Latest news with #Qualifier
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
‘Do not get out to Arshdeep Singh': Phil Salt's soliloquy cuts through nightmare in RCB's crushing win over PBKS
There are always battles within a battle when the match is as big as the IPL Qualifier 1, with teams fighting for a direct entry into the IPL finals, and Phil Salt vs Arshdeep Singh was one of them. Before Thursday's Qualifier 1 between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, it was a one-sided battle heavily in favour of Arshdeep Singh. It would be an understatement to say Arshdeep had Salt's number. The England opener has had a nightmarish time against Arshdeep. Be it IPL or for England. Whether it's T20S or ODIs, Salt's struggles against Arshdeep have been a constant. The left-hander pacer has dismissed the England opener four times in 9 T20s. In this year's IPL, Arshdeep sent Salt packing in both the league games The RCB opener was determined to turn the tables in the Qualifier and so he did. He ended up smashing six fours and three sixes, including a crisp pull off pacer Arshdeep Singh. Salt's unbeaten 56 off 27 balls helped RCB chase down PBKS' modest 102-run target in just 10 overs to march into their first final since 2016. After the match, Salt said he was trying his best not to get out to Arshdeep Singh. "Great feeling right now, it (the ball) did move a bit. I think that was not the worst wicket to have played on this season. Do not get out to Arshdeep (his mindset during the innings), we played 2 group games (with PBKS) and he has found different ways to get me out, so I was just trying to react to the ball," he said in the post-match presentation. "Gives us the momentum, it is a cliche but true, that's what you want at the backend of the tournament, want to hit your straps and play a part with the bat or ball," he added. In the ongoing season, Salt has scored 387 runs in 12 innings at an average of 35.18 and a strike rate of 175.90, with four fifties and the best score of 65. He is RCB's second-highest run-getter. All four of his half-centuries have come while chasing within six innings. Salt also completed 1,000 IPL runs, becoming the joint-second-fastest to reach the milestone in 575 balls, equalling that of Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad). His ex-Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) teammate Andre Russell is the fastest to reach the milestone with 545 balls. In 33 IPL matches and innings, Salt scored 1,040 runs at an average of 34.66, with a strike rate of 175.67. He has scored 10 fifties, with the best score of 89*. After RCB opted to bowl first, PBKS was reduced to 48/4 in the powerplay itself, with Bhuvneshwar, Hazlewood and Yash firing all cylinders. Marcus Stoinis (26 in 17 balls, with two fours and two sixes) and Azmatullah Omarzai (18 in 12 balls, with a four and a six) pushed PBKS to 101 in 14.1 overs. Suyash Sharma (3/17) and Josh Hazlewood (3/21) were the leading bowlers for RCB, with Yash Dayal getting 2/26 in four overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Romario Shepherd got a wicket each. In the run-chase, RCB lost Virat Kohli (12) and Mayank Agarwal (19), but Phil Salt (56* in 27 balls, with six fours and three sixes) and skipper Rajat Patidar (15*) took RCB to the win in 10 overs with eight wickets left.
United News of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Newly crowned No1 T20I bowler Sadia Iqbal credits Pakistan legend Sana Mir
Dubai, May 27 (UNI) Left-arm orthodox spinner Sadia Iqbal dethroned England's Sophie Ecclestone to take the top spot in the new ICC Women's Player Rankings. The Pakistan tweaker, who was one of the leading performers at last year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup, rose one position to reign supreme. Basking in the moment, the 29-year-old expressed delight and thanked those who have played a part in her journey. 'I've become the number one ranked T20I bowler, I'd like to thank everyone who is celebrating this achievement, I've received a lot of calls and messages,' Iqbal said in a Pakistan Cricket Board video. 'I'm glad that everyone is happy for me and appreciative of my achievement,' she said. The left-arm spinner lauded former Pakistan skipper Sana Mir for helping her through with her bowling, an ICC report said. 'She (Sana Mir) obviously had a lot of experience in women's cricket. The way she's served Pakistan cricket, she has been number one bowler during her days," Iqbal said. 'I used to keep talking to her while we were on tour regarding bowling different variations," she said. 'Even when we were at the World Cup, I had a really good conversation about bowling with her. She helped me a lot," Iqbal said. Iqbal played a pivotal role in Pakistan's flawless run at the recent ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier, helping the team punch their ticket to the marquee event in India later this year. Snapping nine wickets in five matches, Iqbal's efforts guided Pakistan to an invincible campaign at home - one she hopes they can repeat come the Cricket World Cup. 'World Cup is the biggest event, we've secured our qualification recently. Our goal is to play the way we did in the Qualifier," she said. 'We'll look to pick from where we ended that tournament, and hope to finish the World Cup the same way," Iqbal added. On her personal goal moving forward, she added, 'For me, the team always comes first. And that helps me as well as the team. My goal is to help my team win the World Cup.' Pakistan Women secured their qualification spot for the eight-team tournament alongside Bangladesh via the Qualifier at home. They'll vie for the top prize against defending champions Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa and hosts India. UNI BM
Int'l Cricket Council
5 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Newly crowned No.1 T20I bowler credits Pakistan legend
Iqbal played a pivotal role in Pakistan's flawless run at the recent ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier, helping the team punch their ticket to the marquee event in India later this year. Snapping nine wickets in five matches, Iqbal's efforts guided Pakistan to an invincible campaign at home - one she hopes they can repeat come the Cricket World Cup. 'World Cup is the biggest event, we've secured our qualification recently. Our goal is to play the way we did in the Qualifier. 'We'll look to pick from where we ended that tournament, and hope to finish the World Cup the same way. On her personal goal moving forward, she added, 'For me, the team always comes first. And that helps me as well as the team. My goal is to help my team win the World Cup.' Pakistan Women secured their qualification spot for the eight-team tournament alongside Bangladesh via the Qualifier at home. They'll vie for the top prize against defending champions Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa and hosts India.
Mint
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
IPL 2025 playoffs: Can Punjab Kings finish outside the top two? All scenarios explained
The Punjab Kings will play the first of their final two fixtures today when they face the Delhi Capitals in Match 66 of the Indian Premier League. Ahead of their DC clash at Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium, they moved up a spot in the IPL 2025 standings after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru crashed to a 43-run defeat against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday. Thanks to a better net run rate, PBKS are sitting in second with 17 points from 12 matches. PBKS will round off the league stage with a game against the Mumbai Indians on May 26, Monday. This is how the top four of the IPL 2025 table is poised ahead of today's match between PBKS and DC. Team Matches Played NRR Points Gujarat Titans 13 +0.602 18 Punjab Kings 12 +0.389 17 Royal Challengers Bengaluru 13 +0.255 17 Mumbai Indians 13 +1.292 16 These are the final fixtures for the top four teams in the league stage of IPL 2025. Fixtures Venue Date (Day) Time Punjab Kings vs. Delhi Capitals Jaipur May 24 (Saturday) 7:30 pm Gujarat Titans vs. Chennai Super Kings Ahmedabad May 25 (Sunday) 3:30 pm Punjab Kings vs. Mumbai Indians Jaipur May 26 (Monday) 7:30 pm Lucknow Super Giants vs. Royal Challengers Bengaluru Lucknow May 27 (Tuesday) 7:30 pm Ahead of today's game, we take a look at the different scenarios for PBKS as they march on in their quest to finish top two in the standings. Two wins for PBKS in their final two fixtures will see the Punjab side finish top of the table with 21 points to their name. This is because GT can amass a maximum of 20 points while RCB will go to 19 with a win against the Lucknow Super Giants. MI will finish fourth with 16 points. Things get complicated if PBKS win only one of their remaining two matches, which will see them finish the league stage on 19 points. In this scenario, both PBKS and RCB will occupy the top two spots with 19 points on the board and play the Qualifier 1 match. GT will be relegated to either third or fourth, depending on MI's result in their final fixture against PBKS. The Gujarat side will occupy the top spot with 20 points, leaving both RCB and PBKS fighting for the second position with 19 points each. The team with the better NRR will finish second and play Qualifier 1 while the other side will play the do-or-die Eliminator. This will see PBKS comfortably sit in the top two positions. If GT also lose their final fixture, the Punjab side could end up top of the table. Else, they will be happy to settle for second. PBKS will end the league stage with 17 points if they lose against DC and MI, which will see the Punjab side finish outside the top two positions. This is because GT already have 18 points, with one game still to go, while MI will end the league stage with 18 points, after beating PBKS in their final fixture. The above scenarios have taken into account that all of the remaining fixtures will produce a result. 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.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
22-05-2025
- Climate
- First Post
BCCI moving IPL final to Ahmedabad from Kolkata sparks political battle: 'Bengal's cricket lovers are being deprived'
The BCCI announced Ahmedabad and Mullanpur as the venues for the playoffs in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League, citing concerns regarding the possibility of heavy rain in Kolkata and Hyderabad between 29 May and 3 June, the revised dates for the final leg. read more Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium is all set to host Qualifier 2 and the final of the ongoing IPL season, which were originally scheduled to take place at Kolkata's Eden Gardens. Reuters The Board of Control for Cricket in India's decision to shift the final of the 2025 Indian Premier League to Ahmedabad from Kolkata has sparked a political battle between the Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, the parties that are in power in the state of West Bengal and at the Centre respectively. Kolkata's Eden Gardens and Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium were scheduled to host the playoffs in the 18th IPL season , with the former hosting Qualifier 2 and the final. Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad had competed in last year's final with the former winning their third title with an eight-wicket victory. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As is the tradition in the IPL, the playoffs are hosted in the cities whose franchises had competed in the final of the previous edition, with the home ground of the winning team hosting the last two matches. The BCCI had cited the onset of southwest monsoon as well as the possibility of heavy showers as the reason for moving the playoffs from Kolkata and Hyderabad to Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium and Mullanpur's New PCA Stadium, Punjab Kings' home ground since last year. 'Since when have the BCCI and IPL governing council turned into weathermen?' On Thursday, West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas, one of CM Mamata Banerjee's closest aides questioned how BCCI and the IPL Governing Council had suddenly 'turned into weathermen' when weather forecasts in Kolkata and elsewhere could not be more more than a week in advance. 'It is to inform that city forecast for Kolkata for May 20 to May 30 will be available from May 14 onwards. This office issues the forecast for Kolkata for seven days in advance,' Biswas was quoted by The Telegraph as telling reporters in the presence of Kolkata Police commissioner Manoj Verma. West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas is one of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's closest aides. PTI 'The forecast for June 1 will be available from May 26 onwards. The IMD has informed that their office has not issued any forecast for Kolkata city for the first week of June. Since when have the BCCI and IPL governing council turned into weathermen? 'It is evident that Bengal's cricket lovers are being deprived by moving out the match from the hallowed Eden Gardens,' Biswas added. The decision to move the venues for the IPL 2025 playoffs, however, only took place after the season was suspended for a week due to an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that occurred in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack last month. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The season was originally scheduled to conclude on Monday. However, the revised schedule after the week-long suspension had the playoffs getting underway from 29 May, with Ahmedabad hosting the final on 3 June. This will be the third IPL final taking place at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium in four years, starting with Gujarat Titans – the team that calls the world's largest cricket stadium its home – winning the tournament on debut in 2022. Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) too had expressed unhappiness over the final being moved to Ahmedabad from Kolkata, stating that it wasn't possibly to predict weather patterns so early and moving the marquee fixture out of the city for that reason wasn't a fair call. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who had served as BCCI president from 2019 to 2022, also to keep the playoff fixtures in Kolkata.
