Fast bowler Avesh Khan returned figures of 4-24 as newcomers Lucknow Super Giants beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 12 runs to register their second successive win in the IPL on Monday.
Avesh rattled the top and middle-order and fellow quick Jason Holder bowled a good final over to keep down Hyderabad to 157 for nine while chasing 170 in Mumbai.
Holder, the West Indian all-rounder playing his first game for Lucknow, took three wickets including two in the 20th over when Hyderabad needed 16 for victory.
Earlier skipper KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda hit half-centuries to guide Lucknow, one of the two new teams added to the Indian Premier League this season, to 169-7.
Rahul, who made 68, and Hooda, who smashed 51 off 33 deliveries, put on 87 runs to lift Lucknow from 27-3 after being put into bat first.
Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson said: "If you look at the performance, it was certainly much improved from our first outing.
"The start with the ball was outstanding. We were in a strong position...if we could just break that next partnership. Credit to Hooda and Rahul."
Opener Quinton de Kock (one) and Evin Lewis (one) fell early to Washington Sundar's spin but Rahul and Hooda rebuilt the innings.
The batting pair survived an express spell of pace bowling from Umran Malik, who bowled the fastest ball of the match at over 152 km/h (94 mph), before they took the attack to the opposition.
Hooda hit three fours and three sixes as he reached his fifty in 31 balls, but soon fell to Hyderabad's new West Indies import Romario Shepherd.
Rahul kept up the attack with Ayush Badoni, who got useful runs in the final two overs with his 19 off 12 balls, before being trapped lbw to T Natarajan.
Lucknow then pegged Hyderabad back with Avesh removing the openers including Williamson for 16.
Rahul Tripathi (44) helped put the chase back on track before Nicholas Pooran (34) and Sundar (18) raised hopes of a win, but Lucknow's bowlers kept coming back with wickets.
Krunal Pandya took the wickets of Tripathi and Aiden Markram with his left-arm spin as Hyderabad suffered a second loss in as many games.
The expanded 10-team Twenty20 tournament will conclude on May 29 with league matches restricted to four venues in Mumbai and Pune with limited crowds.
Pakistan's captain Salman Agha (R) and his Bangladesh counterpart Litton Das pose with the trophy at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on May 27, 2025. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)
NEXT YEAR's World Cup is in sight as a new-look Pakistan under Mike Hesson host a young Bangladesh team in Lahore in three Twenty20 internationals from Wednesday (28).
The 2009 world champions Pakistan have endured a significant downturn in the last 12 months and crashed out in the first round of the World Cup in 2024.
They have won only three of their last 13 T20Is, two against minnows Zimbabwe, and slumped to eighth in the T20I rankings.
With a new head coach in New Zealand's Hesson they are looking to younger players with the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka just eight months away.
Star batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, and pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, have all been axed.
Salman Agha will lead the side, having lost a series in New Zealand 4-1 two months ago.
"We’ve been really clear around the style of play we want and then it’s about picking players that can do that,” Hesson, who coached New Zealand from 2012-2018, said.
"We’ve got a good number of T20Is between now and the World Cup.
"We will develop a depth of squad playing the way we want and the rankings will come in time because it is about the way we want to play."
Bangladesh, ranked ninth, are in the same boat.
They have won just four of their last 12 T20Is and lost series against lower-ranked United States (2024) and United Arab Emirates earlier this month.
They also have a new coach in West Indian Phil Simmons, who will be missing senior players including Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim, all either fully retired or from the T20Is.
"We’re aiming to improve our cricket by performing well in this series," said Simmons, who took over in October.
Frontline fast bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman are nursing injuries while new pace sensation Nahid Rana withdrew from the tour over security fears following the cross-border conflict between India and Pakistan.
The conflict put the tour in doubt but Bangladesh finally agreed to play three T20Is instead of the scheduled five.
The remaining matches are on Friday (30) and Sunday (1), also in Lahore.
STAND-IN SKIPPER Jitesh Sharma scored an unbeaten 85 and Virat Kohli hit 54 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru entered qualifier 1 of the IPL playoffs with a six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.
Bengaluru chased 228 to finish second in the 10-team table in the final league match of the season. They will now face table-toppers Punjab Kings on Thursday.
The result moved Gujarat Titans to third spot. They will play Mumbai Indians in the eliminator on Friday.
The winner of qualifier 1 will advance to the final on June 3. The loser will play the winner of the eliminator in qualifier 2 to decide the second finalist in Ahmedabad.
Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 118 off 61 balls as his team posted 227-3, but Bengaluru reached the target with eight balls left.
Kohli’s 30-ball knock laid the platform for Bengaluru before stand-in skipper Jitesh and Mayank Agarwal, who hit 41, put together an unbeaten 107-run stand to seal the win. Lucknow were already out of the playoffs.
"I will not be able to express my thoughts, I can't believe I played that knock," said player of the match Jitesh. "When Virat bhai (brother) was out, I was just thinking of taking it deep."
Kohli, 36, who announced his Test retirement earlier this month, crossed 9,000 runs for Bengaluru — the most by a batsman for one team in men's T20 cricket. Rohit Sharma is next with 6,060 runs for Mumbai.
Pant’s effort falls short
Kohli and opening partner Phil Salt added 61 runs, with Salt making 30. Lucknow hit back with New Zealand quick Will O'Rourke taking two wickets in two balls.
O'Rourke dismissed regular skipper and impact substitute Rajat Patidar for 14 and trapped Liam Livingstone leg before for a golden duck.
Jitesh turned the chase around with his first IPL fifty. He hit eight fours and six sixes, including the winning six, in his 33-ball knock.
Earlier, Pant, who had struggled for runs after being signed by Lucknow for a record $3.21 million, ended the season with his best score.
But Pant said, "Eventually you've got to play 40 overs of good cricket. Twenty overs aren't going to save you."
Wicketkeeper-batsman Pant reached his 100 in 54 balls and celebrated with a somersault. He had made only 151 runs from 12 previous innings at an average of 13.72.
Pant shared a 152-run second-wicket stand with Mitchell Marsh, who scored 67 off 37 balls, after promoting himself to number three.
Pant hit 11 fours and eight sixes in his 61-ball innings, surpassing his previous best of 63 this season. But Bengaluru and Kohli had the final say as they aim for their first IPL title.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Sony has confirmed the PlayStation Plus Essential games for June 2025
Sony has confirmed the PlayStation Plus Essential games for June 2025, with subscribers able to download three new titles from 3 June. The line-up features NBA 2K25, Alone in the Dark, and Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. In addition, Destiny 2: The Final Shape expansion will be made available to Essential tier subscribers from 28 May.
NBA 2K25, the latest entry in 2K Sports’ basketball simulation series, was released in September 2024. It incorporates 2K’s ProPlay technology, which translates real NBA footage into gameplay mechanics. The title includes a variety of game modes, such as MyCareer, MyTeam, MyNBA, and The W, and features WNBA players from different eras. NBA 2K25 will be available to download on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Alone in the Dark is a modern reimagining of the classic survival horror game, originally released in 1992. This 2024 version stars David Harbour and Jodie Comer in leading roles, offering players two perspectives to explore the eerie setting of Derceto Manor. The game will be available for PlayStation 5.
Also part of June’s line-up is Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, a graffiti-themed action platformer inspired by Jet Set Radio. Developed by Team Reptile, the game features players moving around on inline skates, skateboards, and BMX bikes while tagging graffiti and battling for turf against rival street crews. The game is available on both PS4 and PS5.
In addition to the three main titles, PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers will receive Destiny 2: The Final Shape as part of the monthly offerings. The expansion, available from 28 May, concludes the long-running Light and Darkness saga in Bungie’s shared-world sci-fi shooter. It will be playable on both PS4 and PS5.
The new titles will be available for download until 30 June. Meanwhile, subscribers can still claim May’s Essential games - Ark: Survival Ascended, Balatro, and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun — until 2 June.
PlayStation Plus Essential is Sony’s entry-level subscription tier, offering access to online multiplayer, monthly free games, cloud storage, and PlayStation Store discounts. The service is priced at £59.99 per year, £19.99 for three months, or £6.99 per month in the UK.
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Earps recently moved from Manchester United to French side Paris Saint-Germain
England goalkeeper Mary Earps has announced her unexpected retirement from international football, just five weeks before the Lionesses begin their UEFA Women's Euro 2025 title defence in Switzerland.
The 32-year-old played a pivotal role in England's triumph at Euro 2022 and helped guide the team to the final of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. However, Earps recently lost her position as first-choice goalkeeper to Chelsea's Hannah Hampton and has decided to step aside ahead of the upcoming tournament.
Earps, who earned 53 senior caps during her international career, made her decision public shortly after being named in the squad for the final international camp before the Euros. She was included for the Women's Nations League fixtures against Portugal and Spain, but did not train with the squad on Monday and has since left the camp at St George’s Park.
Speaking about her retirement, Earps described it as a “difficult decision”, but said it was the right time to move on and allow younger players the opportunity to grow.
“This has been the greatest honour and privilege of my life, to wear the badge and represent my country,” Earps wrote on social media. “I wish I could do it forever, but sadly all good things must come to an end.”
She continued: “There are so many dimensions to this decision, the details of which aren’t important right now. This is a new era and a new England team, and I’m looking forward to watching them this summer. I have no regrets.”
Earps has been a vocal advocate for change in women’s footballGetty Images
England head coach Sarina Wiegman expressed disappointment at Earps' decision, stating she had hoped the experienced goalkeeper would remain part of the squad for the upcoming tournament.
“I had hoped that Mary would play an important role within the squad this summer, so of course I am disappointed,” Wiegman said.
Earps’ retirement follows recent comments from Wiegman in April, where she acknowledged that Hampton was “a little bit ahead” in the competition to be England’s number one. The shift in selection appears to have played a part in Earps' decision to step away from the international stage.
Teammates are understood to have been surprised and disappointed by the timing of her retirement, particularly with the Euros on the horizon.
Earps recently moved from Manchester United to French side Paris Saint-Germain and continues to compete at the highest level in club football.
Throughout her career, Earps has been a vocal advocate for change in women’s football. In 2023, she publicly criticised Nike for not producing replica goalkeeper kits for fans during the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand – a decision she described as “hugely hurtful”.
Her on-field achievements have been widely recognised. She won the FIFA Best Goalkeeper award in both 2022 and 2023 and claimed the Golden Glove at the 2023 World Cup. Her performances earned her the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 2023, becoming the first goalkeeper to receive the honour.
Reflecting on her journey, Earps acknowledged the challenges she has faced but maintained that she had given everything to the national team.
“My journey has never been the simplest, so in true Mary fashion, this isn’t a simple goodbye – right before a major tournament,” she wrote. “I have given everything, my heart and soul. I left it all out there on the pitch and did my best to help systemic change. I have no regrets.”
Earps’ departure marks the end of an era for England, with her experience, leadership, and presence likely to be missed as the Lionesses prepare for their title defence this summer.
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Inglis, who also keeps wicket, hit nine fours and three sixes in his 42-ball innings.
JOSH INGLIS scored 73 runs to help Punjab Kings secure a top-two finish and a seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians on Monday. The result confirmed Punjab’s place in the IPL playoffs, giving them two chances to reach the final.
Both Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians had already qualified for the playoffs along with Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Punjab’s second-place finish means they will play in the first qualifier on May 29, with another chance in the second qualifier if needed to reach the final on June 3.
Punjab chased down the target of 185 with nine balls to spare in Jaipur, helped by a 109-run stand between Inglis and Priyansh Arya. Arya scored 62 before he was dismissed in the 15th over, and Inglis fell shortly after completing his first IPL fifty, with the team needing 14 runs to win.
Inglis, who also keeps wicket, hit nine fours and three sixes in his 42-ball innings.
Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer made 26 not out from 16 balls to see the team through.
“Every individual stepped up at the right time,” said Iyer. “We’ve had players putting their hands up when we were in the dumps. (Coach) Ricky (Ponting) has been fantastic with player management, it’s important for me to get trust too.”
Ponting said of Iyer, who was bought for $3.17 million in November’s auction, “It was pretty obvious with the amount of money we spent on him, we wanted him here. He’s a man who has been so good and has a sparkle for captaincy, he has led this team superbly.”
Mumbai Indians, who have won the IPL five times, will play the eliminator on May 30 after finishing fourth in the group phase.
“We just want to play good cricket going forward, figure out the right template for the batting group,” Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya said. “Not much panic though, we knew what was at stake.”
Gujarat Titans’ position will depend on the result of the final league match between Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.
In the IPL playoff format, the winner of the first qualifier will move straight to the final, while the loser will get another chance in the second qualifier.
Mumbai Indians made 184-7, with Suryakumar Yadav top-scoring with 57 off 39 balls.
South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton hit 27 in an opening partnership of 44 with Rohit Sharma, who made 24. Rickelton was dismissed in the sixth over as Mumbai lost wickets at regular intervals, including Rohit and England’s Will Jacks, who scored 17.
Suryakumar steadied the innings with a 44-run stand with Pandya, who made 26 off 15 balls and hit two fours and two sixes before falling to South African left-arm pacer Marco Jansen.
Naman Dhir, batting at number seven, and Suryakumar added 23 runs in the 19th over. Dhir scored 20 from 12 balls before being dismissed by left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh at the start of the final over. Arshdeep also removed Suryakumar in the same over, finishing with two wickets for three runs.
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