Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Buttler ton, Chahal hat-trick give Royals edge in IPL thriller

Buttler ton, Chahal hat-trick give Royals edge in IPL thriller

Jos Buttler's 103 and a hat-trick by Yuzvendra Chahal helped Rajasthan Royals edge out Kolkata Knight Riders by seven runs in a nail-biting IPL contest on Monday.

The England batter smashed his second IPL century this season to power Royals to 217 for five -- the highest total of this edition.


Umesh Yadav nearly got Kolkata through with his nine-ball 21 but West Indies left-arm quick Obed McCoy held his nerve on his IPL debut to defend 11 in the final over and bowl out the opposition for 210 in 19.4 overs.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer drove the chase with his valiant 51-ball 85 but Chahal, a leg-spinner who returned IPL best figures of 5-40, took him down at the start of the hat-trick that ended with a four-wicket over.

"I respect KKR as a unit. We never thought we were in the game," said Royals skipper Sanju Samson. "I think I don't need to talk much about individuals. We are lucky to have great players."

Royals, who won the inaugural edition under Australia great Shane Warne, recorded their fourth win in six matches to climb to second behind table-toppers Gujarat Titans on the 15th birthday of the Indian Premier League.

The money-spinning Twenty20 tournament began on April 18 in 2008 when the current Kolkata coach Brendon McCullum hit a match-winning 158 not out to set the league ablaze.

Come 2022 and the heat was on Kolkata after they invited Royals to bat and Buttler, who made match-winning 100 against Mumbai Indians earlier this month, quickly changed gears after a cautious start in the first two overs.

Buttler put on a 97-run opening stand with Devdutt Padikkal, who hit a brisk 24, and then got going with Samson, who smashed 38 off 19 balls.

The Englishman took on the bowling and hit Pat Cummins for a four to bring up his fifty and smacked the Australian pace bowler for six to reach his 100 in 59 deliveries as he raised his bat and got a hug from Shimron Hetmyer.

Buttler fell to Cummins three balls later and walked back to standing ovation from the limited crowd at the Brabourne Stadium. His innings laced with nine fours and five sixes.

Kolkata bowlers attempted to check the scoring but the left-handed Hetmyer finished with a flourish with two sixes and a four off the 20th over from Andre Russell. He made 26 off 13.

In reply, Kolkata lost Sunil Narine run out for nought off the first ball but Aaron Finch, who made 58, put on 107 runs with Shreyas who kept up the fight after his partners' departure.

Shreyas fell lbw to Chahal and Kolkata fell short despite Umesh's cameo in a tense finish.

McCullum said it was Chahal's hat-trick that proved to be the turning point of their loss.

"Forty off four (needed to win) and we had six wickets in hand and we were very much in charge of the game, but credit to Chahal, he is just a brilliant bowler," McCullum told reporters.

More For You

india-england-lords-getty

Brydon Carse celebrates dismissing Karun Nair during day four of the 3rd Test between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 13, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

India stumble after bowling out England, third Test set for final-day finish

INDIA were left needing 135 more runs to win with six wickets in hand after a top-order collapse on the fourth day of the third Test against England at Lord’s on Sunday.

Chasing 193 for victory, India ended the day on 58-4 after earlier bowling out England for 192 in their second innings. Washington Sundar was the pick of the bowlers with 4-22, dismissing Joe Root, Jamie Smith and England captain Ben Stokes on an increasingly challenging surface.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sinner-Wimbledon-Trophy-Getty

Sinner said he was living his 'dream', receiving a loud reaction from the Centre Court crowd. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Sinner claims maiden Wimbledon crown, beats Alcaraz in final

Highlights:

  • Sinner becomes the first Italian man to win singles at the All England Club
  • Sinner avenges French Open loss, wins in four sets
  • Sinner and Alcaraz have now shared the last seven Grand Slam titles

Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first Wimbledon title and take revenge for his loss to the Spaniard in the French Open final.

Keep ReadingShow less
Crawley's last-over 'theatrics' ignite time-wasting controversy at Lord's

England's Zak Crawley clashes with India's Shubman Gill. Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Crawley's last-over 'theatrics' ignite time-wasting controversy at Lord's

A GRIPPING third day of the third Test at Lord’s ended in controversy on Saturday (12) as England opener Zak Crawley was accused of time-wasting, with tempers flaring between players from both sides.

What began as a tense cricketing contest turned into a verbal battle, as England and India pointed fingers at each other over questionable delays late in the day.

Keep ReadingShow less
Iga Swiatek crushes Anisimova to claim historic Wimbledon title

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates with the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Amanda Anisimova of the US. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

Iga Swiatek crushes Anisimova to claim historic Wimbledon title

IGA SWIATEK took another stride towards tennis greatness by ruthlessly tearing apart American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0 and lifting her first Wimbledon trophy on Saturday (12).

The big occasion turned into a nightmare for Anisimova who became the first woman to lose a Wimbledon final by that painful scoreline since 1911 and the first to do so at any major since Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva at the 1988 French Open.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sinner-Getty

Sinner, who has already won the US Open and Australian Open, will now face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Sinner thrashes Djokovic to reach first Wimbledon final

Highlights:

     
  • Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in a rematch of the French Open final
  •  
  • Djokovic admits physical struggles and injury played a role in defeat
  •  
  • Despite loss, Djokovic says he plans to return to Wimbledon next year

JANNIK SINNER defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the Wimbledon semi-final on Friday to reach his first final at the All England Club. The world number one won 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 and will face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s final.

Keep ReadingShow less