seven-under 64 on Sunday to finish four strokes clear of CT Pan, Michael Thorbjornsen and amateur Luke Clanton, with Pan securing the second Open qualification spot by virtue of having the higher world ranking.
Image: CT Pan will tee it up at the Open Championship for the first time since 2021
Thompson led fellow American Eric Cole and England’s Aaron Rai by two strokes heading into the final round and never looked in danger of being caught as he birdied five of his first six holes at TPC Deere Run and reached the turn in 29.
The Georgian – who came joint-second at last week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic after a ninth-placed finish at the US Open in June – saw his lead trimmed to three shots after he bogeyed 12 with Thorbjornsen making six birdies on the trot between eight and 13.
However, Thompson birdied 14 to effectively clinch victory with Thorbjornsen bogeying the same hole before picking up a birdie at 18 to end up alongside Pan and Clanton at 24 under.
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Thompson told CBS: “Qualifying for the Open was just an added incentive into this. The goal was to win the golf tournament after getting off to a great start and I was able to finish it off.”
Bizarrely, the winner of this tournament has stayed in the same rental house for three years running, with Thompson following in the footsteps of JT Poston in 2022 and last year’s winner Sepp Straka.
Clanton – who played the back nine in six under – became the first amateur to finish in the top 10 in back-to-back starts on the PGA Tour since 1958 having come 10th at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
England’s Rai ended up tied for seventh at the John Deere Classic after a two-under 69, with compatriot Harry Hall a further stroke back in a tie for 12th after closing with a six-under 65 that featured eight birdies and a double bogey.
Watch the 152nd Open Championship, from Royal Troon, live on Sky Sports Golf from 6.30am on Thursday July 18.
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An emotional Ewen Ferguson clinched a spot at the Open Championship after winning the DP World Tour’s BMW International Open in Germany.
Scottish player Ferguson’s two-stroke stroke victory in Munich left him as one of the highest five players in the top 20 on the Race to Dubai – alongside Jesper Svensson, Laurie Canter, Nacho Elvira and Matteo Manassero – who were not otherwise exempt for the 152nd Open at Troon between July 18-21.
The 28-year-old finished on 18 under par after a four-under 68 on Sunday, with England’s Jordan Smith – who shared the lead with Ferguson after three rounds – and Australia’s David Micheluzzi tied for second on 16 under.
Highlights from the final day of the BMW International Open as Ferguson, who has recently battled bouts of vertigo, triumphed in Munich
Ferguson, who revealed after his second round that he was glad simply to be playing again following recent bouts of vertigo, told Sky Sports in a teary interview: “I honestly can’t believe it.
“The last four holes I felt like I was in a dream, I just didn’t think this was actually happening. It was crazy. I was hitting it so well, hitting it so much further than usual.
“I wanted to do it for my dad, my mum, my sister, my brother at home. I love them so much and every shot I hit was with them in mind.
Image: Ferguson now has three wins on the DP World Tour
“It’s such a hard game. I’ve been moaning like mad the last two months with also being sick. [This win] is so much weight off my shoulders. I’m so happy.
“The Open Championship is a tournament that everyone wants to play in and I feel like I could do well there and the Scottish Open next week too. It’s such an exciting time for me.”
Ferguson hopes to practice with Fleetwood ahead of Open
Ferguson later revealed that he had been planning to contest final qualifying for the Open Championship on Tuesday, but felt he was playing well enough to secure a place either in Munich or via the Genesis Scottish Open.
He added: “I didn’t want to tire myself out. I felt like I could maybe win this week or maybe finish in the top 10 in Scotland and get my own spot that way, so we decided to pull out of Open qualifying.
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“It’s obviously a really good decision. It kept me fresh and I’m here with the trophy. I actually got a text from Tommy Fleetwood saying well done so I said to him, let’s get a practice round in [at the Open] so I’m looking forward to that.”
Ferguson’s victory was his third on the DP World Tour and first since the ISPS Handa World Invitational in August 2022, which came five months after his maiden triumph at that year’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Micheluzzi finished birdie, birdie, eagle to earn his share of second spot alongside Smith, whose title hopes were effectively ended when he found the water off the 16th tee as he tried to drive the green.
Matthew Southgate made a superb eagle during the BMW International Open, following his namesake Gareth Southgate’s success in leading England to the Euro 2024 semi-finals in Germany
Scotland’s Connor Syme and England’s Matthew Southgate finished in joint fourth on 14 under with Southgate making an eagle at the sixth hole.
Watch the Genesis Scottish Open live on Sky Sports Golf from 8.30am on Thursday July 11. Then catch the 152nd Open Championship live on the same channel from 6.30am on Thursday July 18.
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Glamorgan fell agonisingly short of the highest successful chase in first-class history after their Vitality County Championship Division Two match against Gloucestershire ended in a dramatic final-ball tie.
The visitors went into the final day at Cheltenham on 222-3, still needing another 370 runs for a famous victory, after James Bracey’s unbeaten 204 and Cameron Bancroft’s 184 saw Gloucestershire declare at 610-5 in their second innings.
Sam Northeast top-scored with 187 for Glamorgan and put on a 153-run fourth-wicket stand with Marnus Labuschagne (119), while contributions from Dan Douthwaite (39) and Timm van der Gugten (31) edged them closer to their unlikely target.
Image: Sam Northeast posted a brilliant 187 from 277 deliveries
Andy Gorvin’s dismissal left Glamorgan nine down and still needing 31 more for victory, only for Mason Crane (43 not out) to impress to leave them requiring two from the final over the match.
Ajeet Singh Dale’s first four balls were dots and the fifth saw Crane scurry a single, levelling the scores, before a sensational one-handed catch from Bracey – without wearing his ‘keeper glove – removed Jamie McIlroy (five) and dismissed Glamorgan for 592.
Only England’s 654-5 against South Africa in Durban in 1939 and Maharashtra’s 604 against Bombay in 1949 rank higher than Glamorgan’s score. The first-class record winning score remains in the possession of Indian side West Zone, who chased down 536 to beat South Zone in 2010.
In Division One, Tom Lawes took 4-26 as Surrey dismissed Essex for 215 to complete a 145-run victory over their nearest rivals at the Kia Oval and increase their lead at the top of the Division One table.
Dean Elgar scored a typically defiant 60 but Surrey’s quicker bowlers chipped away relentlessly once morning rain had cleared, with 21-year-old Lawes first taking two wickets in successive balls and then returning after tea to break further Essex resistance from Paul Walter and Michael Pepper.
Surrey’s 20-point win, their sixth from nine Division One matches so far this season, was completed with 25.5 overs to spare and they remain on course for three Championship titles in a row.
Elsewhere, Tom Abell hit a perfectly-paced century as Somerset chased down 410 – the second-highest successful fourth-innings run chase in their history – to beat Warwickshire by five wickets on the final day at Taunton, lifting them up to second in the table.
The former club captain finished unbeaten on 152 as his side made light of their mammoth target, winning with 26 balls to spare. Tom Banton contributed 81, James Rew hit 57 not out and Tom Kohler-Cadmore scored 49 after Warwickshire had declared on their overnight second-innings total of 281-8.
Liam Dawson’s stunning 56 from 28 deliveries gave Hampshire a sensational six-wicket win over Kent, having chased down their victory target of 179 with 47 balls to spare.
After Toby Albert, Fletcha Middleton and James Vince had got them off to a flyer, Dawson made it a cakewalk and saw them complete their third win in four matches to keep them in the title race. Kent remain winless in the County Championship since May 3.
Joe Clarke made his fourth century of the season and blunted the threat posed by Lancashire‘s James Anderson to ensure Nottinghamshire salvaged a draw in Southport.
James Anderson puts on superb performance in his first outing for Lancashire as he takes six wickets in nine overs
Clarke passed fifty for the seventh time in 14 first-class innings this season and had put on an unbroken 136 for the fifth wicket with Lyndon James to steer the visitors to 270-4, while the players shook hands with James unbeaten on 43 and Clarke 115no.
Anderson, in contrast to his astonishing spell on Tuesday morning, had figures of 1-25 from 11 overs in two spells on the final day but the eight points the sides collect for the draw enables both of them to pull a little further away from Division One’s relegation zone.
Watch the first Test between England and West Indies, at Lord’s, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am on Wednesday July 10 (11am first ball). Stream cricket and more top sport on NOW.
Jonny Clayton returned to winning ways with an outstanding 8-5 success against Wesley Plaisier in Wednesday’s Players Championship 14 final in Milton Keynes, as Luke Littler made another early exit.
Clayton stormed to victory on a thrilling day of action at the Marshall Arena, denying an in-form Plaisier to clinch his first PDC ranking title since May 2023.
The Welshman – a runner-up in May’s Dutch Darts Championship – endured a difficult end to 2023, but he continued his revival to become the 14th different winner in as many Players Championship events in 2024.
Clayton – a quarter-finalist on Tuesday – kicked off his campaign with emphatic wins against Darren Beveridge, Andy Baetens and James Hurrell, before defying a 110.71 average from Dom Taylor in a sensational last-16 tie.
The 49-year-old then overcame Martin Schindler in the last eight, before running out a 7-3 winner against Cameron Menzies in the semi-finals, which ended the Scot’s hopes of World Matchplay qualification.
Who will win the Betfred World Matchplay? Watch live from Saturday July 13 on Sky Sports!
Clayton seized the early initiative in Wednesday’s showpiece, reeling off three consecutive legs to establish 4-1 and 5-2 leads, only for Plaisier to respond with a majestic 161 checkout in leg eight.
The former Premier League champion restored his three-leg buffer with a fabulous 11-darter, and he punished rare errors on the outer ring from his Dutch opponent to move to the brink of glory at 7-3.
Plaisier hit back with skin-saving 121 and 122 finishes on the bull as he looked to complete an astonishing turnaround, but Clayton kept his cool, pinning double 16 to triumph with a 106 average.
“Fair play to Wesley. How he hasn’t got a Tour Card I’ll never know, because he can seriously play darts,” said Clayton, who also landed seven 180s in the final. “Confidence is low when you’re not picking up results, but I’ve got my mojo back. I’ve got a smile on my face, and winning always helps.
“I was way off at the start of the year, but something has clicked. I played well yesterday and I played well today, so my consistency is there, and fingers crossed I can keep it going. It’s a great time to get your form back with the World Matchplay coming up, and hopefully I can go one step further this year.”
Plaisier reaffirmed his credentials by reaching back-to-back finals at the Marshall Arena, as he walked away from this week’s ProTour double-header with £20,000 in prize money. He dumped out world No 4 Gerwyn Price in the last 32, and later accounted for Mario Vandenbogaerde, Graham Usher and Ryan Joyce to maintain his superb run of form.
Image: Gerwyn Price will be among the favourites at the Betfred World Matchplay later this month in Blackpool
Joyce crashed in a 111.48 average in his quarter-final thumping of Josh Rock, having also won through a deciding-leg tussle against top seed Dave Chisnall in the last 16.
Scottish star Menzies dumped out England’s World Cup winning duo Michael Smith and Luke Humphries on his way to the semi-finals, while Schindler defeated his World Cup partner Gabriel Clemens to end Clemens’ World Matchplay dreams.
Live World Matchplay Darts
Saturday 13th July 7:30pm
Usher claimed a host of big scalps to reach his maiden ProTour quarter-final, following up deciding-leg wins over Gary Anderson and James Wade with a 6-4 success against World Matchplay champion Nathan Aspinall.
Robert Owen produced the performance of the day in Milton Keynes, registering a staggering 115.85 average in his third round demolition of Ryan Searle, who was beaten 6-1 despite averaging 105, while Luke Littler made another early exit with a 6-3 loss against Hurrell.
Wednesday’s action marked the final event before the cut-off for Betfred World Matchplay qualification, with 2007 champion James Wade securing the final place in the 32-player field.
Menzies threatened to overhaul Wade with his brilliant run to the last four, although he fell just short in his last-gasp Blackpool bid.
Watch the Betfred World Matchplay from July 13-21 at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool live on Sky Sports. Watch the best darts live on Sky Sports or stream with NOW.
Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho handled a strong wind and the tough foursomes format for a three-under 67 on Saturday, giving the American duo a one-shot lead going into the final round of the Dow Championship.
The South Korean tandem of Haeji Kang and In Kyung Kim was tied for second with a team of former No 1s in Atthaya Thitikul and Ruoning Yin. The final round is fourballs, the easier format to score.
Ewing finally got a birdie putt to fall from about 18 feet on the 10th hole, and they picked up another birdie on the par-5 11th. A soft bogey on the 16th hole dropped them back into a tie and then Ewing hit a good tee shot on the par-3 18th to set up Kupcho’s birdie.
“I didn’t really know where we stood. I knew we were near the top,” Kupcho said.
“Honestly, I don’t think it matters going into tomorrow. One shot lead isn’t that much when it’s the format of best ball tomorrow. Like somebody can go out and shoot 11 under. It’s just going out and focusing on our own game tomorrow.”
They were at 15-under in the only official team event on the LPGA schedule. Kupcho won it two years ago with Lizette Salas.
Kang and In Kim had the low score of the day, a 65 that included an eagle on the par-4 fifth hole where the tees were moved forward to make it reachable. Kang hit driver to near perfection, over the water setting up a short eagle putt.
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They were at 6 under for the round until the South Koreans made their lone bogey on the 18th.
Thitikul of Thailand and Yin of China lost some momentum in the easier fourballs format on Friday, a 66 that was who shots worse than their opening foursomes score. And then they got off to a rough start, making bogey on the par-5 third hole and taking a double bogey on the next one.
But they picked up the pace and again thrived in foursomes. They responded to the double bogey with three straight birdies, and they picked up four more birdies on the back nine. Thitikul polished it off with a 20-foot birdie putt on the last hole.
“We had a rough start, which is me being stupid,” Yin said.
“I made a couple of mistakes, and Jeeno just talked to me and say, Hey, I know we just need to hit the ball, and we’ll make birdies. I have you; you have me. That’s all you need to know.’
“Yeah, we bounced back in the way we were tough out there.”
Australia’s Grace Kim and Auston Kim, an LPGA rookie from Florida, were part of a five-way tie for the lead going into the third round.
They managed a 69 as they scrambled to stay in position in the tough wind.
Also two shots back were Amanda Doherty and Caroline Inglis, who posted a 66. Lexi Thompson and Brooke Henderson were six shots out of the lead, but they had 14 teams in front of them. They fell back with a 71 in which they managed only one birdie.
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Jamie Smith produced the perfect dress rehearsal for his England debut on day one of Surrey’s top-of-the-table Vitality County Championship clash with Essex.
Named on Sunday morning as the only wicketkeeper in England’s 14-man squad for the first Test against the West Indies a week on Wednesday, Smith (100) struck his second century of the season.
The 23-year-old hit two sixes and 14 fours during his outing as the hosts reached 248-8 on a rain-shortened day at The Oval.
Keaton Jennings’ (183no) fourth hundred of the campaign steered Lancashire to 344-8 against Nottinghamshire at Southport after the visitors threatened to take charge following lunch.
Lyndon James (3-53) shone with a three-for as a sell-out crowd were denied the opportunity of seeing James Anderson in action for Lancashire one more time.
Hampshire skipper James Vince (149no) made his second century in a week against Kent at Utilita Bowl to help his side recover from 56-3 to end the day 310-3, alongside wicketkeeper-batter Ben Brown (106no) who also hit a century.
Warwickshire fought back against Somerset at Taunton with Michael Burgess’ (126no) century helping the Bears recover from 40-4 to 373-8 at the close of play.
Somerset seamer Migael Pretorius (4-72) finished on a four-fer whilst Jack Leach (2-69) earned two scalps.
Wickets clattered at Chester-le-Street as Durham were all out for 190 with England’s Test captain Ben Stokes (56) reaching a half-century.
Stokes (1-23) removed Worcestershire skipper Libby (13) as the hosts were bowled out for 112 in reply with Matthew Potts (4-29) and Ben Raine (3-33) taking the bulk of the wickets. Durham reached 33-3 at the close to carve out a lead of 111.
Division Two
In Division Two, Sussex’s Ollie Robinson (4-42) bounced back from being overlooked for England’s Test squad against Northamptonshire.
Robinson finished with a four-fer as the hosts were dismissed for 97 on an eventful day at Northampton.
Image: Ollie Robinson finished with a four-fer after Sussex’s meeting with Northamptonshire
On a day which saw 22 wickets fall, Sussex had themselves been bowled out for 143 with Jack White (4-23) taking four as the visitors lost six wickets for 47 runs in 19 overs – and closed at 83-2 and a lead of 129.
Yorkshire’s Sri Lanka pace bowler Vishwa Fernando (5-30) helped skittle Derbyshire for 76 at Chesterfield with the help of Jordan Thompson (4-31) as Derbyshire subsided on a challenging surface in less than 28 overs.
Yorkshire turned the screw with James Wharton (116no) racing to a maiden first-class hundred before bad light ended play leaving the tourists on 283-5 with a commanding lead of 207.
Ben Mike’s (5-22) produced a career-best spell to enable Leicestershire to dismiss Middlesex for 86.
Loan signing Ben Green (4-28) also posted personal-best figures with only Leus Du Plooy (28) and Sam Robson (10) reaching double figures.
Leicestershire had earlier made 179 with Lewis Goldsworthy (41) top scoring and reached stumps at 40-1 in their second innings, 133 ahead.
Gloucestershire recovered from 88-8 at lunch to post 179 in their first innings against Glamorgan at Cheltenham.
Marchant de Lange (46no) shared a record-breaking last-wicket stand of 75 with Ajeet Singh Dale (32) as Glamorgan’s Timm van der Gugten (5-59) returned season-best figure.
Glamorgan finished an astonishing day 133-7, with Gloucestershire’s overseas all-rounder Beau Webster (3-16) enjoying a three-wicket burst in 12 balls.
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Grace Kim had a hole-in-one and combined with Auston Kim for eight birdies for a nine-under 61 and that earns them a five-way share of the lead in the Dow Championship.
The best score of the second round actually belonged to the Danish pair Nicole Broch Estrup and Nanna Koertz Madsen, who birdied their last two holes for a 10-under-par 60.
Ally Ewing and Jennifer Kupcho of the United States had a 64, the same score they had in foursomes during the opening round, to also sit in among the bunched leaders at 12 under, along with the Thailand tandem of Jaravee Boonchant and Chanettee Wannasaen and Taiwan duo of Ssu-chia Cheng and Wei-Ling Hsu.
Three other teams, including England’s Charley Hull and Georgia Hall, are one shot behind. Lexi Thompson and Brooke Henderson are two shots back at 10 under.
Grace Kim said of her ace at the par-three seventh hole: “I’ve had a lot of close shaves, and this is actually my first one, so it’s very exciting.
“I was obviously just trying to put it close. All I see is it kind of disappear.”
Grace and Austin Kim birdied their next hole, and then had five more on the back nine.
“A lot of good came from that hole, courtesy of Grace,” Auston said. “It felt really positive going forward from there.”
Watch coverage from day three of the Dow Championship, live on Sky Sports Golf from 11pm on Saturday.
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England bowler Ollie Robinson conceded a County Championship-record 43 runs in an over while playing for Sussex against Leicestershire at Hove.
Robinson was taken for six fours and two sixes by Louis Kimber, with three boundaries coming off no-balls, in an eye-wateringly expensive nine-ball over in which he also shipped a single.
Earlier in the week, England spinner Shoaib Bashir – who is currently on loan at Worcestershire from Somerset – conceded 38 runs in an over against Surrey, including five Dan Lawrence sixes.
Image: There was only one winner of this battle in Hove!
At that point, Bashir’s over was the joint-most expensive in Championship history, equalling the 38 runs Alex Tudor was taken for when Surrey played Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford, of which a young Andrew Flintoff struck 34.
But Robinson now has the unwanted record outright after being taken apart by Leicestershire batter Kimber, who clinched a 62-ball century during the carnage having begun the over 72 not out from 56 deliveries.
Shoaib Bashir shipped 38 runs in an over on Monday as he was taken apart by Surrey’s Dan Lawrence while playing for Worcestershire
Robinson and Bashir could conceivably be in England’s XI for the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s from July 10, live on Sky Sports, so the touring batters may be licking their lips!
How the record-breaking over panned out…
Ball 1 – Kimber pulls a six over deep backward square leg
Ball 2 – Kimber clubs a four in a similar spot off a no-ball
Ball 3 – A Robinson bouncer is cracked to deep third for four
Ball 4 – Kimber nails Robinson for six over backward square
Ball 5 – Another four for Kimber, through square leg
Ball 6 – Kimber clinches century with off-side four, off no-ball
Ball 7 – Kimber drills four through mid-on
Ball 8 – Another no-ball by Robinson is cover-driven for four
Ball 9 – A pulled single for Kimber
Image: Robinson could play a key role in the England Test side this summer
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All the live EFL football from the Championship, League One and League Two on Sky Sports this season…
The season begins with four games on Friday August 9 and every game across the opening weekend of the Championship, League One and League Two will be streamed live on Sky Sports+, a landmark first in broadcasting history.
The opening weekend games – with every game live on Sky Sports+
Friday August 9
Championship
Preston North End vs Sheffield United – 8pm kick-off, also live on Sky Sports Football
Blackburn Rovers vs Derby – 8pm kick-off, also live on Sky Sports Football
League One
Barnsley vs Mansfield Town – 8pm kick-off
League Two
Chesterfield vs Swindon Town – 8pm kick-off
Saturday August 10
Championship
Cardiff City vs Sunderland – 12.30pm kick-off Hull City vs Bristol City – 12.30pm kick-off Leeds United vs Portsmouth – 12.30pm kick-off Middlesbrough vs Swansea City – 12.30pm kick-off Millwall vs Watford – 12.30pm kick-off Oxford United vs Norwich City – 12.30pm kick-off, also live on Sky Sports Football QPR vs West Bromwich Albion – 12.30pm kick-off Stoke City vs Coventry City – 12.30pm kick-off
League One
Birmingham City vs Reading – 5.30pm kick-off, also live on Sky Sports Football Bristol Rovers vs Northampton Town – 5.30pm kick-off Burton Albion vs Lincoln City – 5.30pm kick-off Crawley Town vs Blackpool – 5.30pm kick-off Exeter City vs Rotherham United – 5.30pm kick-off Leyton Orient vs Bolton Wanderers – 5.30pm kick-off Peterborough United vs Huddersfield Town – 5.30pm kick-off Stevenage vs Shrewsbury Town – 5.30pm kick-off Stockport County vs Cambridge United – 5.30pm kick-off Wigan Athletic vs Charlton Athletic – 5.30pm kick-off Wrexham vs Wycombe Wanderers – 5.30pm kick-off
League Two
A.F.C. Wimbledon vs Colchester United – 3pm kick-off Barrow vs Crewe Alexandra – 3pm kick-off Cheltenham Town vs Newport County – 3pm kick-off Doncaster Rovers vs Accrington Stanley – 3pm kick-off Fleetwood Town vs Grimsby Town – 3pm kick-off Gillingham vs Carlisle United – 3pm kick-off Harrogate Town vs Bromley – 3pm kick-off Milton Keynes Dons vs Bradford City – 3pm kick-off, also live on Sky Sports Football Salford City vs Port Vale – 3pm kick-off Tranmere Rovers vs Notts County – 3pm kick-off Walsall vs Morecambe – 3pm kick-off
Sunday August 11
Championship
Sheffield Wednesday vs Plymouth Argyle– 4pm kick-off, also live on Sky Sports Football
Monday August 12
Championship
Luton Town vs Burnley– 8pm kick-off, also live on Sky Sports Football
Everything you need to know about watching YOUR EFL team on Sky this season…
How many of my team’s matches will be live on Sky?
Every single League One and League Two team will be featured live on Sky at least 20 times next season.
And every one of the 24 Championship clubs will be live on Sky at least 24 times.
Where do I go to watch my team?
Matches will be broadcast live across existing Sky Sports channels or on the brand new Sky Sports+ (more on that below!)
This will effectively replace the EFL’s domestic streaming option provided via iFollow and club streaming services.
Wait, what is Sky Sports+?
Launching this August, Sky Sports+ will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app – giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost.
With the capability to show up to 100 live events via concurrent streams, Sky Sports+ makes it easier for fans to find and watch their team.
Image: Sky Sports+, launching in August at no extra cost
I am a Sky subscriber, do I need to pay extra to watch my team?
No!
Customers with a full Sky Sports subscription won’t need to do a thing.
Once live, Sky Sports+ will simply drop into the existing Sky experience, across Sky Glass, Sky Stream, Sky Q, and NOW.
The revamped Sky Sports app will also become the ultimate home of sports streaming on mobile devices with Sky Sports+ streams accessible directly from the app.
Image: Scan the QR code to download the Sky Sports app!
Download the Sky Sports app now:
I am NOT a Sky subscriber, how can I watch my team?
For instant, contract-free access to all Sky Sports channels, non-Sky subscribers can purchase a NOW Sports Day or Month Membership.
From August, this will also include every single live Sky Sports+ stream and on demand catch-up content.
Which games will be live on Sky?
Each full weekend of EFL fixtures will see 10 live matches shown – including three Championship, two League One and two League Two matches all broadcast live at 12:30pm on Saturdays.
All opening weekend, final day, and midweek fixtures in the EFL will be shown live, as will all games played on Bank Holidays including Easter, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
The matches played in League One and League Two during international breaks will also be available live.
For the first time ever, fans will be also able to watch every match from the Carabao Cup and Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
Will fixtures keep moving if they are broadcast?
While some matches will be rescheduled for broadcast purposes, the majority of fixtures won’t be moved.
How long in advance will I know about fixture changes?
All live matches selected for broadcast up to the FA Cup third Round in January 2025 will be communicated before the start of the season.
Live league matches in August and September will be released first, by early July.
Greater parity in the number of times that clubs are selected for TV coverage is also guaranteed.
England spinner Shoaib Bashir had a spell to forget when he conceded a joint-record 38 runs in an over in a County Championship match between Surrey and Worcestershire on Monday in which Dan Lawrence smashed five consecutive sixes.
Bashir, who only joined Worcestershire on loan from Somerset earlier this month, had toiled away through 37 overs for two for 137 before he attempted to wrap up Surrey’s innings midway through the afternoon session.
With Surrey on 437 for nine, Lawrence had other ideas and launched two sumptuous maximums down the ground before a third was carried over the boundary rope, which left Bashir hunched over in disbelief.
Worst was to follow for the rookie off-spinner, who impressed during England’s 4-1 series defeat in India, when a pair of floated up deliveries were also swatted away by Lawrence.
The Surrey batter was denied a place in the history books when the sixth ball of Bashir’s over was sent down for five wides.
Bashir, in only his 12th first-class match, overstepped with his next delivery, while Lawrence took only a single before the carnage ended when Dan Worrell nobly blocked out the last ball of a 38-run over.
Image: Shoaib Bashir conceded the joint-most runs in a County Championship over, along with the 38 Andrew Flintoff took from Alex Tudor in 1998
It made it the joint-most expensive over in County Championship history along with the 38 conceded by Alex Tudor for Surrey against Lancashire in 1998, where Andrew Flintoff hit 34.
Bashir was subsequently replaced and finished with 2-162 off 38 overs before Lawrence was out for 175 when Ben Allison had him caught by Jake Libby to dismiss Surrey for 490.
England’s Test summer begins with three-match series vs West Indies at Lord’s (July 10-14), Trent Bridge (July 18-22), Edgbaston (July 26-30); three more Tests vs Sri Lanka in August/September; watch England throughout summer live on Sky
Catch every match from the T20 World Cup, including the final in Barbados on Saturday June 29, live on Sky Sports.
