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IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings suffer fifth loss on the trot as Kolkata Knight Riders register monster win

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Sunil Narine capturedthree wickets and scored 44 runs for KKR

So that’s what happens when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) get the kind of pitch their spinners like. Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and Moeen Ali (12-1-55-6) went into Chepauk and burgled wickets away from the five-time IPL champions until they were a pale, weak shadow of themselves. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) crumbled to 103 for 9, their lowest IPL total at home, suffered a fifth successive defeat, which had never happened before in their entire history, and are marooned in ninth place on the points table. Welcome back to captaincy, MS Dhoni.

The major characteristic of a black-soil pitch is that it is slow and it grips. It felt like home, which is ironic because home hasn’t felt like home for them this season. KKR would prefer to play most of their matches in conditions like this but their efforts to procure them at the Eden Gardens hasn’t gone well. Ajinkya Rahane doesn’t even want to talk about it now. He did, however, spearhead a phenomenal bowling performance. He brought Moeen into the XI and set him loose on CSK’s two left-hand openers. Devon Conway couldn’t overcome the handicap. The KKR offspinner pocketed a wicket maiden. In the next over, Rachin Ravindra was gone. CSK were bleeding by the end of the powerplay, their 31 for 2 only slightly better than the season low of 30 for 3 that they themselves had set, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Exposing this CSK team’s middle order is the only thing their oppositions need to do to win against them. Rahul Tripathi was brought in as Ruturaj Gaikwad’s replacement but he couldn’t figure out whether he wanted to hit out or play through and that indecision was reflected in his final score – 16 off 22. Vijay Shankar could have been dismissed for a duck, or for 20, had KKR held onto their catches. Even with those two lives he couldn’t push on to make a big score. Shivam Dube walked out with CSK at 59 for 3. He had faced only 13 balls and that was still enough time for the score to slip to 75 for 8, at which point his team was in danger of recording their lowest total in IPL history.

For the 16th time in his IPL career, Narine bowled his four overs without conceding a boundary. No one, having got through their full quota, has done it more times. He also knocked off Tripathi, who didn’t know which way the ball would turn, and Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni, who didn’t know which way the ball would spin. There was some doubt over the Dhonii lbw, though. UltraEdge showed what looked like faint murmurs as the ball passed the bat.

CSK were being smothered. They had to wait 63 balls between boundaries – only two teams have ever been that emphatically silenced in this tournament – and hit just three after the eighth over (one of them off a top edge). They had to bring in Deepak Hooda as Impact Player, accepting the risk of going in with a bowler short when they would have to defend this total. But even that gamble backfired. Hooda fell for a duck and one of their key players, Matheesha Pathirana, could not take part in the game.

Defending 103 is a thankless job because bowlers tend to go hard searching for wickets and in that process they leak runs. After under-performing in their batting powerplay, CSK underwhelmed with their bowling powerplay. KKR ransacked 71 runs in the first six overs. This game was no contest.

Brief scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 107 for 2 in 10.1 overs  (Sunil Narine 44, Quinton de Kock 23, Ajinkaya Rahane 20*, Rinku Singh 15*; Anshul Kamboj 1-19, Noor Ahmad 1-08) beat Chennai Super Kings 103 for 9 in 20 overs (Devon Conway 12, Rahul Tripathi 16, Vijay Shankar 29, Shivam Dube 31; Sunil  Narine 3-13, Varun Chakravarthy 2-22, Harshit Rana 2-16, Moeen Ali 1-20, Vaibhav Arora 1-31) by eight wickets

[Cricinfo]

 



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Suspect killed after shooting at Secret Service agents, officials confirm

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A person has been shot and killed after they opened fire outside the White House, the US Secret Service has confirmed.

Here is their statement in full:

Shortly after 6 p.m Saturday an individual in the area on 17th street and Pennsylvania Avenue pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing.

Secret Service police returned fire striking the suspect who was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. During the shooting one bystander was also struck by gunfire.

No injuries were sustained by officers. The President was in the White House during the incident, however no protectees or operations were impacted.

This incident remains under investigation and additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Suspect identified, had previous ‘run-in’ with Secret Service – CBSpublished at 07:45

The deceased suspect in the shooting outside the White House has been identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, a person familiar with the investigation has told BBC’s US media partner CBS.

The source said that the suspect had already been arrested by the US Secret Service in July 2025 after he tried to gain entry to the White House, and he was sent to a psychiatric ward for mental health issues in the aftermath.

(BBC)

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Trump says Iran deal ‘largely negotiated’ including reopening Strait of Hormuz

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(Pic BBC)

US President Donald Trump says an agreement with Iran has been “largely negotiated” and details will be announced soon.

The deal would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, he said on Saturday, without giving further details.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei earlier told state television that US and Iranian positions had been converging in the last week, but warned that did not mean agreements would be reached on key issues and accused the Americans of “contradictory statements”.

On social media, Trump said he had a “very good call” with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and others about a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE”.

“An agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed,” Trump said.

“Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly.”

He also said he had a call on Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which “went very well”.

The president has not given any further details on the deal, but has insisted any agreement would “absolutely” prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Later, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said: “I congratulate President Donald Trump on his extraordinary efforts to pursue peace,” and said the phone call had been “very useful and productive”.

Pakistan has been helping to negotiate a peace deal  serving as an intermediary.

“We hope to host the next round of talks very soon,” he wrote in the statement on X.

The US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February, sparking conflict across the Middle East. Iran responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.

A ceasefire in Iran was agreed in early April, and since then Washington and Tehran have engaged in talks over a long-term peace deal.

(BBC)

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Devine intervention brings New Zealand back from the dead

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Sophie Devine built a brilliant innings for New Zealand [Cricinfo]

A firefighting 87 from Sophie Devine propelled New Zealand from a perilous 11 for 4 to a series-squaring 14-run win over England in the second women’s T20I at Canterbury.

Already 1-0 down, the tourists were floored when reduced to 5 for 3 after just nine balls – New Zealand women’s joint-lowest total at the fall of the third wicket in T20Is. They were soon four-down in the fourth over, with Linsey Smith (3 for 25) the main destructor, her wily brand of slow left-arm swing flummoxing the top-order.

But Devine and Maddy Green, who finished with an unbeaten 56, rebuilt and then thrived with a stand of 159 that ended with Devine’s run-out off the final ball of the innings. Regular boundaries between the pair – including eight sixes, six belonging to Devine – ensured the White Ferns did not miss out on the pristine batting conditions that convinced Melie Kerr to bat first upon winning the toss.

Yet again, Lauren Bell struck early, dismissing Izzy Gaze at the end of her first over having dismissed Georgia Plimmer with the first delivery of the opening T20I at Derby. Plimmer had the ignominy of a second successive golden duck when she got herself in a tangle to gift Smith a return catch at the start of the second over.

But Devine and Green ensured there would be no repeat of Wednesday’s defeat. England’s target would have been more manageable than 171 had Smith effected a run-out at the non-striker’s end midway through her third over. It would have removed Devine for 48 in the 14th over. She struck 39 off her remaining 20 deliveries, and faced 57 in all before finally being run out off the final ball of the innings.

In their reply, England were above the rate at the three-over mark, before Sophia Dunkley was dismissed for a sprightly 26, caught off Nensi Patel, the offspinner having come into the side for Suzie Bates. And New Zealand assumed the ascendancy out when set batters Heather Knight (25) and Maia Bouchier (38) were dismissed in successive balls. It was particularly poor from Bouchier, finding the fielder at long-on off Patel, moments after Knight had been run out after aborting a second run following a late call.

The silver lining for England was that it brought hard-hitting allrounders Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson to the middle at the death. But with too much to do, Gibson was bowled by Bree Illing hacking across the line, and Kemp became the returning Leah Tahuhu’s 99th T20I wicket when caught on the fence with 23 required from the final four balls.

Issy Wong, replacing Sophie Ecclestone who sat out with a tight hamstring, lofted the final ball over the boundary, reducing the margin of defeat. It also highlighted a key difference between the two teams. It was only England’s second six, a third as many as Devine had managed on her own.

It has been an excellent first half of the year for Sophie Devine. Saturday’s half-century was her third so far, giving her an average of 48 and strike rate of 160. While admittedly from a sample size of seven innings, it speaks to a player focussed on going out on a high. This, by the way, is now her second highest score in the format, slotting beneath her sole century that came against South Africa in February 2020.

“I’m enjoying my cricket and enjoying what I got left on the international scene,” Devine said during her play of the match interview. Retiring at the end of the upcoming T20 World Cup, the 36-year old is gunning for the sweetest swansong.

England were warned. On, Wednesday in a similar situation, Devine counterpunched with 45 off 22 from less shakier ground – 13 for 2 in the fourth over – but was eventually trimmed off by Gibson. The difference this time was not just carrying on (especially after the life on 48) but support from Green.

Overall, Green was only striking at 116.66, but she was able to keep pace for the majority of what became a maiden T20I fifty. A brace of fours off Gibson took Green to 40 from 33, with Devine watching on appreciatively, 49 off 38 to her name.

That passage of five overs after the midway point saw Green momentarily assume senior status, facing 20 balls and allowing Devine to rest up for the final push. The 56 from the final four overs – 36 from Devine – put New Zealand out of reach.

“It shows the growth of the group, to be able to rebound and put on a score of 170,” said Devine. “For a player like me, I don’t really like sitting back. It’s a real battle of the mind regarding what you want to do.

“We absorbed pressure really well and then to be able to throw it back at them at the backend. It’s a fantastic confidence builder for us.”

“They keep playing her like a left-arm spinner – they need to play her like a left-arm swing bowler,” said Nasser Hussain on Sky. In between celebrating Linsey Smith’s brilliance, the former England men’s captain could not help but lament New Zealand’s approach to the left-arm orthodox bowler.

At the toss, Melie Kerr revealed the team had discussed how best to combat Smith, who had flummoxed them in the first T20I. Stifling the White Ferns scoring with 15 dot balls among her 1 for 10 from her four overs, Kerr called for a more pro-active batting effort. Unfortunately, she could not lead as an example, out LBW sweeping her first ball, gifting Smith her second dismissal halfway through her first over.

Blindly swinging across the line was surely not a tactic formulated in that brainstorming session. Georgia Plimmer attacking immediately – a return catch giving her a second successive golden duck – was a little too cavalier. Left-hander Brooke Halliday’s initiative to advance down the crease felt the most appropriate, even if that resulted in a straight-forward catch to Bouchier at long off.

Smith has added a fascinating dimension to the XI, as a slower bowler thriving in the Powerplay. And it will be interesting to see how opposition batters deal with her at the World Cup given what she’s shown weeks out from the competition.

As Hussain states, tit may be wiser to approach Smith like a seamer, focussing on the movement through the air rather than what revolutions there may be on the ball. It was instructive that Smith, speaking ahead of the match, revealed she had got into trouble for forgetting to shine the ball, a regular habit for quick bowlers but something this spinner needs to remember to do given how much of her success is coming from swing rather than spin.

Most of New Zealand’s right-handers have had little joy trying to heave her to leg. Might more joy be found making room and accessing the off side, particularly during the first six overs? We may be about to find out.

That England happened to get their strongest hitters Kemp and Gibson out there in the final five overs was entirely by accident. Even if they had managed the 52 required from the remaining 26 deliveries, the main takeaway should be that they were introduced too late.

Angling for what would have been the side’s third-highest successful chase, perhaps Kemp, off the back of a handy 31 not out to finish the first T20I, should have come out when Capsey fell at the end of the 10th over. At that point, the required rate was on the verge of reaching double figures. By the time Knight and Bouchier were done, both allrounders would have had to strike at 200 to get England home.

Head coach Charlotte Edwards has focussed on adding more heft to the lower order, and there is no doubt Kemp and Gibson give opponents something to fear. Gibson’s consecutive fours off Devine sparked momentary jeopardy before her dismissal. A little more time and maybe her and/or Kemp could have made a decisive impact. No doubt an error to learn from ahead of the main event next month.

Brief scores:
New Zealand Women 170 for 5 in 20 overs (Sophie Devine 87, Maddy Green 56*; Lauren Bell 1-22, Linsey Smith 3-25) beat England Women 156 for 6 in 20 overs  (Sophia Dunkley 26, Alice Capsey 22, Maia Bouchier 38, Heather Knight 25, Freya Kemp 14, Dani Gibson 12; Bree Illing 1-27, Nensi Patel 2-25, Lea Tahuhu 1-32, Mellie Kerr 1-28) by 14 runs

[Cricinfo]

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