IPL | Parting shot: Dhoni faces red-hot Gill in blockbuster final

All-round effort steers Miller's Gujarat Titans to consecutive IPL final

Red-hot Shubman Gill smashed his third century of the IPL season to help defending champions Gujarat Titans hammer Mumbai Indians by 62 runs on Friday and set up a final against Chennai Super Kings.

Gill's 126 off 60 balls powered Gujarat to 233-3, a total they defended by bowling out five-time winners Mumbai for 171 in 18.2 overs in the final playoff, which started late due to rain in Ahmedabad.

Gill hit 10 sixes in his knock and put on a second-wicket stand of 138 with Sai Sudharsan, who made 43, to tear into the opposition attack at the world's biggest cricket stadium.

He became the leading batsman this season with 851 runs, surpassing Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis (730), before he reached his IPL best and the top score of this season.

Fast bowler Mohit Sharma took five wickets for Gujarat, who won last year's crown in a fairytale debut season, after a valiant 61 by Suryakumar Yadav.

The 132,000-capacity stadium had over 75,000 fans in attendance to witness the home team triumph.

The final will played on Sunday at the same venue after M.S. Dhoni's Chennai beat Gujarat in the first playoff earlier this week.

Opener Gill, who is tipped as the future of Indian batting, made the most of a reprieve on 30 when Tim David dropped him off England fast bowler Chris Jordan.

The 23-year-old Gill brought up his fifty in 32 balls and then exploded to smash sixes and reach his hundred in 49 balls, taking a bow amid a standing ovation.

He finally fell to Akash Madhwal and Sudharsan retired out before skipper Hardik Pandya, who made an unbeaten 13-ball 28, and Rashid Khan finished the innings on a high with 19 runs in the final over.

Mumbai's worries increased when wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan was injured after he was caught by the elbow of team-mate Jordan. He was later replaced by concussion substitute Vishnu Vinod.

Tilak Varma struck 43 off 14 balls as he smashed Mohammed Shami for four fours and a six in an over but was soon bowled by Rashid's leg spin.

Suryakumar attempted to mount the chase in his 38-ball knock and put on a key 51-run stand with Cameron Green, who hit 30 in a stop-start innings after being hit on the elbow by Pandya.

Suryakumar made his fifty in 33 balls but was bowled Mohit, who struck twice in one over to derail the innings.

Rashid trapped David lbw for two and hopes ended for Mumbai, who last won the crown in 2020.

Proteas hard-hitting batter David Miller did not bat for Gujarat but contributed in the field.

- AFP

Scores in brief:

GT 233-3 in 20 overs (Gill 129, Sudharsan 43, Chawla 1/45)

MI 171 all out in 18.2 overs (Yadav 61, Varma 43, Mohit 5/10, Rashid 2/33)

Gujarat Titans win by 62 runs

Gill ton steers Gujarat to competitive 233

Shubman Gill smashed a century as the Gujarat Titans posted a competitive 233-3 in their Qualifier encounter against the Mumbai Indians on Friday.

The winner of the match will face the Chennai Super Kings in Sunday's IPL final.

After being sent to bat first, Gill top-scored with 129 off 60 balls (hitting seven fours and 10 sixes) as he took on the Mumbai Indians attack.

Gill was eventually caught for after a sensational innings off the bowling of Akash Madhwal.

Sai Sudharsan retired hurt but struck 43 off 31 balls (hitting five fours and six). Skipper Hardik Pandya also scored a handy unbeaten 28 to take Gujarat to the target.

Scores in brief:

GT 233-3 in 20 overs (Gill 129, Sudharsan 43, Chawla 1/45)

The Mumbai Indians need 234 runs to win

TOSS:

Mumbai Indians have won the toss and will bowl first in their Qualifier 2 encounter against the Gujarat Titans.

Teams

Mumbai:

Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma (capt), Cam Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Chris Jordan, Piyush Chawla, Jason Behrendorff, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal

Titans:

Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya (capt), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami

Rain delayed the toss for the final IPL playoff between defending champions Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians in Ahmedabad on Friday.

The world's biggest cricket stadium remained covered after a heavy spell of rain even after it stopped, leaving puddles of water on the ground and dark clouds still hovering.

In the case of a washout, the team higher in the standings - table-toppers Gujarat - would move into the final to face Chennai Super Kings, who won the first playoff.

Five-time winners Mumbai hammered Lucknow Super Giants in a knockout match on Wednesday to book their meeting with Gujarat, who lost the opening playoff to Chennai.

The final is scheduled at the same venue on Sunday.

- AFP

Mumbai Indians setup final eliminator against Gujarat after overpowering Lucknow

Akash Madhwal took five wickets for as many runs to lead Mumbai Indians to a crushing 81-run win in the second IPL playoff game and knock Lucknow Super Giants out of the tournament on Wednesday.

Cameron Green (41) and Suryakumar Yadav (33) put on 66 to help guide five-time champions Mumbai to 182-8 after they elected to bat first in the knockout contest in Chennai.

Madhwal then returned figures of 5-5 in 3.3 overs to dismiss Lucknow for 101 as Mumbai booked a meeting with holders Gujarat Titans in the next play-off encounter on Friday. The winners of that clash will meet Chennai Super Kings in the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Lucknow's innings imploded as they collapsed from 69-2 to be bowled out in 16.3 overs, losing three key wickets to run outs.

Green, who hit his maiden T20 century in Mumbai's previous win, looked in control during his 23-ball knock until his departure. Naveen-ul-Haq, who took four wickets for Lucknow, sent back Suryakumar and Green, bowled by a slower off-cutter from the Afghanistan pace bowler, in the space of three deliveries to push Mumbai onto the back foot.

Tilak Varma hit back with a quickfire 26 and a 43-run stand with Tim David, who was out-caught for 13 after unsuccessfully reviewing a full toss for being over waist-height.

Naveen finished with 4-38 and Yash Thakur took three wickets but despite their efforts Mumbai's impact sub Nehal Wadhera boosted the total with his 12-ball 23. Lucknow lost their openers early, including impact player Kyle Mayers for 18 before Australia's Marcus Stoinis attempted to pull the chase together in his 27-ball 40. But Madhwal struck with successive balls, including getting the dangerous Nicholas Pooran caught behind for a golden duck. Stoinis, who crossed 400 runs this season to be his team's standout performer, was run out after a mid-pitch collision with non-striker Deepak Hooda with both batsmen watching the ball.

The innings fell further apart with two more run outs sending back Krishnappa Gowtham and Hooda.

Lucknow, who made their IPL debut last season with Gujarat as the league grew to 10 teams, fell at the same hurdle in the previous edition.

The neutral venue for both teams had many empty seats, in contrast to the nearly full stadium on Tuesday when home hero M.S. Dhoni's Chennai made the final with a win over Gujarat.

-AFP

INNINGS

After opting to bat, the Mumbai Indians ended on 182/8 in their IPL eliminator against the Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday.

It's a score that's quite competitive on a pitch that will slow up during LSG's turn at the crease.

The top scorers for Mumbai were Cameron Green and Suryakuma Yadav (33), while Naveen-ul-Haq (4/39) kept LSG in the contest on the bowling front.

Scores in brief:

Mumbai Indians 182/8 (Green 41, Yadav 33, Naveen-ul-Haq 4/39)

TOSS

Mumbai Indians won the toss, and they will bat first. NO South Africans on show today unfortunately. 

TEAMS

Lucknow Super Giants: Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Prerak Mankad, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran (w), Krunal Pandya (c), Krishnappa Gowtham, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Yash Thakur, Mohsin Khan

Subs: Kyle Mayers, Daniel Sams, Yudhvir Singh, Swapnil Singh, Amit Mishra.

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (w), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David, Tilak Varma, Chris Jordan, Hrithik Shokeen, Piyush Chawla, Jason Behrendorff, Akash Madhwal

Subs: Ramandeep Singh, Kumar Kartikeya, Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Sandeep Warrier.

Today's IPL qualifier sees Lucknow Super Giants taking on Mumbai Indians.

The winner of this clash then faces Gujarat Titans for a chance to play in the final against Chennai Super Kings.

Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings secure IPL final birth after qualifier win over Gujarat Titans

Ravindra Jadeja starred with bat and ball as Chennai Super Kings beat holders Gujarat Titans by 15 runs on Tuesday to enter the IPL final that could be skipper MS Dhoni's farewell.

Four-time winners Chennai posted 172-7, a total their bowlers defended as they bowled out Gujarat for 157 in a play-off believed to be the last home match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium for the 41-year-old Dhoni.

The left-handed Jadeja returned figures of 2-18 with his spin bowling following his 22 runs, which boosted the Chennai total after Ruturaj Gaikwad's 60 on an awkward pitch for batting.

Fireworks lit up the sky as Chennai made their 10th Indian Premier League final.

Gujarat, led by Hardik Pandya, will have another shot at making the final, which is on Sunday in Ahmedabad, when they take on the winner of the second play-off between Lucknow Super Giants and five-time champions Mumbai Indians.

The spotlight remained on Dhoni, who is India's most decorated player, leading his country to two World Cup triumphs, including the inaugural T20 crown in 2007 and has played mentor to younger heroes, including Virat Kohli.

Believed to be playing his last IPL as a player, Dhoni has attracted huge crowds across venues, with fans turning up in Chennai's yellow as a tribute to the cricketing great. His home venue was nearly packed to capacity as fans cheered every move of their hero, who raised the noise when he came into bat.

But the crowd soon fell silent as the superstar, who has been troubled with a knee injury in this season but has not explicitly said he is retiring, fell to Mohit Sharma for one off two balls. Earlier, Gaikwad registered his fourth half-century of the season as he capitalised on a reprieve on two when he was dismissed in the second over, only for the delivery to be called no-ball. He hit back with a six and four and soon converted Chennai's modest start to a strong opening stand of 87 with New Zealand's Devon Conway, who made 40.

Chennai wobbled after Gaikwad's departure, but Jadeja's 16-ball cameo, which included two sixes, and one hit over the fence by England's Moeen Ali in the final over fired Chennai to what turned out to be a winning total.

Shubman Gill attempted to drive Gujarat's chase with his 42, but the rest of the batting faltered.

Fast bowler Deepak Chahar, who took down Gill, and the Sri Lankan duo of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana also took two wickets each.

Rashid Khan attempted to pull out a rabbit in his 16-ball 30 but fell in the 19th over, and Pathirana sealed the deal on the final ball.

- AFP

INNINGS

After they were asked to bat, the Chennai Super Kings posted 172/7in their IPL play-off against the Gujarat Titans on Tuesday.

That score was largely driven by an impressive opening partnership between Devon Conway (40) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (60), but CSK would have hoped for more given the platform the pair has set for the innings.

The Titans fought their way back into the contest impressively after first removing Gaikwad, with Mohit Sharma (2/31) and Mohammed Shami (2/28) the pick of the bowlers. 

Scores in brief

CSK 172/7 (Conway 40, Gaikwad 60, Shami 2/28, Sharma 2/31)

TOSS

Gujarat Titans have won the toss, and they will bowl first. 

TEAMS

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (w), Hardik Pandya (c), Dasun Shanaka, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Darshan Nalkande, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Mohammed Shami

Subs: Vijay Shankar, Srikar Bharat, Sai Sudharsan, Jayant Yadav, Shivam Mavi.

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (w/c), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana

Subs: Matheesha Pathirana, Mitchell Santner, Subhranshu Senapati, Shaik Rasheed, Akash Singh.

Shubman Gill hit an unbeaten 104 to trump Virat Kohli's record century as holders Gujarat Titans knocked Royal Challengers Bangalore out of the IPL with a six-wicket victory on Sunday.

The result allowed five-time winners Mumbai Indians to fill the fourth play-off spot after they hammered Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in the first match of the day.

Gill starred in the final group match with a 52-ball knock that steered Gujarat to victory with five balls to spare.

Gill hit the winning six to raise his second straight ton and the event's third of the day after Cameron Green's match-winning 100 for Mumbai and then Kohli's 101 not out.

Kohli hit his second successive hundred and seventh in the IPL to overtake Chris Gayle's six and steer Bangalore to 197-5 in a match that started an hour late due to rain in Bengaluru.

The effort was in vain as Kohli's wait for an elusive IPL title goes on for another year.

Mumbai will play Lucknow Super Giants, who became the third team to make the play-offs on Saturday, in the eliminator next week.

Table-toppers Gujarat and second-placed Chennai Super Kings will clash in the first qualifier on Tuesday.

The winner of Qualifier 1 will head straight to the final in Ahmedabad on May 28 and the loser will play the winner of the eliminator.

Kohli started strongly in a 67-run opening partnership with skipper Faf du Plessis, who made 28 to stay on top of the batting chart with 730 runs.Kohli, who made a match-winning 100 in Bangalore's previous game, had moved behind Du Plessis in the batting list with 639 runs but Gill toppled the senior star to take second spot with 674 runs.

In the first match, Green starred for Mumbai with his first ever T20 century as he hit a 47-ball unbeaten 100 to drive his team home with two overs to spare.

Green, a big buy for Mumbai for $2.11 million in the auction, stood out with eight fours and eight sixes.

After Rohit Sharma's departure, Green kept up the charge and put on an unbeaten partnership with Suryakumar Yadav, who hit 25, to register their eighth win in 14 group matches.

Medium-pace bowler Akash Madhwal set up victory with figures of 4-37 to check Hyderabad to 200-5, a total that looked to go bigger but for some disciplined bowling.

Hyderabad, led by Aiden Markram, took the wooden spoon in the 10-team table. -AFP

Scores in brief:

Gujarat Titans 198/4 (Gill 104, Shankar 53, Siraj 2-32) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 197/5(Kohli 101, Du Plessis 28, Ahmad 2-39) by six wickets.

It was not to be for Royal Challengers Bangalore as the ‘Prince of India’, Shubman Gill, scored a second century (104 off 53) in two matches to thwart the hosts hopes of qualifying for the Indian Premier League playoffs.

Gujarat Titans won by six wickets with five balls to spare as they chased down 198.

It was disappointment for Faf du Plessis and his men from Bangalore and their defeat means Mumbai have reached the playoffs at their expense.

More to follow...

Scores in brief:

Gujarat Titans 198/4 (Gill 104, Shankar 53, Siraj 2-32) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 197/5( Kohli 101, Du Plessis 28, Ahmad 2-39) by six wickets.

INNINGS REPORT: Kohli ton keeps Bangalore playoff hopes burning against Titans

Thanks to a death-overs onslaught of Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bangalore posted a total of 197/5 after the table-topping Gujarat Titans put the hosts in to bat following a rain delay to the start of their Indian Premier League match on Sunday.

Captain Faf du Plessis’s (28 off 19) was the first wicket to fall when he was caught off the bowling of Noor Ahmad and it was left to his opening partner, Kohli, to play the anchoring role in Bangalore’s innings as wickets fell around him.

Once the miserly bowling of Rashid Khan (1-24) had come to an end, Kohli opened the taps in the final overs in the hopes of propelling Bangalore past the 200 mark, claiming his second century in two games in the process, with 101 off 61 balls.

Although they fell short of 200, the partnership of Kohli and Anuj Rawat (23 off 15 not out) put up 64 runs of 5.4 overs.

Bangalore must win this match to qualify for the playoffs.

Scores in brief

Royal Challengers Bangalore 197/5 (Kohli 101, Du Plessis 28, Ahmad 2/39)

After a long rain delay, the game has now started. 

RCB need to win this to qualify for the playoffs ...

TOSS

Titans chose to field

TEAMS

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 Glenn Maxwell, 4 Mahipal Lomror, 5 Michael Bracewell, 6 Anuj Rawat, 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Harshal Patel, 9 Wayne Parnell, 10 Vijaykumar Vyshak, 11 Mohammed Siraj. The subs are: Himanshu Sharma, S Prabhudesai, Finn Allen, Sonu Yadav and Akash Deep

Gujarat Titans: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Hardik Pandya (capt), 4 David Miller, 5 Dasun Shanaka, 6 Rahul Tewatia, 7 Rashid Khan, 8 Mohit Sharma, 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Yash Dayal. The subs are: Vijay shankar, KS Bharat, Shivam Mavi, Sai Kishore and Abhinav Manohar

GREEN HITS FIRST T20 TON TO KEEP MUMBAI PLAY-OFF HOPES ALIVE

Australia's Cameron Green hit his first-ever T20 century to lead the Mumbai Indians to a crushing eight-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad and keep their IPL play-off hopes alive on Sunday.

Green made an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls and put on a key stand of 128 with skipper Rohit Sharma (56) as Mumbai achieved their victory target of 201 with two overs to spare at the Wankhede Stadium, their home ground.

Mumbai, five-time winners of the Indian Premier League, now await the result of the second match of the day between Royal Challengers Bangalore and holders Gujarat Titans to see if they can clinch the last remaining play-off spot.

The result eliminated the Rajasthan Royals from the play-off race while Bangalore, led by Faf du Plessis, remain in contention.

Bangalore need a win to make the next round, but a loss would allow Mumbai to go through.

Table-toppers Gujarat and second-placed Chennai Super Kings will clash in the first qualifier next week.

Lucknow, who became the third team to book their play-off berth, await their opponent in the eliminator.

The winner of Qualifier 1 will head straight to the final in Ahmedabad on May 28 and the loser will play the winner of the eliminator.Green, a big buy for Mumbai for $2.11 million in the auction, stood out on Sunday with eight fours and eight sixes.

After Rohit's departure, Green kept up the charge and put on an unbeaten partnership with Suryakumar Yadav, who hit 25, to register their eighth win in 14 group matches.

Medium-pace bowler Akash Madhwal set up victory with figures of 4-37 to check Hyderabad to 200-5, a total that looked to go bigger but for some disciplined bowling.

Openers Mayank Agarwal (83) and Vivrant Sharma (69) put on 140 runs to lay the foundations for the total, which proved insufficient.

The departure of Sharma and then Agarwal made Hyderabad slide with the rest of the batting falling apart.

Hyderabad took the wooden spoon in the 10-team table.

MATCH REPORT: Nervous wait for Mumbai after Green, Sharma secure win against Sunrisers

A brisk partnership from Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma and Cameron Green led the charge as the host won their Indian Premier League match against Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets at the Wankhede Stadium.

The hosts were chasing 201 after Sunrisers tallied 200/5 after the first innings and after Rohit (57 off 37) was caught off the bowling of Mayank Dagar, Suryakamar Yadav (25 off 16 not out) stepped in as trusty side-kick to Green, who scored a quick ton off 47 to win the match with 12 balls to spare.

Mumbai needed to win the match to keep their hopes of reaching the playoffs and they must wait on the outcome between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujerat Titans, hoping for the table toppers to do them a favour in today's second match. 

However, that match has been delayed due to rain.

More to follow...

INNINGS

Asked to bat first, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 200 for 5 in their 20 overs against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday.

That total was driven by an opening partnership between Vivrant Sharma (69) and Mayank Agarwal (83) who put on 140 in 13.5 overs.

Heinrich Klaasen scored 18 off 13, while Akash Madhwal was the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai with 4/37.

While Sunrisers are not able to qualify for the playoffs of the tournament, Mumbai need to win to keep themselves in contention.

Scores in brief:

Sunrisers Hyderabad 200/5 (Sharma 69, Agarwal 83, Madhwal 4/37)

TOSS 

Mumbai have won the toss, and they will bowl first. 

TEAMS

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (w), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Chris Jordan, Piyush Chawla, Jason Behrendorff, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal

Subs: Ramandeep Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Tristan Stubbs, Tilak Varma, Sandeep Warrier

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Mayank Agarwal, Vivrant Sharma, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen (w), Harry Brook, Nitish Reddy, Glenn Phillips,  Sanvir Singh, Mayank Dagar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umran Malik

Subs: Mayank Markande, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Akeal Hosein, Abdul Samad

Today's first IPL clash is Mumbai Indians v Sunrisers Hyderbad.

Mumbai need the win to keep their chances of making the playoff alive. 

MATCH REPORT: Lucknow Super Giants won a thriller at Eden Gardens by one run over Kolkata Knight Riders

Lucknow Super Kings survived an unbeaten blitz of 67 by Rinku Singh to edge Kolkata Knight Riders by one run and qualify for the Indian Premier League play-offs on Saturday.

Nicholas Pooran's 58 guided Lucknow to 176-8, a total that was threatened by Rinku, a left-hand batsman, who smashed four sixes in his 33-ball knock but Kolkata ended on 175-7.

The result ensured a top-two finish for Chennai Super Kings, who hammered hosts Delhi Capitals by 77 runs in their march to the play-offs in the first match of the day.

Four-time champions Chennai, led by M.S. Dhoni, will take on holders Gujarat Titans, who top the 10-team table, in the first qualifier next week.

The winner will head straight to the final in Ahmedabad on May 28 and the loser playing the winner of the "eliminator" between teams three and four in the second qualifier.

Two-time champions Kolkata bowed out of the race for the top four, leaving five-time champions Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore - both the teams play their respective matches on Sunday - and Rajasthan Royals fighting for the remaining spot.

Kolkata began strongly to put Lucknow in trouble at 73-5 before the left-handed Pooran hit back in his 30-ball blitz to guide his team to 176-8 at Eden Gardens.

In reply, England's Jason Roy, who hit 45, and Venkatesh Iyer gave Kolkata a brisk start in their stand of 61 in 5.5 overs before the Lucknow spinners hit back.

Kolkata lost track after Roy's wicket but Rinku, who became an IPL sensation with his five sixes off five balls last month, made Kolkata dream again even when they needed 40 off the last two overs.

Scores in brief:

Lucknow Super Giants 176/8 (Pooran 58, De Kock 28, Sunil Narine 2/28)

Kolkata Knight Riders 175/7 (Singh 67, Roy 45, Ravi Bishnoi 2/23) 

INNINGS REPORT: Pooran purring, De Kock chips in as Lucknow Super Giants post competitive 176

No 7 batter Nicholas Pooran ended up being the player to help Lucknow Super Giants power to a competitive 176/8 in their 20 overs against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Pooran scored 58 from 30 balls and was the Super Giants' top-scorer, who had other 20s contributions from Quinton de Kock (28), Prerak Mankad (26) and Ayush Badoni (25).

Sunil Narine's 2/28 and Vaibhav Arora's 2/30 in their four overs did the damage for KKR, who needed to chase down 177 for victory.

MATCH REPORT: SA-born Kiwi Conway, Gaikwad power Chennai Super Kings into IPL playoffs

New Zealand's SA-born cricketer Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad smashed half-centuries to fire Chennai Super Kings into the IPL play-offs with a thumping 77-run win over Delhi Capitals on Saturday.

The left-handed Conway (87) and Gaikwad (79) put on a blazing opening stand of 141 to steer Chennai to a mammoth 223-3 after electing to bat first in Delhi.

Skipper David Warner hit a valiant 86 but Chennai kept down Delhi, who are coached by Ricky Ponting, to 146-9 and book their spot in the top four. They join holders and table-toppers Gujarat Titans, who are assured of a top-two finish.

Four-time winners Chennai have finished the group stage with eight wins and can stay as the second-ranked team in the table, depending on the day's second result between Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants.

The season remains special for Chennai skipper M.S. Dhoni, who is believed to be playing his last season and has attracted huge crowds wearing the teams' yellow as a tribute to the legendary cricketer.

Dhoni, 41, though has kept the fans guessing and still not clarified on his swansong.

Delhi, who were the first team to get eliminated from the play-off race, bowed out with nine losses and five wins.

Batsmen set up victory for Chennai after Gaikwad and Conway, in his 52-ball blitz, got cracking on the opposition bowlers with fours and sixes.

Chetan Sakariya sent back Gaikwad, who hit seven sixes in his 50-ball knock, but Conway kept up the charge in another attacking partnership of 54 with Shivam Dube, who hit 22.

Dube's wicket raised the noise as Dhoni walked in with thunderous applause and stood unbeaten with Ravindra Jadeja, who hit a seven-ball 20.

Delhi were never in the chase as Warner played a lone hand in his attempt to drive the teams' reply in his 58-ball knock but got little support from the other end.

Pace spearhead Deepak Chahar took three wickets while Sri Lankan duo of Matheesha Pathirana (fast bowler) and Maheesh Theekshana (off-spinner) took two each.

Scores in brief:

Chennai Super Kings 223/3 (Conway 87, Gaikwad 79, Sakariya 1/36)

Delhi Capitals 146/9 (Warner 86, Chahar 3/22, Pathirana 2/22)

- AFP.

SA-born Conway stars as Chennai Super Kings post imposing total

Devon Conway top-scored with 87 off 52 balls as Chennai Super Kings posted 223/3 off 20 overs in their IPL clash against Delhi Capitals on Saturday.

Conway, who was born in South Africa but now plays for New Zealand, was well-assisted by opening partner Ruturaj Gaikwad, who scored 79 off 50 balls. 

The pair put on 141 for the first wicket.

Shivam Dube (22 off 9) and Ravindra Jadeja (20 not out off 7) also chipped in with cameos.

TOSS UPDATE: Delhi Capitals v Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings chose to bat.

Delhi Capitals: David Warner (c), Yash Dhull, Phil Salt (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Aman Khan, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Chetan Sakariya, Khaleel Ahmed, Anrich Nortje

Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Maheesh Theekshana

Buttler's record 5th IPL duck in a season is not enough to stop Royals from downing Punjab Kings

Rajasthan Royals kept their IPL playoff hopes alive on Friday with a 4-wicket win over the Punjab Kings.

The loss means the Kings are out of contention for the knockout phase of the tournament. After they were asked to bat, Punjab Kings struggled initially before Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma helped their side post 187/5 in their 20 overs.

Curran (49* off 31) and Sharma (44 off 28) put on 64 for the fifth wicket in just over seven overs after the Kings were reeling at 50/4. 

Curran and Shahrukh Khan (44* off 28) accelerated the scoring in the final overs as they put on 73 for the sixth wicket in just 6.1 overs.

Navdeep Saini was the pick of the Rajasthan Royals bowlers with 3/40.

In reply, things couldn't have started off worse for the Royals as Kagiso Rabada (2/40) removed Jos Buttler for a duck, his fifth of the season and an IPL record.

Devdutt Padikkal (51 off 30) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (50 off 36) kept the Royals on track before a flurry of wickets kept Punjab in with a chance.

Dhruv Jurel held his nerve and ended the match with a six and two balls to spare. 

Scores in brief:

Punjab Kings: 187/5 (Sharma 44, Curran 49*, Khan 49*, Saini 3/40)

Rajasthan Royals: 189/6 after 19.4 overs (Paddikal 51, Jaiswal 50)

INNINGS

After they were asked to bat, Punjab Kings struggled initially against the Rajasthan Royals in their IPL clash before Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma helped their side post 187/5 in their 20 overs.

Curran (49*  off 31) and Sharma (44 off 28) put on 64 for the fifth wicket in just over seven overs after the Kings were reeling at 50/4. 

Curran and Shahrukh Khan (44* off 28) accelerated the scoring in the final overs as they put on 73 for the sixth wicket in just 6.1 overs.

Navdeep Saini was the pick of the Rajasthan Royals bowlers with 3/40.

Scores in brief:

Punjab Kings: 187/5 (Sharma 44, Curran 49*, Khan 49*, Saini 3/40)

TOSS

Rajasthan Royals have won the toss, and they will bowl first. 

TEAMS

Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Atharva Taide, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma (w), Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh

PBKS Impact Subs: Nathan Ellis, Sikandar Raza, Rishi Dhawan, Mohit Rathee, Matthew Short

Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (w/c), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Adam Zampa, Trent Boult, Navdeep Saini, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal

RR Impact Subs: Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Akash Vasisht, Kuldeep Sen, Murugan Ashwin

Today's IPL clash sees Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals.

Both teams need a win to keep in the playoff race, although even with a win, they need other results to go their way in the coming days.

Klaasen's heroics not enough as breathtaking Faf, Kohli partnership secure win for RCB over Sunrisers 

Former India captain Virat Kohli smashed a masterful century as his Royal Challengers Bangalore thumped Sunrisers Hyderabad -- for whom South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen hit a ton of his own -- by eight wickets in the IPL on Thursday.

It was the first time in Indian Premier League history that both sides have scored a century in a game.

The win leaves Bangalore in control of their own destiny in the race to the playoffs, moving up into the fourth and last qualifying spot.

They are tied with Mumbai Indians on 14 points but have a superior net run rate with one game to go -- at home to table-topping Gujarat Titans on Sunday.

Kohli started his innings with two consecutive fours as Bangalore chased the hosts' 186-5, and went on to hit another 10 boundaries and four sixes.

He brought up his sixth IPL ton -- equal top with Chris Gayle -- and first since 2019 smashing a six over deep midwicket off Bhuvneshwar Kumar after 62 balls.

The player popularly known as "King Kohli", but whose form has varied in recent years, raised his bat and fell to his knees in celebration.

He was caught at cow corner on the very next ball attempting another slog.

"My intent from ball one was to go after the bowlers," he said afterwards.

"There was a dip but I wanted to take it up in the right time. Happy that it all came together nicely.

"I'm myself on the field and think it resonates with the people. Great to see people happy when I perform."

His fellow opener and captain Faf du Plessis fell four balls later having made 71 off 47.

He remains the leading scorer in 2023 with 702 runs in 13 outings, and their 172-run partnership gave the duo the most runs in an IPL season for an opening pair.

Michael Bracewell saw RCB home with four balls to spare.

It was a bitter disappointment for Klaasen, who brought up his maiden IPL ton after just 49 balls -- the second-fastest ever for his bottom-of-the-table franchise -- with a six off Harshal Patel.

Two balls later he was out for 104.

"Pretty special feeling, fantastic crowd, glad I got it at home," said the wicketkeeper-batsman, who hit a 54-ball ODI century for South Africa against West Indies in March.

All the IPL teams have now played 13 games each, with the last round of league matches kicking off Friday.

Gujarat have 18 points and will finish top. Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, with 15 points each, are favourites to take two of the remaining qualification spots, but Bangalore can claim second place if they beat Gujarat and other results go their way.

Three other teams -- Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Punjab Kings -- are on 12 points, and have only mathematical chances of qualifying.

Scores in brief:

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 186/5 (Klaasen 104, Brook 27*, Bracewell 2/13)

Royal Challengers Bangalore: 187/2 in 19.2 overs (Kohli 100, Du Plessis 71)

- AFP

INNINGS UPDATE

A brilliant century by South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen helped the Sunrisers Hyderabad post 186/5 in their IPL clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Thursday.

After Faf du Plessis won the toss and asked Sunrisers to bat, Klaasen (104 off 50 balls) came in at the fall of the second wicket on 28 and with his side in trouble. He dominated a 76-run partnership with captain Aiden Markram (18) and then, together with Harry Brook (27*), put on 74 for the fourth wicket.

Klaasen was aggressive throughout, hitting 8 fours and 6 sixes in his century.

While Sunrisers cannot qualify for the playoffs, Royal Challengers need a win to stay in contention. 

Scores in brief:

Sunrisers Hyderabad 186/5 (Klaasen 104, Brook 27*, Bracewell 2/13)

TOSS

Royal Challengers Bangalore have won the toss, and they will bowl first.

TEAMS

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen (w), Harry Brook, Glenn Phillips, Abdul Samad, Kartik Tyagi, Mayank Dagar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nitish Reddy

Subs: Mayank Markande, T Natarajan, Vivrant Sharma, Sanvir Singh, Akeal Hosein

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Anuj Rawat (w), Shahbaz Ahmed, Michael Bracewell, Wayne Parnell, Harshal Patel, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj

Subs: Dinesh Karthik, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Himanshu Sharma, Suyash Prabhudessai, Kedar Jadhav

Rampant Rilee smashes 82* off just 37 balls as Delhi Capitals down Punjab Kings in IPL clash

South Africa's Rilee Rossouw was in dominant form on Wednesday as he helped the Delhi Capitals post 213/2 after they were asked to bat in their IPL clash against Punjab Kings.

Punjab King replied with 198 for 8 in their 20 overs, with Liam Livingstone almost getting them over the line, but ultimately, the Capitals won by 15 runs.

Rossouw (82*) had a solid foundation to work on after openers David Warner (46) and Prithvi Shaw (54) put on 94 for the first wicket.

The left-hander smashed six four and six sixes in an innings of just 37 balls where he dominated the Kings' bowling.

After an impressive opening over in which he only conceded two runs and beat the bat on several occasions, Proteas speedster Kagiso Rabada then struggled, conceding 36 runs in his three overs.

In reply, the Kings stayed in the contest but let the run rate get too far ahead of them, with Anrich Nortje (2/36) impressing with the ball.

While Atharva Taide (55) and Livingstone (94 off 48 balls) impressed with their hitting at times, the Kings couldn't get over the line and with the loss, their chances of now making the IPL playoffs are very slim.

Scores in brief

Delhi Capitals: 213/2 after 20 overs (Rossouw 82*, Shaw 54, Curren 2/36)

Punjab Kings: 198/8 (Livingstone 94, Taide 55, Nortje 2/36.

Rampant Rilee smashes 82* as Delhi Capitals set imposing total against Punjab

South Africa's Rilee Rossouw was in dominant form on Wednesday as he helped the Delhi Capitals post 213/2 after they were asked to bat in their IPL clash against Punjab Kings.

Rossouw (82*) had a solid foundation to work on after openers David Warner (46) and Prithvi Shaw (54) put on 94 for the first wicket.

The left-hander smashed six four and six sixes in an innings of just 37 balls. 

After an impressive opening over in which he only conceded two runs and beat the bat on several occasions, Proteas speedster Kagiso Rabada then struggled, conceding 36 runs in his three overs.

Scores in brief

Delhi Capitals: 213/2 after 20 overs (Rossouw 82*, Shaw 54, Curren 2/36)

TOSS

Punjab Kings won the toss and they will bowl first.

TEAMS

Delhi Capitals: David Warner (c), Prithvi Shaw, Philip Salt (w), Rilee Rossouw, Axar Patel, Aman Hakim Khan, Yash Dhull, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed

Impact Subs: Mukesh Kumar, Abishek Porel, Ripal Patel, Praveen Dubey, Sarfaraz Khan

Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Atharva Taide, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (w), Sam Curran, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh

Impact Subs: Prabhsimran Singh, Sikandar Raza, Matthew Short, Rishi Dhawan, Mohit Rathee

Our IPL clash sees Punjab Kings up against Delhi Capitals. 

Punjab can still make the playoffs, but the Capitals are languishing at the bottom of the table.

Spectacular Stoinis sets up Lucknow's win over Mumbai

Marcus Stoinis' unbeaten 89 and last over heroics by Mohsin Khan helped Lucknow Super Giants bolster their play-off hopes with a five-run win over Mumbai Indians in IPL on Tuesday.

Mohsin, an up and coming left-arm quick who returned figures of 1-26, defended 11 off the final over as Mumbai fell short of their 178-run victory target in Lucknow.

Tim David gave Lucknow a scare with his unbeaten 19-ball 32 but he and fellow Australian Cameron Green could do little against Mohsin's yorkers and discipline at the death.

Impact player Yash Thakur and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi took two wickets each to add to Lucknow's bowling attack.

Lucknow swapped places with five-time winners Mumbai to jump to third in their bid for a top-four finish in the group stage for a play-off berth.

"We just lost the game. We didn't play well enough to win," said Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma.

"There were moments we didn't win. Unfortunate but we need to keep our heads high."

Holders Gujarat Titans have already booked their spot and assured a top-two finish. Seven off the 10 teams are fighting for the three remaining play-off places.

Stoinis set up victory for Lucknow after he put on key partnerships including an 89-run stand with skipper Krunal Pandya, who retired hurt on 49, to guide Lucknow to 177-3.

The Australian all-rounder walked in at 35-3 and rebuild the Lucknow innings with the left-handed Pandya on a not-so-easy pitch to bat.

Pandya was cramping in his knock and retired one short of fifty but Stoinis soon changed gears as he raised his fifty with a six and lay into Chris Jordan in a 24-run 18th over.

He put on an unbeaten 60-run stand off 24 balls with Nicholas Pooran, who made eight, and finished the innings with a six.

"We have shown that we are a real team, there no super stars, there are different people performing for us," said man of the match Stoinis.

In reply, Ishan Kishan smashed 59 and put on a 90-run opening stand with Rohit, who made 37.

Bishnoi sent the two back in the pavilion and Thakur got the big wicket of Suryakumar Yadav, for seven. Mumbai soon slipped to 145-5 in 17.4 overs.

David attempted to pull the chase with Green for company but Mohsin and Lucknow held their nerve.

 - AFP

INNINGS UPDATE

Marcus Stoinis pulled off an excellent rescue at for Lucknow Super Giants when they were asked to bat first in their IPL clash against Mumbai Indians.

Stoinis (89* off 47) top scored and together with skipper Krunal Pandya 49 helped Lucknow out of the mire at 35/3 as they eventually posted 177 for 3 in their 20 overs. 

Quinton de Kock could only manage 16, while Jason Behrendorff (2/30) was the pick of the Mumbai bowlers. 

Scores in brief:

Lucknow Super Giants 177/3 (Stoinis 89*, Pandya 49, Behrendorff 2/30)

TOSS

Mumbai have won the toss, and they will bowl.

TEAMS

Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock (w), Deepak Hooda, Prerak Mankad, Krunal Pandya (c), Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Naveen-ul-Haq, Ravi Bishnoi, Swapnil Singh, Mohsin Khan

Subs: Kyle Mayers, Yash Thakur, Krishnappa Gowtham, Daniel Sams, Yudhvir Singh Charak

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (w), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Hrithik Shokeen, Chris Jordan, Piyush Chawla, Jason Behrendorff, Akash Madhwal

Subs: Ramandeep Singh , Vishnu Vinod, Tristan Stubbs, Kumar Kartikeya, Raghav Goyal

Gill's ton fires Gujarat to IPL play-offs, Markram's Hyderabad out

India opener Shubman Gill hit his maiden IPL century to help holders Gujarat Titans secure their play-off berth with a thumping 34-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday.

Gill, who smashed 101 off 58 balls, put on a 147-run stand with Sai Sudarshan, who made 47, to guide table-toppers Gujarat to 188-9 in Ahmedabad.

Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma both took four wickets to limit Hyderabad to 154-9 as Gujarat became the first team to secure one of the four play-off spots.

Gujarat, who had a fairytale debut season when they won the title last year, are also assured of a top-two finish in the group phase.

Hyderabad, the 2016 champions, fell out of the play-off race, making it seven teams fighting for three remaining play-off places.

Gujarat lost Wriddhiman Saha, for a duck, on the third ball of the match but Gill hit Fazalhaq Farooqi for four straight boundaries to set the pace.

Gill, who jumped to second in the batting charts with 576 runs behind Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis (631), smashed 13 fours and a six and Sudarshan was also punishing in his 36-ball stay.

Hyderabad hit back with wickets and despite Gill's century in 56 balls, Gujarat managed just 34 runs in the last five overs and lost seven wickets.

Bowlers did well to check Gujarat's total, which looked like going over 200, as seam bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned figures of 5-30 but the efforts were vain.

Hyderabad were never in the chase after they fell to 12-3 with Shami taking two and further slipped to 59-7.

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen then smashed 64 and put on 68 runs with Kumar, who made 27, but the stand only reduced their margin of defeat.

Gill's ton fires Gujarat to IPL play-offs, Markram's Hyderabad out

India opener Shubman Gill hit his maiden IPL century to help holders Gujarat Titans secure their play-off berth with a thumping 34-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday.

Gill, who smashed 101 off 58 balls, put on a 147-run stand with Sai Sudarshan, who made 47, to guide table-toppers Gujarat to 188-9 in Ahmedabad.

Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma both took four wickets to limit Hyderabad to 154-9 as Gujarat became the first team to secure one of the four play-off spots.

Gujarat, who had a fairytale debut season when they won the title last year, are also assured of a top-two finish in the group phase.

Hyderabad, the 2016 champions, fell out of the play-off race, making it seven teams fighting for three remaining play-off places.

Gujarat lost Wriddhiman Saha, for a duck, on the third ball of the match but Gill hit Fazalhaq Farooqi for four straight boundaries to set the pace.

Gill, who jumped to second in the batting charts with 576 runs behind Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis (631), smashed 13 fours and a six and Sudarshan was also punishing in his 36-ball stay.

Hyderabad hit back with wickets and despite Gill's century in 56 balls, Gujarat managed just 34 runs in the last five overs and lost seven wickets.

Bowlers did well to check Gujarat's total, which looked like going over 200, as seam bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned figures of 5-30 but the efforts were vain.

Hyderabad were never in the chase after they fell to 12-3 with Shami taking two and further slipped to 59-7.

South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen then smashed 64 and put on 68 runs with Kumar, who made 27, but the stand only reduced their margin of defeat.

INNINGS

Shubmam Gill was the hero for the Gujarat Titans as he score 101 off 58 balls when they posted 188/9 after being asked to bat in their T20 clash against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Gill and Sai Sudharsan (47) put on 146 for the second wicket after the early loss of Wriddhiman Saha. Gill batted effortlessly as he hit 13 fours and a six.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (5/30) was the pick of the bowlers for Sunrisers as they fought back superbly, taking the final 8 wickets for the addition of only 41 runs.

Scores in brief:

Gujarat Titans: 188/9 (Gill 101, Sudharsan 47, Kumar 5/30)

There are four South Africans taking part in this IPL encounter as David Miller's Titans take on Proteas trio Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen.

Teams:

Sunrisers

Abhsishek, Tripathi, Markram, Klaasen, Samad, Sanvir, Jansen, Markande, Bhuvneshwar, Farooqi, Natarajan

Gujarat

Saha, Gill, Sudharsan, Hardik, Miller, Shanaka, Tewatia, Rashid, Mohit, Shami, Noor.