This is just Carlson’s third NHL team across his 17-year career, as the longtime Washington Capitals defenceman was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks ahead of last season’s trade deadline.
Carlson, 36, was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes before free agency opened, but the two sides could not agree on terms for a contract.
Carolina sent the 192nd-overall pick in the 2026 draft and minor-league defenceman Kyle Masters to Anaheim to get a shot at negotiating with Carlson early.
The Ducks used the 192nd pick to take WHL forward Noah Kosick.
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Carlson played 16 regular-season games with the Ducks, potting four goals and 14 points in that span. In 12 post-season games, Carlson had six assists and helped the Ducks dispatch the two-time Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in Round 1.
The Natick, Mass., native has 1,159 NHL games under his belt, with 170 goals and 785 points in that span. He won a Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018.
Sep 28, 2025; Dublin, IRELAND; Pittsburgh Steelers defender Payton Wilson in action with Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson in a NFL International Series game at Croke Park. Mandatory Credit: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters via Imagn Images
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson has logged just 893 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns in the last two seasons despite being paid as one of the NFL’s most expensive players at his position. Hockenson took a paycut to remain in Minnesota this offseason, and now ESPN claims it’s a make-or-break campaign for the 28-year-old.
The man should benefit from the arrival of Kyler Murray, as will the offense as a whole.
Vikings TE Decision Now Has a Clock
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates a second-quarter touchdown with teammates against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sep. 14, 2023, giving Minnesota a key scoring moment during an early-season road matchup as Hockenson remained a central piece of Kevin O’Connell’s passing game. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
Bill Barnwell: Make-or-Break in 2026 for Hockenson
On a positive note, Barnwell actually ranked the Vikings’ RBs, WRs, and TEs as the NFL’s eighth-best before he delivered the Hockenson opinion.
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He wrote, “Both Jefferson and Addison saw their catch rates drop to career lows last season, which I feel comfortable chalking up to subpar quarterback play. T.J. Hockenson, though, recorded the best catch rate of his career, in part because he was catching bunches of short checkdowns.”
“The tight end hasn’t been the same player since his 2023 ACL tear, and the Vikings could really use his ability to create after the catch and up the seam to help new QB Kyler Murray this season. This is a make-or-break year for Hockenson, who will be a free agent after the campaign.”
Hockenson has been the object of some fans’ scorn over the last two seasons, mainly because of his diminished production compared to his meaty paycheck.
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The Injury That Pumped the Breaks
In 2023, late in the season, Hockenson was tackled low by Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph, a defender with a modus operandi of targeting ACLs. Hockenson indeed tore his ACL, ending his season and setting into motion a long recovery. Vikings fans despise Joseph to this day for his deed.
Since then, Hockenson has never posted his production from 2022 or 2023.
Hockenson’s 2025 season statistics — 51 catches, 438 yards, and three touchdowns — might appear underwhelming at first glance, suggesting a decline in performance. However, a deeper look beyond the box score reveals a different narrative.
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A significant factor was the instability of the Vikings’ offensive line. Head coach Kevin O’Connell himself acknowledged that Hockenson was tasked with an unusually high volume of blocking assignments, often to compensate for protection deficiencies. It greatly limited his opportunities to contribute as a pass-catcher, making it difficult to achieve the Pro Bowl-caliber receiving numbers he’s known for when he was primarily functioning as an emergency blocker.
Too, the team’s quarterback situation was in constant flux, with J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer all seeing action. The lack of continuity at quarterback prevented the passing game from establishing any consistent rhythm, forcing Hockenson to operate within a perpetually shifting offensive scheme.
Therefore, Hockenson’s 2025 performance was not a sign of diminished skill, but rather a reflection of the extraordinary circumstances in which he was asked to help stabilize a struggling offense.
As he turns 29, a rebound is in reach. He retains his top-tier route-running ability and remains a large, reliable target.
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A Bounceback if Murray Follows the Trey McBride Blueprint
And that bounceback is within reach, mainly because of the evidence down in the desert.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) reacts after making a first-half catch against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Nov. 19, 2023, as Minnesota leaned on his route running and contested-catch ability during a road test inside Kevin O’Connell’s offense that season. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports.
McBride became one of the NFL’s best tight ends over the last couple of seasons, and guess who threw him the ball? Murray. McBride and Murray proved they could feast on a lousy team; there’s a blueprint suggesting Murray would pick up where he left off in Arizona. In fact, Murray could be perfect for Hockenson.
That’s in addition to Murray already having Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jauan Jennings at his disposal. The 2022 or 2023 form of Hockenson would shove Minnesota’s offense to new heights, if one assumes that Murray takes off with the Vikings.
Free Agency in Eight Months if Not
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The Vikings already built the escape hatch. Hockenson’s offseason pay cut a few months ago not only adjusted his salary but also moved his free agency to 2027, effectively making 2026 a “prove-it” year. While this might seem harsh, it’s a strategic move for smart teams dealing with expensive veterans coming off average seasons.
If Hockenson returns to his 2022 and 2023 form, the decision is straightforward: extend him. Keeping one of the NFL’s better tight ends in O’Connell’s offense would be a no-brainer. That version of Hockenson remains incredibly valuable.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) celebrates a second-quarter touchdown against the New Orleans Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Nov. 12, 2023, giving Minnesota another red-zone receiving highlight as he continued operating as one of the offense’s most reliable pass-catching options during that regular-season stretch. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Should 2026 resemble 2025, the Vikings have the option to let him enter the market and find his replacement through free agency or the 2027 NFL Draft.
Therefore, Barnwell is right: it’s make-or-break for Hockenson.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Jun 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Everything points to the Thursday afternoon game between the Cincinnati Reds and the host Milwaukee Brewers being a miserable contest for hitters.
That’s because the contest features a pitching matchup of the major league’s ERA and strikeout leader, Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski (9-3, 1.45 ERA), and the Reds’ ace, Chase Burns (9-1, 2.36).
“It’s gonna be fun. He’s good,” Burns said. “He’s so good. I’m pumped about it.”
Misiorowski has 146 strikeouts in 99 innings. Burns is tied for fourth in the NL in wins, along with Misiorowski and three others. Burns has 112 strikeouts, tied for seventh in the league, in 91 2/3 innings.
In addition to his spectacular stats, Misiorowski made more news in his last start, a 6-2 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Friday in which he allowed a run on two hits in six innings with four walks and eight strikeouts. He unleashed a 105.5 mph pitch to Pete Crow-Armstrong in the first inning.
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It was the third-fastest pitch since tracking became official in 2008. Only Aroldis Chapman, who threw a 105.8 mph pitch in 2011 and a 105.7 mph offering in 2016, has thrown faster pitches. Misiorowski tied a 105.5 mph delivery from Ben Joyce in 2024.
“I think I slipped a little bit,” Misiorowski joked about the pitch after the game. “I think I’ve got a little more.”
He can hope the heat will faze the Reds, who have done well against him in his two appearances (one start). On Aug. 15, 2025, the Reds tagged him for five runs on four hits and three walks in 1 1/3 innings. He then faced Cincinnati in relief on Sept. 27, and he yielded two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings.
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Misiorowski fanned three in each of those contests.
Burns got a no-decision in his latest outing, when the Reds defeated the host Pittsburgh Pirates 9-7 on Saturday. He was uncharacteristically knocked around to the tune of five runs and nine hits in six innings, though he did not walk a batter and struck out 10.
Burns’ lone appearance against the Brewers came in relief last Sept. 28. He didn’t allow a run or a hit in 1 2/3 innings while walking two and striking out four.
The Brewers will be going for a sweep of the four-game series on Thursday after earning a 4-2 win on Wednesday.
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Garrett Mitchell is 6-for-8 in the past two games after going 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run on Wednesday. He produced the game-winning RBI, as his two-out triple in the seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie.
Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby (12-1) boosted his major-league-leading victory total after tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
The Reds have lost four in a row.
Cincinnati catcher Tyler Stephenson, who went 2-for-4 with a run on Wednesday, is 7-for-15 in his past four games. He scored ahead of Noelvi Marte’s fifth home run in the second inning.
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Cincinnati’s Matt McLain started in center field for the first time in his three-season major league career on Wednesday. He appeared at the position for the first time on Tuesday after entering as an eighth-inning pinch hitter. McLain previously had seen action in the field only at second base and shortstop.
Anthony Joshua could be presented with a world title shot in 2027, but first he must take care of Tyson Fury later this year.
The two British heavyweights are expected to collide in November, yet we are still awaiting the announcement of a specific date, location and promoter.
The first of which will take place at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand, on July 24, with 46-year-old veteran Wach having been selected as a low-risk opponent.
It would also seem that there are no plans to broadcast this fight, but rather for it to be treated as an exclusive event for the 2,000 fans in attendance.
Joshua, meanwhile, has equally been matched with a low-risk opponent, only it could be argued that even Kristian Prenga poses a greater threat than Wach.
Regardless, the 36-year-old is heavily favoured to come through his contest in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 25, before entering a long-awaited showdown with Fury.
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If he defeats ‘The Gypsy King’, Joshua is then likely to pursue three-time world championship glory, potentially against newly-crowned WBC ruler Agit Kabayel.
Speaking with Sky Sports, the German insisted that he will be waiting for either Joshua or Fury, having previously sparred both heavyweights on numerous occasions.
“Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, when you think you have a chance to be a three-time world champion, let’s do it. Kabayel will wait for you.
“We can make the fight but first of all I think all the fans, the British fans, want to see the Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury fight and, after that, we can see who’s best for the fight with me.
“First of all AJ [for Fury] and after, why not? This is a big fight. We can make this also in Germany in a stadium. We can make this in the UK in a stadium.”
Jun 27, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen (24) delivers a pitch to Minnesota Twins third baseman Brooks Lee (22) in the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Mickey Moniak is beginning to perform like a No. 1 overall draft pick again.
Moniak will try to keep his latest hot streak going for the Colorado Rockies when they oppose the Miami Marlins in the finale of a four-game series on Thursday afternoon in Denver.
Moniak came within a single of hitting for the cycle in the Rockies’ 6-3 win against the Marlins on Wednesday. The first pick in the 2016 draft also homered in Colorado’s 14-3 loss to Miami on Tuesday.
“He was a first overall (pick) for a reason, so it’s never been a thing of talent,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said of Moniak following the Wednesday game. “Guys take a circuitous route to find a place that they settle into in a part of their career. It seems like he’s found a place here in Denver that he’s comfortable in, and certainly swings the bat very well in this ballpark, and he was a big factor for them (Wednesday) evening.”
The Marlins fell on the first day of July after finishing June with a 20-6 record, the best mark in the majors and the best month in their history (.769). It was only the second time in franchise annals that Miami won at least 20 games in a month, following a 21-8 ledger in May 2012.
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Miami starter Max Meyer came into the Wednesday game with a shiny 9-0 record, but with one out in the first, Moniak hit the second pitch he saw from Meyer over the fence for a 1-0 lead.
“Staying on a fastball, drove it out to left-center,” Moniak said. “When I’m doing that, things are usually feeling pretty good.”
McCullough would like to see a better approach at the plate from his hitters in the series finale. Miami struck out 11 times on Wednesday, with Esteury Ruiz (four), Kyle Stowers (three) and Owen Caissie (two) accounting for nine.
McCullough did witness something he’d never seen before: a pinch-hit inside-the-park homer. Joe Mack circled the bases after his long fly ball took an odd bounce off the center field wall in the seventh inning.
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“I didn’t have Joe Mack doing that on my bingo card,” McCullough said. “This ballpark’s crazy.”
Colorado plans to send veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen to the mound in hopes of splitting the series after dropping the first two.
Lorenzen (3-9, 6.83 ERA) showed signs of rebounding from a difficult stretch in which he went 10 straight starts without a victory and lost seven times. He ended the skid on Saturday when he allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings during an 8-5 victory against the Minnesota Twins. It was his first win since April 24.
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“He pounded the zone. He got ahead. He didn’t try to do too much,” Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He was efficient with his pitches. He threw his sinker a ton and got some quick outs. Didn’t hunt the punchout, which was great. I thought Mike was very, very good.”
Lorenzen faced the Marlins in the second game of the season and went 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision at Miami. He allowed three runs and seven hits.
Lorenzen has had decent success against the Marlins in his career overall, going 4-2 with a 2.62 ERA in 18 appearances, including seven starts.
Following the Wednesday game, McCullough named Ryan Gusto as his starting pitcher for Thursday.
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Gusto (0-2, 5.06 ERA) tossed 3 1/3 shutout innings in his latest outing, on Saturday in a no-decision against the host St. Louis Cardinals. That came after a similar performance on June 21, when the right-hander limited the San Francisco Giants to one run and three hits in 4 1/3 innings. Miami won both games.
Gusto has never faced the Rockies in his two-year major league career.
Former Germany and USMNT star Jermaine Jones has called for consistency after Lionel Messi was not sent off for a similar foul by Folarin Balogun at the FIFA World Cup. He believes that the officials need to know the difference between an intentional foul and an accidental one.
Speaking on ESPN, Jones said that it was never a red card for Balogun as it was an accidental touch. He added that everything will look bad when it is seen in slo-mo and said:
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“No, definitely now. When you look at the game straight away, and I say that for me, not a red card, because he’s not looking even. So if the ball is in front of you and you go through and you pull through and you hit the guy over the ankle most of the time, then it’s a clear red card. But for that, like he’s trying to step and find a way to step back out of that collision with the Bosnian player, and he steps with his right foot on the guy.”
“Yes, if you slow it down, if you go to review and you look at the pictures, everything looks worse. But then, yeah, but the next point is: if you give a red card here, the consistency – why isn’t Messi getting the red card? So, and that’s just something.”
Jones spoke about how Balogun will now miss the key Round of 16 match, and that could cost the USMNT. He said:
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“Now we can look at it and go and say, he’s missing this game. No, he’s an important player. He scored three goals for this country, and he would be missed now for the next game. And that’s something that is not good, even on FIFA’s side, because you have to find consistency in the calls you do and not hurt some people or some teams, and some teams not. So, if I was Pochettino, I would go hard on that, and I would be saying something because. Now you’re in the next round, and you’re missing one of your top players.”
Balogun scored the opening goal of the match for the USMNT, before getting sent off in the second half. However, Pochettino’s men kept their calm and Malik Tillman added another to seal a 2-0 win in the FIFA World Cup clash.
What next for Lionel Messi at the FIFA World Cup?
Lionel Messi will be in action against Cape Verde this week in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32. He has been in fine form this summer, scoring six goals in just three matches so far.
Argentina topped their group by beating Jordan, Algeria and Austria, and Lionel Messi managed to score at least once in all games.
Marcus Rashford is set to return to Manchester United this summer after loan spells with Barcelona and Aston Villa
Marcus Rashford’s chances of reclaiming his place in the Manchester United first team have received a significant lift after a long-standing colleague voiced his support for the forward’s comeback. The 28-year-old is due to return to Old Trafford this summer after a successful loan stint with Barcelona.
The England star enjoyed one of his finest seasons in recent memory while in Spain, contributing to the Catalan club’s La Liga triumph with an impressive tally of 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions. While Barcelona were widely tipped to make the move permanent, they instead splashed out £70million on Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon, leaving Rashford’s future uncertain.
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When questioned about whether he and his team-mates would embrace Rashford’s return, the United centre-back told The Rest Is Football: “Yeah, of course, I have an amazing relationship with Marcus and have had some great times with him over the years. I know what a wonderful player he can be. I’m sure it’s up to the club and up to Marcus to find a mutual agreement
“Of course, if Marcus does come back, we want him to come back and play and be happy and confident. It needs to be right for himself, it needs to be right for the club, but everyone knows what a great player Marcus can be for whatever club he plays for next season.”
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Maguire’s position stands in sharp contrast to that of United legend Paul Scholes, who previously called on his former club to “banish” Rashford following his controversial remarks. “I think Marcus has let a lot of people down really, with his attitude, and I think that’s what the manager is trying to say,” Scholes told The Overlap Fan Debate.
“OK, he’s not refusing to play, but in the way he’s behaving and the way he’s training, in a way he is saying I don’t want to be involved with these. So I think the fact of letting your team-mates down in that dressing room – he should be banished from the dressing room really. If he’s in and around that and young people are seeing that as an example, the sooner he’s gone the better.”
Rashford’s controversial comments are said to have upset several United players – particularly given they came just days after the club’s impressive derby triumph over Manchester City in December 2024. “Some of the players are really annoyed at what Marcus said and why he chose to say it at the time,” a source close to the squad told The Sun.
“They were all buzzing after beating City and then he basically put in a transfer request after being dropped for one game.”
The local lad remains under contract for another two years, earning a reported £325,000 per week, and is anticipated to rejoin Carrick’s squad once England’s World Cup campaign concludes – if there are no transfer developments in the meantime, that is.
Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.
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United officials have assured the BBC that they will sign players this summer. They are said to be calm about the situation, given that it is still the relatively early stages of the window, while stressing that they will not be going after big names and instead prioritising performances.
The club are credited with an interest in Alex Scott, Aurelien Tchouameni, Carlos Baleba, Felix Nmecha and Tyler Adams after missing out on Matheus Fernandes. But the former two are reportedly unavailable, with Bournemouth saying Scott is not for sale, and the feeling being that Tchouameni will remain at Real Madrid.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Obiena eclipsed the previous meet record of 5.74 meters, set by Austin Miller in 2024, while also matching his outdoor personal best, which he set during his runner-up finish in Düsseldorf, Germany, last month.
“5.75m here at Eisenstadt. For the win and new stadium record,” said Obiena.“After many, many, many runs and 3rd attempt makes, we needed to call it a night after 11pm.”
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Great Britain’s Owen Heard placed second, while Czech Republic’s Dan Barta settled for bronze after both cleared 5.55m.
It took three attempts for Obiena to clear 5.75m.
He recently won the Czesław Cybulski Memorial in Poland, leaping 5.72m last Monday.
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Former India player Saba Karim has opined that Ishan Kishan pressed the self-destruct button in the first T20I against England. The analyst highlighted that the wicketkeeper-batter was responsible for his run-out as he attempted a non-existent run.
Kishan was run out for a two-ball duck as India set England a 190-run target in Durham on Wednesday, July 1. However, with rain preventing England from starting their chase, the game ended as a no-result.
During a discussion on JioHotstar, Saba noted that there would have been a slim chance of Kishan and Abhishek Sharma completing the run had the latter responded to the call immediately.
“It was self-destruction. Both Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan were watching the ball. They should have been looking at each other. There might have been a possibility had Abhishek Sharma responded very quickly, but normally, the non-striker waits for the ball to beat the fielder in the infield, and he runs after that only,” he said.
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The former India wicketkeeper-batter reckoned that Abhishek would have struggled to reach the striker’s end, urging the visiting batters to improve their communication.
“In my opinion, there was no run there. Even if Abhishek Sharma had tried, it would have been difficult for him to reach the other end because Jos Buttler did an excellent job. He came to the stumps very quickly. Both batters need to work on their communication. It happened in Ireland and here as well,” Saba observed.
Ishan Kishan was run out after being sent back by Abhishek Sharma, with Harry Brook’s throw to Jos Buttler finding him short of the crease. He was run out in the second T20I against Ireland as well after a mix-up with Tilak Varma.
“There was no run at all” – Irfan Pathan on Ishan Kishan’s run-out in ENG vs IND 2026 1st T20I
In the same discussion, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan also reckoned that Ishan Kishan attempted to steal a non-existent run.
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“There was no run at all. You would have heard Abhishek saying that he (Kishan) should have allowed the ball to pass the midwicket fielder, and then the mid-on fielder also wasn’t standing on the 30-yard circle. He was standing slightly ahead. When that happens, he is also attacking the ball,” he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator concurred with Saba Karim that Abhishek Sharma would have gotten run out had he responded affirmatively to Kishan’s call.
“You played the ball softly. You have to take the run only after the ball passes the fielder who is trying to cut the ball. In my opinion, there was no run. I totally agree with Saba bhai. Abhishek would have gotten run out. It means you took a high-risk run, and when you do that, someone will be sacrificed. You got run out yourself. So it was a wrong decision from Ishan Kishan,” Pathan observed.
Ishan Kishan’s run-out reduced India to 6/2. Abhishek Sharma (59 off 24) and Shreyas Iyer (68 off 47) then bailed the team out of trouble with an 82-run third-wicket partnership before Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 21-ball 42 took them to a fighting total.
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