Mumbai stand in way of Ponting's IPL final dream

Ricky Ponting's Punjab Kings have discovered they must beat powerhouse Mumbai Indians on Sunday if they are to reach the Indian Premier League final.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are already through to Tuesday's final after Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood spearheaded an eight-wicket victory in Qualifier 1 over Punjab on Thursday, taking a devastating 3-21.
Punjab, whose Australian presence also includes Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis, who were both on the receiving end of Bengalura's Thursday night's heroics, must bounce back quickly from that stunning reverse in Sunday's Qualifier 2.
But that won't be easy against a Mumbai side with their tails up following an emphatic Eliminator victory over Gujarat Titans on Friday.
Electing to bat, five-time champions Mumbai racked up a commanding 5-228 after their frontline batters hit a combined 17 sixes.
Gujarat managed 6-208 in reply despite defiant knocks by opener Sai Sudharshan (80) and all-rounder Washington Sundar (48).
After Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya elected to bat, Jonny Bairstow, replacing Ryan Rickelton, smashed 47 off 22 balls in his first match of the season in a blistering opening stand of 84 with Rohit Sharma.
Rohit, dropped twice early in his knock, struck 81 to punish Gujarat.
Suryakumar Yadav (33), Tilak Varma (25) and Pandya (22 not out) produced whirlwind cameos to take Mumbai past the 200-mark.
The chase was steep and Gujarat stuttered early in their reply losing captain Shubman Gill trapped lbw by Trent Boult in the opening over of the innings.
Kusal Mendis (20) fell hit wicket but Sudharsan, the tournament's leading scorer, revived Gujarat's chase with his sixth fifty of the tournament.
He found an able ally in Sundar who smashed Boult for back-to-back sixes to turn the pressure back on Mumbai.
Pandya brought back Jasprit Bumrah and the pace bowler slipped in a yorker between Sundar's legs to flatten his leg stump.
South African Richard Gleeson bowled Sudharsan as Mumbai reclaimed control of the contest through their seamers.
Ricky Ponting's Punjab Kings have discovered they must beat powerhouse Mumbai Indians on Sunday if they are to reach the Indian Premier League final.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are already through to Tuesday's final after Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood spearheaded an eight-wicket victory in Qualifier 1 over Punjab on Thursday, taking a devastating 3-21.
Punjab, whose Australian presence also includes Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis, who were both on the receiving end of Bengalura's Thursday night's heroics, must bounce back quickly from that stunning reverse in Sunday's Qualifier 2.
But that won't be easy against a Mumbai side with their tails up following an emphatic Eliminator victory over Gujarat Titans on Friday.
Electing to bat, five-time champions Mumbai racked up a commanding 5-228 after their frontline batters hit a combined 17 sixes.
Gujarat managed 6-208 in reply despite defiant knocks by opener Sai Sudharshan (80) and all-rounder Washington Sundar (48).
After Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya elected to bat, Jonny Bairstow, replacing Ryan Rickelton, smashed 47 off 22 balls in his first match of the season in a blistering opening stand of 84 with Rohit Sharma.
Rohit, dropped twice early in his knock, struck 81 to punish Gujarat.
Suryakumar Yadav (33), Tilak Varma (25) and Pandya (22 not out) produced whirlwind cameos to take Mumbai past the 200-mark.
The chase was steep and Gujarat stuttered early in their reply losing captain Shubman Gill trapped lbw by Trent Boult in the opening over of the innings.
Kusal Mendis (20) fell hit wicket but Sudharsan, the tournament's leading scorer, revived Gujarat's chase with his sixth fifty of the tournament.
He found an able ally in Sundar who smashed Boult for back-to-back sixes to turn the pressure back on Mumbai.
Pandya brought back Jasprit Bumrah and the pace bowler slipped in a yorker between Sundar's legs to flatten his leg stump.
South African Richard Gleeson bowled Sudharsan as Mumbai reclaimed control of the contest through their seamers.
Ricky Ponting's Punjab Kings have discovered they must beat powerhouse Mumbai Indians on Sunday if they are to reach the Indian Premier League final.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are already through to Tuesday's final after Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood spearheaded an eight-wicket victory in Qualifier 1 over Punjab on Thursday, taking a devastating 3-21.
Punjab, whose Australian presence also includes Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis, who were both on the receiving end of Bengalura's Thursday night's heroics, must bounce back quickly from that stunning reverse in Sunday's Qualifier 2.
But that won't be easy against a Mumbai side with their tails up following an emphatic Eliminator victory over Gujarat Titans on Friday.
Electing to bat, five-time champions Mumbai racked up a commanding 5-228 after their frontline batters hit a combined 17 sixes.
Gujarat managed 6-208 in reply despite defiant knocks by opener Sai Sudharshan (80) and all-rounder Washington Sundar (48).
After Mumbai skipper Hardik Pandya elected to bat, Jonny Bairstow, replacing Ryan Rickelton, smashed 47 off 22 balls in his first match of the season in a blistering opening stand of 84 with Rohit Sharma.
Rohit, dropped twice early in his knock, struck 81 to punish Gujarat.
Suryakumar Yadav (33), Tilak Varma (25) and Pandya (22 not out) produced whirlwind cameos to take Mumbai past the 200-mark.
The chase was steep and Gujarat stuttered early in their reply losing captain Shubman Gill trapped lbw by Trent Boult in the opening over of the innings.
Kusal Mendis (20) fell hit wicket but Sudharsan, the tournament's leading scorer, revived Gujarat's chase with his sixth fifty of the tournament.
He found an able ally in Sundar who smashed Boult for back-to-back sixes to turn the pressure back on Mumbai.
Pandya brought back Jasprit Bumrah and the pace bowler slipped in a yorker between Sundar's legs to flatten his leg stump.
South African Richard Gleeson bowled Sudharsan as Mumbai reclaimed control of the contest through their seamers.

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Hazlewood and Kohli's Bengaluru win first IPL title

The Advertiser

an hour ago

The Advertiser

Hazlewood and Kohli's Bengaluru win first IPL title

Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their talisman Virat Kohli ended a 17-season drought by winning their maiden IPL title, beating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final in Ahmedabad. Put into bat on Tuesday, Bengaluru posted a modest 9 for 190 before restricting Ricky Ponting-coached Punjab to 7 for 184 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Kohli top-scored for his side with 43 but it was their bowling which secured Bengaluru's memorable victory. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood claimed one wicket, but fellow Australians Josh Inglis (39) and Marcus Stoinis (6) both ended up on the losing side. Bengaluru finished runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016, but finally claimed the prize, thanks largely to Krunal Pandya's sensational 2-17 in four overs. Kohli was in tears once he realised Bengaluru were about to shed the underachiever's tag that has stuck to them since the inaugural 2008 edition of the league. Afterwards, a jubilant Hazlewood said: "The wicket was a little bit up and down. Our guys batted really well to post that score - everyone just chipping in - and the bowlers held their nerve, so great result." Asked what it would mean to Kohli to end his side's title quest at last, Hazlewood said: "It probably means everything to him. Some of us come and go in the franchises but to be there from the start and to slug it out for 18 seasons and to get a result tonight, I think we'll see a bit of emotion there." Hazlewood and Inglis were due to fly straight to England after the final for next week's World Test Championship against South Africa. It will have made for an interesting flight. Put in to bat, Bengaluru fell short of the 200-mark, having been 2 for 87 at the midway stage. Kohli anchored their innings but Bengaluru could never really break loose. Azmatullah Omarzai deceived Kohli with a bouncer and took a running, tumbling return catch. Jitesh Sharma's 24 off 10 balls injected some momentum into Bengaluru's stop-start innings and Liam Livingstone made 25 but they never capitalised in the death overs. Punjab's Kyle Jamieson claimed 3-48, while his new ball partner Arshdeep Singh bowled an excellent three-wicket final over, conceding only three runs. Punjab got off to a fast start and opener Prabhsimran Singh, on nine, was lucky to be spilled in the deep by Romario Shepherd. Hazlewood, the luckless bowler then, did not have to wait long for a wicket, though, as Phil Salt took a stunning catch in the deep to remove Priyansh Arya (24) and break the 43-run opening stand. Krunal Pandya removed Prabhsimran and Shepherd redeemed himself by dismissing Punjab's in-form captain Shreyas Iyer to turn the match on its head. Left-arm spinner Pandya put Bengaluru on top when he dismissed the dangerous Inglis and Bhuvneshwar Kumar effectively sealed the match when he dismissed Nehal Wadhera and Stoinis in the same over. Later, Kohli, still with bloodshot eyes, told broadcasters what it meant to him. "It's been 18 long years. I've given this team my youth, my prime and my experience, and I've tried to win this every season... "To finally have this moment come true, it's an unbelievable feeling. I never thought this day would come. I was overcome with emotions as soon as the last ball was bowled." Kohli has been with Bengaluru since 2008, including nine seasons as captain. The relief was palpable as he hugged former teammate AB de Villiers. "I've stayed loyal to this team no matter what," Kohli said. "I always dreamt of winning it with them, and this is far more special than winning it with anyone else... "This is the team I'm going to play for till the last day in IPL." With agencies Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their talisman Virat Kohli ended a 17-season drought by winning their maiden IPL title, beating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final in Ahmedabad. Put into bat on Tuesday, Bengaluru posted a modest 9 for 190 before restricting Ricky Ponting-coached Punjab to 7 for 184 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Kohli top-scored for his side with 43 but it was their bowling which secured Bengaluru's memorable victory. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood claimed one wicket, but fellow Australians Josh Inglis (39) and Marcus Stoinis (6) both ended up on the losing side. Bengaluru finished runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016, but finally claimed the prize, thanks largely to Krunal Pandya's sensational 2-17 in four overs. Kohli was in tears once he realised Bengaluru were about to shed the underachiever's tag that has stuck to them since the inaugural 2008 edition of the league. Afterwards, a jubilant Hazlewood said: "The wicket was a little bit up and down. Our guys batted really well to post that score - everyone just chipping in - and the bowlers held their nerve, so great result." Asked what it would mean to Kohli to end his side's title quest at last, Hazlewood said: "It probably means everything to him. Some of us come and go in the franchises but to be there from the start and to slug it out for 18 seasons and to get a result tonight, I think we'll see a bit of emotion there." Hazlewood and Inglis were due to fly straight to England after the final for next week's World Test Championship against South Africa. It will have made for an interesting flight. Put in to bat, Bengaluru fell short of the 200-mark, having been 2 for 87 at the midway stage. Kohli anchored their innings but Bengaluru could never really break loose. Azmatullah Omarzai deceived Kohli with a bouncer and took a running, tumbling return catch. Jitesh Sharma's 24 off 10 balls injected some momentum into Bengaluru's stop-start innings and Liam Livingstone made 25 but they never capitalised in the death overs. Punjab's Kyle Jamieson claimed 3-48, while his new ball partner Arshdeep Singh bowled an excellent three-wicket final over, conceding only three runs. Punjab got off to a fast start and opener Prabhsimran Singh, on nine, was lucky to be spilled in the deep by Romario Shepherd. Hazlewood, the luckless bowler then, did not have to wait long for a wicket, though, as Phil Salt took a stunning catch in the deep to remove Priyansh Arya (24) and break the 43-run opening stand. Krunal Pandya removed Prabhsimran and Shepherd redeemed himself by dismissing Punjab's in-form captain Shreyas Iyer to turn the match on its head. Left-arm spinner Pandya put Bengaluru on top when he dismissed the dangerous Inglis and Bhuvneshwar Kumar effectively sealed the match when he dismissed Nehal Wadhera and Stoinis in the same over. Later, Kohli, still with bloodshot eyes, told broadcasters what it meant to him. "It's been 18 long years. I've given this team my youth, my prime and my experience, and I've tried to win this every season... "To finally have this moment come true, it's an unbelievable feeling. I never thought this day would come. I was overcome with emotions as soon as the last ball was bowled." Kohli has been with Bengaluru since 2008, including nine seasons as captain. The relief was palpable as he hugged former teammate AB de Villiers. "I've stayed loyal to this team no matter what," Kohli said. "I always dreamt of winning it with them, and this is far more special than winning it with anyone else... "This is the team I'm going to play for till the last day in IPL." With agencies Royal Challengers Bengaluru and their talisman Virat Kohli ended a 17-season drought by winning their maiden IPL title, beating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final in Ahmedabad. Put into bat on Tuesday, Bengaluru posted a modest 9 for 190 before restricting Ricky Ponting-coached Punjab to 7 for 184 at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Kohli top-scored for his side with 43 but it was their bowling which secured Bengaluru's memorable victory. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood claimed one wicket, but fellow Australians Josh Inglis (39) and Marcus Stoinis (6) both ended up on the losing side. Bengaluru finished runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016, but finally claimed the prize, thanks largely to Krunal Pandya's sensational 2-17 in four overs. Kohli was in tears once he realised Bengaluru were about to shed the underachiever's tag that has stuck to them since the inaugural 2008 edition of the league. Afterwards, a jubilant Hazlewood said: "The wicket was a little bit up and down. Our guys batted really well to post that score - everyone just chipping in - and the bowlers held their nerve, so great result." Asked what it would mean to Kohli to end his side's title quest at last, Hazlewood said: "It probably means everything to him. Some of us come and go in the franchises but to be there from the start and to slug it out for 18 seasons and to get a result tonight, I think we'll see a bit of emotion there." Hazlewood and Inglis were due to fly straight to England after the final for next week's World Test Championship against South Africa. It will have made for an interesting flight. Put in to bat, Bengaluru fell short of the 200-mark, having been 2 for 87 at the midway stage. Kohli anchored their innings but Bengaluru could never really break loose. Azmatullah Omarzai deceived Kohli with a bouncer and took a running, tumbling return catch. Jitesh Sharma's 24 off 10 balls injected some momentum into Bengaluru's stop-start innings and Liam Livingstone made 25 but they never capitalised in the death overs. Punjab's Kyle Jamieson claimed 3-48, while his new ball partner Arshdeep Singh bowled an excellent three-wicket final over, conceding only three runs. Punjab got off to a fast start and opener Prabhsimran Singh, on nine, was lucky to be spilled in the deep by Romario Shepherd. Hazlewood, the luckless bowler then, did not have to wait long for a wicket, though, as Phil Salt took a stunning catch in the deep to remove Priyansh Arya (24) and break the 43-run opening stand. Krunal Pandya removed Prabhsimran and Shepherd redeemed himself by dismissing Punjab's in-form captain Shreyas Iyer to turn the match on its head. Left-arm spinner Pandya put Bengaluru on top when he dismissed the dangerous Inglis and Bhuvneshwar Kumar effectively sealed the match when he dismissed Nehal Wadhera and Stoinis in the same over. Later, Kohli, still with bloodshot eyes, told broadcasters what it meant to him. "It's been 18 long years. I've given this team my youth, my prime and my experience, and I've tried to win this every season... "To finally have this moment come true, it's an unbelievable feeling. I never thought this day would come. I was overcome with emotions as soon as the last ball was bowled." Kohli has been with Bengaluru since 2008, including nine seasons as captain. The relief was palpable as he hugged former teammate AB de Villiers. "I've stayed loyal to this team no matter what," Kohli said. "I always dreamt of winning it with them, and this is far more special than winning it with anyone else... "This is the team I'm going to play for till the last day in IPL." With agencies

King Kohli's final-over tears as Hazlewood delivers 18-year IPL title dream at Ponting's expense

News.com.au

2 hours ago

News.com.au

King Kohli's final-over tears as Hazlewood delivers 18-year IPL title dream at Ponting's expense

Batting great Virat Kohli fulfilled an 18-year dream of winning an IPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru after they beat Punjab Kings by six runs in Tuesday's final in Ahmedabad, with Australian quick Josh Hazlewood's role again decisive. Kohli's 43 from 35 balls at the top of the order set up Bengaluru for an imposing total of 190-9 which was one big blow too many for Ricky Ponting's Punjab side, which battled until the end and finished on 184-7. More than 91,000 fans packed into the 132,000-capacity stadium, a sea of Bengaluru's red and Kohli's jersey number 18 dominating the stands as chants of 'Kohli, Kohli' rang out. They celebrated noisily when Kohli and RCB clinched victory for the first time in the 18 years of the IPL, their three previous finals having all ended in defeat. The 36-year-old Kohli, one of India's all-time greats in all formats of the game, was in tears during the final over and collapsed on the ground after the win, and then got up to be hugged by his teammates as the crowd celebrated their hero. 'This win is as much for the fans as it is for the team, it's been 18 long years,' said Kohli. 'I've given this team my youth, my prime, my experience. I gave it everything I have. 'I never thought this day would come. I was overcome with emotion as soon as the last ball was bowled. 'I have stayed loyal to this team, no matter what. My heart is with Bangalore, my soul is with Bangalore and this is the team I'll play for till the last day I play the IPL.' Punjab put up a feisty response to the Bengaluru total but faltered in their chase after left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya took 2-17 from his four overs. Shashank Singh hit a valiant 61 not out and finished with three sixes and a four off Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood who defended 29 runs in the final over. Hazlewood, who took 3-21 against Punjab in last week's qualifier win after recovering from a shoulder injury, struck first to send back left-handed Priyansh Arya for 24 with Phil Salt taking a stunning catch at the ropes. Impact substitute Prabhsimran Singh was the next to go off Pandya but the Bengaluru crowd went wild when Romario Shepherd had skipper Shreyas Iyer caught behind for one. – 'King Kohli' – Pandya stuck again to cut short Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis' stay on 39 and Bengaluru seized momentum and Shashank's late blitz was not enough. 'I am very proud of each and every individual who has participated in this team,' said Iyer. 'There are a lot of youngsters who are playing their first season, they've shown a lot of fearlessness. We wouldn't be here without them. Kudos to them.' Bengaluru had the perfect start as 'King Kohli' dug in. Far from his fluent best, he only struck three fours during his innings but in the end it turned out to be key. He lost opening partner Salt for 16 when New Zealand quick Kyle Jamieson struck in his first over to have the England batter caught in the deep off Iyer. Kohli, who was his team's best batter this season with 657 runs including eight half-centuries, anchored the innings, sharing important partnerships with Mayank Agarwal, who made 24, and then skipper Rajat Patidar, who hit 26. But Punjab kept chipping away with wickets as leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal got Agarwal and Jamieson trapped the captain lbw. Kohli's vigil ended when he mistimed a rising delivery from Afghanistan pace bowler Azmatullah Omarzai for a caught and bowled, the disappointment etched across his face mirrored by his fans. Jamieson took his third wicket to cut short Liam Livingstone's rampant 25 off 15 balls. Wickets kept tumbling as wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma fell for a 10-ball 24 and Romario Shepherd for 17 off nine balls. Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh took three wickets including Shepherd in the 20th over and gave away just three runs. The 18th edition of the world's richest cricket league ended nine days late due to a pause caused by the military conflict between India and Pakistan.

Josh Hazlewood trumps fellow Aussies to win IPL title as Virat Kohli bursts into tears

7NEWS