Sport
Punjab Kings clinch thrilling 5-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026
The match showcased CSK’s batting depth and Punjab’s resilience, thrilling fans with strategic running, fearless hitting, and a classic IPL finish.
In an electrifying IPL 2026 clash at Chepauk, Punjab Kings (PBKS) chased down a challenging 210-run target set by Chennai Super Kings (CSK), winning by five wickets and extending their winning streak in the tournament. This marks Punjab’s ninth successful chase of 200+ runs this season, the most by any team so far.
CSK posted 209/5, powered by Ayush Mhatre’s 73 off 43 balls and Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 45 in the final overs. Sarfaraz Khan delivered a blistering cameo of 32 off 12 balls, injecting momentum in the middle overs, while Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson provided steady contributions at the top. Xavier Bartlett and Marco Jansen claimed key wickets but were expensive during the death overs.
Chasing 210, PBKS got off to a strong start with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh hitting aggressively in the powerplay. Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings with a crucial fifty, pacing the chase effectively alongside Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis, who delivered under pressure in the final overs. Despite losing wickets at critical moments, including a run-out, Punjab maintained composure and crossed the finish line, needing 12 runs off the final over.
The match showcased CSK’s batting depth and Punjab’s resilience, thrilling fans with strategic running, fearless hitting, and a classic IPL finish.
Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) returned to winning ways with a 65-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while upcoming matches include Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals.
Ariana Television Network (ATN) holds exclusive broadcasting rights in Afghanistan, airing all matches live. Fans are encouraged to follow ATN and Ariana News on social media for real-time updates, highlights, and coverage throughout the IPL 2026 season.
Afghanistan’s cricket stars Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai have maintained their positions at the top of the latest ICC Men’s ODI rankings.
Rashid Khan remains the No. 1 ODI bowler in the world with 714 rating points.
Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed is second with 675 points, while South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj has moved up to third with 667 points.
New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner is fourth with 644 points, followed by India’s Kuldeep Yadav on 623.
Meanwhile, Azmatullah Omarzai continues to hold the top position in the ICC ODI all-rounder rankings with 337 points, giving Afghanistan two players at No. 1 in different ODI categories. Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe and Mehidy Hasan Miraz of Bangladesh follow him in the list.
Abu Muslim Farah beat Omar Zawak Herat 4-0 in the 30th match of the sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League, delivering an impressive performance.
The match was played today (Wednesday) at the Afghanistan Football Federation Stadium.
Samiullah Naderi scored Abu Muslim Farah’s opening goal in the final minutes of the first half.
Abu Muslim Farah continued their attacking play in the second half, with Aman Sardari scoring the team’s second goal in the 69th minute with a spectacular header.
Omid Rajabi and Mirois Ghafouri then added two more goals to complete a 4-0 victory for Abu Muslim Farah.
Amanullah Sardari, captain of Abu Muslim Farah, was named Player of the Match against Omar Zawak Herat.
Abu Muslim Farah will face Ariana Khost in their next match on October 2, while Omar Zawak Herat will take on Istiqlal Kabul on the same day.
The sixth season of the Roshan Afghanistan Champions League is being broadcast live on Ariana Television.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board’s High Performance Center is set to launch a nationwide fast-bowling talent identification program, titled “Afghan Thunder,” across several provinces throughout October.
According to the ACB, the program will begin in Kunduz on October 4, with assessments continuing in Herat, Kandahar, Kabul, Khost, Paktia and Kunar before concluding in Nangarhar on October 27.
The board says eligible participants must be between 19 and 26 years old, at least 180 centimeters tall, hold a valid electronic National ID (e-Tazkira) and be capable of bowling at speeds of at least 140 kilometers per hour.
The assessment schedule is as follows: Kunduz on October 4–5, Herat on October 9–10, Kandahar on October 12, Kabul on October 14–15, Khost on October 19, Paktia on October 21, Kunar on October 25 and Nangarhar on October 27.
The ACB has encouraged eligible players who believe they have the potential to develop into high-level fast bowlers to take part in the Afghan Thunder Fast-Bowling Talent Hunt Program on the designated dates.
The board says the initiative aims to identify promising fast-bowling talent from across Afghanistan and provide talented players with a pathway into the country’s high-performance cricket system.
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