Sports
Kohli, Karthik star as Royal Challengers Bangalore overcome Punjab in style
Virat Kohli’s 100th T20 half-century set the platform as RCB got off the mark with a four-wicket win over Punjab Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday night. Having restricted PBKS to 176/8 in their 20 overs, Kohli made the most of an early reprieve when he was yet to open his account, set up the chase while Dinesh Karthik provided the finishing touches at death to help RCB over the line with four balls to spare.
Despite Dhawan playing a couple of lovely aerial drives, RCB managed to keep a lid on Punjab’s scoring all through the PowerPlay. Yash Dayal got the ball to swing early in a tight new-ball spell, and Siraj accounted for Jonny Bairstow’s wicket. After a couple of pitched-up deliveries that the English opener dispatched to the on-side fence, Siraj pulled his length back and Bairstow miscued his pull in the covers region. Prabhsimram Singh’s positive start set the base for a steady second-wicket stand to follow but RCB were the happier side at the end of the powerplay with only 40/1 on the board.
Maxwell, after the time-out, was welcomed with a boundary by Dhawan and smashed for a six to deep backward square by Prabhsimran but the allrounder managed to cut short the latter’s entertaining knock on 25. It was the extra bounce that did him in as Prabhsimran looked to pull but instead top-edged. Maxwell was in for some more punishment with Liam Livingstone pulling a short ball for four and even managing to clear the ropes despite mistiming his slog-sweep. However, Maxwell began his third over of the middle-overs spell with the key wicket of Dhawan, getting the ball to spin away as the batter gave the charge. This was one ball after Alzarri Joseph made a good comeback from a 10-run opening over to end the Livingstone threat on 17. As RCB continued to chip away, Punjab managed just 71 runs for 3 wickets in the middle-overs period.
Jitesh Sharma drove the half-century partnership with Sam Curran, the highlight of which was the back-to-back sixes off Mayank Dagar in an expensive 17-run over. However, miserly 17th and 19th overs from Joseph and Siraj respectively managed to keep Punjab under the lid for most of the death overs as well. Their 170-plus total was only possible due to a Shashank Sngh blinder in the final over from Joseph that went for 20. The Punjab batter made an excellent first impression in his 8-ball 21, hammering a couple of maximums off a flick and a hook and following it up with a four more.
It was the second ball of RCB’s chase and Kohli was yet to get off the mark when Bairstow failed to hold on to a regulation take at first slip. That drop cost RCB 77 runs starting with the four off the same delivery as the ball raced to the third region. Kohli dealt in boundaries – driving Curran through the covers twice more in the opening over, gave the charge to Rabada for a gorgeous lofted drive and picking three more in Arshdeep Singh’s second over. In just the four overs, Kohli had eight of them to his name, giving RCB control even as Kagiso Rabada removed compatriot Faf du Plessis and Cameron Green for three each. The fifty – 100th in T20 cricket – came off just 31 balls, and Kohli kept bringing out the release shots every time as Punjab managed to pull things back a little. The inside-out six off Chahar after a couple of miserly overs and the pull to welcome Harshal Patel back in the attack helped RCB move on after Harpreet Brar cleaned up Rajat Patidar and sent back Maxwell cheaply. He moved into the 70s with back-to-back fours off Harshal – a full toss down leg and a short one outside off – but the bowler had the last laugh as Punjab sensed an opening.
The seventh-wicket pair both began with boundaries off Curran to catch up with the asking rate. Lomror went after Arshdeep with a six down the ground and a short ball pulled to the fence next in a 13-run over, while Harshal came in the firing line next as Karthik did the same in the penultimate over that also went for 13. With 10 to get off the final over, the experienced finisher polished off the chase in just two balls – a premeditated scoop for a first-ball six followed by a four hammered down straight past the bowler to help RCB collect their first points.
What’s next for them:
Bangalore will host KKR next at home on Friday, whereas Punjab heads back north, to Lucknow, for their second away game on the trot.
Brief scores:
Punjab Kings 176/6 in 20 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 46; Mohd. Siraj 2-26, Glenn Maxwell 2-29) lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore 178/6 in 19.2 overs (Virat Kohli 77, Dinesh Karthik 28*; Harpreet Brar 2-13, Kagiso Rabada 2-23) by 4 wickets
(Cricbuzz)
Ireland Women 118/9 in 20 overs (Alana Dalzelle 14, Orla Prendergast 26, Leah Paul 10, Alice Tector 10, Louise Little 26*; Lauren Bell 1-39, Linsey Smith 1-20, Sophie Ecclestone 3-22, Charlie Dean 2-11, Dani Gibson 2-10) lost to England Women 119/6 in 17.3 overs (Dani Wyatt Hodge 16, Nat Sciver-Brunt 48, Heather Knight 26; Aimee Maguire 2-23, Orla Prendergast 2-17) by 4 wickets
Lionel Messi marked his record sixth World Cup appearance with his first hat-trick at a FIFA tournament as Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 to open the defence of their global crown, he also became the joint highest scorer at World Cups with the feat.
The former 38-year-old forward thought he had opened the scoring in the eighth minute in Kansas City on Tuesday when he slotted home from close range, but the offside flag was raised.
The dream start to his record-setting appearance, which will be matched by Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal against DR Congo on Wednesday, was not to be denied for long though.
A trademark, mazy run was capped by a drive on the edge of the box from that famed left foot. The power too much for Algeria keeper Luca Zidane, son of World Cup winner with France, Zinidine.
Messi doubled his tally on the hour mark with a simple tap in from a rebound off the keeper following a drive from Alexis Mac Allister.
The moment that even a player as decorated as Messi came in the 76th minute when he drilled low past the keeper from just outside the box.
The strike took Messi level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals.
His substitution came just three minutes later to a standard ovation, even old maestro seemed disappointed to be removed – and most likely rested for Argentina’s tilt at becoming only the third side to defend a World Cup title.
Algeria – the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winners – offered little, but were themselves denied an early goal when Fares Chaibi’s ninth minute strike was ruled out for offside.
Messi saw to it that there was no opening game upset to be had tat this edition, having lost their opening game at Qatar 2022 to Saudi Arabia.
Messi, who spent the majority of his club career in Spain with Barcelona before moving to French giants Paris-Saint Germain, plys his trade in US football’s Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.
Jordan and Austria open their account in the group later on Tuesday in San Francisco.
[Aljazeera]
Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in an exciting World Cup clash at Los Angeles Stadium as protests against Tehran’s government and a peace deal signed to end the US-Iran war formed a charged backdrop to the match.
High security presence and protests outside the venue were among the off-field concerns surrounding the match on Monday.
And when New Zealand took an early lead through Elijah Just’s volleyed shot from inside the box, after being set up by Chris Wood, some fans critical of the Iranian government celebrated with New Zealand supporters.
Many of these anti-regime spectators also carried Iran’s pre-Islamic Revolution Lion and Sun flag, against FIFA’s rules. Several also booed Iran’s national anthem before kickoff.
But most of the crowd of more than 70,000 appeared firmly behind Team Melli, chanting “Ir-ran! Ir-ran!” and erupting when Ramin Rezaeian equalised shortly after the half-hour mark.
Rezaeian, one of several Iran players who had not played club football since February after the domestic league was suspended amid US and Israeli air strikes, reacted quickest to a blocked shot and poked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.
Wood and Just combined again early in the second half, the New Zealand captain sliding a precise pass into the 26-year-old forward’s path before Just hammered home to restore the All Whites’ lead.
Iran responded 10 minutes later with a superb goal from Mohammad Mohebbi, who headed Rezaeian’s perfect cross in off the far post to make it 2-2.
The stalemate means all the teams in Group G have one point after Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt earlier on Monday.
New Zealand, making their third appearance at the tournament, remain without a win at a World Cup after seven matches. Iran are looking to reach the knockout round for the first time.
The match laid bare divisions among Iranian American fans, many of whom said they felt torn between pride at seeing Iran on the sport’s biggest stage, anger over Tehran’s crackdown on protesters and concern over Washington’s bombing campaign.
Before kickoff, about 300 to 500 protesters gathered outside the stadium, waving anti-government signs and flags.
Some Iranian Americans had said attending the match would imply support for Iran’s government, while others said they wanted to set politics aside and support the players.
Iran will next return to Los Angeles to face Belgium on Sunday when New Zealand take on Egypt in Vancouver.
[Aljazeera]
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