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IPL: KL Rahul demolishes CSK

Published

3 years ago

October 7, 2021

admin

Punjab Kings captain K.L Rahul single-handedly took his side to six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in the 53rd match of IPL 2021.

PBKS reached the 135-run target with seven overs and six wickets in hand.

Rahul sizzles with the bat

The 29-year-old batted with a strike rate of 233.33 and smacked unbeaten 98 off 42 in 135 run chase.

He powered Punjab to 139/4 in just 13 overs with the help of seven fours and eight maximums.

CSK has now faced three consecutive defeats after confirming their place in the playoffs.

They will face Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1 on October 10.

Rahul claimed ‘Orange Cap’ after Faf du Plessis overtook it in the first innings of the match.

The right-hander has amassed 626 runs in 14 innings with six fifty-plus scores.

Rahul opined that he was aware of what he wants to bat and it came off as expected. “Just one of those days when it comes off. Had complete clarity of what I wanted to do. I feel like I may end up letting the team down if I play how I want to play. But today, this was how I needed to play.”

Rahul revealed that he had few things in mind for remaining in contention for playoffs. “It was really hot today. Plan was simple, the numbers guys told us a few permutations and combinations. We wanted to score it before 14 overs.”

Remember, he was the orange cap winner in 2020 too but it’s look unlikely as CSK openers Du Plessis (546) and Ruturuj Gaikwad (533) have the opportunity to claim it as they have two more matches of playoffs.

Punjab pin hopes on playoffs qualification

Punjab moved to fifth with 12 points on the table above Mumbai Indians on run-rate.

They are now hoping for two things to happen to finish in last four.

Scenario 1 is Kolkata Knight Riders lose with a massive margin today to Rajasthan Royals.

If KKR lose by 71 runs while chasing 180 then Punjab can have a mild chance.

Eoin Morgan-led KKR have 12 points and are fourth on table.

Scenario 2 is Mumbai lose tomorrow to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Punjab have now finished on 12 points for the fourth consecutive season.

Jordan impresses in comeback match

Chris Jordan was the pick of the bowlers for Punjab as he returned with figures of 2/20 in three overs.

Jordan was making his first experience in UAE leg of the competition.

The all-rounder bagged wickets of Robin Uthappa and Ambati Rayadu in consecutive overs.

Du Plessis anchors CSK to respectable total.

Faf du Plessis played a lone hand for CSK as the wickets kept falling from the other end.

The 37-year-old’s knock of 76 in 55 balls, led them to 134/6 after Punjab opted to bowl.

Du Plessis stroked eight fours and a couple of sixes.

He also claimed ‘The Orange Cap’ during the knock.

Gaikwad (12), MS Dhoni (12), Ravindra Jadeja (15) were the other three batters to reach double-figures.

Thakur knocks at selectors doors

Where all bowlers went for plenty of runs, Shardul Thakur continued his hot streak with the ball in hand.

He bagged back-to-back wickets of Mayank Agarwal and Sarfaraz Khan in the fifth over.

Later he also removed Aiden Markram to finish with figures of 3/29.

Thakur, who is on India’s reserves list for T20 World Cup, knocked at the selectors’ doors once again as his bowling is asking questions of why he is not in the side.

He has taken 18 wickets with a strike rate of 18.7 in 14 matches till now.

Punjab Kings 139 for 4 (Rahul 98*, Thakur 3-28) beat Chennai Super Kings 134 for 6 (du Plessis 76, Jordan 2-20, Arshdeep 2-35) by six wickets.

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Ben Curran’s Zimbabwe Call-Up: A Historic Moment for the Curran Legacy

Published

16 hours ago

December 9, 2024

Maadhav

Ben Curran, brother of England cricketers Sam and Tom Curran, has earned his maiden call-up to Zimbabwe’s ODI squad for the upcoming series against Afghanistan. The Curran family has deep ties to Zimbabwean cricket, with Ben’s father, Kevin Malcolm Curran, and grandfather, Kevin Patrick Curran, representing Zimbabwe internationally.

The series begins with T20Is on December 11, followed by ODIs and Tests. Ben will feature exclusively in the 50-over format. A left-handed batter, Ben boasts an impressive domestic career, averaging 33.30 in List A and 34.70 in first-class cricket. His inclusion reflects Zimbabwe’s reliance on talent with global exposure.

Zimbabwe’s ODI squad, led by Craig Ervine, also features rising stars like Newman Nyamhuri. The T20I side, captained by Sikandar Raza, includes dynamic players like Blessing Muzarabani and Ryan Burl, signaling a balanced blend of experience and youth for the challenging series ahead.

BGT

Australian Media Criticizes Rohit Sharma After Crushing Defeat to Australia

Published

20 hours ago

December 9, 2024

Maadhav

Following India’s heavy loss to Australia in the first Test of the series, Australian media highlighted key concerns for the Indian team, including Rohit Sharma’s performance as captain. Pat Cummins and his team’s emphatic win by 209 runs sparked discussions about India’s bowling strategy and batting collapse.

Australian newspapers like The Age underscored Mitchell Starc’s lethal bowling display as a stark reminder of his prowess in Test cricket. Starc’s fiery spell dismantled India’s top order, a performance seen as pivotal in Australia’s dominant victory. The media also pointed out the pressure mounting on Rohit Sharma for tactical shortcomings, including field placements and decision-making under challenging circumstances.

India’s batting lineup faltered against Australia’s aggressive bowling, with only a few players resisting. Critics emphasized that the Indian team’s inability to adapt to the pink-ball conditions in Adelaide cost them dearly. The media also praised Australia for its disciplined approach, particularly the consistency of its pace attack, which Starc and Cummins led.

As the series progresses, this defeat puts India under immense pressure to bounce back, especially with the spotlight on Rohit Sharma’s leadership and the team’s resilience. Fans now await India’s response in the next Test.

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Chitwan Rhinos Secure Dominant 33-Run Victory Over Sudurpaschim Royals in NPL

Published

2 days ago

December 8, 2024

Maadhav

Chitwan Rhinos delivered a commanding performance to hand Sudurpaschim Royals their first defeat in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at Kirtipur. Winning the toss, Chitwan set a competitive total of 164/5 in 20 overs, led by Hassan Eisakhil’s stellar 65 off 52 balls. Ravi Bopara added an explosive 36 off 18 balls, while Sudurpaschim’s bowlers Scott Kuggeleijn and Dipendra Singh Airee each picked up crucial wickets.

In response, Sudurpaschim struggled, bowled out for 131 in 18.2 overs. Despite Ishan Pandey’s resilient 35 and contributions from Saif Zaib and Brandon McMullen, Chitwan’s disciplined bowling attack, featuring Kushal Malla and Amar Routela taking two wickets each, sealed the game. Chitwan now sits third on the table, while Sudurpaschim retains second due to net run rate.