New York Warriors beat Texas Chargers to leapfrog over their opponents into the lead for the US Masters T10 league on Thursday. The Warriors registered their fourth victory of the competition when they trumped the Chargers outfit by a six-run margin at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida.
Texas Chargers had to make way later for California Knights as well as Morrisville Unity, who won their matches on a busy penultimate day of the league stage. The day’s action saw teams playing additional games to compensate for the initial abandonments due to rain. The Knights secured a victory by five runs over Atlanta Riders. Morrisville rode on a brilliant all-round show from Corey Anderson, who top-scored with the bat (40 not out) and picked four wickets, to help his side register a 55-run win against New Jersey Triton’s.
New York Warriors put up 115/5 in their 10 overs before restricting Texas Chargers to 109/8. The latter went down fighting in chasing the tough target. Abdur Rehman got New York off to a great start as he dismissed both Mohammed Hafeez and Upul Tharanga in the first over of the chase.
Thereafter, Skipper Ben Dunk and Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera scored 16 and 19 runs respectively. Both of them showcased good form, but could not play a long innings as Texas were struggling at 71/7 in 6.2 overs. However, Phil Mustard and Sohail Tanvir produced a rearguard action that almost saw the Texas team pull off victory from the jaws of defeat. The action remained alive till the last ball when Texas required seven runs, but Tanvir got caught out at the long-on boundary, much to the relief of the New York side.
Earlier in the day, Texas won the toss and chose to bowl first. Tanvir picked up two wickets in the seventh over as New York were reduced to 58/5. Thereafter, captain Misbah Ul-Haq and Abdul Razzaq joined forces to smash 57 runs in the last 21 balls of the innings.
Razzaq produced an unbeaten knock of 35 runs from 14 balls that included 4 sixes and a boundary to take his team to 115/5 in their 10 overs.
Irfan Pathan, centre, and California Knights celebrate a wicket against Atlanta Riders. Saikat Das / USM T10
Irfan Pathan denies Atlanta Riders in win for California Knights
California Knights prevailed over Atlanta Riders in a final-over drama with Irfan Pathan rolling back the clock with his accurate bowling in the US Masters T10 League in Florida.
Atlanta needed nine runs off the last over against California Knights, but former India left-arm fast bowler Irfan Pathan conceded just three runs as California won by five runs at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium. The California Knights posted 94/2 in their 10 overs before restricting the Atlanta Riders to 89/4.
Robin Uthappa got Atlanta Riders off to a great start with two boundaries and a six. However, he was dismissed by Peter Siddle for 16 runs off nine balls in the second over. Thereafter, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Smith strung a 47-run partnership to take the Riders’s score to 66/2 in 7.3 overs.
Hamilton Masakadza put the Riders in the driver’s seat with two fours and a six off Ben Laughlin’s bowling in the ninth over. But Pathan put his hand up and saved the day for the Knights.
California chose to bat first after winning the toss. Amila Aponso dismissed Aaron Finch (2) in the second over. However, Milind Kumar upped the ante with a four and a six in the same over. Jacques Kallis also joined the party as he smashed three boundaries off Kamrul Islam in the third over.
But, Milind fell to Mohammad Irfan for 19 runs off 12 balls in the fifth over, leaving the Knights at 42/2. Thereafter, Jacques Kallis and Ricardo Powell strung an unbeaten partnership of 52 runs to take the score to 94/2 in their 10 overs. Kallis scored 38 off 27 balls, while Powell notched 33 off 18 balls.
Brief scores: California Knights 94/2 (Jacques Kallis 38*, Ricardo Powell 33*, Mohammad Irfan 1/19) beat Atlanta Riders 89/4 (Lendl Simmons 37, Hamilton Masakadza 20, Peter Siddle 2/15) by 5 runs.
The DP World International League T20 (ILT20) has officially cemented its status as a global cricket powerhouse. Following the conclusion of Season 4, new data reveals the league has tightened its grip as the second-most watched cricket league in the world, reaching a staggering 397 million unique viewers across TV and OTT platforms.
This represents a 7.49% increase over Season 3, fuelled by expansive broadcast syndication and the maiden title victory of the Desert Vipers on January 4, 2026.
Digital dominance: 2.5 billion views
While the TV numbers are impressive, the league’s digital footprint saw an even more explosive surge. DP World ILT20 platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, amassed over 2.5 billion video views during the season.
“This season we have further strengthened our position… with significant gains across all platforms,” said David White, CEO of DP World ILT20.
“Our digital content, focusing on both high-stakes action and off-field fan engagement, has truly resonated with a global audience.”
Season 4 statistical highlights
Global Reach: 397 million unique viewers (7.49% YoY growth).
Viral Content: Over 350 social media posts surpassed the 1 million views mark.
Star Power: Features elite talent including Sam Curran (Player of the Tournament), Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, and Shakib Al Hasan.
Joseph Eapen, Managing Partner at GSIQ, noted that for such a young tournament, achieving this level of international relevance is a “highly credible and noteworthy achievement.”
With Season 4 in the books, the league is already looking toward the future. Officials have confirmed that dates for Season 5 will be unveiled in the coming days, promising an even larger spectacle for cricket fans worldwide.
Travellers arriving at Dubai International Airport are being greeted with a unique souvenir, a special stamp on their passports celebrating the Dubai World Cup 2026.
The initiative, launched by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), marks the 30th edition (Pearl Jubilee) of one of the world’s most prestigious horse racing events.
A grand sporting celebration
The iconic Dubai World Cup will take place on Saturday, March 28 at Meydan Racecourse, drawing global attention from racing fans and elite stables.
This year’s event promises high-stakes action:
100 horses from top international stables
Nine races across the evening
Total prize pool of $30.5 million
Spotlight on the main race
The highlight of the night is the $12 million Dubai World Cup race, sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Run over 2,000 metres on dirt, the Group 1 race will feature some of the world’s top thoroughbreds, including:
“Hit Show” – last year’s winner
“Forever Young” – UAE Derby and Saudi Cup champion
“Imperial Emperor”
“Meidan” – Super Saturday winner
A memorable arrival experience
The commemorative passport stamp adds a celebratory touch for visitors landing in Dubai, tying their arrival to one of the city’s biggest sporting spectacles.
With excitement building ahead of race day, Dubai is once again showcasing its ability to blend world-class sport with unique visitor experiences.
Soccer superstar Erling Haaland has announced a major investment in Norway Chess, backing the launch of a new global competition format, the Total Chess World Championship Tour.
The initiative, unveiled in Oslo, aims to transform chess into a more spectator-friendly and widely accessible sport. Haaland has partnered with Norwegian business leader Morten Borge to establish a new company, Chess Mates, which will become a significant stakeholder in Norway Chess.
Haaland said his investment reflects a strong belief in chess as both a mental discipline and a global spectator sport.
“Chess is an incredible game. It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football. You have to think quickly, trust your instincts, and think several moves ahead,” he said.
The newly announced Total Chess World Championship Tour is set to feature four tournaments annually across different cities, bringing together the world’s top players. The competition will crown an overall world champion based on combined performance in three formats: Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz.
The tour has been approved by the International Chess Federation for a minimum of 16 years, underscoring its long-term ambition and significance within the global chess calendar.
A pilot tournament is scheduled for autumn 2026, with the first full season expected in 2027. Each season will include four events and offer a minimum prize pool of $2.7 million.
Kjell Madland, CEO of Norway Chess and Total Chess, welcomed Haaland’s involvement, describing it as a major step forward for the sport.
He said Haaland’s global influence and appeal would help attract new audiences and elevate the profile of chess worldwide, adding that preparations are now in the final stages to secure host cities for the inaugural tour.
With millions of fans worldwide, Haaland’s move into chess investment signals a growing crossover between elite sport and strategic mind games, potentially reshaping how chess is consumed and followed globally.