Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Tahir, Raina ensure easy win for Chennai Super Kings over KKR

Imran Tahir spun a web before Suresh Raina found his mojo back with a half century as Chennai Super Kings inched closer towards another Play off qualification with a five-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL match on Sunday.

After Tahir's career-best 4 for 27 restricted KKR to 161 for 8, CSK coasted to the target in 19.4 overs as Raina anchored the chase with an unbeaten 58 off 42 balls with seven fours and a six.


Ravindra Jadeja also played an important cameo hitting 31 off 17 balls to pave the way for the team's seventh win in eight games.

Needing 24 runs off the last two overs, Jadeja smashed Harry Gurney for three successive fours to make it just a formality in the last over.

This was the defending champions fourth win on the trot as they consolidated their position atop the table with 14 points and one more win will virtually seal their spot in play-offs whose cut-off over the ears has been 16 points.

This was also their first win at the Eden Gardens since 2013 as they did a double on KKR who suffered a hat-trick of defeats for the first time since 2014 and set to slip out of their second place in the table. Incidentally, 161 is their lowest score at the Eden this season.

KKR next face Royal Challengers Bangalore here on April 19.

Sunil Narine was the pick of KKR bowling with figures 2/19 that included a wicket-maiden when he cleaned up Faf du Plessis (24) to end the powerplay.

But Raina held on at the other end with significant partnerships including a 40-run stand with skipper MS Dhoni.

It all seemed a walk in the park for CSK when Narine gave the biggest breakthrough dismissing Dhoni for 16 with team's score of 121/5, needing 41 runs from 26 balls.

But Raina held his nerves while Jadeja gave the finishing touches. On an Eden Gardens track where spinners had struggled so far, Tahir spun the match in favour of Chennai with his twin double blows in the 11th and 15th overs en route his career-best IPL figures that took him past Kagiso Rabada in the leading wicket-takers' tally.

Tahir removed an ominous-looking Chris Lynn (82 off 51 balls; 7x4, 6x6) and in a space of four balls removed the dangerous Andre Russell (10) for the first time under a score of 40 this season to put brakes on their scoring.

Tahir's bowling had such devastating effect that KKR managed just 28 runs from last five overs and went on to lose three more wickets to end up with a below-par total.

But it was a different script for KKR early on with a fit-again Lynn giving them a flying start en route to his second fifty this season that came off just 36 balls.

Having missed his team's last match because of flu, Lynn went ballistic against Deepak Chahar who bled 22 runs from his first two overs with the Aussie smashing the seamer for 4-6-4 in the third over.

Such was Lynn's dominance that the otherwise explosive Sunil Narine looked like a spectator at the other end with the Aussie having a share of 31 off 33 runs in the first four overs.

A 200-plus total looked imminent with Lynn looking dangerous and Russell starting to explode with a boundary and a six off Tahir.

But Tahir, aided by some brilliant catching from Faf du Plessis and the substitute Dhruv Shorey, made inroads removing Nitish Rana (21) and Robin Uthappa (0) in space of two balls.

CSK's catching was exceptional with Du Plessis charging in from long-off to dismiss Uthappa off first ball, then Shradul Thakur at deep square leg clung onto a flat hit from Lynn.

The big one was that of Shorey when he charged in for a swerving low catch to get rid off Russell, who looked in his usual explosive zone with 10 runs from 4 balls (1x4, 1x6).

More For You

James Bond reboot plans lighter, campier tone to attract younger fans

James Bond franchise to embrace humor and playfulness in its upcoming reboot, appealing to a new generation of fans

Instagram/jamesbondpostercollection

James Bond reboot plans lighter, campier tone to attract younger fans

The James Bond franchise is gearing up for a major shift as it prepares to reboot after Daniel Craig’s gritty, emotionally charged era. According to a report by The Times, the next version of 007 will ditch the brooding intensity of the recent films and return to the lighter, more playful tone of the Sean Connery and Roger Moore days. The goal? To appeal to a younger, meme-savvy audience.

The report suggests that the new Bond will embrace “quips and camp,” moving away from the “Shakespearean heft” of Craig’s portrayal. The idea behind this shift is to make the franchise more accessible and marketable to younger viewers, with a focus on humour, over-the-top villains, and shareable moments tailor-made for social media. While this might alarm fans who appreciated Craig’s grounded take, it’s a deliberate move to future-proof the series and keep it relevant in a rapidly changing and dynamic entertainment landscape.

The reboot comes amid ongoing challenges behind the scenes. Amazon, which acquired MGM in 2021, is reportedly working closely with Eon Productions to map out the franchise’s future. However, tensions have arisen over creative direction, particularly around potential spin-offs like a Moneypenny series or a young Bond prequel. For now, the focus remains on the mainline films, with casting for the new Bond still up in the air.

This isn’t the first time Bond has undergone a transformation. The franchise has always adapted to the times, from the suave charm of Connery to the gritty realism of Craig. The shift to a campier tone mirrors the success of films like Kingsman, which proved that audiences still enjoy spy stories with a sense of fun.

While some fans may be wary of the change, the move could breathe new life into the 60-year-old franchise. If done right, the next Bond could strike a balance between humour and heart, appealing to both longtime fans and a new generation. One thing’s for sure: 007’s next mission will be unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Keep ReadingShow less
King Charles to appear in Amazon documentary on environmental causes

King Charles to share his environmental vision in an upcoming Amazon documentary

Getty Images

King Charles to appear in Amazon documentary on environmental causes

King Charles is set to appear in a new documentary produced by Amazon Prime Video, focusing on his lifelong dedication to environmental causes and sustainable living. Filming has already begun at Dumfries House in Scotland, a location closely tied to his charity work. The documentary will explore the themes of his 2010 book, Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World, which advocates for a deeper connection between humanity and nature.

The project marks a shift for the Royal Family, which has traditionally partnered with British broadcasters like the BBC and ITV for major productions. However, Charles’s decision to collaborate with Amazon reflects a modern approach to reaching global audiences. This move follows in the footsteps of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have a multi-million-dollar deal with Netflix, Amazon’s rival streaming platform.

Keep ReadingShow less
Shoplifting surge costs retailers record £2.2bn

In the 12 months to September 1, 2024, a total of 45,000 cases involving violence or abuse were recorded (Photo: iStock)

Shoplifting surge costs retailers record £2.2bn

SHOPLIFTING across the UK has spiked in recent months costing stores a record £2.2 billion ($2.7bn) in losses, a leading retail organisation warned.

"Retail crime is spiralling out of control," the British Retail Consortium said in its latest annual report, adding that thieves were also becoming more violent towards staff.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer seeks strong protections for military base in Chagos deal

Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a meeting with business leaders on January 28, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Benjamin Cremel - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Starmer seeks strong protections for military base in Chagos deal

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam on Friday (31) spoke directly for the first time about the Chagos Islands deal, Starmer's office said.

Britain and its former colony reached a deal last October to hand back Chagos -- which it kept control of after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s -- provided a UK-US military base remains on the largest island, Diego Garcia.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tommy Robinson supporters and anti-racism groups to face off

Supporters of Tommy Robinson carry a banner in Parliament Square. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

Tommy Robinson supporters and anti-racism groups to face off

PROTESTERS supporting far-right activist Tommy Robinson and anti-racism campaigners will gather in central London on Saturday (1), with police deploying extra officers to maintain order and prevent clashes.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is serving an 18-month prison sentence for breaching a High Court injunction. His supporters, rallying under the banners "Stop the Isolation" and "Unite the Kingdom," will assemble near Waterloo Station from midday before marching to Whitehall.

Keep ReadingShow less