One world record. One debut for the ages. One maximum ban. And the biggest revenge match in IPL tonight. April 1, 2026 — and cricket is very much not joking.
From Wellington to Mullanpur, from Lahore to Lucknow — the last 24 hours have produced some of the most extraordinary cricket of 2026. Here is everything you need to know from the world of cricket today — in one place.
🌟 HEADLINE — Amelia Kerr Rewrites Women's ODI History
NZ Women beat SA Women by 2 wickets — 2nd ODI, Wellington
South Africa Women: 346/6 (50 overs) | New Zealand Women: 350/8 (49.4 overs)
This is the story of the day — and arguably one of the greatest innings ever played in women's cricket.
New Zealand captain Amelia Kerr walked to the crease at the Basin Reserve in Wellington with her team struggling in a 347-run chase. Suzie Bates had just been dismissed in the fifth over. The required rate was climbing. South Africa — who had chased down 269 in the first ODI with a last-ball finish — had every reason to believe the series was theirs.
What followed was the kind of innings that gets talked about for decades. Kerr scored an unbeaten 179 off 139 balls — 23 fours and one six — and guided New Zealand to 350/8 in 49.4 overs, winning by two wickets with two balls to spare. In doing so, she shattered the record for the highest successful chase in women's ODI history, eclipsing India's record of 341 set at last year's Women's Cricket World Cup final against Australia.
The numbers tell the story but not the whole story. At the halfway point of the chase, New Zealand were four wickets down and in serious trouble. Kerr found a crucial partner in Isabella Gaze, who contributed a blistering 68 off 48 balls, their 120-run fifth wicket stand turning the tide. When Gaze fell, wickets continued to tumble — but Kerr refused to. With 11 needed off the final over, cramping and exhausted, she hit three boundaries to seal one of the great innings in New Zealand cricket history.
After the match, Kerr described it simply: "No doubt it's number one — to get a big hundred like that in a big chase against a quality side, it's definitely number one."
South Africa had done everything right — Anneke Bosch (91), Laura Wolvaardt (69) and Chloe Tryon (52*) built a formidable total. But Amelia Kerr simply would not let New Zealand lose.
| NZ vs SA Women — 2nd ODI Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Amelia Kerr (NZ) | 179* off 139 balls (23 fours, 1 six) |
| Isabella Gaze (NZ) | 68 off 48 balls |
| Anneke Bosch (SA) | 91 off 90 balls |
| Laura Wolvaardt (SA) | 69 off 74 balls |
| Chloe Tryon (SA) | 52* (late assault) |
| Women's ODI record chase | 347 — broken ✅ (prev: India's 341 at 2025 WC Final) |
| Result | NZ won by 2 wickets — series level 1-1 |
The series decider — 3rd ODI — is on April 4 in Wellington. The Women's T20 World Cup is in England in June. Kerr has just announced herself as the player to watch.
🏏 IPL 2026 — Match 4: Cooper Connolly Stars on Debut
Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by 3 wickets — Mullanpur
GT: 162/6 (20 overs) | PBKS: 165/7 (19.1 overs)
If Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was IPL 2026's debut sensation from Match 3, then Cooper Connolly was Match 4's answer. The 22-year-old Australian all-rounder walked in at number three for Punjab Kings in his first-ever IPL match and produced an unbeaten 72 off 46 balls to rescue a collapsing chase.
PBKS were cruising at 110/2 when GT's Prasidh Krishna took three wickets in two overs to reduce them to 118/6 — suddenly the chase was in serious doubt. Connolly, however, never flinched. He found support from Xavier Bartlett (11*) and sealed the win with a boundary in the final over with five balls to spare. He was named Player of the Match on debut — becoming the 25th player in IPL history to score 50+ in their first game.
GT had posted a competitive 162/6 thanks to Shubman Gill (39), Jos Buttler (38) and Glenn Phillips (25). But PBKS bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak (3/34) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/28) kept them well in check. Xavier Bartlett also produced one of the catches of the season — a stunning midair take to remove Buttler off Chahal.
One concern for PBKS: captain Shreyas Iyer picked up a wrist injury and was fined PKR 12 lakh for a slow over rate.
| PBKS vs GT — Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Cooper Connolly (PBKS) | 72* off 46 balls — POTM on debut |
| Prasidh Krishna (GT) | 3/29 — match-turning spell |
| Vijaykumar Vyshak (PBKS) | 3/34 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS) | 2/28 |
| Shubman Gill (GT) | 39 |
| Result | PBKS won by 3 wickets (5 balls to spare) |
For all the IPL 2026 results so far, read our March 30 full weekend roundup here.
📊 IPL 2026 Points Table — After 4 Matches
| Team | M | W | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Mumbai Indians | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Punjab Kings | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Gujarat Titans | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
LSG, DC, KKR, RR, SRH yet to complete their first match. Tonight's LSG vs DC will add two more teams to the table.
🏏 Tonight's IPL Match — LSG vs DC, Match 5
Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals
Venue: Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Time: 7:30 PM IST
This is the most fascinating fixture of IPL 2026's opening week — and the storylines write themselves.
Rishabh Pant — who captained Delhi Capitals for years — now leads Lucknow Super Giants at home against his old team. KL Rahul — who led LSG for four seasons — now opens the batting for Delhi Capitals against his former franchise. Two men, two teams, two completely swapped loyalties. It doesn't get much more personal than this.
LSG have a powerful batting lineup with Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran alongside Pant, and a much-improved bowling attack with Mohammed Shami and Anrich Nortje. However, Wanindu Hasaranga is unavailable for this opener. Delhi Capitals, led by Axar Patel, are without Mitchell Starc (shoulder injury) but have Kuldeep Yadav, KL Rahul and David Miller in the ranks. Young debutant Auqib Nabi is set to make his IPL bow tonight after PM Modi mentioned him specifically ahead of the match.
Our Prediction: LSG have home advantage and their batting firepower is formidable at Ekana. But DC's spin attack — Kuldeep and Axar — could be decisive on a slow surface. Expect a close contest. Slight edge to LSG.
🚨 PSL 2026 — Fakhar Zaman Gets Maximum Ban
The verdict we were all waiting for has arrived. Fakhar Zaman has been handed a two-match ban — the maximum penalty — after match referee Roshan Mahanama found him guilty of ball tampering following his hearing on March 31.
Fakhar will miss Lahore Qalandars' next two matches — against Multan Sultans on April 3 and Islamabad United on April 9. He has the right to appeal within 48 hours. Lahore Qalandars had previously threatened legal action if a ban was imposed. It remains to be seen whether they follow through.
Meanwhile, the IU vs PZ match in Lahore was abandoned without a ball bowled due to a violent thunderstorm that left the Gaddafi Stadium outfield waterlogged. Both teams received one point each. Islamabad United open their account for the season, while Peshawar Zalmi move up to second in the PSL table.
For the full PSL controversy breakdown — Naseem Shah's record fine, Shaheen Afridi's security breach, and the ball tampering scandal in detail — read our March 31 Cricket Today post here.
📅 What To Watch Today
- 🟠 LSG vs DC — IPL 2026 Match 5 — 7:30 PM IST — Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
- 🟢 HHK vs MS — PSL 2026 Match 8 — 7:00 PM PKT — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- 🏏 AUS Women vs WI Women — 3rd ODI — ongoing series
Stay with The Yorker Crew for match reports, results and every cricket story that matters. For complete IPL 2026 coverage from Day 1, start with our IPL 2026 opening day preview.
Who wins tonight — LSG or DC? And is Amelia Kerr's 179 the greatest women's ODI innings ever? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 🏏🔥
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