Sports

IPL 2025: Gill, Buttler and Sai Sudharsan leave SRH on the brink of elimination

Published

10 months ago

2025/05/3

Priyan

Shubman Gill struck 76 in 38 balls [Cricinfo]

Another Gujarat Titans (GT) match, and we are again left wondering how they will go if their top three fall early with Rashid Khan at no. 7. Once again, Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler and B Sai Sudharsan dominated a bowling attack, albeit the listless Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) one, to post 224 on a black-soil pitch that was slow to begin with. All three of them are now in the top four run-getters this IPL, with Sudharsan reclaiming the Orange Cap with his 48 off 23 balls.

GT failed to defend 209 in the last game, which did raise the question, but that was a par score. Here, SRH’s ordinary start with the all – arguably the worst all year – set GT the platform for a clearly above-par total. In the run chase, the GT bowlers then bashed the hard lengths to stifle the SRH batters despite a 74 for Abhishek Sharma. Prasidh Krishna bowled four overs for just 19 runs, and two wickets to bring the Purple Cap as well to GT.

GT are now second with 14 points, the same as table-toppers Mumbai Indians, but with a game in hand. SRH were left on the brink, each of their remaining games a must-win affair but still no guarantee to take them through to the playoffs.

The GT template has been to be measured for the first three overs in order to assess the conditions. However, that doesn’t mean they will look a gift horse in the mouth. Mohammed Shami, a former Titan, looked sluggish and kept missing his line. Gill got a pick-up six in the first over, and Sai Sudharsan cut and pulled five fours in the third.

On top of that, Pat Cummins dished out three half volleys in his first over to let Gill catch up with Sai Sudharsan. The result was GT’s best-ever powerplay at 82 for 0, but also another undesirable statistic for SRH. GT scored 79 of those 82 runs with shots they were in control of, the third-highest of the season; three of the top four, including the top, have come against the SRH bowlers.

By the time the SRH bowlers got a hang of things, they needed nothing short of a collapse to make a comeback into the contest. All they managed was one wicket, that of Sai Sudharsan on a late cut off a Zeeshan Ansari wrong’un. Two quiet overs followed, but then Gill started to pierce gaps with surgical precision. He didn’t need any gifts anymore. In fact, he offered SRH one when he slowed down in an attempt to take what is now regarded a regulation single to short fine leg.

The resultant run-out gave SRH their best period in the field. Cummins began to use the middle of the pitch, Jaydev Unadkat followed suit, and 17 balls went without a boundary. Buttler, who looked like the extreme heat – it was 41 degrees at the start of the match – was getting to him, then took a few risks and brought the innings back on track. Of GT’s top three batters, he faced the toughest conditions and bowling, which showed in his slower strike rate. But his 64 off 37 balls was key to GT getting the above-par score they had threatened all along.

Abhishek danced down at Mohammed Siraj off the first ball he faced, and lofted him over wide long-off. Travis Head crashed his second ball through covers for four. They punished the new ball the best they could, but still, at 45 for 0 in four overs, they were barely keeping up with the asking rate.

Prasidh has been using hard lengths and changes of pace all IPL to be among the top wicket-takers, but on a pitch with low bounce, he decided to do away with slower balls. He just kept banging the middle of the pitch from his high release to trouble the batters. Well, Prasidh did try one yorker early, which Head managed to squeeze out for a four in what would be the only boundary off Prasidh.

The next ball got big on a Head pull, and ended up in a sensational catch for Rashid, who ran 32 metres to his right from deep square leg, and still had to put in a dive. The tall bowlers then completely blocked boundaries from one end, which left Abhishek as the one fighting. They don’t last when you are chasing such big totals.

The asking rate reached 12 at the end of the powerplay, 13 at the end of the ninth over, 14 with ten overs to go, and jumped from 14.57 to 16.33 in one Prasidh over, the 14th. Eventually, the wickets started to fall, and only an off night for Rashid, the bowler – he went for 50 runs in three overs, his worst economy rate in a match – reduced the net-run-rate bonus for GT.

Brief scores:
Gujarat Titans 224 for 6 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 76, Jos Buttler 64, Sai Sudharsan 48, Washington Sundar 21; Jaydev Unadkat 3-35, Pat Cumins 1-40, Zeeshan Ansari 1-42) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad 186 for 6 in 20 overs (Travis Head 20, Abhishek Sharma 74, Ishan Kushan 13, Heinrich Klaasen 23, Nitish Kumar Reddy 21*, Pat Cummins 19*; Prasidh Krishna 2-19, Mohammed Siraj 2-33, Ishant Sharma 1-35, Gerald Coetzee 1-36) by 38 runs

[Cricinfo]

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Sports

Fine margins decide classic as India march into final

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/8

Thilina Walpola

Jacob Bethell lies flat on the ground as Indian players celebrate the run-out

Defending champions India produced a splendid show in the World Cup semi-final in Bombay, winning a high-scoring thriller where the margins were wafer thin. England are an equally formidable side and, in the end, it proved to be a contest decided by fine details. Or, as West Indian great Clive Lloyd famously put it, catches win matches.

England captain Harry Brook grassed a sitter at mid-off early in the innings of Sanju Samson and the Indian wicketkeeper-batter made the former champions pay dearly. On the other hand, Axar Patel plucked two blinders in the deep, moments that turned the tide and snatched the momentum away from England just when they were threatening to seize control.

The spectacle had all the ingredients of a classic and, unsurprisingly, the ground was packed to the rafters. Fans queued up hours before the toss, while India’s glitterati turned the venue into something of a red-carpet affair. Bollywood celebrities rubbed shoulders with former greats of the game and the Ambani family, India’s wealthiest, were present alongside the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and several leading politicians.

With the stands awash in blue, the crowd played their part as India delivered a performance worthy of the occasion. The remarkable thing about Indian cricket is how it keeps churning out talent from what seems an endless conveyor belt. Even with stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja having moved on, the cupboard is far from bare.

In fact, the world’s number one ranked batter and bowler are both Indians, a reflection of the depth of their resources. Even though Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy endured relatively quiet tournaments, India’s bench strength ensures that there is never a shortage of match-winners waiting in the wings.

For Sri Lanka, there is a lesson somewhere in this story. Our corporate sector may not have the financial muscle of businesses that own Indian Premier League franchises, but there are certainly passionate cricket lovers running large companies who could lend their weight to the Lanka Premier League when it is relaunched. The problem in the past has been expecting profits before the product had time to grow, a flawed business model if ever there was one.

If Sri Lanka are serious about becoming a force to be reckoned with T20 cricket again, a proper relaunch and rebranding of the LPL is not just desirable but essential.

There was also a thought spared for Jacob Bethell after his magnificent hundred went in vain as England fell just short. The young man showed maturity beyond his years. Even after reaching three figures, his celebrations were muted, he knew the job was only half done.

That is something our players could learn from. Too often we see extravagant celebrations after milestones, with batters launching into choreographed routines and bowlers turning into Robin Hoods after a five-wicket haul.

Bethell, though, looks the real deal. Born in the Caribbean and tipped by many as the next big thing in world cricket, he has already offered a glimpse of what the future might hold. If this innings was anything to go by, the youngster is here to stay.

Rex Clementine
in Ahmedabad

Latest News

India hit back but Sutherland, Hamilton impress to give Australia the edge

Published

1 day ago

2026/03/7

Priyan

Lucy Hamilton produced an impressive debut with three wickets [Cricinfo]

Retiring skipper Alyssa Healy fell cheaply late on a bowler-dominated opening day that saw debutants Lucy Hamilton and Sayali Satghare produce spectacular starts to their Test careers.

Thirteen wickets fell on a grassy WACA surface, including Healy who on 13 hit Satghare straight to backward point with 30 minutes left before stumps. Healy trudged off the field – perhaps not for the final time – to a loud ovation as India, fielding four debutants, hit back after being bowled out in 62.4 overs.

Annabel Sutherland, backing up her earlier standout bowling effort, steadied before the close alongside Elllyse Perry, who is playing as a specialist batter after recovering from a quad strain.

After Healy elected to bowl to kick-start her swansong, left-arm quick Hamilton ignited Australia by clean bowling Smriti Mandhana for 4 in a brilliant start to her Test career.

She also claimed the wickets of Jemimah Rodrigues, who top-scored with 52, and Sneh Rana to finish with 3 for 31 off 11 overs in an impressive first up effort after earning selection over uncapped Maitlan Brown.

Australia’s seamers relished the conditions as they swung the pink ball menacingly to cause nightmares for an India side returning to Test cricket for the first time since mid-2024.

Sutherland was unplayable for long stretches as she hooped the ball around to finish with 4 for 46 off 17 overs, figures that could have been even better if not for four dropped catches off her bowling.

Australia’s sloppy performance in the field prolonged India’s first innings and meant they had the tough task of fronting up to bat under lights. Satghare lifted India by knocking over Georgia Voll with a menacing delivery that pitched well outside off-stump before swinging back to hit leg stump.

Fellow debutant Kranti Gaud also had a first wicket to remember when she dismissed Phoebe Litchfield, largely thanks to a brilliant catch from Rodrigues at backward point.

It led to Healy walking out to a mighty ovation, but India weren’t in a generous mood as they clawed back into a contest they must win if they are to draw the multi-series format.

Healy’s day had started brightly when the coin fell in Australia’s favour for the first time in the multi-format series. Her decision to bowl caused a groan in the terraces with fans itching to watch her bat.

But the supporters were soon in full voice when Hamilton, 19, was introduced into the attack in the second over. She came close to a wicket on her fourth delivery but a reviewed lbw shout on opener Shafali Verma was unsuccessful due to an inside edge.

Hamilton only had to wait until her third over to get through Mandhana with a cracking full-pitched delivery that comprehensively beat the bat and smashed into middle stump.

She was mobbed by her teammates before bowling a fierce short delivery to fellow debutant Pratika Rawal, who streakily opened her account through the slip cordon.

Hamilton, who earlier received her baggy green from Beth Mooney, returned the impressive figures of 1 for 12 from five overs in her first spell. But India hung tough with Shafali – maturely resisting her attacking instincts – and Rawal combining well in a rearguard to get through the new ball.

Sutherland entered the attack and started a fabulous bowling performance by cutting short Shafali’s blossoming knock on 35 with a terrific delivery that was caught behind.

It was a reward for Sutherland who had earlier been desperately unlucky not to pick up the wicket of Rawal after Hamilton fumbled in the gully. In what proved to be a costly missed chance, Rodrigues was reprieved by Voll at short-leg on 0 when she fended a fierce short delivery from Sutherland.

But Sutherland was not to be denied after she enticed Rawal into edging to gully where Hamilton hung onto her first catch at Test level. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur started swiftly before her off-stump was knocked by a pearler from Darcie Brown as India entered the tea break in trouble at 99 for 4.

Sutherland continued to be irrepressible after the resumption and dismissed Deepti Sharma with a length ball as the pressure heightened on Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, who was purely in survival mode early in her innings.

Local hero Alana King was held back until the 40th over and Rogrigues decided it was time to put the foot down, counterattacking to devastating effect with four consecutive boundaries.

She sped to her half-century off 74 balls with the milestone reached in fitting style with a gorgeous drive as she continued to take a liking to King’s legspin.

Just when the partnership started to gather momentum, Ghosh threw it away when she hit a dragged down delivery from Ashleigh Gardner straight to short midwicket before Rodrigues tamely flicked a loose delivery from Hamilton to square leg.

Hamilton bagged Rana as India spiraled to 157 for 8 before debutant Kashvee Gautam attacked just like she had done during the ODI series. She eventually ran out of support with Sutherland claiming her fourth wicket when she dismissed Satghare.

The hectic day’s play also launched a new era at the revamped WACA ground with most spectators nestled in the rare shaded areas – still an issue even after the redevelopment – as the temperature peaked at 37 degree Celsius with a similar forecast set for day two.

Brief scores: [Stumps Day 1]
Australia Women 96 for 3 in 27 overs (Ellyse Perry 43*, Annabel Sutherland 20*; Kranti Gaud 2-28) trail India Women 198 in 62.4 overs (Shafali Verma 35, Jemmimah Rodrigues 52, Kasnvee Gautam 34*; Darcie Brown 2-41, Annabel Sutherland 4-46, Lucy Hamilton 3-31) by 102 runs

[Cricinfo]

Sports

St. John’s four wickets away from victory

Published

1 day ago

2026/03/7

Thilina Walpola

St. John’s College, Jaffna were just four wickets away from victory at stumps on day two of the Battle of Jaffna Big Match at the Central College Groud Jaffna on Friday.

‎St. John’s restricted their arch rivals to 120 for six wickets after a valuable century by Uthayanan Abijoyshanth helped them post 247 runs.

‎Uthayanan’s century was the highlight on the second day as he almost singlehandedly guided the destiny of the visiting team.

‎He faced just 105 balls for his 121 as he struck 15 fours and four sixes in his knock before being given lbw to Murali Thison who took seven wickets.

‎Thison completed a match bag of 12 wickets with his big haul of wickets in the second innings.

‎While Central were largely depending on Thison for wickets in both innings, St. John’s were sharing bowling honours.

‎Despite having in their ranks Sri Lanka Under 19 paceman Kugathas Mathulan, St. John’s saw Ganeshamoothy Kowsikan (5/41) and Murfin Randyo (3/19) sharing bowling honours in the first inning.

‎Mathulan took his first wicket of the match in the afternoon on Friday.