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Hyderabad, May 5 (IANS) Pat Cummins was at his menacing best on Tuesday as he led a clinical display by the Sunrisers Hyderabad pace attack to dismantle Delhi Capitals for a modest 133/7 in Match 56 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here.

The SRH skipper made early inroads and set the tone with a fiery spell that saw him remove Karun Nair, Faf du Plessis, and Abhishek Porel in a devastating opening burst that left DC reeling in the Powerplay.

Opting to bowl first, Cummins struck with the very first delivery of the match, removing Karun Nair with a classic Test match-style delivery – back of a length in the corridor, a hint of away seam, and extra bounce. Nair fished at it tentatively, only to edge it behind to Ishan Kishan, who was donning the gloves in place of Heinrich Klaasen.

There was more joy in Cummins' next over as he cleverly adjusted his length after spotting Faf du Plessis advancing down the track, forcing a bottom edge that Kishan gladly accepted. The Capitals were 6/2 in 2.1 overs.

The SRH skipper was relentless with his lines and used the pitch's extra bounce and variable pace to great effect. In his third over, Cummins got Abishek Porel with a seemingly innocuous delivery on the pads, but the ball stopped on the surface, ballooning a leading edge off an attempted flick that Kishan collected after sprinting towards square-leg – his third catch of the evening.

Cummins wasn’t done yet. Though he didn’t claim the wicket, his presence loomed large as Harshal Patel induced a false stroke from Axar Patel with a slower ball that stuck in the surface. Cummins, stationed at mid-off, backpedalled and completed a stunning one-handed catch to further dent Delhi's innings.

SRH’s all-round dominance in the field continued when Unadkat, bowling around the wicket, got one to straighten just enough to take Rahul Tewatia's thick edge, and Kishan completed his fourth catch, marking the first time in IPL history that an entire top four was dismissed caught by the wicketkeeper.

At 29 for 5 in the eighth over, DC were in disarray. Tristan Stubbs and debutant Vipraj Nigam attempted a recovery but never looked settled.

The duo added 33 runs, but their stand was punctuated with nervy moments, including a farcical run-out that saw both batters at the keeper's end. Vipraj was the unfortunate one to go, walking out to allow Stubbs to continue.

Ashutosh Sharma, brought in as an Impact Player for Porel, injected some life into the innings with a spirited knock. Showing intent from the outset, he lofted Zeeshan Ansari for two sixes straight down the ground and then punished Harshal Patel and Eshan Malinga with a flurry of boundaries to take his score to 41 off 28 balls. Stubbs tried to find the fence but struggled with timing on a tricky surface.

Despite their early collapse, DC managed to breach the 130-run mark, finishing at 133 for 7 in 20 overs. It was largely due to Ashutosh’s counter-attacking knock that gave the innings a respectable finish. But it was Pat Cummins who deservedly took the spotlight. His new-ball burst, combined with excellent catching and leadership in the field, meant SRH now had a relatively comfortable chase ahead of them on a pitch that clearly had some juice for the pacers.

Brief scores:

Delhi Capitals 133/7 in 20 overs (Ashutosh Sharma 41, Tristan Stubbs 41; Pat Cummins 3-19, Jaydev Unadkat 1-13) against Sunrisers Hyderabad

--IANS

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Dharamshala, May 5 (IANS) After Punjab Kings (PBKS) moved to second place in points table with a 37-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), skipper Shreyas Iyer said he was glad that everyone in the team stepped up at the right time to get them those crucial two points.

At the HPCA Stadium, Prabhsimran Singh’s sublime 48-ball 91, along with cameos from Josh Inglis, Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis took PBKS to a massive 236/5. In reply, led by Arshdeep Singh’s 3-16, PBKS restricted LSG to 199/7, earning them their first IPL win in Dharamshala after 12 years.

“Elated, to be honest. Everyone stepped up at the right time, contribution was immense from everyone. The way he performed, it was exceptional and so pleasing to the eye. I am glad I did not know about it. Stepped onto the field to win the match and that was the mindset.

“Was not thinking about stats or what is a good score to defend. We have been lucky, but the luck has been because of the hard work. Each and every individual knows their roles precisely and the way they executed, it was top-notch.”

“The only thing we need to correct is the awareness (in the field) and the way we move - that is the only box we have to tick off. Just back yourselves and your instincts - that has been working for us, not think too much about stats. The result…it does matter and that is winning,” said Iyer after the match ended.

Rishabh Pant, LSG captain, lamented giving away too many runs after electing to bowl first. “Definitely too many runs (were given away). When you drop crucial catches at the wrong time, it can hurt you badly. We thought it would do more, but we did not pick the length right at the start. But that is part and parcel of the game.”

Asked if they are looking to change the batting order, Pant said, “It makes sense when your top order is batting well. Every match, you cannot hope for them to come off. It is part of the game, we have to take it deep sometimes. We had too many runs to catch up on and that hurt us badly.”

Though LSG are now at seventh place in points table, Pant feels their chances of making it to the playoffs are still strong. “The dream is still alive. If we can win the next three matches, we can definitely turn around and do amazing things.”

--IANS

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Dharamshala, May 4 (IANS) Prabhsimran Singh continued his great run in IPL 2025 by hitting a sublime 48-ball 91 while left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh stood up with the new ball to blow away Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) top-order, as Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) moved to second place in IPL 2025 points table with a 37-run win at the HPCA Stadium on Sunday.

Though Prabhsimran missed out on hitting his second IPL century, his exhilarating boundary-hitting – 60% of his runs coming through off-side, propelled PBKS to 236/5, their 11th 200-plus total in the tournament.

He was well-supported by cameos from Josh Inglis (30), Shreyas Iyer (45), Nehal Wadhera (16), Shashank Singh (33 not out) and Marcus Stoinis (15 not out), as PBKS amassed 75 runs off the last five overs. For LSG, left-arm pacer Akash Singh was the only standout bowler - bowling his four overs on the trot to pick 2-30 and managed to keep his economy rate below 10.

In reply, Arshdeep removed Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran inside the powerplay to all but virtually set the deal in PBKS’ favour. Ayush Badoni (74) and Abdul Samad (45) sharing an 81-run stand for the sixth wicket ensured LSG finished at 199/7, which meant their net run rate didn’t suffer much, as PBKS got those crucial two points to boost their playoffs chances.

The result also means PBKS secured an IPL win in Dharamshala after 12 years. Pushed into batting first, PBKS were dealt an early blow when Priyansh Arya sliced an away swinging ball from Akash Singh to deep third man. Inglis took a liking to Mayank Yadav’s pace and short balls by smacking him for three sixes – including being given a reprieve by Avesh Khan at square leg in the second over.

Prabhsimran then orchestrated Mayank’s takedown by slashing, clubbing and slicing to collect two sixes and a four. Akash struck again in power-play by having Inglis pull straight to square leg and dismiss him for 14-ball 30. After being given a reprieve when Nicholas Pooran dropped his catch at mid-off on 22, Prabhsimran took charge by muscling Avesh, Digvesh Rathi and Prince Yadav for boundaries, before getting his fifty off 30 balls.

From the other end, Iyer continued his good runs by hitting boundaries at will – with his sixes off Prince and Digvesh being the standout shots. But against the run of play, Iyer looked to slice off Rathi, but was caught by point. Prabhsimran made up for a mini slowdown by slog-sweeping Digvesh for a brace of sixes, before pulling Prince for another maximum.

Prince, though, had something to cheer by uprooting Wadhera’s leg-stump with a pin-point yorker. Shashank joined the run-scoring party by smacking Mayank for four and six, including sending the ball outside the stadium. While Prabhsimran pulled and lofted Avesh for a brace of sixes apart from a lucky edge flying for four, Shashank scooped and edged for his two boundaries, as 26 runs came off the 18th over, with PBKS crossing 200-mark.

Just when it looked like he would get a century, Prabhsimran’s attempt to reverse-sweep Rathi ended up in extra cover taking a diving catch, as he fell for a brilliant 91. Stoinis lofted Avesh for six, before Shashank picked a four via scoop to end a power-paced PBKS innings laced with a whopping 34 boundaries.

PBKS’ had a bright start to their defence – Arshdeep took out openers Marsh and Markram in the third over. While Marsh’s flick was caught by an attentive deep backward square leg, Markram chopped on to his stumps. Arshdeep again struck in power-play when his inswinger went past Pooran’s stumps and hit him on the back leg, thus trapping him plumb lbw, as LSG made 38/3 in the power-play, their lowest score in this phase of the ongoing season.

Rishabh Pant hit three boundaries in his 18 off 17 off balls, before flashing so hard against Azmatullah Omarzai that he lost control of the bat, while the ball was easily caught by deep cover in the eighth over. LSG’s slide continued as David Miller sliced to deep cover, giving Omarzai his second wicket.

Samad and Badoni brought out some big-hitting blitzkrieg – smashing 21 runs off Vyshak Vijaykumar’s first over, before the former dispatched Yuzvendra Chahal for two sixes in the 13th over. Samad’s blitzkrieg continued when he whipped Marcus Stoinis for four and six, before he hit a slower ball from Jansen back to left-arm pacer and fall for a 24-ball 45.

Badoni went on to bring up his fifty off 32 balls by lofting Vyshak over long-on for six, and followed it up with an incredible whip and sweep fetching him more boundaries. But Chahal had other ideas – forcing Badoni to miscue to short third man and fall for a 40-ball 74, as PBKS began their crucial home stretch with a complete win.

Brief Scores: Punjab Kings 236/5 in 20 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 91, Shreyas Iyer 45; Akash Singh 2-30, Digvesh Rathi 2-46) beat Lucknow Super Giants 199/7 in 20 overs (Ayush Badoni 74, Abdul Samad 45; Arshdeep Singh 3-16, Azmatullah Omarzai 2-33) by 37 runs

--IANS

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Dharamshala, May 4 (IANS) Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh stood up with the new ball, getting swing and bounce, to blow away Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) top-order and pave the way for Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) move to second place in IPL 2025 points table with a 37-run win at the HPCA Stadium on Sunday.

After Prabhsimran Singh’s sublime 91 took PBKS to a massive 236/5, Arshdeep removed Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran inside the powerplay to all but virtually set the deal in PBKS’ favour. Ayush Badoni (74) and Abdul Samad (45) sharing an 81-run stand for the sixth wicket ensured LSG finished at 199/7, which meant their net run rate didn’t suffer much, as PBKS got those crucial two points to boost their playoffs chances.

PBKS’ had a bright start to their defence – Arshdeep took out openers Marsh and Markram in the third over. While Marsh’s flick was caught by an attentive deep backward square leg, Markram chopped on to his stumps. Arshdeep again struck in power-play when his inswinger went past Pooran’s stumps and hit him on the back leg, thus trapping him plumb lbw, as LSG made 38/3 in the power-play, their lowest score in this phase of the ongoing season.

Rishabh Pant hit three boundaries in his 18 off 17 off balls, before flashing so hard against Azmatullah Omarzai that he lost control of the bat, while the ball was easily caught by deep cover in the eighth over. LSG’s slide continued as David Miller sliced to deep cover, giving Omarzai his second wicket.

Samad and Badoni brought out some big-hitting blitzkrieg – smashing 21 runs off Vyshak Vijaykumar’s first over, before the former dispatched Yuzvendra Chahal for two sixes in the 13th over. Samad’s blitzkrieg continued when he whipped Marcus Stoinis for four and six, before he hit a slower ball from Jansen back to left-arm pacer and fall for a 24-ball 45.

Badoni went on to bring up his fifty off 32 balls by lofting Vyshak over long-on for six, and followed it up with an incredible whip and sweep fetching him more boundaries. But Chahal had other ideas – forcing Badoni to miscue to short third man and fall for a 40-ball 74, as PBKS began their crucial home stretch with a complete win.

Brief Scores: Punjab Kings 236/5 in 20 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 91, Shreyas Iyer 45; Akash Singh 2-30, Digvesh Rathi 2-46) beat Lucknow Super Giants 199/7 in 20 overs (Ayush Badoni 74, Abdul Samad 45; Arshdeep Singh 3-16, Azmatullah Omarzai 2-33) by 37 runs

--IANS

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Freiburg, May 4 (IANS) Bayern Munich are 2024/25 Bundesliga champions, reclaiming the title from Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen with two games to spare.

After being held to a dramatic 3-3 draw against RB Leipzig on Saturday, the Bavarians sealed the deal when second-placed Leverkusen failed to get the better of Freiburg in what was a must-win match for the Werkself. After having gone 2-0 down just minutes into the second-half, Leverkusen scored two late goals to settle for a draw.

It all means that Bayern now boast an unassailable lead at the top of the table with two games to go. The title marks their record-extending 34th of the Bundesliga era.

Bayern endured their first trophyless season since 2011 last term, finishing third in the Bundesliga behind first-time champions Leverkusen and surprise runners-up VfB Stuttgart.

However, they have been quick to reassert their domestic dominance under new head coach Vincent Kompany in 2024/25. The Bavarians have held first place since Matchday 3, whilst chalking up 23 wins from 32 games - only losing twice - and scoring a league-high 93 goals.

As well as being a debut-season title for Kompany, the 2024/25 Meisterschale represents a first piece of major career silverware for England captain Harry Kane.

It is also Thomas Müller's record-extending 13th - and likely - last German top-flight crown as a player. The Bayern legend, who recently made his 500th Bundesliga appearance, will end his 25-year association with his boyhood club following this summer's FIFA Club World Cup.

Bayern face Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 33, in their first game as newly crowned champions and final home fixture of the 2024/25 season. They conclude the league campaign at Hoffenheim on May 17, when they will be officially presented with the title.

--IANS

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Kolkata, May 4 (IANS) Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane was happy with his team's effort after finishing on the winning end against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens on Sunday.

It was a thrilling encounter where both teams were only separated by a run after 40 overs contest.

Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag played a scintillating knock of 95 runs in 45 balls laced with eight sixes and six fours but failed to finish the game for his side as they fell one run short while chasing 22 in the last over.

Chasing 207, Rajasthan were on target with 52 required off 30 balls with Parag and Shubham Dubey at the crease. But Parag's dismissal in the 18th over shifted the tide in KKR's favour. However, Dubey tried to snatch victory from KKR's jaws but fell one run short of the target despite scoring two sixes and a four.

Earlier, Andre Russell's quickfire half-century coupled with Angkrish Raghuvanshi's 31-ball 44 powered KKR to 206/4.

"It was really close but really happy, when you win by one or two runs it gives you a lot of satisfaction. Gurbaz and Angkrish played well and that finish from Russell was really good. The plan was to go hard in the powerplay and then stabilise things till the 12th over. It was not easy for a new batter so me and Angkrish were talking to take it deep," Rahane said in the post-match presentation.

"(On the importance of fielding well) It's really important, if you can save 10-12 runs on the field it's great. If you can take a couple of good catches and effect a run-out, it makes all the difference," he added.

With five wins from 11 games, KKR have kept their playoff hopes alive and climbed to sixth place in the points table. They will next face Chennai Super Kings at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals will take on CSK in a crucial bottom-of-the-table clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 12.

--IANS

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Miami, May 4 (IANS) Lando Norris claimed a dramatic victory in the Sprint at the Miami Grand Prix, capitalising on a well-timed pit stop and late Safety Car intervention to lead home a McLaren 1-2 finish ahead of Oscar Piastri. The race was marked by unpredictable weather, early crashes, pit lane chaos, and a series of investigations that reshaped the final order.

Heavy rain before the Sprint created treacherous conditions at the Miami International Autodrome. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was the first casualty, crashing out on his way to the grid before the race even began. A red flag followed the formation lap due to poor visibility, forcing all 19 remaining cars back to the pit lane.

Once the Sprint resumed in better conditions, pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli struggled off the line, allowing Piastri to take the lead into Turn 1. Norris followed closely in second as Antonelli fell to fourth after a wide moment.

Meanwhile, the entire field – bar Carlos Sainz on full wets – started on intermediate tyres, with the damp but drying track demanding rapid strategy changes.

As the laps unfolded, teams began rolling the dice. Yuki Tsunoda was the first to switch to slicks, prompting a flurry of pit stops. Lewis Hamilton made an early call to switch to softs and gained ground, while chaos erupted when Max Verstappen and Antonelli collided in the pit lane due to an unsafe release by Red Bull, leaving debris scattered and Antonelli forced to abort his stop.

The turning point came when Piastri pitted from the lead on Lap 14, handing track position to Norris. Moments later, Fernando Alonso crashed heavily after being tagged by Liam Lawson, triggering a Safety Car. Norris made his stop just as the caution was called, perfectly timing his entry to rejoin in the lead, effectively securing the win.

With the race ending under the Safety Car, Norris crossed the line first, securing his first win since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. Piastri followed in second, sealing a McLaren 1-2. Hamilton finished third for Ferrari, benefitting from strategy and Verstappen’s 10-second penalty for the pit lane incident, which dropped the Red Bull driver out of the points.

Alex Albon delivered an impressive fourth-place finish for Williams, though he faces a post-race investigation for a potential Safety Car infringement. George Russell, Lance Stroll, Liam Lawson, and Ollie Bearman completed the points-paying positions, though Lawson too is under review for his role in Alonso’s crash.

--IANS

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Johannesburg, May 4 (IANS) South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has admitted to testing positive for a recreational drug and is currently serving a provisional suspension. This was the reason behind his sudden exit from the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), where he was playing for the Gujarat Titans. On April 3, the franchise said Rabada had gone back home to deal with a "personal matter" but did not share any further details.

In a statement, Cricket South Africa stated, "Cricket South Africa (CSA) can confirm that Proteas Men's right-arm fast bowler Kagiso.

Rabada has returned an adverse analytical finding for the use of a prohibited substance. "The incident is regrettable, however, Rabada has reassured CSA and his fans of his commitment to upholding professional standards and has restated his passion for the sport of cricket and the country he represents with purpose.

"CSA is fully committed to drug-free sport and reminds cricket players, both professional and amateur, of the importance of adhering to all regulations. We are steadfast in our support to all players in this regard."

Rabada also said he is looking forward to returning to cricket and thanked his family, legal team, and Gujarat Titans for their support.

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS), which operates under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules, is expected to release a detailed statement next week. Rabada’s suspension is expected to be short, as his case is believed to be similar to New Zealand cricketer Doug Bracewell, who was banned for a month last year after testing positive for cocaine.

It is still unclear which recreational substance Kagiso Rabada consumed, though it is likely to be either cocaine or cannabis, two of the substances listed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) alongside ecstasy and heroin. The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS), which conducted the test, is expected to release a statement on Monday that may provide further clarity.

Under WADA’s code, if an athlete can prove the substance was taken out of competition and they remain away from the sport for at least one month, a reduced one-month suspension is allowed.

Notably, Rabada had left India on April 3 and returned to South Africa, only to be cleared to resume activities exactly a month later—suggesting his suspension aligned with WADA’s minimum sanction guidelines.

There is no concern within Cricket South Africa about Rabada missing upcoming matches, including the World Test Championship final against Australia in June.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, May 3 (IANS) Yash Dayal did it again. A year after silencing the Chinnaswamy crowd by denying MS Dhoni a fairytale finish, the left-arm seamer turned executioner once more — this time holding his nerve in a cauldron of noise to bowl Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a two-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a last-over thriller in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on Saturday.

With 15 required off the final over, the equation tilted dramatically after Dayal bowled a high full toss that Shivam Dube launched for six, reducing the equation to six off three balls. But the 26-year-old stayed ice-cold, nailing three perfect yorkers to keep CSK down to just four runs. Dayal finished with figures of 2 for 36 and was instantly mobbed by teammates as the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium erupted in deafening celebration.

The victory – RCB’s sixth on the bounce – took them to 16 points and within touching distance of the playoffs. It also marked a historic moment: for the first time ever, RCB completed a league double over CSK in the IPL.

But the win wouldn’t have been possible without Romario Shepherd’s brute-force finish earlier in the evening. Walking in with RCB stuttering at 157/5 in the 18th over, Shepherd tore apart CSK’s vaunted death bowling. His 14-ball 50 – the joint second-fastest in IPL history – lifted the hosts to a daunting 213/5, their highest total at home this season.

RCB had started strong after being put in to bat. Debutant Jacob Bethell and the ever-dependable Virat Kohli put up 71 runs in the power-play, with Bethell smashing a 28-ball fifty and Kohli bringing up his 62nd IPL half-century.

The latter’s knock also took him past 500 runs this season and reclaimed the Orange Cap. Kohli’s 50 against CSK further extended his record as the leading run-scorer against a single IPL franchise, now beyond 1,150 runs.

However, once Kohli departed for 62 off 33, RCB lost their way. Matheesha Pathirana and Sam Curran turned the screws in the middle overs, conceding just 33 runs in five overs and picking up two wickets. With the innings floundering, Shepherd launched an extraordinary assault.

In the 19th over, he plundered 33 off Khaleel Ahmed – four sixes, a no-ball, and a four. Pathirana wasn’t spared either as the final over went for 23. Shepherd’s blitz ended unbeaten on 54 off 14, including four fours and six sixes, lifting RCB to 213 – a total that had seemed out of reach not long before.

CSK’s chase got off to a cautious start with just 23 runs in the first three overs. But 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre, playing only his fourth IPL match, changed the momentum with a stunning assault on Bhuvneshwar Kumar, taking 26 runs in a single over.

He soon brought up his maiden IPL fifty off just 25 balls and went on to smash 94 off 48, becoming the third-youngest player to score a fifty in the league’s history.

His clean hitting – including two sixes off Shepherd and a majestic 98m pull – brought CSK back into the contest. At the 10-over mark, CSK were 106/2 – their best of the season. Ravindra Jadeja promoted to No. 4, matched Mhatre’s aggression with a fluent 50 off 29, attacking both pace and spin.

But just when it looked like CSK were cruising, Ngidi turned the game. He removed Mhatre with a well-disguised slower ball and trapped Dewald Brevis lbw the very next delivery. Controversy followed as CSK were denied a review despite confusion over the timer display. Replays showed Brevis might have survived, but the decision stood, sparking animated protests from Jadeja.

Still, CSK fought back. Jadeja slammed a 109m six, and when Dhoni walked in, the Chinnaswamy crowd went quiet. He smacked Bhuvneshwar for a six to keep the hopes alive. The drama hit peak levels in the 20th over. With Kohli dropping a sitter at extra cover and a waist-high full toss dispatched for six, it seemed like Dhoni's magic was on the cards.

But Dayal, for the second consecutive year, held his nerve against the legendary finisher. A pair of searing yorkers followed by another toe-crusher proved enough. Dhoni was caught plumb in front on the final ball – a review showed three reds, and with it, RCB sealed a famous win.

For RCB, it’s a statement of resurgence – six wins in a row, 16 points, and a strong claim to a playoff berth.

Brief scores:

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 213/5 in 20 overs (Virat Kohli 62, Jacob Bethell 55, Romario Shepherd 53 not out; Matheesha Pathirana 3-63, Noor Ahmad 1-26) beat Chennai Super Kings 211/5 in 20 overs (Ayush Mhatre 94, Ravindra Jadeja 77; Lungi Ngidi 3-30, Krunal Pandya 1-24) by two runs.

--IANS

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Xiamen (China), May 3 (IANS) China swept Japan 3-0 in the Sudirman Cup semifinals on Saturday, securing a berth in the final against South Korea and aiming to extend their dominance in this prestigious mixed team badminton event.

The defending champion made a strong start with the mixed doubles pair Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping defeating Japan's newly formed pair, Hiroki Midorikawa and Arisa Igarashi, 21-11, 21-17. Feng, who celebrated passionately after the match, admitted the victory held personal significance, reports Xinhua.

The pair had suffered a critical loss to Japan in the 2023 semifinal -- a defeat that almost cost China the title -- before staging a dramatic comeback to win the title.

"That loss lingered in my mind. Today was about redemption," Feng told Xinhua. "Facing Japan again at this stage and delivering such a performance shows our growth," Huang added.

Shi Yuqi then delivered a masterclass in men's singles, defeating Kodai Naraoka 21-8, 21-16 in just 44 minutes.

Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei secured China's spot in the final after recovering from losing the first game to defeat Akane Yamaguchi 17-21, 21-9, 21-16.

Later on Saturday, South Korea secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Indonesia in the other semifinal, setting up a repeat of the 2023 final where China claimed the title with a 3-0 victory.

A win on Sunday would extend China's streak to four consecutive Sudirman Cup titles and mark its 14th overall in the biennial tournament's history. "In team competitions, no one wants to be the weak link. We'll give everything tomorrow," Chen said.

China swept Malaysia 3-0 in the Sudirman Cup quarterfinals here on Friday, securing a spot in the last four of the world badminton mixed-team championship. Japan defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0.

In other quarterfinals, Jonatan Christie defeated world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, powering Indonesia to a 3-1 victory over Thailand, while South Korea, led by Paris Olympic champion An Se-young, ousted Denmark 3-1. Japan swept Chinese Taipei 3-0 earlier on Friday.

--IANS

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