Latest news with #AndrewSymonds
Mint
3 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
Royal Challengers Bengaluru make it to fourth IPL final, equal Kolkata Knight Riders; who has most final appearances?
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru powered their way to their fourth Indian Premier League final after they swept aside Punjab Kings in the Qualifier 1 game on Thursday. PBKS topped the table in the IPL 2025 league stage but were no match for a rampant RCB in Mullanpur, as RCB knocked off their target of 102 with 8 wickets and 60 balls to spare. The Bengaluru franchise equalled defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders's record of reaching four IPL finals. They join an elite list of teams with the most IPL final appearances. The list of teams with the most appearances in the summit clash are: Chennai Super Kings - 10 finals (5 wins) Mumbai Indians - 6 finals (5 wins) The Bengaluru side are on the cusp of history, as they have never won an IPL title in the 17 editions of the competition that have taken place so far. They have made three appearances in the summit clash and have failed to win each one of them. They first reached the IPL final in 2009 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, where they met the now defunct Deccan Chargers. This was a final of the previous IPL season's bottom two teams. DC batted first and reached 143/6 powered by a Herschelle Gibbs half century (53), who was ably supported by Andrew Symonds (33 of 21) and a young Rohit Sharma (24 of 23). RCB, in response, could muster only 137 as they fell short by 7 runs in the final. Virat Kohli scored only 7 in the second innings as DC ran out winners. RCB's second IPL final was at the MA Chidambaram Stadium against Chennai Super Kings. Here too RCB batted second as CSK posted a mammoth 205/5. RCB meekly surrendered as they ended up with just 147/8, gifting the Chennai side their second consecutive title. The Bengaluru side's third final appearance came in 2016 at their home ground M Chinnaswamy stadium. They met the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the summit clash and batted second for the third time in a row in an IPL final. SRH posted an imposing 208/7 and here too RCB failed to chase the target on hand. However, they did put up a better fight than the last time around as they scored 200/7 in their 20 overs. It remains to be seen who RCB will face in the IPL 2025 final. Regardless of who they face, the Bengaluru franchise would hope it will be 'fourth time lucky' as they hope to finally break the final curse. Stay updated on all the action from the IPL 2025. Check the IPL 2025 Schedule, track the latest IPL 2025 Points Table, and follow the top performers with the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Cricket legend Andrew Symonds's mother opens up for the first time about the shattering moment she learned of his tragic death in 2am phone call
The mother of Aussie cricket legend Andrew Symonds has opened up about the 2am phone call she received in May of 2022 that every parent dreads. Barbara Symonds didn't know what to think - but she figured it was going to be horrific news. Sadly, her instincts were spot on - the dynamic all-rounder, aged just 46, had died after his vehicle left the road and rolled at Hervey Range, 50km west of Townsville in far north Queensland. Three years to the day since her son's death, the pain remains for Barbara Symonds. 'It's an unfortunate part of life that these awful things can happen,' she told News Corp. 'It's awful. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. 'We are not the first family that this has happened to, but it doesn't make it any easier. 'We are lucky that he has left such a legacy.' 'Roy' was a fan favourite - and equally loved by his teammates. The sporting maverick played 26 Tests, close to 200 ODIs and 14 T20 matches for Australia in what was a decorated career. Symonds was a key figure at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa won by Ricky Ponting's men - and his maiden Test century against England in the 2006 Boxing Day Test at the MCG was equally memorable. Despite his larrikin Aussie nature, Symonds was actually born in Birmingham, England in 1975 to Afro-Caribbean and Swedish or Danish parents. He was then adopted by Ken and Barbara Symonds, who worked as school teachers. 'I don't actually know my natural parents. I've never met them,' Symonds previously told The Brett Lee Podcast. 'But when I was six-weeks-old, my mother and father went to the clinic and they applied to adopt a child. 'The way things worked back in those days was, they got to take me home for a week and just trial me. A test drive. 'And I remember mum tells the story that they took me home for the week. 'I played up and cried and was terrible, and so they went back to the clinic and were asked, 'How did he go?' and she goes, 'You know, he was an angel. He was perfect. We'd like to keep him'. 'So they signed all the paperwork and I became Andrew Symonds, going home with Kenneth Walter Symonds and Barbara Symonds as their son.' They emigrated to Australia soon after and the family lived in country Victoria before eventually moving to Charters Towers in Far North Queensland. With a 'cricket mad' father, Symonds was a child prodigy on the Gold Coast and made his first-class debut for Queensland in 1994. International honours followed just four years later - and when at the peak of powers, Symonds was a key figure for Australia given his lusty hitting at the crease, world-class fielding and handy bowling. Away from cricket, Symonds at times struggled with alcohol - but he was also subjected to racial abuse, with a notable incident involving India's Harbhajan Singh at the SCG in 2008. After retiring as a player in 2012, Symonds became a popular commentator with Fox Cricket, especially during the Big Bash. Following his death, the father of two was labelled by Cricket Australia 'a cult hero and one of the most skilled all-rounders Australian cricket has seen.'
