Indian Premier League (IPL)

(02-04-2023 11:22 )Snooks Wrote:  Kane Williamson is out of the rest of the tournament after sustaining a knee injury playing for defending champions Gujarat Titans in the match against CSK.

Big blow.

Now confirmed as an ACL injury which requires surgery. Almost certainly set to miss the World Cup.

Match 13 produced possibly the most remarkable finished to a T20 game. KKR began to chase down the target of 205 set by the Titans, the had recovered from 28-2 with a 100 stand between Venkatesh Iyer (83) & Nitish Rana (45) who was dismissed by the impressive Joseph (2-27) Iyer fell to the same bowler, & 154-4 became 155-7 with a Rashid Khan hattrick. After keeping up with the required run rate for most of the innings, the game had turned heavily in favour of champions Gujarat. Then with 39 needed from 8 balls Rinku Singh hit Little for a six & a four, leaving Yash Dayal to defend 29. A single put Singh back on strike, & the next 4 balls all cleared the ropes, leaving 4 runs required from the final delivery. Singh made it 5 consecutive sixes to win the match in style.

Harry Brook scored 100 not out as an opener for the Sunrisers who beat the Nightriders by 23 runs.

Engrossing match between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings.
Chasing 160 to win Punjab scrambled home with 2 wickets and 3 balls to spare.

Good to see both Sam Curran and Mark Wood in the wickets for either side.

Bottom of the pile are Delhi which I can't say I am too displeased about given that David Warner is now there.
One of the few cricketers I openly and vehemently despise.

IPL v Ashes
Whilst half the players who are expected to play some part in the Ashes are getting meaningful practice in Championship Cricket, the other half are taking part in this years IPL. When I say taking part, that's often not the case. England's best Test batsman Joe Root has been warming the bench with the tournament halfway through. Captain Stokes has played a couple of games bowled a few overs & is now sidelined with another injury. Archer has had more issues with his elbow, which leaves only Harry Brook, Sam Curran & Mark Wood getting regular gametime, in a different format & conditions, but possibly against stronger opposition. I assume that the Ireland Test will be the only red-ball cricket for some of these players before the 1st Ashes Test. Not the best preparation.

A great contest today as Punjab Kings made 3 runs off the final ball to take a 1 run victory over CSK.

Next up Mumbai Indians face Rajasthan Royals in the 1000th IPL match.

^^ A game worthy of the occasion, with the Royals posting 212 with Jaiswal making 126. Mumbai chased it down with 3 balls remaining.

With the Final a week away, RCB were in a must win situation against Gujarat Titans in the last League game. The Titans already top the group. Kohli responded with his 2nd top in as many matches. The Titans chased down 198 with Gill repeating Kohli's feat of back-to-back IPL tons. That's a tournament record 11 centuries beating the previous best of 8 last year.

IPL Final today with Gujarat Titans v CSK, delayed start, rain.

No play possible today, tomorrow is a reserve day.

2023 IPL Final (N) May 28-29
GT 214-4 (20 overs) Sudarsam 96 Saha 54 Gill 39 Pathirane 2-44
CSK 171-5 (15 overs) Conway 47 Dube 32 Rahane 27 Mohit 3-36 Noor 2-17
CSK won by 5 wickets (DLS method)