England Lions ended their T20 series against Pakistan A in Dubai in the same dramatic manner as the senior England team had last month, as Surrey youngster Tom Curran held his nerve in a Super Over.

Image source, ECB

Dawid Malan had been the hero for most of the match, stroking a superb 81 as the Lions chased a tough target of 165 for three – only to be run out off the last ball to leave the scores tied.

Malan then hit two boundaries off England’s Super Over from the Pakistan A captain Junaid Khan, to post a challenging score of 12.

The Lions showed their faith in Curran, the youngest player in the team, by giving him the responsibility of bowling. Sharjeel Khan hit his second ball for four but Curran kept cool and had Sohaib Maqsood caught by Ross Whiteley at long-off later in the over.

Sharjeel needed four off the last ball to tie but could not even manage a single, and Curran was mobbed by his team-mates as the Lions secured a 3-2 series win.

Happy birthday to the one, the only, Bobby George - 70 today.

Image source, Getty Images

Others celebrating a birthday include former Chelsea midfielder Dennis Wise (49), Bournemouth defender Sylvain Distin (38) and 1996 Olympic 100m champion Donovan Bailey (48).

Liverpool, external remain keen to sign highly-rated Red Star Belgrade midfielder Marko Grujic - but no deal is yet in place, reports the Liverpool Echo., external

The 19-year-old Serbia Under-21 international is also wanted by Inter Milan.

Wayne Rooney is close to returning for Manchester United after stepping up his recovery from an ankle injury, reports the Manchester Evening News., external

Rooney has missed three games but could face Norwich at Old Trafford on Saturday.

It is turning into a winter of discontent at Old Trafford, perhaps all Louis van Gaal and co need to do is pull on one of these Christmas jumpers to cheer them up?

Image source, Manchester United

Some good news for City fans...

The Argentina striker has not played since 28 November due to a heel injury.

Image source, Rex Features

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has returned to the UK, BBC Wales Sport understands.

Jenkins had travelled to South America, with Argentine Marcelo Bielsa the odds-on favourite to replace Garry Monk as Swansea boss.

Chile boss Jorge Sampaoli has also been linked with the vacancy at the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea host West Ham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Suspended Uefa president Michel Platini will not attend his personal hearing before the Fifa ethics committee on Friday.

It has been recommended the 60-year-old serve a life-long ban from football for allegedly receiving a £1.35m payment in 2011.

His lawyers say the verdict has already been made known to the press "in disregard of fundamental rights."

Sunglasses on a reindeer?

This is West Ham's effort.

Image source, west ham

Exiled England cricketer Kevin Pietersen may not have played Test cricket for almost two years, but he still believes he could play at the highest level.

"The way that I’m batting I’d score two Test hundreds against South Africa," Pietersen told the Telegraph., external

Image source, Getty Images

River Plate have reached the final of the Club World Cup after beating Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0.

The Argentine side will face either Barcelona or FC Guangzhou Evergrande, who play their semi-final on Thursday.

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Leicester wingerRiyad Mahrezsays the Premier League leaders will not win the title and will stay at the club past the January transfer window.

Mahrez has scored 12 goals for his club this season, form which has led to his side suffering just one loss in 16 league matches.

"We are not going to win the league, no. I don't think we have broad enough shoulders to do it," Mahrez told French radio station RMC. "The big teams will wake up at some point."

On his future he adds:"It's best for me to stay until the end of the season."

As US soccer star Abby Wambach prepares for her final game before retirement later, we are asking you what you think the greatest records in sport are. Tweet us on #bbcsportsday.

Lucas Alario has put Argentina's River Plate 1-0 up against Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the Fifa Club World Cup semi-final.

There is 14 minutes remaining in the match and the winners will face either Barcelona or FC Guangzhou Evergrande who play on Thursday.

Image source, AFP

Santa Claus in goal, on a Christmas jumper, ready to save a penalty.

It's official, West Brom's festive knitwear has it all.

Image source, West Brom

Image source, Getty Images

"Juande Ramos is the shock candidate being considered as a potential caretaker manager by Chelsea should they decide to sack José Mourinho before the end of the season," writes Matt Hughes in The Times., external

The paper reports Chelsea could turn to an 'interim' appointment until the end of the season if Mourinho is sacked by the club for a second time. Guus Hiddink - another former manager at Stamford Bridge - is also a short-term option, the paer reports.

Ramos, 61, had a disastrous spell in charge of Tottenham in 2007 and left Ukraine's Dnipro for family reasons last year.

Henry Moeran
BBC Test Match Special in Potchefstroom

Two wickets since lunch have put England further in control of the match with the Invitational XI 130-7 at drinks, still 340 runs behind.

The wickets to fall have gone to Mark Footitt, who had Qasim Adams trapped in front with a full delivery, and Moeen Ali who saw the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen caught well by Alastair Cook at slip for 48.

Image source, Getty Images

Since lunch, we’ve also seen Jimmy Anderson making his first appearance in the match, but he’s yet to make a breakthrough in his four overs.

England, as perhaps expected, are in a very dominant position, having batted well on day one and done the job with the ball so far today.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on Radio 5 live

Andy Murray had been very keen to retain the services of Amelie Mauresmo but was adamant she would need to commit to at least 20 weeks of the year - so it is a huge boost she has signed up just four months after becoming a mother. 

Murray still has a huge amount of time for Jonas Bjorkman but the relationship was not an unqualified success. 

Image source, Getty Images

Murray won the Masters event in Montreal after Mauresmo went on maternity leave, but was beaten in the fourth round of the US Open and his on court demeanour has at times been unduly negative. 

The new assistant coaching role may end up as a full-time position - in the way Dani Vallverdu complemented Ivan Lendl so well.

Rudolph the green-nosed reindeer.

Doesn't quite have the same ring about it, does it?

Here is Norwich's festive knitwear, people would definitely see you coming in this Canary yellow jumper.

Image source, Norwich