Leander Paes warmed up for Wimbledon by winning the Aegon Ilkley Challenger trophy with Canadian partner Adil Shamasdin, following a come-from-behind win over Brydan Klien and Joe Salisbury last Saturday (24).
The top seeds rallied to beat the local wild card pair 2-6 6-2 10-8 in the summit clash of the grass court event.
It is third title of the 2017 season for Paes on the ATP Challenger Tour and his second with Shamasdin.
The 45-year-old won the Tallahassee Challenger with American partner Scott Lipksy in April. His first title of the campaign had come in Leon, Mexico, with Shamasdin in March.
The veteran tennis icon has won eight doubles and ten mixed doubles Grand Slam titles, and is the oldest man to have won a major crown. He also holds a career Grand Slam in men’s doubles and mixed doubles.
Paes has a fine record at Wimbledon, achieving the rare men’s doubles/mixed doubles double at the 1999 tournament. His mixed doubles SW19 title in 2010 made him the second man after Rod Laver to win Wimbledon titles in three decades.
PAKISTAN dropped stars Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan on Wednesday (21) as they named a new-look squad for three home Twenty20 internationals against Bangladesh.
Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson will take charge for the first time after being appointed last week, replacing Aaqib Javed.
Salman Ali Agha will captain Pakistan as they look towards next year's Twenty20 World Cup, to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Fast bowler Shaheen had played in Pakistan's last T20 series in New Zealand in March, but batsmen Azam and Rizwan were omitted for the second consecutive T20 series after being criticised for slow scoring.
"The squad has been selected based on players' performances in the ongoing Pakistan Super League, which concludes on May 25," the Pakistan Cricket Board said in a statement.
Shaheen has taken 12 wickets for Lahore Qalandars in 10 PSL matches at an economy rate of 8.20. Opener Sahibzada Farhan earned a recall after topping the PSL batting charts with 394 runs.
Batsmen Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman return after missing the New Zealand tour with injuries.
Fast bowler Hasan Ali is back after being sidelined with multiple injuries since May last year.
The PCB said that the matches, which have been affected by a 10-day delay to the PSL caused by the deadly India-Pakistan conflict, will be held in Lahore on May 28, 30 and June 1.
Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub
The 14-year-old, who had earlier drawn attention with a 35-ball century last month, made 57 off 33 balls to help Rajasthan chase down 188 with 17 balls remaining. (Photo: Getty Images)
VAIBHAV SURYAVANSHI scored a half-century as Rajasthan Royals ended their IPL campaign with a six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday.
The 14-year-old, who had earlier drawn attention with a 35-ball century last month, made 57 off 33 balls to help Rajasthan chase down 188 with 17 balls remaining in New Delhi.
Suryavanshi, who began his IPL career by hitting his first ball for six and played a key role in the chase, hitting four fours and four sixes in his innings.
"I don't have words for Vaibhav, he can hit a slower ball over cover," Rajasthan captain Sanju Samson said.
"Today when the middle overs were going on, he was going with his job very smartly. He has game awareness at such a young age."
Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten on 31 off 12 balls to finish the chase.
Both teams were already out of the playoff race. Rajasthan stayed ahead of Chennai, which was bottom of the table with four wins from 14 matches.
Chennai, led by MS Dhoni, who is 43, have one league game remaining.
Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings have secured play-off spots. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals are still in contention for the final place.
Chennai had opportunities in the match, including a double strike by Ravichandran Ashwin, who removed Samson (41) and Suryavanshi in the space of five balls.
Jurel responded with boundaries in the next over, and even after Riyan Parag was dismissed, Rajasthan completed the chase.
Jurel hit the winning six, with Shimron Hetmyer not out on 12 at the other end.
Yashasvi Jaiswal made 36 off 19 balls and added 37 for the opening wicket with Suryavanshi.
Mhatre leads Chennai recovery
Chennai posted 187-8 after falling to 78-5 in under eight overs, batting first on a hot and humid day in Delhi.
"If you look at the amount of runs we had put on the board, it was very good," said Dhoni. "But you got to see the wickets column as it puts pressure on the lower-middle order that you might not bat 20 overs."
Teenager Ayush Mhatre made 43 off 20 balls, lifting Chennai after two early wickets. His dismissal started a collapse.
Mhatre, who has a top score of 94 in his debut year, hit eight fours and one six before being dismissed by Tushar Deshpande.
Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Ashwin, and Yudhvir Singh claimed his third wicket by removing Ravindra Jadeja as Chennai lost five wickets in 7.4 overs.
Dewald Brevis scored 42 and shared a 59-run stand with Shivam Dube, who made 39, to rebuild the innings.
Rajasthan bowlers restricted Chennai to 17 runs in the final three overs.
Akash Madhwal took 3-29 and was named player of the match.
The IPL resumed on Saturday after being paused due to the conflict between India and Pakistan. The final is now scheduled for 3 June in Ahmedabad.
(With inputs from agencies)
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The biggest narrative twist yet sees the Illuminate
Helldivers 2 has delivered one of its most impactful updates yet with the arrival of the Illuminate invasion on Super Earth. As players scramble to defend humanity's homeworld from total annihilation, the game's community has responded with renewed enthusiasm, and its player count has soared. Here are seven reasons why this update has reignited interest in the game.
1. The arrival of the Illuminate on Super Earth
The biggest narrative twist yet sees the Illuminate—a mysterious alien faction—launching a direct assault on Super Earth. This storyline escalation marks the highest stakes the game has presented, as earlier territories such as Mars and its colonies have already been obliterated. For long-time players, this represents the climax of the ongoing war and a must-play event.
2. Massive player count spike
Following the update's release, Helldivers 2 witnessed a dramatic surge in players. Steam concurrency hit over 124,000 at 9:30 AM ET, with numbers continuing to climb, approaching the highs seen during Illuminate’s first appearance in December 2024. This resurgence signals a renewed interest from both returning and new players.
3. New weapons and gear
With the new update, players have access to an arsenal of fresh weapons, offering new ways to approach battles against the Illuminate forces. This has reinvigorated gameplay and allowed veterans to experiment with tactics, while offering new players a variety of engaging loadouts right from the start.
4. Introduction of new Illuminate units
The Illuminate faction has been significantly expanded with new enemy units. These formidable adversaries present unique challenges that differ from the previously encountered Terminid and Automaton enemies. The varied combat styles and threats posed by the Illuminate have added depth and variety to missions.
5. Urban warfare on new city maps
A notable addition in this update is the introduction of city maps. These urban environments change the flow of gameplay, offering vertical combat, tighter corridors, and strategic chokepoints. It’s a refreshing change from the usual battlefield layouts, demanding more coordinated team strategies.
6. A shared narrative that drives engagement
Helldivers 2 continues to prove the power of community-driven storytelling in live service games. The ongoing narrative, shaped by collective player success or failure, creates a shared sense of urgency and consequence. The current threat to Super Earth has rallied the player base, echoing the excitement of previous key events.
- YouTubeYouTube/ HELLDIVERS™ 2
7. A testament to Arrowhead’s success
Despite not being a Sony in-house studio, developer Arrowhead has managed to maintain one of the most successful live service games of recent years. With consistent updates and community engagement, Helldivers 2 has defied the trend of short-lived online games. The studio has even announced its next title will be independently funded, underscoring the game's commercial success.
With the Illuminate knocking on the door and Super Earth under siege, Helldivers 2 is experiencing a revival that few live service games manage months after launch. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer, now is a prime time to suit up and defend humanity.
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Goodge’s support team said he ran close to 100km a day
British endurance runner William Goodge has claimed a new world record after completing a run across Australia in just 35 days, covering a distance of approximately 3,800km.
The 31-year-old athlete began his journey on 15 April from Cottesloe Beach in Perth and reached Bondi Beach in Sydney on 20 May. If verified, his run would set a new record for the fastest-ever crossing of Australia on foot, surpassing the previous record of 39 days set by Chris Turnbull in 2023.
Goodge’s support team said he ran close to 100km a day—the equivalent of two-and-a-half marathons—across challenging terrain, including the remote and arid Nullarbor Plain. The run is yet to be officially verified by Guinness World Records.
Originally from Bedfordshire, William Goodge began running marathons following the death of his mother, Amanda, from cancer in 2018. His transcontinental run aimed to raise funds for cancer charities in the UK, US, and Australia.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast a day after completing the run, Goodge described the experience as "the toughest thing I've ever done". He battled physical and mental strain throughout the 35 days, losing several toenails, suffering from rotting feet, and experiencing bone pain severe enough to cause hallucinations.
“It was full-on from start to finish,” he said, highlighting the early days and the crossing of the Nullarbor as particularly gruelling. Despite the conditions, he said he was “feeling very comfortable” after finishing.
Upon completing the journey, William Goodge placed flowers on the sand at Bondi Beach in memory of his late mother. “She was the most special person in my life,” he told Guardian Australia. “She would be proud of everything I’ve done—she’d also be concerned.”
Goodge credited his mother’s strength during her illness as motivation to keep going. “In the moments where it's tough, I think back to those times. I think about the woman she was, how she handled herself, and how she supported me,” he said in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.
During the run, Goodge said he encountered much of Australia’s iconic landscape and wildlife, though many animals were seen as roadkill along his path.
Questions have been raised within the running community regarding the accuracy of tracking data during the run. Some observers pointed to inconsistencies in his speed and heart rate records. However, Goodge’s agent told Canadian Running that he "stands by his record keeping" and maintained that “he is taking every single step”.
William Goodge also claims the title of the fastest British man to run across the United States, completing a 55-day run from Los Angeles to New York in a previous endurance challenge.
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Abhishek reached his fifty in 18 balls, hitting five sixes including three in a row off Ravi Bishnoi. (Photo: Getty Images)
ABHISHEK SHARMA scored 59 off 20 balls to help Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets on Monday, ending Lucknow’s chances of making the IPL playoffs.
Chasing 206 for victory, Abhishek set the tone with an innings that included four fours and six sixes. Hyderabad reached the target with 10 balls remaining in Lucknow.
He was dismissed in the eighth over. Heinrich Klaasen, who made 47, and Kamindu Mendis, who retired hurt on 32, added 55 runs for the fourth wicket to take the team close to the target.
With the loss, Lucknow became the fifth team to be knocked out of the playoff race. Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals remain in contention for the final spot.
"Definitely it could have been one of our best seasons but coming into the tournament we had a lot of gaps, injuries," said Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant. "As a team we decided to not talk about that but it became difficult to fill those gaps."
Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already qualified for the playoffs, which begin on May 29.
Sunrisers Hyderabad were already out of the race, but captain Pat Cummins said the win “gives (us) a lot of confidence for next year”.
Abhishek began attacking after losing his opening partner Atharva Taide, who was dismissed by New Zealand pacer Will O'Rourke on his IPL debut.
Abhishek reached his fifty in 18 balls, hitting five sixes including three in a row off Ravi Bishnoi. He hit one more six before being dismissed by leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi.
Hyderabad lost Ishan Kishan on 35 before Klaasen and Mendis steadied the chase. Klaasen missed out on a fifty while Mendis retired hurt with a foot injury. Nitish Reddy and Aniket Verma completed the chase.
Earlier, Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram added 115 runs for the opening wicket to set up Lucknow’s total of 205-7.
Marsh top-scored with 65, including six fours and four sixes, and Markram made 61. Nicholas Pooran contributed 45 off 26 balls.
The rest of the Lucknow batters could not reach double figures. Rishabh Pant was dismissed for seven, caught and bowled by Eshan Malinga.
Pant has scored just 135 runs in 11 innings this season. Lucknow had bought him for $3.21 million in the November auction.
The team also had injury concerns with pacers Avesh Khan and Mayank Yadav before and during the tournament.
Eshan Malinga finished with 2-28 from four overs.
Pooran was run out in the final over, where two run outs and another wicket fell.
The IPL resumed on Saturday after a pause due to a conflict between India and Pakistan. The final will now take place on June 3.