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Kohli and Bengaluru’s IPL hopes melt away as Rajasthan win play-off

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Virat Kohli suffered more heartbreak on Wednesday as Royal Challengers Bengaluru were knocked out of the IPL after a four-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad.

Rajasthan restricted Bengaluru to 172-8, a total they overhauled with six balls to spare in the do-or-die play-off at the world’s biggest cricket stadium.

Rajasthan will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last play-off on Friday in Chennai to decide Kolkata Knight Riders’ opponent in the final on May 26.

Kolkata made their fourth IPL final after they hammered Hyderabad in the first play-off on Tuesday in Ahmedabad’s intense heat.

Trent Boult, with figures of 1-16, and Ravichandran Ashwin, 2-19, played pivotal roles in a disciplined bowling attack for Rajasthan, who elected to field first.

Rajasthan stuttered in their chase after Yashasvi Jaiswal, caught behind off Cameron Green on 45, and skipper Sanju Samson, stumped out for 17, departed in the space of five deliveries.

Riyan Parag, who hit 36, and Shimron Hetmyer, who smashed 26, put on 45 to get their chase back on track before Rovman Powell steered the team home with a six in his unbeaten 16.

Rajasthan, who won the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008 under late Australian legend Shane Warne, bounced back from four losses in five matches including a washout.

Bengaluru’s dream run ended after they rose from the bottom of the table after eight matches to win six in a row and make the play-offs.

Ahmedabad remained hot as temperatures in the afternoon soared above 43 degrees Celsius for the third successive day.

There was a sea of Kohli fans who braved the heat and stadium officials said over 85,000 people turned up for the eliminator.

Substitutes ran with towels and water bottles all around outside the boundary ropes to keep their players on the field hydrated.

Most of India’s northern states have remained under government heatwave alerts since last week.

According to local reports, Bollywood actor and IPL team owner Shah Rukh Khan was hospitalised in Ahmedabad due to a heatstroke a day after he celebrated Kolkata’s victory at the venue.

Earlier, skipper Faf du Plessis departed early on 17 after Powell took a stunning forward diving catch running from deep mid-wicket off left-arm quick Boult.

Kohli attempted to set the pace in his 24-ball 33 but fell to Yuzvendra Chahal’s leg-spin, much to the disappointment of the crowd at the 132,000 capacity stadium.

Kohli consolidated his position as the season’s leading batsman with 741 runs including a century and five half tons in 15 matches.

Rajasthan bowlers kept a check on the scoring and took regular wickets including two off successive balls when off-spinner Ashwin sent back Green, for 27, and Glenn Maxwell, for a duck.

AFP

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Commanding wins for Arman FC and Sarsabz Yashlar in Afghanistan Champions League

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In the 31st match of the fifth season of the Afghanistan Champions League, Arman FC delivered a dominant performance, defeating Istiqlal Kabul with a convincing 3–0 victory.

In Wednesday’s 32nd fixture, Sarsabz Yashlar also impressed, overcoming Ettifaq Khanzadah with a solid 4–1 win and securing another valuable three points.

The competition continues tomorrow (Thursday) with two more clashes:

  • In the 33rd match, Sorkh Poshan Khafi will face Javanan Piroozi at 10:00 a.m.

  • In the 34th encounter, Sarafan Herat will take on Abu Muslim Farah at 1:30 p.m.

All matches are broadcast live on Ariana Television, allowing football fans across the country to follow every moment of the excitement and intensity of this season’s Afghanistan Champions League.

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ACL: Aino Mina 1–0 Jawanan Perozi; Abu Muslim Farah 2–1 Khurasan Faryab

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In the twenty-ninth match of the fifth season of the Afghanistan Champions League, Aino Mina edged past Jawanan Perozi 1–0.

In Tuesday’s thirtieth fixture, Abu Muslim Farah claimed a 2–1 victory over Khurasan Faryab.

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s thirty-first match, Arman FC will take on Istiqlal Kabul at 10:00 a.m. Meanwhile, in the thirty-second encounter, Sarsabz Yashlar will face Ettifaq Khanzadah at 1:30 p.m.

All matches are being broadcast live on Ariana Television, giving fans across the country the chance to follow all the excitement and drama of the Afghanistan Champions League throughout the season.

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ILT20: Desert Vipers edge Gulf Giants in historic super over thriller

Gurbaz and James Vince (25 off 22) added another 54, but the scoring slowed dramatically. Only 38 runs came off the final five overs, with the Giants finishing on 179/5.

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The Desert Vipers clinched a dramatic victory over the Gulf Giants in the DP World ILT20’s first-ever Super Over, extending their dominance with a sixth straight win over the Giants.

Chasing 180, the Vipers were rescued by a superb partnership between Dan Lawrence (56 off 31) and Sam Curran (44 off 36), who dragged the innings back from early trouble and levelled the scores off the final ball to force a Super Over.

Despite Azmatullah Omarzai’s impressive 4 for 32 and early blows that left the Vipers reeling at 14/2, the lower order held firm. Khuzaima Tanveer struck a crucial six in the final over before Vriitya Aravind guided the game into the tie-breaker.

Giants set the tone early

Batting first, the Gulf Giants made a strong start as Pathum Nissanka (56 off 29) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (41 off 31) blasted 58 in the powerplay. Their 73-run opening stand put the Giants in control before Noor Ahmad struck back, removing Nissanka immediately after his fourth six.

Gurbaz and James Vince (25 off 22) added another 54, but the scoring slowed dramatically. Only 38 runs came off the final five overs, with the Giants finishing on 179/5.

Vipers fight back

Omarzai and Mark Adair dismantled the top order, but Curran and Lawrence rebuilt with a 60-run stand. Lawrence brought up a brisk half-century, while late cameos from Shimron Hetmyer (16 off 8) and Hasan Nawaz (11 off 4) kept the chase alive. Omarzai again swung momentum back in the 18th over, dismissing both Hetmyer and Lawrence.

With 13 needed off the last over, Tanveer’s six and Aravind’s nerveless batting carried the match into the Super Over.

Vipers dominate the tie-breaker

Lawrence smashed 10 runs as the Vipers posted 13/1 in the Super Over. Naseem Shah then bowled a tight over, restricting the Giants to just nine and sealing the Vipers’ third consecutive win of the season.

Reactions

Sam Curran, the Vipers’ stand-in captain, praised his side’s resilience:

“Three wins from three — I’m not complaining. Tanveer has worked incredibly hard. To hit a six under pressure and then bowl well shows how far he has come.”

Giants’ stand-in skipper Moeen Ali lamented missed opportunities:

“We made mistakes at the wrong time and let them back in. In this format, the game is never over — this was one we could easily have won.”

Brief Scores

Desert Vipers beat Gulf Giants (Super Over)

Gulf Giants 179/5 (20 ov): Nissanka 56, Gurbaz 41; Tanveer 2/23, Noor 2/47

Desert Vipers 179/9 (20 ov): Lawrence 56, Curran 44; Omarzai 4/32, Thushara 2/33

Super Over

Vipers 13/1: Lawrence 10, Hetmyer 3*; Thushara 1/13

Giants 9/0: Moeen 5*, Moores 1*; Naseem 0/9

Player of the Match: Dan Lawrence

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