Comilla Victorians Thursday beat Sylhet Strikers by seven wickets to win a record fourth Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) title in Mirpur. The Victorians' made a world record after winning 11 straight matches to defend their title. No team has ever won a T20 tournament title this way. Ahead of today's final, Comilla had played three BPL finals and never suffered a defeat. Also, before this match, Sylhet Strikers captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza had led his teams in four BPL finals and never lost a match. So, it was a battle for both the Victorians and Mashrafe to establish their place in BPL final history, which Mashrafe ultimately lost in front of a packed gallery in Mirpur.    Litton Das and Johnson Charles were the main architects of the Victorians' victory, each hitting a fifty. While Litton fell for 55, Charles remained unbeaten on 79 off 52 balls with seven fours and five sixes.    Comilla got off to a blistering start while chasing 176. Openers Litton and Sunil Narine scored 27 runs in just 2.2 overs. However, their opening stand was short-lived as Narine was dismissed by Rubel Hossain after scoring 10 runs off just five balls with a boundary and a six.    In the next over, Imrul Kayes was dismissed for just two runs. After these two quick wickets, Johnson and Litton added 70 runs off 57 balls in their third wicket partnership, which kept the Victorians' title hopes alive. Litton eventually fell for 55 after Najmul Hossain Shanto took a remarkable catch at the boundary. In the 15th and 16th, George Linde and Luke Wood conceded only three and five runs, respectively, making the job of the Victorians much tougher. However, during the 17th over bowled by Rubel, Charles smashed three sixes and one four; and the Victorians needed only 29 runs off the last 18 balls. The Victorians reached the target of 176 with seven wickets and four balls to spare. Earlier, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim, both of whom scored a fifty each, helped Sylhet Strikers post 175-7 in 20 overs against Comilla Victorians in the final of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2023 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium Thursday. Comilla's fielders were surprisingly sloppy, conceding at least 25-30 runs due to misfielding and dropped catches. Towhid Hridoy, who hit five fifties in this BPL, made a duck. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, captain of Sylhet, came to bat at number three, as he did in the second qualifier. But this time the plan did not work for him. So, the onus was on Shanto and Mushfiqur to rescue their team. And the duo added 79 runs off 56 balls in the third wicket stand. Shanto hit nine fours and a six in his 45-ball 64. He was dismissed by Moeen Ali in the 13th over, leaving Sylhet at 105-3. Mushfiqur continued to anchor the innings. He remained unbeaten on 74 off 48 balls, with five fours and three sixes. He added 29 runs with Ryan Burl (13), who was caught by Mosaddek Hossain off Mustafizur Rahman in the 16th over. George Linde (9) hit a four before being caught by Litton Das off Mustafizur in the 18th over. Zakir Hasan (1) was run out by Moeen Ali in the penultimate over. Tanzim Hasan Sakib joined Mushfiqur for the last four balls and remained not out for zero. For Comilla, Mustafizur was the most successful bowler, grabbing two wickets for 31 runs in four overs. Moeen Ali, Tanvir Islam, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell took one wicket each.

Sports Bangla emerged as champions of the Marcel 2nd Division Chess League with one match to spare, securing 16 points after the eighth-round matches held at the Bangladesh Chess Federation hall room and NSC conference room Thursday. In today's match, Sports Bangla defeated Nurul Islam Smriti Pathagar by 3.5-1.5 game points. Agrani Bank Chess remained in the second slot with 13 points and Deepali Memorial Club (1) in the third position with 12 points. The teams, who shared the fourth position with 11 points are BD Chess in School, Aimers, Ipsa Chess BD, Debonair Chess Club, Bangladesh Police Prime Chess Club, Nurul Islami Smriti Pathagar and Elegant International Chess Academy. In today's other matches, Agrani Bank beat Bangladesh Police by 4-0 game points, Dipali Memorial beat Morning Glory Chess Club by 3-1 game points, Ipsha Chess beat Asad Chess Club by 2.5 -1.5 game points, and BD Chess in School beat Dabaru Spandan Chess Club by 4-0 game points. Also, Aimers beat Cumilla Victorians Chess by 4-0 game points, Debonair Chess Club beat Bangladesh Police Crown Chess Club by 3-1 game points, Elegant International Chess Academy beat Legend Faraaz Chess Team by 3-1 game points, Master Mind Chess Club beat Daffodil International University by 4-0 game points, Bangladesh Chess Arena beat Mohammadpur Chess Club (Red) by 1-3 game points, and Spandan Dhaka defeated Hatirjheel Chess Forum by 3-0 game points. Read more: 2nd Div Chess: Sports Bangla takes solo lead securing 10 points Dipali Memorial Club (2) drew with Shoukat Osman Smriti Daba Parisod by 2-2 game points. The ninth and last round matches will be held on Friday from 4pm at the same venues.  

Rangpur Division beat Sylhet Division by five wickets in the sixth round of the National Cricket League in Bogura to clinched the title of the 24th edition of the event. It was the second NCL title for Rangpur. They last won the title seven years ago in the 2014-2015 season. Rangpur ended their previous four editions of the league as runners-up. Rangpur just needed to score 89 runs to beat Sylhet in the sixth round of the event and clinch the title. They did it in the first session of the day. The sixth-round match was a great chance for Sylhet to win their first title while a draw was fine for Rangpur. In the first round of the league, Rangpur suffered a big defeat to Dhaka Division. But in the next five rounds, they registered four wins and ended a match with a draw. Pace-bowling duo Mushfik Hasan and Robiul Haque were the main architects of Rangpur's success in this year's NCL. They bagged 25 and 17 wickets each. Abdullah Al Mamun also did well for them. The 18-year-old all-rounder scored 326 runs with a double-century and bagged 11 wickets. Read more: Chattogram, Sylhet lead in 6th round of NCL matches Chasing a target of 89 runs, Rangpur lost four wickets before even posting 50 runs on the board. Sylhet pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib bagged three wickets. But Mim Mosaddek stood firm like a rock in the middle for Rangpur and scored 29 to seal the victory for his team. The other sixth-round match of NCL tier one between Chattogram and Dhaka Division is still underway. Dhaka need 87 runs to win the match with five wickets in hand. In tier two, Khulna beat Rajshahi by nine wickets. The other tier two match between Barishal and Dhaka Metro is still underway and Dhaka Metro need 36 to win the match with seven wickets in hand. Brief score of Rangpur vs Sylhet match Sylhet (first innings): 107 for 10 (Tawfique 16, Zakir 16, Jaker 14); Sohel 3/21, Mushfik 2/27, Robiul 2/36) Rangpur (first innings): 188 for 10 (Nasir 41, Mosaddek 38, Ariful 13); Ebadot 5/38, Rejaur 4/37 Sylhet (second innings): 168 for 10 (Tawfiq 36, Nasum 33, Zakir 20); Abdullah 4/40, Sohel 2/26) Rangpur (second innings): 89 for 5 (Mosaddek 29, Rishad 20, Akbar 18); Tanzim 3/24, Ebadot 1/7 Result: Rangpur won by five wickets

In a dominating season for Real Madrid, it was fitting that they did not even need their best players to win the Spanish league. Using their backups ahead of the Champions League semifinals, Madrid earned a record-extending 35th Liga title with a comfortable 4-0 home win over Espanyol Saturday. Players and coaches celebrated with the crowd at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium long after the match ended, then paraded to the team's usual party spot at Cibeles plaza, but there was not a lot of time to rejoice. Wednesday, Madrid is back at the Bernabéu to host Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals. Madrid lost 4-3 in the first match in England. "We know we have an important match ahead of us, but today we have to celebrate," said Brazilian veteran Marcelo, who reached a milestone with his 24th career title with Madrid, the most in the club's history. "We have to enjoy it, this could help us Wednesday," said Carlo Ancelotti, who became the first coach to lift trophies in the top five European leagues. The Italian manager won with AC Milan in Serie A, Chelsea in the English Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. Rodrygo scored twice and Marco Asensio and substitute Karim Benzema added on to give Madrid their second league title in three seasons, and third in six years. Madrid have an insurmountable lead with four rounds to go. It was 17 points in front of Sevilla, who drew with Cádiz 1-1 Friday, and 18 points ahead of Barcelona, who host Mallorca on Sunday. "This is how you win leagues," Madrid midfielder Casemiro said. "We've done a great job the entire season, being consistent from the start." Madrid has nine more league titles than Barcelona. Ancelotti rested most of his regular starters against Espanyol, including Benzema and his attacking teammate Vinícius Júnior. Only goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and midfielders Casemiro and Luka Modric made the starting lineup. Benzema, Vinícius and Toni Kroos entered the match in the second half, and Benzema closed the scoring in the 81st for his league-leading 26th goal. Casemiro had to play improvised as a central defender because David Alaba was out injured, and Nacho Fernández and Éder Militão were suspended. Marcelo started at left-back and surpassed the 23 titles won by Francisco "Paco" Gento, who died this year at age 88. The 33-year-old Brazilian tied Gento when Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup in January, a few days before Gento's death. Marcelo gave the pass to countryman Rodrygo to open the scoring from near the penalty spot in the 33rd minute. Rodrygo added to the lead 10 minutes later, and Marco Asensio scored the third goal in the 55th. It was a well-deserved title as Madrid got off to a good start and fended off every run by their challengers. They led after all but six rounds early in the season, being at the top since the 14th round in November. The only question now is if Atlético Madrid will agree to give its city rival a "guard of honour" before the teams meet at Atlético's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium next Sunday.

In a wide-ranging interview aired Sunday, Harry and Meghan described painful palace discussions about the color of their son’s skin, losing royal protection and the intense pressures that led the Duchess of Sussex to contemplate suicide.

Liverpool tightened their grip on the Premier League title as they beat Manchester United 2-0 on Sunday at Anfield while second place Manchester City were held at home and Leicester City lost in Burnley.