‘You’re going to lose if you are off by even two per cent’: Ponting backs PBKS to respond after first setback
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Chelsea win UEFA Conference League to complete set of European club trophies
Wroclaw, May 29 (IANS) Chelsea have become the first team in history to win all five European club trophies after coming from behind to beat Real Betis 4-1 at Stadion Wroclaw in Poland, courtesy of a magnificent second-half display from Cole Palmer.
This is Chelsea’s first Conference League success following two UEFA Champions League triumphs, two in the UEFA Europa League, two in the UEFA Super Cup and two in the now defunct UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Chelsea’s total of 42 goals in the UEFA Conference League this season (league phase onwards) is a record for the competition, beating Fiorentina’s total of 37 in the 2022/23 season.
Betis strove to break up Chelsea’s play high up the field and were rewarded. After nine minutes, Isco pulled the ball across the box for Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, and the Moroccan took a touch before firing a low shot into the bottom corner of Filip Jørgensen’s net.
The goalkeeper was at full stretch to deny Marc Bartra as the Betis No5 tried to catch him off balance with a shot from distance a few minutes later, and Benoît Badiashile delivered a crucial diving interception to block a Johnny Cardoso effort after the busy Ezzalzouli had battled his way into the box to set him up, UEFA reports.
Possession stats had Chelsea on 65 per cent at the break, but Enzo Maresca’s side had created little in terms of tangible chances, outstretched Betis legs repeatedly stifling their approach play. Captain Reece James came on at half-time, a limping Ezzalzouli was taken off after 53 minutes, and all of a sudden it was Betis who were being hustled off the ball, and looking like a side that had not kept a clean sheet in their previous 11 games.
James thumped a shot straight at defender Natan as Betis struggled to clear a corner, and there was no let-up for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, Cole Palmer’s splendid lofted ball into the box invited Enzo Fernández to nod the equaliser past the exposed Adrián on 65 minutes, and five minutes later Palmer produced another superb assist, turning a defender and lifting a ball across the box for Nicolas Jackson to force in at the near post.
A wall of green noise throughout, Betis’ fans did their best to reinflate their side, but there was no way back. First, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall picked out fellow substitute Jadon Sancho, with the Manchester United loanee calmly curling the ball in from an angle, before the masked Moises Caicedo made it 4-1 in added time with a low shot from the edge of the box.
–IANS
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This has to be one of the defining knocks of Ishan Kishan’s IPL career, says Sanjay Bangar
New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar hailed Ishan Kishan’s calmness and maturity after the wicketkeeper-batter guided Sunrisers Hyderabad to a crucial five-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings and into the IPL 2026 playoffs.
Kishan played a brilliant innings in the chase, with his 70 coming off 47 balls in the slow and turning Chepauk conditions and was involved in the match-winning stand with Heinrich Klaasen after they had lost Travis Head in the second over.
“This has to be one of the defining knocks of Ishan Kishan’s IPL career, and probably one of his finest innings in the tournament as well,” Bangar said on JioHotstar.
“Ever since we’ve seen this new version of Ishan Kishan, the one thing that really stands out is his composure. He never looked hurried, and that is a tremendous quality to have in a fast-paced T20 format.”
“To have the belief to stay till the very end and build that partnership was outstanding.”
Bangar also compared Kishan’s innings to the kind of responsibility expected from a senior batter in difficult conditions.
“The kind of role Stephen Fleming would probably have expected from someone like Ruturaj was delivered by Ishan Kishan in the other innings,” he said.
“He stitched the partnership at the right time, attacked when needed, and ensured Klaasen got as much of the strike as possible.”
“There were so many aspects to admire about this innings. It was an absolute joy to watch him bat in such terrific fashion.”
Klaasen, whose 47 came off a mere 26 balls, had initially sped up the chase before Kishan finished things with ease along with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Smaran Ravichandran. Earlier, CSK had made 180/7 at which stage Dewald Brevis had top-scored with 44 and Pat Cummins had ended up with figures of 3/28 to pick his 200th T20 wicket. The win booked SRH’s spot in the playoffs with 16 points from 13 matches and consolidated their reputation as the best batting outfit in IPL 2026.
–IANS
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Women’s World Cup: India are a significant challenge to everybody, says Lanning
New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) Ahead of the Women’s ODI World Cup, Australia great Meg Lanning pointed out that hosts India could prove to be one of the strongest contenders in the upcoming edition that commences on September 30.
“I know Australia has dominated a lot of it, but it’s certainly not a foregone conclusion,” Lanning said, speaking to ICC Digital.
“I’d still love Australia to win obviously, but I think India are the main competitors. I think India are a significant challenge to everybody.
“Talent-wise, they’re as good as anyone and I think they are really starting to understand how to win, which probably has been something for them to work on and I think they’re doing that really nicely.”
Lanning captained Australia during the 2017 World Cup semi-final, where they were edged out by a determined Indian side that later came close to claiming their first-ever title before falling to England in a tense final at Lord’s.
Having secured five World Cup titles as captain — including four ICC Women’s T20 World Cups and the 2022 ODI championship — Lanning brings unmatched insight into what it takes to lead with composure and deliver in the most pressure-filled moments of elite tournaments.
“They (India) are well led by Harmanpreet Kaur and there are really good players who have got some good experience now. So I expect them to do well,” Lanning added.
“And if they put it together and play well, I don’t think anyone can actually get close to them. They are very good.”
Besides the hosts, Lanning believed several other teams have the potential to step up during the marquee tournament and deliver unexpected performances.
“So you’ve got England, who are always strong,” Lanning noted. “South Africa … who have done pretty well at recent World Cups, they seem to be able to get it together when it’s important.”
“And then, you can never write off New Zealand too. They showed in that T20 World Cup (2024) recently that if you time your run really nicely, then you never know what can happen. So that’s the beauty of the game – there’s some really good competitive sides out there.”
Australia, the defending champions, will kick off their 2025 World Cup campaign against regional rivals New Zealand on October 1 in Indore, while the host India will face Sri Lanka in the tournament opener on September 30 in Guwahati.
–IANS
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