Cricket

Young Uttar Pradesh skipper Aryan Juyal led a spirited fightback with an unbeaten 90, guiding his team to 198 for three in response to Bengal's 311 on Day 2 of their Ranji Trophy Group C clash.The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who has represented India Under-19 and was part of the Mumbai Indians setup, showcased his technical proficiency throughout the innings. He faced 195 deliveries and struck eight boundaries, anchoring the Uttar Pradesh innings as they trailed by 113 runs.Juyal formed a solid 83-run opening partnership with Swastik Chikara (41), giving Uttar Pradesh a strong start. Known for his preference to play on the offside, Juyal was circumspect yet controlled, playing with maturity on both sides of the wicket. He displayed excellent footwork to counter Bengal's spin duo of Shahbaz Ahmed and off-spinner Writtick Chatterjee.Bengal struck back, with left-arm spinner Shahbaz breaking the stand by trapping Chikara lbw. Mohammed Kaif, the younger brother of India pacer Mohammed Shami, then had Priyam Garg (2) trapped lbw, reducing UP to 86/2 as they lost two wickets for just three runs.However, Juyal found able support from Kolkata Knight Riders vice-captain Nitish Rana, who played an attacking knock of 32 off 59 balls, studded with three boundaries. The pair added 69 crucial runs for the third wicket before Shahbaz returned to dismiss Rana lbw early in his second spell.Siddarth Yadav (20 batting) then stood firm alongside his skipper, as the duo saw out the remainder of the day's play before bad light stopped play after 64 overs.Shahbaz was the most threatening bowler, shouldering the bulk of the bowling workload. He returned figures of 2/47 from 21 overs, maintaining pressure on the Uttar Pradesh batters. Kaif also impressed, claiming 1/23 from his 12 overs. Writtick, despite bowling 12 overs, remained wicketless and conceded 54 runs.Earlier in the day, Bengal resumed their innings at 269/7, with Shahbaz contributing a vital 44 from 80 balls to help Bengal cross the 300-run mark. Rising left-arm pacer Yash Dayal, who was part of the Test squad against Bangladesh, returned to action after a niggle, was exceptional with the ball, finishing with figures of 4/27. Debutant off-spinner Vipraj Nigam also impressed, claiming 4/81 as Bengal innings lasted 14.2 overs on day two to be bowled out in 96.2 overs.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) stormed into the final of IPL 2024 with a commanding 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) on the back of a remarkable bowling performance.Despite winning the toss and opting to chase, RR found themselves in a precarious position as SRH's bowlers turned the match on its head. The pitch, which initially appeared favorable for batting, transformed into a spinner's paradise, allowing SRH to exploit the conditions to their advantage.Shahbaz Ahmed, who was brought in as an Impact Player, played a pivotal role in SRH's resurgence. Bowling into the left-hander's hitting arc, he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had raced to 41 off 19 balls. This dismissal sparked a collapse in the RR batting lineup.Abhishek Sharma, who had rarely bowled this season, was also brought into the attack and delivered with two crucial wickets. Aiden Markram, known primarily as a batter, also chipped in with an over, highlighting the versatility of SRH's bowling unit.Over a 33-ball period, SRH bowlers conceded no boundaries and claimed four wickets, effectively snuffing out RR's chase. Shahbaz Ahmed emerged as the star performer, finishing with impressive figures of 4-0-23-3.Heinrich Klaasen top-scored for SRH with a gritty 50, while Avesh Khan and Trent Boult were the pick of the RR bowlers with three wickets each.SRH's victory was a testament to their adaptability and the effectiveness of their bowling attack. They have now earned the right to face the winner of the other semi-final between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final.

The introduction of the 'Impact Player' rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has sparked debate, with some arguing that it benefits all-rounders while others believe it has created a nightmare for bowlers. Sunrisers Hyderabad's left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed falls into the latter camp, expressing concerns that the rule has given batters an unfair advantage.Ahmed, who has played 12 games this season, has scored 186 runs at a strike rate of 138. However, his bowling has been less impressive, with only three wickets to his name at an economy rate of 10.60. He attributes this to the 'Impact Player' rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during the match."Now every team has nine batters, an all-rounder, and eight batters," Ahmed explained. "Teams are looking for players who can strike big from ball one and carry on the momentum. The 'Impact Player' rule has affected bowlers more than all-rounders because it gives batters the cushion to play freely."Ahmed believes that teams have become more adept at using the 'Impact Player' as the season has progressed. This has led to a decline in the role of all-rounders, who are now getting fewer opportunities to bowl."The teams didn't know much about how to use it (Impact Player) last season," Ahmed said. "The all-rounders have a reduced role, which means they are getting lesser chances to bowl unlike earlier times when they used to bowl four overs."Despite the challenges posed by the 'Impact Player' rule, Ahmed has praised the leadership of Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins. He credits Cummins with creating a stress-free environment in the dressing room, which has contributed to the team's success."If I talk about myself, whenever Pat throws the ball to me, he always backs me," Ahmed said. "This sort of helps me to soak in pressure well and even if the ball goes to the boundary, he doesn't say anything and keeps motivating all bowlers."Ahmed also revealed that legendary cricketer Virat Kohli gifts him a bat every season. "Virat's bat is by far the best in terms of quality," Ahmed said. "His bat has the right balance and the ping is fabulous. In every IPL season, he has gifted me a willow. His bat really holds high value for me."