RESULTS from the Grand Slam, Wimbledon Men's Doubles matches held on Wednesday (July 4, 2019).
First Round Results
(Reuters)
RESULTS from the Grand Slam, Wimbledon Men's Doubles matches held on Wednesday (July 4, 2019).
First Round Results
(Reuters)
Starc, the Australian left-arm pacer, returned figures of 5-35 as Delhi bowled out Hyderabad for 163. (Photo: Getty Images)
MITCHELL STARC picked up his first five-wicket haul in T20 cricket, while Nitish Rana’s quickfire 81 off 36 balls helped Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals secure wins in the IPL on Sunday.
Starc, the Australian left-arm pacer, returned figures of 5-35 as Delhi bowled out Hyderabad for 163. Delhi chased the target comfortably, winning by seven wickets with four overs to spare, marking their second consecutive victory in the tournament.
In Guwahati, Rajasthan posted 182-9, powered by Rana’s aggressive knock. They then restricted Chennai Super Kings to 176-6, sealing a six-run win — their first victory after two losses.
"Feels good," said Rajasthan’s stand-in captain Riyan Parag. "Took some time, it was two games but felt long. Felt we were 20 short but the bowlers stepped up and executed our collective plans."
Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga claimed 4-35, making crucial breakthroughs in Chennai’s innings.
Rana, batting left-handed, shared an 82-run partnership for the second wicket with Sanju Samson, laying the foundation for Rajasthan’s total. Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad ended the stand by dismissing Samson, who played solely as a batsman due to injury.
Rana reached his half-century in 21 balls, hitting 10 fours and five sixes. He was named player of the match. Ravichandran Ashwin later had him stumped to end his innings.
Parag contributed 37 off 28 balls before being bowled by Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana.
Jofra Archer struck in the first over of Chennai’s reply, dismissing Rachin Ravindra for a duck. Hasaranga then controlled the innings with a wicket in each of his four overs, his final scalp being Chennai skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for 63, which derailed the chase.
‘No ego’ among bowlers
Earlier in Delhi’s second home game in Visakhapatnam, Starc struck early, dismissing Ishan Kishan and Nitish Reddy in one over. He then removed fellow Australian Travis Head for 22, leaving Hyderabad struggling at 37-4 in 4.1 overs.
Aniket Verma, who top-scored with 74, and Heinrich Klaasen built a 77-run stand to stabilise the innings. Kuldeep Yadav picked up 3-22 before Starc wrapped up the Hyderabad innings.
"There's no ego in bowlers these days," said Starc, who was named player of the match. "As a bowler, you've got to think out of the box. You need to do things you wouldn't normally do. It was nice to contribute in the win today, we move forward from here."
Delhi’s chase was led by Faf Du Plessis, who smashed a 27-ball 50. He took on Mohammed Shami, hitting a six and three fours in a 15-run third over, setting the tone for the chase.
Under new captain Axar Patel, Delhi has restructured its squad in pursuit of its first IPL title, with England’s Kevin Pietersen brought in as mentor.
(With inputs from agencies)
Siraj dismissed both Mumbai openers early, while Krishna struck in the middle overs, finishing with figures of 2-18. (Photo: Getty Images)
FAST bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna took two wickets each as Gujarat Titans defeated Mumbai Indians by 36 runs, securing their first win of the IPL season on Saturday.
Batting first after being invited, Gujarat posted 196-8, with Sai Sudharsan scoring 63 off 41 balls at the Ahmedabad stadium.
Siraj then led the bowling effort, restricting Mumbai to 160-6, handing the five-time IPL champions their second straight loss of the tournament.
Siraj dismissed both Mumbai openers early, while Krishna struck in the middle overs, finishing with figures of 2-18. Krishna, who has represented India in Tests, ODIs, and T20s, was named player of the match.
"I was itching to bowl. We were sitting and watching how the first innings went, so we understood that cutters into the wicket were working well," Krishna said.
Mumbai’s former captain Rohit Sharma hit two early boundaries before Siraj bowled him for eight. Siraj then removed South African wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Rickelton for six as he chopped an inside edge onto his stumps.
Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav put together a 62-run stand for the third wicket, but Krishna broke the partnership by dismissing Varma for 39. Suryakumar hit 48, including four sixes, as he and skipper Hardik Pandya attempted to keep the chase alive.
However, disciplined bowling kept Mumbai under pressure. Krishna dismissed Suryakumar, and South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada got rid of Pandya for 11, slowing the chase further.
'Not professional'
"Tough to put it together, I think in batting and bowling we were 15-20 runs short in both places," Pandya said.
"We were not professional in the field, we made basic errors and that cost us 20-25 runs, and in a T20 game that is quite a lot."
Earlier, Gujarat openers Sudharsan and Shubman Gill built a steady start before accelerating in the fifth and sixth overs, adding 35 runs.
Pandya, returning to the team after serving a suspension for a slow-over rate offence last season, dismissed Gill for 38, ending a 78-run opening stand. He finished with figures of 2-29.
Sudharsan built another partnership with England’s Jos Buttler, who struck 39 off 24 balls. Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed Buttler, caught behind.
Pandya removed big-hitter Shahrukh Khan for nine, and West Indies left-hander Sherfane Rutherford fell to Deepak Chahar for 18.
Sudharsan reached his fifty before New Zealand pacer Trent Boult trapped him lbw. Gujarat’s scoring slowed in the final overs, but their total proved enough for the win.
(With inputs from agencies)
The 10th match of IPL 2025 will see Delhi Capitals (DC) locking horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, March 30. Both teams are coming off contrasting results in their previous games, and this match promises to be a gripping contest, with several exciting player battles to watch out for.
Delhi Capitals are fresh off a thrilling one-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants. Chasing a formidable 210, DC's middle-order showed resilience, with Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma forming a crucial 48-run partnership after an early collapse. Vipraj Nigam’s late cameo and Ashutosh’s calm composure at the death saw DC edge out a nail-biting finish with three balls to spare.
KL Rahul, who missed DC’s opening game due to the birth of his first child, will return to bolster the batting lineup. His inclusion will undoubtedly provide stability to the Capitals' top order and inject a sense of leadership at the crease.
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad began their IPL 2025 campaign on a high note with a commanding 44-run victory over Rajasthan Royals, thanks to explosive batting displays from Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. However, they stumbled in their next game against Lucknow Super Giants, failing to defend 190, as Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh combined forces to chase down the target with ease.
SRH will be eager to return to winning ways, and the return of skipper Pat Cummins from injury will provide them with a significant boost in both the bowling and leadership departments.
The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium offers a batting-friendly wicket, and this trend is expected to continue. The surface is hard and ensures good bounce and pace, allowing the ball to come onto the bat nicely. Batsmen can play through the line with ease, making it an ideal venue for high-scoring games. In IPL 2024, the average scoring rate at this ground was an impressive 10.34 runs per over.
The first match played here in IPL 2025 saw a successful chase of 209, indicating that teams batting second might have an advantage. The pitch doesn’t offer much assistance to seamers with the new ball, but spinners could extract some turn as the game progresses. However, it may not be enough to trouble the set batsmen. Winning the toss and opting to bowl first seems to be the smarter choice here.
Impact Player: Ashutosh Sharma
Impact Player: Adam Zampa
Travis Head has been in sublime form at the top of the order for Sunrisers Hyderabad. With 114 runs in two innings, he has batted at a phenomenal strike rate of 193.22 and an average of 57.00, making him one of the most destructive openers in the league so far. His ability to dominate in the powerplay makes him a critical player in SRH’s setup, and if he gets going, he could single-handedly change the course of the match.
Given his current form, Head could very well emerge as the standout performer in the upcoming clash against Delhi Capitals.
Kuldeep Yadav’s left-arm wrist-spin will be pivotal in restricting SRH's powerful batting lineup. The spinner has been economical while also delivering key breakthroughs. In DC’s previous game, Kuldeep took two wickets while conceding just 20 runs in his four overs, playing a significant role in slowing down the opposition’s scoring rate.
With the conditions in Visakhapatnam likely to provide some help for spinners, Kuldeep could once again play a game-changing role in the middle overs. His ability to deceive batsmen with flight and variations makes him DC’s trump card in this encounter.
As Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad prepare for their face-off in IPL 2025, fans can expect an exhilarating contest between two quality teams. With both sides boasting explosive batsmen and skilled bowlers, the match could go down to the wire. Player battles like Travis Head vs Mitchell Starc, and Faf du Plessis vs Mohammed Shami are sure to keep cricket enthusiasts on the edge of their seats.
A win for either side could significantly shape their journey in this IPL season, making this clash a must-watch for all cricket lovers.
The electrifying action of IPL 2025 continues as Rajasthan Royals (RR) lock horns with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in match number 11 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday, March 30. With both teams coming off contrasting starts to their campaigns, this clash promises to be a thrilling battle of experience, skill, and determination.
RR have endured a difficult start, losing both their opening fixtures. Their campaign began with a high-scoring encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), where they fell short by 44 runs despite valiant efforts from skipper Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel. Their second outing against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was another setback, as they managed a modest 151 runs, which was chased down comfortably by KKR.
CSK, on the other hand, started their season with a commanding four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians, thanks to a brilliant bowling display led by Noor Ahmad. However, their joy was short-lived as they suffered a humbling 50-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the iconic 'Southern Derby.' CSK’s batting lineup crumbled under scoreboard pressure, and they will be keen to bounce back against RR.
RR’s explosive opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is known for his fearless stroke play in the powerplay. However, he will have to navigate past the in-form left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed, who has been making early inroads for CSK. The two have faced off thrice in IPL history, with Khaleel dismissing Jaiswal once. The powerplay battle between these two could set the tone for RR’s innings.
RR’s stand-in skipper Riyan Parag has been a key figure in their middle order, especially against spin bowling. His success in IPL 2024 was largely due to his proficiency against spinners, where he averaged an astonishing 98.5. However, he will be up against Noor Ahmad, who has been in red-hot form, scalping seven wickets in just two games this season. Parag’s ability to counter Noor’s variations could be a defining factor in RR’s batting effort.
CSK’s skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad is a proven run-getter in IPL and has been particularly effective against RR, averaging 42 in past encounters. However, he will have to contend with RR’s pace spearhead Jofra Archer, who has an impressive record against CSK. Archer has claimed seven wickets against the five-time champions at an economy of just 6.1. If Archer can rediscover his rhythm, he could make life difficult for Gaikwad at the top.
The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati has historically favoured batters, with an average run rate of 8.57 in IPL matches. The surface is dry with minimal grass, offering assistance to spinners as the game progresses. While high scores have been posted here, the conditions will require batters to be wary of turn, particularly in the middle overs. Fast bowlers may struggle for movement, making power-hitting a viable option for teams.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma
Impact Player: Shubham Dubey
Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Deepak Hooda, Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Matheesha Pathirana, Khaleel Ahmed
Impact Player: Shivam Dube
RR’s wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has been in sublime touch, leading from the front with a sparkling 66 off 37 balls against SRH. With his ability to take on spinners and play the big shots, Samson will be crucial in anchoring RR’s innings. His performance will be pivotal in turning around RR’s fortunes.
CSK’s Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad has been a revelation this season, leading the wicket charts with seven scalps in two matches. His ability to control the middle overs and pick up crucial wickets makes him CSK’s trump card. If he finds his rhythm early, RR’s middle order could be in trouble.
While RR will be desperate to open their account this season, they face a formidable challenge against CSK. The five-time champions have a balanced squad with depth in both batting and bowling. However, RR have the home advantage and could capitalise on familiar conditions. If their key batters fire and Jofra Archer finds his groove, they could pose a serious challenge to CSK.
This contest promises to be a high-octane battle with no shortage of excitement. Cricket fans can expect a roller-coaster ride as two powerhouse teams collide in Guwahati!
FILE PHOTO: The Oval Invincibles celebrate after The Hundred Final between Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave at Lord's Cricket Ground on August 18, 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has extended the deadline for finalising the £520 million sale of The Hundred franchises after pushback from several prospective owners, particularly the Indian and American investors behind the two London teams.
The eight-week exclusivity window agreed in February has passed without contracts being signed, with negotiations now expected to continue until at least the end of April. While all parties remain committed to completing the deals, several key issues remain unresolved, the Telegraph reported.
At the heart of the delay is the participation agreement – the main legal document between the ECB and investors – with four of the eight buyers raising concerns about its terms.
Leading the pushback are Reliance Industries, owned by India's wealthy Ambani family who purchased a 49 per cent stake in Oval Invincibles for £123m, and Cricket Investor Holdings, a US-led consortium of tech entrepreneurs who bid £295m for London Spirit at Lord's.
According to sources close to the negotiations, the most significant sticking point revolves around control of future television rights. The ECB currently includes The Hundred as part of its bundled deal with Sky Sports, which runs until 2028.
Chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani along with his wife Nita Mukesh Ambani (Photo: Getty Images)
The governing body wants to maintain this arrangement for the 2028-2032 cycle, while several new owners are questioning why the tournament cannot be sold separately to the highest bidder – the model used in India.
"It is about what-ifs in the future," one source told the newspaper. Another described the situation as a "major issue" with owners "flexing muscles with ECB," though the board insists no one is "on the verge of walking away."
The television rights issue is particularly significant for Reliance Industries, which has interests in media through its joint venture with Disney and ownership of telecoms firm Jio. For the new owners to recoup their substantial investments, increasing the value of The Hundred's overseas TV deals will be crucial.
Other concerns raised include potential conflicts between ECB sponsors and those brought in by new owners, as well as schedule clashes with the summer Olympics in 2028 and 2032, which now include cricket.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould is reportedly flying to India soon for further talks with investors. The board has engaged high-powered lawyers Latham & Watkins – previously involved in the Manchester United sale and acquisitions of Chelsea – to assist with negotiations.
Despite the delays, multiple sources from all sides have expressed confidence that agreements will eventually be reached. One investor told the BBC they would be "flabbergasted" if any franchise buyer pulled out at this stage.
The sale process has exceeded the ECB's expectations, with The Hundred auction realising an overall valuation of £975m across its eight franchises. The board is selling its 49 per cent stake in each franchise, with host grounds retaining the other 51 per cent.
Once finalised, the £520m cash injection will transform English cricket finances. The recreational game is set to receive £50m, while non-host grounds will get between £20-27m each. The money will also help pay off county cricket's debt and enable investment in stadiums and player development.
ECB chair Richard Thompson previously called the sale "a game-changer for cricket," noting that the new partners are "global leaders in sport, technology, investment and commerce" who share the ambition to build The Hundred as a "world-class sporting spectacle."
According to reports, the 2025 season of The Hundred is expected to proceed with minimal changes, with both the ECB and investors viewing it as a transitional year while negotiations continue.