CSK post 103 for 9 against KKR, their lowest ever score at Chepauk
Chennai (PTI): A completely disoriented Chennai Super Kings could manage only a paltry 103 for nine, their lowest total at the home ground Chepauk, as Kolkata Knight Riders dished out a clinical bowling show in their IPL match here on Friday.
It was CSK's third lowest total in the IPL and the lowest by any team in this edition so far.
Veteran spinner Sunil Narine (3/13) grabbed three wickets, while Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy got two each after CSK were invited to bat. Nothing went right for CSK in their home ground as they could hit just nine boundaries (4 or 6) in the entire innings.
Shivam Dube top-scored with an unbeaten 31 off 29 balls, while Vijay Shankar made 29 after living a charmed life. Only two other CSK batters made runs in double-digit figures.
Captaining CSK after Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the remainder of the IPL due to an injury, MS Dhoni could only make just one off four balls before getting out in the 16th over after coming out to bat at number nine.
CSK's powerplay woes continued as they made 31 for the loss of two wickets, the second lowest by any team in six overs this season. It could have been much lower but for the 13 runs scored in the sixth over with back-to-back fours from Shankar off Chakaravarthy.
Moeen Ali removed Devon Conway (12) in the fourth over, while Rana got the wicket of Rachin Ravindra (4) in the fifth as CSK were reduced to 16 for 2. The home side would have been three down during powerplay had Narine not dropped Shankar in the fifth over, failing to hold on to a sitter at mid-off.
Shankar's luck finally ran out in the 10th over as he holed out to Moeen, leaving CSK at 61 for 3 at the halfway stage.
KKR tightened the screw over CSK who lost their fourth wicket in the 11th over with the struggling Rahul Tripathi clean-bowled by Narine after a laboured 22-ball 16.
Ravichandran Ashwin came out ahead of Ravindra Jadeja and Dhoni and CSK would rue the decision as the India spin great was out for one run from seven balls.
CSK were in complete disarray when Jadeja (0) came out inevitably in the 14th over but he also lasted just two balls without any contribution, as he nicked to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, becoming Narine's second victim of the day. The home side were 71 for 6 at that stage.
Deepak Hooda (0) fell in the next over for nought and Dhoni came out only at that stage after CSK were reduced to 72 for 7 in 14.2 overs.
The writing was on the wall for CSK and the Chepauk crowd fell silent when MS Dhoni was adjudged LBW off Sunil Narine. Dhoni opted for a review, seemingly indicating there was bat involved, but the decision stood, further denting CSK's hopes.
The third umpire took multiple looks but ultimately ruled Dhoni out as CSK were reduced to 75 for 8.
More than four overs were left after Dhoni's departure and CSK went past the 100-run mark, thanks mainly to Dube who was attended to by team physio towards the end.
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World “being ravaged by handful of tyrants,” says Pope Leo days after spat with Trump
Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has criticised global leaders stating that the world is “being ravaged by a handful of tyrants” during his visit to Cameroon, BBC reported.
His remarks came amid an ongoing spat with Donald Trump following a recent exchange of criticism.
During his visit to a region in the central African country affected by insurgency, the Pope spoke against leaders who, according to him, misuse religion for personal or political purposes.
He also criticised the large spending on wars, saying leaders “turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found”.
He further said, “the masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild.”
Speaking in the north-western city of Bamenda, which has been affected by violence for nearly a decade, the Pope described the situation as “an endless cycle of destabilisation and death” in a “bloodstained” region.
Addressing people gathered at a cathedral, he said, “those who rob your land of its resources generally invest much of the profit in weapons, thus perpetuating an endless cycle of destabilisation and death.”
He also spoke about the need for peace, stating, “peace is not something we must invent: it is something we must embrace by accepting our neighbour as a brother and as our sister.”
The comments come days after a public disagreement between the Pope and Donald Trump. The Pope had earlier expressed concern over Trump’s warning that “a whole civilisation will die” if Iran did not accept US demands related to the war and the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump responded by criticising the Pope on social media, writing, “Leo should get his act together as Pope.”
In another post, he described the Pope as “weak on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy,” while also sharing content portraying himself in a religious context. The now deleted post included Trump depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure. The post trigerred backlash.
He later continued his criticism and did not apologise.
Responding to questions about Trump’s remarks during his visit, the Pope said he had “no fear” of the US administration and would continue to speak against war. He also said earlier that he did not want to engage in a direct debate with Trump but would continue promoting peace.
The differences between the Pope and the US administration have also been visible in their positions on the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
During a Palm Sunday Mass at St Peter's Square, the Pope described the conflict as “atrocious” and said, “this is our God: Jesus, king of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war.”
He added, “he does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.” He also quoted a passage from the Bible, saying, “even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.”
The Pope’s Africa tour includes visits to multiple cities across four countries and is his second major international trip since becoming Pope last year.
