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  1. Multan continue dismal season with Karachi defeatpublished at 19:51 1 May

    James Vince batting for Karachi KingsImage source, PCB

    Multan Sultans continued their dismal Pakistan Super League campaign with a crushing 87-run defeat to Karachi Kings.

    The league's bottom side, who have now won one of their eight matches, were chasing 205, but were bowled out for 117 with 23 balls to spare.

    Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi took 3-14 for Karachi, who dismissed six Multan batters for single figures.

    Kamran Ghulam top-scored for Multan with 29, while former England bowler David Willey was run-out for a duck by compatriot James Vince after facing one ball.

    Vince had been the pick of the Karachi batters after they won the toss and chose to set a total, hitting an unbeaten 65 from 45 from number three.

    Captain David Warner (30 from 13) and Tim Seifert (22 from 11) put on an opening partnership of 53 inside four overs, before both fell inside the space of three balls.

    Vince added 68 with Irfan Khan Niazi (40) and 66 with Khushdil Shah (33 not out) as Karachi closed on 204-4, a total that proved well beyond Multan.

    Karachi remain in fourth position, with four wins and three defeats.

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  2. Lahore-Quetta abandoned because of rainpublished at 19:45 1 May

    A Lahore Qalanders batter attempts a shot with Quetta Gladiators wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis behind the stumps.Image source, PCB

    The match between Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League was abandoned in the first innings because of rain.

    Lahore were 111-3 having batted 11.3 overs when the players were forced off the field.

    Fakhar Zaman had been bowled for a duck by Khurram Shahzad from the third ball of the game, but Mohammad Naeem (50) and Abdullah Shafique (53 not out) added 101 for the home side's second wicket.

    Abrar Ahmed had Naeem caught by Hasan Nawaz, and then saw Daryl Mitchell taken for three by Rilee Rossouw in his next over from what proved to be the last ball of the match.

    The sides remain level on nine points, with Lahore one place above Quetta in second thanks to a superior run-rate, but having played a game more.

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  3. Kings' Maxwell ruled out of season with injurypublished at 10:56 1 May

    Punjab Kings all-rounder Glenn Maxwell with his arms raised in celebrationImage source, Getty Images

    Punjab Kings all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League season with an injury to his right hand.

    The Australian missed Wednesday's match against Chennai Super Kings with his captain Shreyas Iyer saying before the toss that he had sustained a fractured finger.

    Maxwell had played in seven of Kings' preceding nine games, but has struggled for form with single-figure totals in five of his six innings and a high score of just 30.

    The 36-year-old has taken four wickets this season with his off-spin, at an average of 27.50.

    Kings bought Maxwell at the pre-season mega auction for 4.2 crore (£390,000), after he played the previous four IPL seasons for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

    He is the franchise's second overseas player to see their season ended prematurely, after New Zealand seamer Lockie Ferguson injured his leg in mid-April.

    "We will be signing some replacements at some stage," said Kings head coach Ricky Ponting.

    "We've got until our 12th game [to name replacements], so we have a couple of games to go yet.

    "We're having a look around at Indian talent as well and we're looking at what roles we might be able to fill."

    Kings currently sit in second in the IPL table with six wins and three losses and will next face Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday, 4 May (15:00 BST).

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  4. Lahore inflict first defeat on PSL leaders Islamabadpublished at 19:51 30 April

    Sam Billings bats for Lahore QalandarsImage source, PCB

    Lahore Qalandars inflicted a first defeat of the Pakistan Super League season on Islamabad United with a thumping 88-run victory.

    Lahore piled up 209-6 and then impressively dismissed Islamabad, who had won all five of their previous matches, for 121 in 16.5 overs.

    Fakhar Zaman's 44, 25 by Mohammad Naeem, 22 by Abdullah Shafique and 28 by Daryl Mitchell laid the platform for Lahore.

    They were then powered beyond 200 by England wicketkeeper Sam Billings' 38 not out and 39 by Zimbabwe international Sikandar Raza - both faced only 17 balls - with 96 runs coming in the last six overs.

    Off-spinner Raza took 3-20 and Haris Rauf 4-31 in Islamabad's sorry chase.

    They remain top of the standings but Lahore move up to second two points behind.

    Scorecard, PSL fixtures and results, table

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  5. Narine inspires KKR win to boost play-off hopes published at 18:58 29 April

    Sunil Narine celebrates wicketImage source, Getty Images

    Kolkata Knight Riders boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Indian Premier League play-offs by beating Delhi Capitals by 14 runs.

    After being held to 204-9 after a fast start, KKR removed the Capitals' top three inside seven overs.

    Faf du Plessis and Capitals captain Axar Patel rebuilt to 136-3 with a fine partnership of 76 but Axar, who was struggling with a hand injury sustained while fielding, fell as the first of three wickets for veteran spinner Sunil Narine.

    Axar was caught at cover for 43, South Africa Tristan Stubbs bowled for one four balls later and Du Plessis caught at deep mid-wicket for 62.

    West Indies international Narine, standing in as skipper with Ajinkya Rahane off the field, then turned to fellow spinner Varun Chakravarthy who dismissed Ashutosh Sharma and Mitchell Starc in consecutive balls.

    Some powerful hitting by Vipraj Nigam kept the game alive but, with 25 needed from the final over, the Capitals finished on 190-9. Nigam fell for 38 from 19 balls off the penultimate ball.

    Narine and Ramanullah Gurbaz had earlier put on 48 in three overs for the first wicket in KKR's innings which faded late on.

    Narine made 27, Gurbaz and Rahane 26, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 44 and Rinku Singh 36, meaning they passed 200 despite losing 5-45 in the final five overs.

    Rahane said before KKR will have to win their final five matches to finish in the top four. They remain seventh but close the gap to the Capitals in fourth to three points.

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  6. Multan bowled out for 89 in thrashing by Quettapublished at 18:38 29 April

    Quetta Gladiators celebrate wicketImage source, PCB

    Multan Sultans' miserable run in the Pakistan Super League continued as they were bowled out for just 89 in a 10-wicket thrashing by Quetta Gladiators.

    Opener Mohammad Rizwan batted through for a run-a-ball 44 but number nine Usama Mir, who made 11, was the only other batter to reach double figures.

    The score was the Sultans' lowest in their history.

    Pakistan international Usman Khan and New Zealand's Michael Bracewell made ducks while former England all-rounder David Willey was out for seven.

    Seamer Khurram Shahzad took 4-23 and Multan were bundled out in 17 overs.

    The Gladiators took just 6.5 overs to complete their chase with Finn Allen ending unbeaten on 45 and Saud Shakeel 42 not out.

    Multan have now lost six of their seven matches this season and are bottom of the table. The Gladiators move up a place into second behind leaders and defending champions Islamabad United.

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  7. 'Remember the name' - cricket world reacts to Suryavanshi centurypublished at 11:20 29 April

    Vaibhav SuryavanshiImage source, BCCI/IPL

    The cricket world is still reeling from 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi's stunning century in the Indian Premier League on Monday.

    India legend Sachin Tendulkar has led the praise.

    "Vaibhav's fearless approach, bat speed, picking the length early, and transferring the energy behind the ball was the recipe behind a fabulous innings," the former batter said. "Well played!"

    Former England captain Jos Buttler, who was playing in the match for Rajasthan Royals' opponents Gujarat Titans, said: "Fair play youngster. That was incredible."

    Yuvraj Singh, one of India's 2011 World Cup winners, said he was "proud to see the next generation shine".

    "What were you doing at 14?!!" the all-rounder said.

    "This kid is taking on the best bowlers in the world without blinking an eyelid! Vaibhav Suryavanshi - remember the name!"

    India's Test and 50-over captain Rohit Sharma posted on Instagram to simply say "class", while T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav said "witnessed this carnage of an innings by this youngster. Absolutely insane!"

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  8. IPL considering expanded full home-and-away formatpublished at 13:58 28 April

    Indian Premier League trophyImage source, Getty Images

    The BCCI are considering expanding the Indian Premier League (IPL) season to 94 matches and adopting a full home-and-away format from 2028.

    The lucrative T20 franchise league expanded to a 74-game campaign in 2022 when Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Supergiants entered the competition.

    However, while the option of extending the tournament in time for the next media-rights cycle in 2028 is being looked into, there are no plans for any new franchises to join the league.

    Asked about a tweak in the format and adding more games, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal told ESPNCricinfo: "Definitely, that might be an opportunity.

    "We've been discussing in ICC (International Cricket Council), we've been discussing in-house in BCCI.

    "Ideally, we'd want a larger window, or to maybe go on from 74 to 84 or 94 at some point. So that every team gets to play against every team home and away, for that, you need 94 games.

    "Given the window and the kind of commitments that we have with regards to bilateral cricket and ICC events, that may not be possible in the short term.

    "But given the landscape, how it is changing and evolving over the years, maybe at some point in time we would look and take that option."

    The future tours programme (FTP) means the IPL's window from mid-March until the end of May is set in stone for the next two years.

    But it could be changed beyond that with details of the next FTP to be decided next year.

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  9. Quetta Gladiators thrash Peshawar Zalmipublished at 20:06 27 April

    Quetta Gladiators players huddle as a team as they celebrate a wicketImage source, PCB

    Quetta Gladiators bowled out Peshawar Zalmi in 15.2 overs in a 64-run thrashing in the Pakistan Super League.

    Faheem Ashraf took 5-33 in 3.2 overs for the Gladiators, while Khurram Shahzad also impressed with 2-9 from his three.

    Mohammad Amir took the big wicket of Babar Azam in the third over, which set the tone for Peshawar's chase.

    Babar's side stuttered through their innings, losing wickets at regular intervals. Hussain Talat's 39 from 34 balls was the only bright spark in an otherwise lacklustre batting display from the away side.

    Scoring 178-7 in the first innings, each of the Gladiators' top five made starts, in an impressive team effort. Mark Chapman top-scored with 33 from 26 balls, with the lowest score in the top five being Rilee Rossouw's 27 from 18.

    Alzarri Joseph returned Peshawar's best bowling figures, taking 3-33.

    The big improvement to their net run-rate sees the Gladiators move up into third, with Peshawar Zalmi slipping to fifth.

  10. Bumrah sets record as Mumbai beat Lucknowpublished at 15:01 27 April

    Jasprit Bumrah celebrates with Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya after taking a wicketImage source, Getty Images

    Jasprit Bumrah became Mumbai Indians' all-time leading wicket-taker as his side beat Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League by 54 runs.

    The India bowler took 4-22, taking his overall tally to 174 and surpassing Lasith Malinga's 170.

    Bumrah brilliantly took three of his wickets in the 16th over of Lucknow's innings, which ended any hopes of a successful run chase.

    Ayush Badoni top-scored for Lucknow with 35 from 22 balls as they were bowled out for 161, chasing 216.

    No batter for the Super Giants was able to push on, as the home side took wickets at regular intervals, with Trent Boult taking 3-20 and Will Jacks 2-18.

    After losing the toss and being stuck in, Mumbai scored 215-7 to set Lucknow an imposing target.

    Opener Ryan Rickelton set the tone for Mumbai with 58 from 32 balls, before Suryakumar Yadav provided the middle order flair we've come to expect, notching 54 from 28 deliveries.

    There was also a late injection of runs from Naman Dhir, who struck an unbeaten 25 from 11 balls, including a final-ball six.

    It is a fifth consecutive victory for Mumbai Indians, who move up to second in the table. Lucknow are sixth, two points off the play-off spots.

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  11. Mitchell & Raza help Qalandars past Sultans in PSLpublished at 19:51 26 April

    Lahore Qalandars' Daryl Mitchell and Sikandar RazaImage source, PCB

    A stunning partnership of 89 from 41 balls between New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza helped Lahore Qalandars to a five-wicket win over Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League.

    Chasing 186 to win, the pair came together at 95-4, with Mitchell on 19 from 17 balls.

    The pair gelled beautifully and immediately transferred the pressure to the Sultans and almost got Qalandars over the line but Mitchell (64 off 38 balls) dragged on with two runs required.

    Raza hit the winning run to finish unbeaten on 40 from 21 balls as the Qalandars won with six balls to spare.

    The Sultans posted 185-3 from their 20 overs with Pakistan wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan making an unbeaten 76 from 48 balls at the top of the order.

    It was a slow and sedate innings to start with Rizwan on 34 off 33 balls after 15 overs but he accelerated in the death overs.

    He was supported by Kamran Ghulam's 52 not out from 31 balls in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 115.

    The win sees the Qalandars climb to second, behind defending champions Islamabad United, while the Sultans are bottom with one win from six games.

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  12. KKR and Kings washed out in IPLpublished at 18:42 26 April

    Glenn Maxwell looks on as the groundstaff bring on the covers during a rain delayImage source, Getty Images

    Punjab Kings' match at Kolkata Knight Riders was abandoned due to heavy rain in the Indian Premier League.

    The rain started to fall, alongside very strong winds, in the first over of the Knights Riders' chase and the umpires took the players off the field.

    The rain was persistent and play was called off at 18:30 BST.

    Punjab had posted 201-4 from their 20 overs with Prabhsimran Singh making 83 off 49 balls and Priyansh Arya 69 off 35.

    The pair shared 120 for the opening wicket, with Arya dominating, before Prabhsimran went through the gears and looked to be propelling the Kings to a huge total.

    However Knight Riders fought back well and restricted the Kings to 43 in the final six overs, with Glenn Maxwell out for seven to continue his difficult tournament, with his average now eight after six innings.

    Both sides take a point each and Punjab remain fourth, while Kolkata are seventh but fourth points off the play-off places.

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  13. CSK need to do 'soul-searching' to reflect on auction - Flemingpublished at 16:07 26 April

    Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming during a training sessionImage source, Getty Images

    Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming says they need to do a lot of "soul-searching" and reflect on where they went wrong at the Indian Premier League mega auction.

    The five-time champions are bottom of the 10-team table with two wins from nine games and have lost their past four home matches.

    Afghanistan leg-spinner Noor Ahmad and seamer Khaleel Ahmed have impressed but their only batter in the top 30 run-scorers is Shivam Dube, who was retained from 2024.

    "It's hard to say we got it completely right with the performances that we've had," said Fleming.

    "We have been looking over that in detail, just around our style of play and also looking at how the game is evolving.

    "It is not easy, that is why we're proud of our record to date to be consistent for so long and it doesn't take much for it to go another way. Other teams have got better and that is the point of the auction but we just haven't been able to get it right.

    "That has to be an area where we need to reflect and say 'it hasn't been as good as it could have been' or it hasn't worked out how we wanted.

    "But, it is also not a perfect science, the auction is a very fluid beast. It is like buying 25 houses so you can come away from it mentally, and sometimes, physically exhausted.

    "There's a lot of responsibility and soul-searching and that certainly starts at the top with me."

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  14. Sunrisers beat fellow strugglers Chennaipublished at 21:00 25 April

    Kamindu Mendis celebrates a wicketImage source, Getty Images

    Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Chennai Super Kings by five wickets in a match between the bottom two in the Indian Premier League.

    Both sides went into the game with just two wins from their opening eight games, but it is Chennai who remain rooted to the bottom after suffering a fourth successive home defeat.

    The five-time IPL winners were skittled out for 154 with one ball remaining in their innings, with Harshal Patel the pick of the bowlers taking 4-28.

    Hyderabad stumbled to 54-3 and 90-4 in their chase, but a fifth-wicket partnership worth 49 between Nitish Kumar Reddy (19) and Kamindu Mendis (32) saw them home with eight balls to spare.

    Kamindu hit the winning runs to complete a fine display that included bowling figures of 1-26 and a stunning catch to dismiss Chennai debutant Dewald Brevis.

    A first win in Chennai for Hyderabad lifts last season's finalists above Rajasthan Royals into eighth and within four points of the play-off places.

    Having been put into bat, the tone of Chennai's innings was set when opener Shaik Rasheed edged a wonderful seaming delivery from Mohammed Shami to first slip with the first ball of the match.

    Brevis, who joined Chennai last week as a replacement for the injured Gurjapneet Singh, showed the most resistance with a punchy 42 from 25 balls before falling to Kamindu's stunning diving catch at long-off.

    Hyderabad lost Abhishek Sharma with the second ball of their reply, but Travis Head (19) and Ishan Kishan (44) kept the innings on track.

    Noor Ahmad (2-42) removed Kishan and Aniket Verma (19) in successive overs as Chennai sensed an opening, before Kamindu and Nitish saw Hyderabad over the line.

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  15. Karachi collapse hands Quetta victory in PSLpublished at 20:50 25 April

    Quetta Gladiators celebrating a wicketImage source, PCB

    A stunning collapse from Karachi Kings saw Quetta Gladiators claim a five-run victory in the Pakistan Super League.

    Karachi lost six wickets for 22 runs in the space of 5.4 overs as their chase disintegrated following a promising start.

    Needing 143, Karachi were cruising at 75-1 thanks to 47 from opener Tim Seifert and 30 from James Vince.

    But Seifert's dismissal at the end of the 12th over saw them slip from 93-2 to 115-8 with just 15 balls remaining.

    Hasan Ali's battling unbeaten 24 from 13 deliveries lifted Karachi back to within sight of victory, but it was too little, too late.

    Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Amir and Khurram Shahzad picked up two wickets apiece for Quetta, who secured their second win of the season.

    Faheem Ashraf had earlier top-scored with 43 as Quetta scrambled their way to 142 all out, with Kusal Mendis (36) and Hasan Nawaz (35) the only other players to score more than 10.

    The win takes Gladiators level on points with Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi with a game in hand, but they remain behind both sides in fifth because of their inferior net run-rate.

    Karachi stay second and four points behind leaders Islamabad United having played a game more.

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