Cricket

Birmingham Phoenix emerged victorious in a rain-shortened match against Manchester Originals, securing a spot in The Hundred Eliminator. The Phoenix chased down a modest target of 42 with ease, winning by nine wickets.Phoenix captain Moeen Ali won the toss and elected to bowl first. Kiwi speedster Adam Milne struck early, removing Matthew Hurst in the second over. Tim Southee conceded a six to Phil Salt but dismissed him soon after. Sean Abbott and Milne continued the onslaught, accounting for Paul Walter and Max Holden respectively. Chris Wood wrapped up the innings with the wicket of Sikandar Raza, restricting the Originals to a mere 41 for 5.In response, Birmingham Phoenix made light work of the chase. Jamie Smith set the tone with two boundaries off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the first over. Ben Duckett took over the mantle, smashing Tom Aspinwall for a six and three boundaries. Smith departed for 14, but Duckett (22*) and Moeen (6*) guided the Phoenix home with eight balls to spare.Milne, who finished with figures of 2 for 8, was named the Meerkat Match Hero. He attributed his success to the swing and seam on offer, emphasizing the importance of adapting to different conditions in shortened formats.The victory sends Birmingham Phoenix to The Hundred Eliminator, where they will face Southern Brave at The Kia Oval on Saturday. Andrew Flintoff's first year as Northern Superchargers Head Coach ends with a fourth-place finish.

Southern Brave secured their spot in The Hundred Eliminator at the Kia Oval on Saturday, thanks to rain intervening at Utilita Bowl against an already-eliminated Welsh Fire. The Brave needed just a point to guarantee their presence in Saturday's showdown, but at the halfway stage, with 181 posted by the Fire, they would have feared losing control of their destiny.Two quick wickets - Alex Davies for a duck and then James Vince for 19 - further set the Brave back. But on the stroke of Vince's dismissal, with rain falling steadily, the umpires took the players off. The rain never abated, and with just 16 balls having been bowled of the Brave's innings - a minimum of 25 balls are required to deliver a result - the game was duly abandoned.It was a bitter pill for the Fire to swallow. With the bat, they were irrepressible, with Luke Wells and Glenn Phillips especially destructive, sharing a 76-run partnership from just 30 balls to propel the Fire to their highest-ever score in the tournament's history.Wells, registering just his second fifty in the competition, took just 28 balls to reach the milestone, while Phillips was spectacular, clubbing five sixes - including one hit over square-leg against Jofra Archer that sailed 102 metres - from just 19 balls. In all, 10 sixes were struck across the Fire's innings.For the Brave, only Akeal Hosein escaped punishment, the West Indian left-armer conceding just 21 from his 20-ball quota. Ultimately, it was immaterial. Brave are through to face either Northern Superchargers or Birmingham Phoenix, with the latter's game against Manchester Originals tomorrow determining the final placings at the top.Brave skipper, James Vince, said: "Bowling first, things probably got away from us a bit. We were sloppy. Some good players got going and we weren't able to shut them down, so it was always going to be a tough ask to chase that down."We had a few messages saying the weather might be on its way so it we had a few discussions about how to approach those first 25 balls; thankfully the rain came just in time."On the whole, across the tournament, the bowling group gets a lot of credit. They're quality, experienced bowlers. Our batting goes under the radar a bit. We'd like a few more guys in form, but on the whole we've been reasonably consistent."

The Major League Cricket (MLC) Eliminator match between Texas Super Kings and defending champions MI New York promises to be a thrilling encounter. Both teams have a lot to prove, with Texas Super Kings seeking revenge for their defeat in the Challenger game of the inaugural season in 2023.Form-wise, the Super Kings have been more impressive than MI New York, boasting three wins, two losses, and two no results. One of their victories came against MI New York, where Rashid Khan's exceptional performance gave them hope, but they ultimately fell short by 15 runs.MI New York, on the other hand, managed to sneak into the final four stage just before the door shut on them. They will be looking to approach the business end of MLC 2024 with renewed confidence as they head into the Eliminator.The Texas Super Kings will be determined to make amends for their previous defeat against MI New York. They have a strong team led by experienced players like David Warner and Dwayne Bravo. Warner has been in excellent form this season, scoring 250 runs in six matches, while Bravo has taken 10 wickets.MI New York will rely on their star-studded lineup, which includes Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, and Suryakumar Yadav. Pollard has been a key player for MI New York, scoring 200 runs and taking 12 wickets in the tournament. Russell and Yadav have also made significant contributions with the bat.The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams having their strengths and weaknesses. Texas Super Kings will be looking to capitalize on their momentum and home advantage, while MI New York will be hoping to prove that they are still the team to beat.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) endured another disappointing Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign in 2024, failing to lift the elusive trophy for the 17th consecutive time. Despite a dismal start to the season, winning only one of their first seven matches, RCB staged a remarkable comeback, notching six consecutive victories. Their resurgence included a crucial win against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK).However, their hopes were dashed in the Eliminator match against Rajasthan Royals. The match was marred by an incident outside the stadium, where a video emerged on social media showing a man wearing an RCB jersey assaulting a group of individuals, one of whom was wearing a CSK jersey. The authenticity of the video remains unverified.The rivalry between RCB and CSK fans has intensified since RCB eliminated CSK from the tournament. Former CSK player Ambati Rayudu has been particularly vocal in his criticism of RCB. After their elimination, Rayudu took to social media to troll the franchise, stating that "only passion and celebration don't win you the title."Rayudu's comments sparked a war of words between former players of both sides. Rayudu later clarified that his criticism was directed at RCB's management, not the fans. He emphasized that the franchise could have achieved greater success if they had prioritized team interests over individual milestones.Despite their disappointing season, RCB fans remain passionate about their team. They will be hoping for a stronger performance in the upcoming mega auction and a chance to finally break their IPL title drought.

Virat Kohli's elusive quest for an IPL title continues as Rajasthan Royals extinguished Royal Challengers Bengaluru's playoff hopes in the 2024 edition. Despite a remarkable comeback and a six-match winning streak, RCB's resurgence was cut short by RR's four-wicket victory in the Eliminator.Kohli, who became the first player to amass 8000 IPL runs, witnessed his team's downfall as RR chased down a 173-run target with ease. The Indian star's frustration was evident as he was seen shouting from the boundary line, prompting speculation that he was directing his anger towards his teammates.Rajasthan Royals, after a topsy-turvy chase, broke their five-match losing streak and set up a Qualifier 2 clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Avesh Khan and Ravichandran Ashwin's disciplined bowling restricted RCB to 172/8, while Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Rovman Powell guided RR to victory.Jaiswal's 45, Parag's 36, and Hetmyer's 26 laid the foundation for RR's chase. Despite some setbacks, Powell's unbeaten 16 ensured RR's triumph. RCB's hopes were dashed as they failed to capitalize on their recent resurgence.The result sets up an intriguing Qualifier 2 clash between RR and SRH, with the winner facing Kolkata Knight Riders in the final. Kohli's wait for an IPL title extends, while RR remains in contention for their second championship.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) enjoyed a remarkable run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, winning six consecutive matches to secure a playoff berth. In a crucial encounter against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), RCB's nerves held firm, with pacer Yash Dayal delivering a stellar performance in the final over to secure a fourth-place finish for the team.The victory sparked jubilation within the RCB camp, with the entire team reportedly celebrating until 5 AM. However, their joy was short-lived as RCB was eliminated in the Eliminator clash against Rajasthan Royals.Yash Dayal emerged as one of RCB's heroes in the match against CSK. His father revealed that the players celebrated their progression to the next round with an after-match party that lasted until 5 AM. "Yash told his mother that the after-match party lasted till 5 AM (after beating CSK). He was so happy. Also, he said that when he got hit for a six in the first ball by Dhoni, he controlled himself to focus on bowling, not thinking about who was there on the crease, whether it was Dhoni or Jadeja," Yash's father, Chanderpal Dayal, told IANS.Despite being hit for a six by MS Dhoni on the first ball of the final over, Yash made a remarkable comeback, conceding only seven runs in the over. However, the left-arm pacer failed to maintain his form in the Eliminator clash against Rajasthan.Dayal conceded 37 runs in the match against RR, bowling just three overs without picking up a wicket. He was the most expensive bowler for RCB on the day, conceding at 12.30 per over.RCB remains one of the few franchises yet to win an IPL title, having participated in all 17 seasons of the T20 league. With the loss against the Royals, the Bengaluru side registered an unwanted record of losing the most number of playoffs matches in IPL history.

Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) remarkable Indian Premier League (IPL) journey came to an end on Wednesday with a four-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Eliminator. Despite a disappointing start, RCB's resurgence in the second half of the season had raised hopes of a title triumph.After winning just one of their first eight games, RCB faced the prospect of elimination. However, they rallied with six consecutive victories, including a crucial win over defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This remarkable turnaround secured them the final playoff spot based on net run rate.Reflecting on the season, Virat Kohli acknowledged the team's struggles in the first half. "We were not able to live up to our standards as cricketers," he said. "But we started expressing ourselves, played for our own self-respect. Our confidence came back."Skipper Faf Du Plessis praised the team's resilience. "The last six games were special for the way we turned things around," he said. "We fell short by around 15 runs, but we are extremely grateful for the fans' support."Wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, who may have played his last IPL season, expressed pride in the team's achievements. "We felt this could be the year we lift the trophy," he said. "But it was not to be. We should be proud of the fight we put up."Despite the disappointment of the Eliminator loss, RCB players and fans alike celebrated the team's remarkable turnaround. The team's ability to overcome adversity and qualify for the playoffs was a testament to their character and determination.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian off-spinner, has revealed that he battled an abdominal injury during the first half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, which hindered his bowling performance.In his initial nine matches, Ashwin managed only two wickets at an economy rate of 9.00. However, in the subsequent four games, he has claimed seven wickets at a much-improved economy of 6.81. This includes his impressive 2 for 17 in four overs against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator, which helped Rajasthan Royals (RR) secure a thrilling victory."To be honest, in the first half of the season, my body wasn't moving at all," Ashwin admitted after being named Player of the Match. "I felt like I couldn't complete my action properly on many occasions. I had a bit of an abdominal injury as well, so I couldn't really get through it."Despite the injury, Ashwin remained committed to his team and pushed through the pain. "I put my body on the line in many of the games," he said. "For me, it was more about finding the rhythm and hitting the right lengths. Coming from Test-match mode, your body needs to adjust... I mean, I'm aging, so it's not that easy anymore."As the tournament progressed, Ashwin gradually found his rhythm through consistent practice. "The amount of repetitions I need for the T20 game is a lot," he explained. "I actually bowl a lot off the game time as well. I needed that amount of bowling time to get into the groove."RR's victory over RCB ended their five-match winless streak. After a strong start with eight wins in nine games, the team's form dipped, coinciding with injuries to Shimron Hetmyer and the departure of Jos Buttler for national duty."We haven't done incredibly well over the last few games," Ashwin acknowledged. "Our batting has struggled to put up par-plus scores. We lost Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer was injured - some crucial blows at the top of the order and in the middle. It's not easy for any team to come out of that. I thought we were a bit rusty chasing 173, but that confidence will come right back into the dressing room now."RR will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 in Chennai. Ashwin expressed confidence in his team's ability to bounce back. "The greatest strength of our team is the exuberance of youth and the balance of the senior players," he said. "Now that Hettie is back and Rovman [Powell] also got a few boundaries away, which is very critical for us, we would be going confident into that game. We've got a decent spin attack, we've got Keshav [Maharaj] sitting outside. If you can get off to a good start against SRH, you never really know."RR captain Sanju Samson, who is not in the best of health, praised his team's character for overcoming adversity. "We will have some great phases and we'll have some really bad phases," he said. "But we need to have the character to think that we can bounce back at the crucial moment. Looking at the last four-five games, we have not had any momentum. We had been completely losing all the games and coming here at the knockouts, we were definitely asking ourselves some questions, but the character the team showed, the way we fielded, the way we batted, the way we bowled, I am really happy."

In the high-stakes Eliminator match of IPL 2024, a controversial dismissal sparked debate among cricket experts and fans alike. After the contentious lbw call against Dinesh Karthik, another incident involving Cameron Green and Dhruv Jurel raised questions about the interpretation of the run-out rule.Green, fielding at deep mid-wicket, collected a throw from Virat Kohli and attempted to run out Jurel. However, replays showed that Green may not have had complete control of the ball when he broke the stumps. The TV umpire, Anil Chaudhary, ruled Jurel out, citing Law 29.2.1.5, which states that a run out occurs if "the ball is held in the hand or hands so used [to break the stumps], or in the hand of the arm so used."The decision divided opinion. Some experts, like Mitchell McClenaghan, argued that Green did not have control of the ball and that Jurel should have been given the benefit of the doubt. Others, like Varun Aaron, believed that Green had sufficient control to justify the dismissal.The law itself states that the ball must be "held" in the hand or arm used to break the stumps. However, the visuals did not conclusively show whether Green had complete possession of the ball. This ambiguity led to the debate over whether the dismissal was justified.Tom Moody, another expert, pointed out that the key word in the law is "held." He argued that Green did not have control of the ball when the stumps were broken and that Jurel should not have been given out.Ultimately, the decision did not affect the outcome of the match. Rajasthan Royals went on to defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore with one over to spare, thanks to contributions from Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Rovman Powell. However, the controversy surrounding Green's dismissal highlighted the need for clarity in the interpretation of the run-out rule.