Sport

Shepherd blasts 32 in final over as Mumbai take first IPL win

Published

1 month ago

April 8, 2024

(Last Updated On: April 8, 2024)

Romario Shepherd smashed 32 runs off the 20th over for Mumbai Indians to set up their first victory of this Indian Premier League season as they beat Delhi Capitals by 29 runs on Sunday.

In the second match of the day, seam bowler Yash Thakur took the first five-wicket haul of the IPL campaign to lead Lucknow Super Giants to a 33-run win over Gujarat Titans on home turf.

In match one, Shepherd crashed a 10-ball 39 in an unbeaten stand of 53 off 13 deliveries with Tim David, who struck 45, to steer Mumbai to 234-5 at their home Wankhede Stadium.

Delhi finished on 205-8, despite Tristan Stubbs’ unbeaten 25-ball 71. They slumped to the bottom of the 10-team table.

Five-time IPL winners Mumbai bounced back from losing their first three games to reduce the pressure on skipper Hardik Pandya, who has been booed by fans after replacing Rohit Sharma as captain ahead of this edition, AFP reported.

“I would like to have this feeling more often than not,” said Pandya after the victory. “Lot of hard work, hard to clear our minds, and everything clicked.”

“There was a lot of love and care going around, everyone knows we lost three games but the belief and backing was there, everyone believes we needed just one win and today was the start,” Pandya said.

David smashed a six and four at the end of the 19th over before Shepherd walloped Anrich Nortje for four sixes and two fours in the last over as Mumbai took 42 runs from the final eight balls.

Rohit (49) and Ishan Kishan (42) laid the foundations for the total in an 80-run opening stand before Axar Patel sent the two back in the pavilion with his left-arm spin.

Returning batsman Suryakumar Yadav, who missed the first three losses injured, survived a toe-crushing yorker by Nortje on his first ball but then miscued the next delivery to mid-on for a two-ball duck.

Mumbai lost another wicket before Pandya and David put on 60 to steady the innings ahead of Shepherd’s explosive knock.

In reply, Prithvi Shaw hit 66 after losing opening partner David Warner for 10 off Shepherd’s seam bowling.

Shaw and the left-handed Abhishek Porel, who hit 41, put on 88 for the second wicket before Jasprit Bumrah removed both.

South Africa’s Stubbs raised a fifty in 19 balls but the asking rate kept climbing and Gerald Coetzee took three wickets in the final over to return figures of 4-34.

In the day’s second match in Lucknow, Marcus Stoinis hit 58 to guide Lucknow to a total, which looked below par but the bowlers made sure it was enough.

Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi took a stunning return catch off his own leg-spin to send Gujarat’s impact substitute Kane Williamson out for one.

Left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya, elder brother of Mumbai’s Hardik, struck three times, including twice in one over when he took the wicket of Sai Sudarshan for 31 to derail the opposition chase.

Thakur, who bowled skipper Shubman Gill for 19 as his first wicket, then sent down a double-wicket maiden to flatten the batting.

He took two more wickets in the 19th over for his first-ever five wicket haul — 5-30 — in T20 cricket.

New pace sensation Mayank Yadav picked up an injury after he bowled just one over for 13 runs.

Next match!

Chennai Super Kings will take on Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday, April 8. Fans across Afghanistan can tune in from 6.30pm on Ariana Television to watch the match live. Alternatively, fans in the country can stream the match live on www.arianatelevision.com

Sport

Sorkh Poshan Khafi and Sarsabz Yashlar win in ACL matches

Published

17 hours ago

May 16, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: May 16, 2024)

Sorkh Poshan Khafi defeated Adalat FC 2-1 in the 51st match of Afghanistan Champions League (ACL) in Kabul on Wednesday.

Maroof Mohammadi was named man of the match for Sorkh Poshan Khafi.

In the second match of the day, Sarsabz Yashlar thrashed Miawand FC 5-3.

Enayatullah Kohi was man of the match for Sarsabz Yashlar.

Thursday’s matches will see Mawj Sahil FC take on Khurasan Faryab FC at 1pm, while Attack Energy FC Aino Mina FC play Aino Mina FC at 3:30pm.

The matches are broadcast live on Ariana Television.

Sport

Stubbs gives Delhi IPL play-off hope with win in last league match

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: May 15, 2024)

Fiery fifties from Abishek Porel and Tristan Stubbs helped Delhi Capitals sign off their IPL league phase on a high as they beat Lucknow Super Giants by 19 runs on Tuesday.

The win took Delhi to 14 points in 14 matches and they remain technically in the mix to reach the play-offs of the T20 tournament, but a run-rate in the negative keeps their chances slim, AFP reported.

“We are still in contention even after the last game,” Delhi skipper Rishabh Pant said after he returned to lead the side following a one-match ban for slow over-rate.

“We had a better chance of qualifying if I would have had a chance to play in the last game (which Delhi lost).”

The left-handed Porel hit 58 before Stubbs smashed an unbeaten 57 off 25 balls to steer Delhi to 208-4 after being invited to bat first at their high-scoring home venue, Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Pant, a left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman, made 33 to cap off an impressive season after he came back in the IPL from a horror car crash in December 2022.

“Personally, it was fantastic to come back,” said Pant, who has been picked in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup next month.

“It was heartening to see the support from entire India. Was a long time to wait after one-and-a-half years. I want to be on the field all the time. Don’t want to miss any action.”

KL Rahul-led Lucknow have 12 points with one more match to play and have their hopes hanging by a thread.

The result confirmed a play-off spot for Rajasthan Royals, who became the second team to enter the final four alongside table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders, AFP reported.

The top four teams make the play-offs. The final is on May 26 in Chennai.

Sport

Six KPL cricket teams snap up 15 players each in this year’s draft

Published

2 days ago

May 14, 2024

Ariana News

(Last Updated On: May 15, 2024)

The exciting Kabul Premier League (KPL) Season 2 Players Draft took place in the city on Tuesday morning much to the excitement of the country’s cricket fans.

The gala event, which brought together Afghanistan’s cricket fraternity, was broadcast live and exclusively on Ariana Television Network and Ariana News, which secured the rights earlier this year to produce and broadcast this year’s tournament.

Addressing the event on Tuesday, Mujeeburahman Baheer, the head of Ariana News, pointed out that Ariana Television Network (ATN), including Ariana News, is committed to making sure people in Afghanistan have access to world-class sporting events.

He said: “Ariana TV has always tried to bring sports to people’s homes.”

This year’s T20 league extravaganza – which is a great source of hope for young cricketers in the country – will take place in Kabul at the Ayoubi Sports Complex and will start on June 4.

Also addressing Tuesday’s event was Nazeem Jar Abdulrahimzai, the domestic cricket manager for the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB).

He said he believes that Ayoubi Sports Complex can organize an even better league event this year compared to last year’s event.

He also thanked all those who have invested time and money into developing and supporting cricket in the country.

Abdul Latif Ayoubi, head of Ayoubi Sports Complex, meanwhile said challenges faced last year had been smoothed out and that conditions have since improved for this year’s tournament.

Ayoubi also announced the addition of another team this year.

Last year there were five teams, this year there will be six. He said this decision was taken so as to provide more players with the opportunity to take part in the league.

Seyyed Khan, the head of the Ayoubi Sports Complex, also addressed guests at the event and said: “This year, a lot of effort has been made to be able to present an improved league that meets the standards; the shortcomings last year regarding the field and other areas have been addressed.”

Kabul Premier League (KPL)

Last year’s tournament was the first KPL and included five teams; these were Ayoubi Kabul Zalmi, Band-e-Amir Stars, Shaheen Hunters, Shamshad Eagles and Speenghar Warriors.

This year, Kabul Knight Riders have been added to the mix.

The trophy was lifted last year by Shaheen Hunters.

The Kabul Premier League aims to not only promote cricket in the country but also serves as a platform for emerging talent to showcase their skills.

Kabul Premier League (KPL) Players Draft Ceremony

Tuesday’s Player Draft was divided into three groups. Diamond, Gold and Silver. Band-e-Amir Stars picked up the first player.

The list of players drafted are as follows:

Band-e-Amir Stars

1. Hazratullah Zazai
2. Nejat Masoud,
3. Farmanullah Safi
4. Akram Alikhel
5. Irfanullah Safi
6. Sharafuddin Ashraf (all-rounder)
7. Navid Obeid (batsman)
8. Nasir Khan (bowler)
9. Fridon Khan (fast bowler)
10. Emil Shahin
11. Haroon Khan
12. Qamar Shams
13. Abdulsalam Hasheibi
14. Biryal Afghan
15. Aqdam Khan Shirzad

Shaheen Hunters

1. Hijaz Ahmadzai (batsman)
2. Abdul Malik
3. Azharul Haq Navid
4. Imran Mir
5. Asif Musazai
6. Zahid Afghan (fast bowler)
7. Mohammadullah Hamkar (fast bowler)
8. Sadiq Pacha
9. Uzirullah Khamosh
10. Wasim Mangal
11. Seyed Khan Niazi (fast bowler)
12. Ata Zarmal (wicket keeper)
13. Ismat Habibi
14. Mashoq Totakhel
15. Ruhollah Arab

Shamshad Eagles

1. Shahidullah Kamal, (batsman)
2. Ehsanullah Janat
3. Numan Shah, (all-rounder)
4. Ali Ahmad Naser
5. Bashir Ahmad (fast bowler)
6. Kamel Kaker
7. Abdallah Tarakhel (all-rounder)
8. Dastgir Khan
9. Wahid Shafaq
10. Khayal Mohammad
11. Rahim Mangal
12. Abdul Baqi Popel
13. Yahya Khan
14. Murad Ali
15. Juma Gul

Kabul Knight Riders

1. Riaz Hassan (batsman)
2. Naser Jamal
3. Zahed Khan Paktin
4. Yusuf Shah
5. Mohammad Riaz (all-rounder)
6. Zubid Akbari (batsman)
7. Yama Arab (bowler)
8. Moheb Zurmati
9. Wahid Zadran
10. Arab Momand
11. Ishaq Saqi
12. Rahman Shah
13. Sabawon Boniri
14. Azam Khan
15. Salam Kaker

Ayoubi Kabul Zalmi

1. Qais Ahmad (bowler)
2. Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar
3. Zia ul-Rahman Sharifi (bowler)
4. Masoud Gurbaz
5. Sohail Khan Zarmati (batsman)
6. Sami Bilal (fast bowler)
7. Mohammad Wasim Akram
8. Ibrahim Abdul Rahimzai (fast bowler)
9. Darvish Rasouli
10. Saber Hanif
11. Rahmanullah Zadran
12. Shams Karokhil
13. Rozuddin Afghan
14. Juma Din
15. Zafar Alozai

Speenghar Warriors

1. Samiullah Shinwari (batsman)
2. Hamza Hotak
3. Wafadar Momand
4. Waqarullah Ishaqzai
5. Hassan Isakhel
6. Lal Baz (fast bowler)
7. Osman Noori
8. Jalad Musazai
9. Mahbob Tasken
10. Jalal Stanekzai
11. Akbar Ali
12. Salman Shinwari
13. Khaled Niazi
14. Rahman Zurmati
15. Noorullah Ayubi

Once the draft wrapped up, the highly-sought after KPL trophy was displayed.

For cricket fans across the country, ATN will broadcast KPL matches live and exclusively from early next month.

For breaking news and updates, fans can stay tuned to Ariana Television and Ariana News’ websites and social media platforms, where all KPL news will be posted.