It was a short day at the office for Matt Quatraro on Saturday.
The Kansas City Royals manager got ejected in the first inning of their game against the New York Yankees before his team even threw a pitch.
Kansas City wasted a leadoff double in the top half of the first, perhaps angering Quatraro. But in between innings, he had some words with a pair of umpires.
Manager Matt Quatraro of the Kansas City Royals argues with umpire Nestor Ceja after being ejected during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York City on April 18, 2026.(Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The speculation is that Quatraro was arguing that a balk should have been called on Yankees starter Will Warren for throwing to second base without coming to a stop.
For what it’s worth, nobody was even thrown out on Warren’s throw over. So the argument and ejection was all for naught.
And this all happened before Royals starter Noah Cameron even threw a pitch.
Advertisement
Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro argues with first base umpire Chris Guccione and second base umpire Nestor Ceja after being ejected during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, on April 18, 2026.(Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
Thankfully for Quatraro, he did not have to watch his team in person on Saturday, as they were down 10-0 in the sixth inning.
The ejection came on the heels of a tough loss for Kansas City on Friday, as they allowed a two-run home run to Ryan McMahon in the bottom of the eighth inning to lose, 4-2.
Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro looks at the scoreboard before the MLB game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York, on April 17.(Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire)
The Royals are trying to bounce back into the postseason after missing it last year, but in all likelihood, they will be off to an unideal 7-14 start by the day’s end.
Former WWE Divas Champion Paige (aka Saraya) has finally returned to the Stamford-based promotion at WrestleMania 42. She was in action on the show.
Nikki Bella & Brie Bella were supposed to team up to lock horns with Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax & Lash Legend, and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria in a Fatal Four-Way Tag Team Match for the Women’s Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 42. However, before the show, Nikki suffered an unfortunate ankle injury. Several reports suggested that The Kabuki Warriors ( Asuka & Kairi Sane) would replace The Bella Twins in this match.
Thanks for the submission!
Advertisement
However, according to new reports, Paige (aka Saraya) had finally signed a contract with WWE and was expected to show up at WrestleMania 42. It was also mentioned that the former Divas Champion would most likely replace Nikki to team up with Brie in the Women’s Tag Team Championship match.
Advertisement
On tonight’s show, Nikki Bella came out with Brie to say that she tried her best to recover in time for ‘Mania, but unfortunately, she couldn’t. She added that she didn’t want to ruin Brie’s WrestleMania moment because of her injury, so she called an old friend. As it turns out, this “old friend” was none other than Paige.
Check out a clip of her return in the post below:
Saraya had been heavily rumored to join the Stamford-based promotion since she left All Elite Wrestling last year. Many expected her to show up at this year’s WWE Women’s Royal Rumble Match, but that did not happen. However, despite no confirmation on her return, fans didn’t lose hope for her return at The Biggest Stage of Them All.
Now that The Bella Twins and AJ Lee are back in WWE. This was the right time for Paige to return, as they could put on some great matches together, just like they did earlier in their careers. It will be interesting to see what the Triple H-led creative team has planned for Saraya’s future.
Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (3) runs against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the second half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Will the Minnesota Vikings ultimately draft a wide receiver in Round 1 on Thursday night? Probably not. Can a wide receiver be ruled out for the Vikings in Round 1? Probably not. The following is the case for a 1st-Round receiver as Minnesota’s pick — and it’s really not that wacky.
Wide receiver remains a live possibility for Minnesota at No. 18.
If the Vikings are in the mood for this, there are plenty of options at Pick No. 18.
Advertisement
Pick No. 18 Has Several Intriguing Receiver Paths, Including WR
This is the case for a Round 1 wideout in purple.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison tracks the ball and secures a touchdown catch during first-quarter action against the Green Bay Packers, with the play unfolding on Sep 29, 2024 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The early score gives Minnesota momentum as Addison finishes the play in stride during a divisional road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
1. Jordan Addison’s Behavior Is Unpredictable
Addison has been arrested three times since the Vikings drafted him in 2023, and he also missed a team walkthrough in London last year.
At any minute — unfortunately — the guy could do something dumb and be sidelined indefinitely or flat-out off the roster. That’s the risk with Addison. Keeping that in mind, having a contingency plan in-house, like Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson or Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr., isn’t the worst idea ever.
Advertisement
2. The Previous WR3, Jalen Nailor, Left
Nailor picked new pastures this offseason, choosing the Las Vegas Raiders, which is where he grew up. The Vikings have no WR3 — unless they trust the next guy on this list.
If there is no vivid WR3, a team should draft one, right? That’s the mentality here, as the Vikings could get richer than most at WR3 by picking a Round 1 wideout.
3. Nobody Knows if Tai Felton Is Any Good
Advertisement
Felton, a 3rd-Round pick by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last year, played 26 offensive snaps as a rookie. Minnesota went out of its way not to play Felton by trading for a washed Adam Thielen. Not a good sign.
There’s a chance that Felton blossoms this summer. But what if he’s simply another Adofo-Mensah bust? You guessed it — Minnesota would need a third receiver.
4. The Main Drafter Is an Offense-First Head Coach
When the Vikings’ owners fired Adofo-Mensah, they made Kevin O’Connell the Team CEO through their actions. O’Connell is a former quarterback. An offense guy. Like Mike Zimmer loving cornerbacks, O’Connell might just believe in investing in the offense at all costs.
Advertisement
Therefore, a dynamic extra weapon — such as 1st-Round WR — cannot be ruled out.
5. Justin Jefferson Isn’t a Lock to Stick around Forever
Close your eyes and plug your ears. If the Vikings don’t win soon and seriously contend for a Super Bowl, even the nicest of guys (Jefferson) could opt for a change of scenery. Next offseason is when Jefferson could reasonably request a trade, while the Vikings could bow to the request in a wise financial manner.
Suppose Minnesota misses the postseason in 2026, pissing Jefferson off and prompting his agent to look for a way out. See: Randy Moss in 2005. A Jefferson-less Vikings roster would need WRs. If they drafted Tyson or Cooper Jr. in 2026, it wouldn’t feel like doomsday at WR in 2027.
Advertisement
6. A WR Logjam at the Vikings’ Spot
At Pick No. 18, wide receiver is actually a hotspot. These men may be there for the taking:
Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)
Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)
Kevin Concepcion (Texas A&M)
Denzel Boston (Washington)
Not every position is like that. For instance, at defensive tackle, there’s only one player who makes sense at the Vikings’ spot: Peter Woods.
The plentiful options increase Minnesota’s chances of giving in to the WR temptation.
7. The BPA Argument
Advertisement
Interim general manager Rob Brzezinski recently said that he wholeheartedly believes in the “best player available” philosophy. What if a) he’s telling the truth? b) that player is Jordyn Tyson, for example?
Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson lines up and surveys the defense during game action against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Mountain America Stadium, with the moment captured on Oct 18, 2025 in Tempe. Tyson’s presence highlights the Sun Devils’ passing attack as he works through coverage in a Big 12 matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
He’d have to put his money where his mouth is.
8. Drafting WRs Is What the Vikings Do Best
In the last 35 years, the Vikings have drafted these wide receivers:
Jordan Addison
Stefon Diggs
Percy Harvin
Justin Jefferson
Randy Moss
Jake Reed
They also found Adam Thielen in undrafted free agency and gave Cris Carter his big chance, which turned into a Hall of Fame career.
This is what the Vikings do — find stud WRs. Why would they stop now?
Advertisement
9. WR Is a Premium Position; Safeties Are Not
The draft frontrunners for the Vikings right now are safeties: Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. That’s all fine and dandy, but safety is not a premium NFL position. Teams can find a decent safety for half the price of an equally productive wide receiver in free agency. And that statement isn’t debateable.
Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. completes a touchdown catch during College Football Playoff semifinal action in the Peach Bowl against the Oregon Ducks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with the play unfolding on Jan 9, 2026 in Atlanta. The scoring grab boosts Indiana’s offense in a high-stakes postseason showdown under bright lights. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars-Imagn Images.
Not all NFL teams honor this philosophy, but if the Vikings do, it should wipe a 1st-Round safety off their radar. That would clear the way to examine Tyson, Cooper, Concepcion, or Boston.
IShowSpeed took flight at WrestleMania 42 (follow live now). His alliance with Logan Paul imploded, leading to IShowSpeed’s wild leap off the top rope and through the commentary table ringside.
IShowSpeed and Paul, two of the biggest social media personalities, united at WWE’s annual spectacle in Las Vegas. Their similarities weren’t enough to keep the team together. After losing their six-man tag team match to LA Knight and The Usos, Paul turned on IShowSpeed.
Paul, one-half of the world tag team champions, has repeatedly made headlines with his wild leaps of faith. On Saturday, Paul tried to create another viral moment at IShowSpeed’s expense. Instead, IShowSpeed’s opponents rescued him and helped the WWE rookie get revenge.
Knight and The Usos beat down Paul before laying him across the commentary table. From there, IShowSpeed climbed to the top rope and dove approximately eight feet down, and a significant distance across, crashing through Paul and the table.
The six-man tag team match, which also featured Austin Theory, was the opening match at Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. This year’s spectacle takes place at Allegiant Stadium, which also hosted WrestleMania last year. Undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton headlines Saturday; meanwhile, world heavyweight champion CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns headlines Sunday.
The Giants traded the Pro Bowl defensive tackle to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a package that includes the No. 10 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Advertisement
Lawrence will reportedly be receiving his desired extension with his new team.
Advertisement
This article will be updated with more information.
Man Utd produced a gutsy performance to beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in a result that could be huge for Michael Carrick.
22:12, 18 Apr 2026
You could call it a tale of two left-wingers. One who sees it as his favourite position but whose questionable commitment was again on show at Stamford Bridge. The other would rather be centre stage, but rather than retreating to the margins, he put the work in to make sure he got the headlines anyway.
Advertisement
Alejandro Garnacho might be unpopular with Chelsea fans, but he is despised by United supporters. They would have been all too familiar with his half-hearted attempt at stopping Bruno Fernandes’ run that led to Matheus Cunha’s goal.
Click here to find out the latest Manchester United news in our daily newsletter
Cunha should be able to reflect on a good first season at Old Trafford after his £62.5million from Wolves in the summer, even if there is a sense of more to come. He was part of a summer of recruitment that looks like being a roaring success, with character and quality added to the squad.
Advertisement
Garnacho’s cameo role in United’s success was a reminder that the former hasn’t always been a given in recent years. He didn’t come on at Old Trafford in September, but he would have left Manchester under no illusions that he had burnt his bridges at United. His first taste of action against his former club only reinforced that view.
If there was one legacy of the Ruben Amorim era, it is the way he so ruthlessly discarded bad apples. It meant Carrick has inherited a much more unified dressing room, one that is pulling in the same direction, and that was evident in the way United dug deep in the second half to hold on to their advantage.
That togetherness wasn’t the case 18 months ago, and Garnacho had already been mercilessly abused even before he was sent to warm up when Estevao went down injured. His foray towards those superb away fans produced the expected reaction. Amorim’s decision to discard him for a Manchester derby in December 2024 and then cut him adrift completely last summer has the backing of the supporters, even if they once thrilled to his talents.
Despite being forced into that early change that saw Garnacho enter the fray, it was Chelsea who had shaded most of the first half, with Cole Palmer at the heart of it. Nominally playing behind Liam Delap, his positioning meant United could never get a handle on him. Often, Palmer would drop deep and drift to the left, sometimes standing next to Pedro Neto to find space and get on the ball, and when he had it, you sensed danger.
Advertisement
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
If Palmer ever decided to try to force a move back to Manchester, United would be foolish not to try to make it happen. He would be the perfect replacement for Fernandes, but that doesn’t yet look like being a dilemma for the Old Trafford decision makers, and he proved his worth again just before the break.
Chelsea hadn’t capitalised on the quality of Palmer, but when Fernandes created a chance for United, they did. He wriggled away from a weak attempt at a tackle from Garnacho and his cross found Cunha, whose first-time finish was unstoppable.
Advertisement
The Brazilian had a similar chance earlier in the half, when his attempt at controlling Bryan Mbeumo’s pass was clumsy and resulted in a booking when he lunged in to try and retrieve the situation. This time, he left nothing to chance with his first touch.
The game should have been set up for United at that point, and they wasted a couple of opportunities to break with poor decisions as Chelsea tried to build a head of steam. Delap’s header against the crossbar from 10 yards was a warning sign, and Palmer side-footing wide when unmarked from a similar distance was a let-off. Another Chelsea cross then hit Noussair Mazraoui as he tried to clear and bounced back off the bar.
United were living on the edge and failing to put the game to bed, thanks to their decision-making in the final third. At times, it was too intricate, with Fernandes and Casemiro guilty of overplaying when they should have taken the shot on.
It didn’t matter in the end, with a diligent defensive display securing United a fourth win against a side in the top six since Carrick replaced Amorim in January. Complete the set with victory against Liverpool in May and his claims to keep the job will be impossible to ignore.
Advertisement
But this was a night when he might just thank his predecessor as well. It can be easy to look back on the Amorim era with regret, but not everything that happened in those 14 months was bad.
Zhao Xintong made a scrappy start to his Halo World Snooker Championship defence before putting away qualifier Liam Highfield 10-7 at the Crucible.
Zhao triumphed in Sheffield a year ago but was at risk of following in the footsteps of Luca Brecel and Kyren Wilson, who fell at the first hurdle when defending their crown in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
At the end of the opening session he had a wafer thin 5-4 lead over Highfield, who has never won a match in the main draw but soon found himself level-pegging with the world number four.
Zhao’s rough edges continued but he turned the tide by claiming a pivotal 11th frame and wrapped up the best-of-19 clash after a courageous long plant on his first red, opening up the table for a match-winning century.
“Tonight was pressure, it was very difficult for me,” he told BBC Sport.
Advertisement
“Two days ago I thought I could control that, not now. I just tried to control myself and enjoy the table, but tonight I didn’t do it well. Hopefully next round I can do it.”
A blockbuster second-round match against Chinese compatriot Ding Junhui awaits on Friday, should the latter beat David Gilbert first, and Zhao added: “If I play Ding, everyone keeps eyes on us. If I play with Ding, I’ll feel good.”
Zhao had kicked things off by taking the first two frames of the day, which began with a minute’s applause for John Virgo, the much-loved former player and commentator who died in February.
Breaks of 124 and 128 suggested he was finding some rhythm, but he made a series of uncharacteristic mistakes to let the Englishman back in and would have welcomed the break in play to compose himself.
Advertisement
When the contest resumed he drew gasps from the crowd when he went in off the pink, Highfield drawing level to bring the upset closer. With the pressure on, Zhao picked the perfect moment to pick up three successive frames, reeling off some outrageous long pots to put move 8-5 ahead.
A horrible miss on a simple black could have cost him the 14th, but a series of errors from both men eventually saw him pick off green and blue to nick a messy frame and go within touching distance. Highfield did not give up, taking the next two, but Zhao’s willingness to take on a low percentage red settled matters.
Barry Hawkins, the 2013 runner-up, took a dominant 7-2 advantage over Matthew Stevens. He was 2-1 down after a slow start but shut out the Welshman for the remainder of the evening, with a top break of 99.
Mark Williams took a 6-3 lead over Polish qualifier Antoni Kowalski but there was little to pick between Xiao Guodong and Zhou Yuelong, with the former edging it 5-4 in the afternoon’s play.
Advertisement
In the morning session, 14th seed Mark Allen went 5-3 down to Zhang Anda with the Northern Irishman losing three in a row before halting the momentum just before the interval.
Manchester United moved closer to Champions League qualification after Matheus Cunha’s first-half goal helped them beat struggling Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s poor run continued as they suffered their fourth straight Premier League defeat, a streak they have only matched once this century. They have not scored in any of those games and last found the net on 4 March.
Despite the loss, Chelsea will feel unlucky. They hit the woodwork three times through Estevao Willian, Liam Delap, and Wesley Fofana. Willian also had to go off early with another hamstring injury after just 16 minutes.
Advertisement
Chelsea dominated much of the game, having more possession, more shots, and more shots on target. Their expected goals (xG) was also higher, but they failed to convert their chances.
United, however, took their moment. Bruno Fernandes set up the goal with a smart cut-back, and Cunha finished first time to score the winner. It was Fernandes’ 18th league assist of the season, just two short of the Premier League record.
The win was only Manchester United’s second league victory at Stamford Bridge since 2002, and their fans celebrated loudly.
Advertisement
There were mixed reactions in the stadium. United supporters booed Alejandro Garnacho on his return to face his former club, while Chelsea fans voiced their frustration, chanting “we want our Chelsea back.” Mason Mount’s late introduction also drew jeers from the home crowd.
This week at the RBC Heritage, the script is inverted.
Scheffler started Saturday at Harbour Town seven shots behind 36-hole leader Matt Fitzpatrick but quickly closed the gap when he went out in 5-under 31 to vault into contention. When Fitzpatrick stumbled early in his round, Scheffler suddenly had a share of the lead as he reached the closing stretch of his third round. But then Fitzpatrick, who won the Valspar last month and finished runner-up at the Players, regripped the steering wheel with birdies at No. 9 and 12 to regain the lead. Scheffler closed with birdies at 16 and 18 to shoot a 7-under 64 and get into the house at 14 under.
When Scheffler signed his card, he was on Fitzpatrick’s heels, then the 2022 U.S. Open champion birdied 14 and chipped in for eagle at 15 to extend his lead to three.
Advertisement
As Scheffler waltzed to a win last summer at the Open, Fitzpatrick stood in front of the media and remarked how Scheffler was “in a different class” than everyone else. On Saturday, as Fitzpatrick was polishing off a grindy 3-under 68, Scheffler assumed an unusual role — that of a hunter explaining what makes the leader exceptional.
“Fitzy is a guy that I think — I admire him because he works really hard,” Scheffler said after a sun-splashed day at Hilton Head. “He’s a guy that I see always doing stuff in order to play well. He’s a guy that gets really into his stats. He’s a guy that’s going to check every single box that he can in order to get out here and play well.
“He’s a guy that when you look has always improved over the course of his career and made some changes in order to improve. You look at him when he first came out, he was a lot slower off the tee than he is now. He’s got a lot of speed. He doesn’t use it on every single shot, but he uses it when necessary. Not only is he a hard worker, but I think he’s a really smart player.”
Fitzpatrick increased his club head speed by more than five miles per hour from 2019 to 2022. He now swings it in the 118-122 range, where before he was in the 112 mph area. In 2019, Fitzpatrick ranked 59th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. He rose to 10th during the 2022 season when he won the U.S. Open. His game dipped in 2024, but Fitzpatrick is now back in the top 20 in SG: Off the Tee and ranked No. 7 in the world. Those gains and his current resurgence are the product of an analytical approach that is Fitzpatrick’s foundation.
Advertisement
Viktor Hovland has seen how Fitzpatrick goes about his business and how a unique process has helped him reclaim his spot as one of the world’s best golfers. It might not work for everyone, but Fitzpatrick doesn’t let those outside his bubble impact his approach.
“He works so hard,” Hovland said on Friday. “He’s extremely methodical. I think it’s pretty cool to see other guys, they have their thing. They have their way of trying to get better, and he goes all in on that. He doesn’t really care what other people say; he believes in what he’s doing.
“You look at his career, he just keeps winning tournaments and keeps getting better. If there’s a deficiency in his game, he tackles it and gets better, and I find that very admirable.”
Fitzpatrick will take a three-shot lead over Scheffler into Sunday at his favorite tournament on the PGA Tour schedule, one he won in a playoff over Jordan Spieth in 2023. There was a pro-Spieth crowd that day, and Fitzpatrick expects a similar vibe on Sunday as Scheffler tries to track him down. “As long as they don’t shout in my backswing, then they can do whatever they want,” Fitzpatrick said on Saturday.
He knows that a three-shot lead can evaporate quickly on Sunday against Scheffler, who is omnipresent atop leaderboards. While Fitzpatrick hasn’t lived in contention week in and week out like Scheffler, he has been working on hardening his game in the cauldron.
Last year, he arrived at Harbor Town with his game in disarray. A month later, he was in contention at the PGA. He faded. He contended at the Open, which Scheffler ran away with. Then, he won the DP World Tour Championship, was a putt away from a playoff at the Players and won the Valspar.
“It’s probably different for Scottie and Rory, who are in these positions a lot of the weeks of the year and in contention and in the mix,” Fitzpatrick said of the nerves on a Sunday. “But the more you do it, I wouldn’t say it ever gets any easier, but it might feel a little bit better, more comfortable.”
Advertisement
Matt Fitzpatrick is 18 holes away from his second win of the season and third worldwide win since November. He knows it won’t be easy to hold off Scheffler. But Matt Fitzpatrick is ready for the hard work ahead on Sunday; it’s what got him back to this point.
James Toney has predicted a devastating outcome for one half of Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis, questioning what the result would mean for his future in the sport.
The pair will collide for Zayas’ WBO and WBA world super-welterweight titles on June 27, headlining a card at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn.
Despite him being a unified champion, many are wondering whether this is a step too far for the Puerto Rican, who comes off a split decision victory over Abass Baraou.
Advertisement
Regardless of the scorecards, Zayas was able to dominate large spells of their encounter in January, before adding the WBA strap to his collection.
Against Ennis, though, the 23-year-old is set to face his toughest opponent by some distance, hoping to pull off what would be a sizable upset.
Having previously unified the welterweight division, orchestrating an emphatic sixth-round finish over Eimantas Stanionis, Ennis is certainly no stranger to a challenge of this nature.
While considering this, and indeed the overall skillset of ‘Boots’, Hall of Famer Toney finds it difficult to envision Zayas retaining his titles.
Advertisement
In fact, the former three-weight world champion has told MillCity Boxing that Ennis could even harm the promising career of his opponent.
“‘Boots’ [is] a bad motherf**ker. This kid [Zayas] is about to get ruined. He ain’t ready. He’s a good fighter, but he’s not there yet.”
SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 10 runs on Saturday, April 18, in match 27 of the ongoing IPL 2026. SRH posted 194/9 in 20 overs after being put to bat first at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Opener Abhishek Sharma led the charge with a blazing 59 off 22 at a strike rate of 268.18. Heinrich Klaasen also slammed a half-century, contributing 59 off 39. However, the hosts lost momentum in the death overs, scoring just 17 runs while losing four wickets in the last three overs. Anshul Kamboj and Jamie Overton took three scalps each.
CSK’s batting let them down in the run chase. Matthew Short was the top run-scorer with 34 off 30 at an underwhelming strike rate of 113.33. Chennai needed 18 runs from the final over with three wickets in hand. Praful Hinge bowled the crucial over and gave just seven runs while taking one wicket.
Advertisement
Eshan Malinga was the pick of the SRH bowlers. The Sri Lankan pacer was named the Player of the Match, recording excellent figures of 4-0-29-3. Hyderabad moved to the top four following the win.
The Ishan Kishan-led side are currently fourth in the table with three wins and as many losses in six matches. CSK, on the other hand, occupy the seventh spot after two wins from six fixtures.
Here, we look at three moments from the clash that generated a buzz among the fans.
Advertisement
#3 Abhishek Sharma launches onslaught against Matthew Short
Abhishek Sharma took Matthew Short to the cleaners in the powerplay to get SRH off to a flying start. Travis Head took a single on the first ball of the fifth over, getting Abhishek on strike against the part-time off-spinner.
The southpaw slammed a hat-trick of fours to put the Australian all-rounder under pressure. Short failed to bounce back as Abhishek’s onslaught continued. The hard-hitting batter hit back-to-back sixes in the remaining two deliveries.
Abhishek completed a 15-ball half-century with his six on the final ball of the over. He slammed the fastest fifty by an SRH player in IPL history, bettering his 16-ball half-century against Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2024.
#2 Mukesh Choudhary’s twin strikes to end SRH’s powerplay
Left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary was added to CSK’s playing XI with Khaleel Ahmed ruled out due to injury. He made an early impact in the game, taking two important wickets in the powerplay.
Advertisement
He dismissed Travis Head with a full-toss while bowling from around the wicket. The opening batter hit it down the ground but miscued it. Ruturaj Gaikwad completed a brilliant diving catch to end the hard-hitting batter’s knock.
Choudhary struck again on the very next delivery, sending back Ishan Kishan for a golden duck. The SRH skipper was caught by Gaikwad at mid-off while looking to clear the in-field.
#1 Heinrich Klaasen takes a blinder to dismiss Ayush Mhatre
Ayush Mhatre gave CSK some hope with a quick-fire cameo. The youngster scored 30 off 13 before perishing to Nitish Reddy in the fifth over. He attempted to clear mid-off on the fourth ball.
However, he ended up mistiming it and didn’t get enough distance. Heinrich Klaasen ran towards his left and jumped in the air to pluck out a stunning catch. Watch the video:
;)
You must be logged in to post a comment Login