Buttler and Siraj lead Gujarat to big victory over Bengaluru in IPL

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj grabbed 3-19 against his former team and Jos Buttler made amends for poor glovework with a 31-ball half-century as Gujarat Titans notched an eight-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday.

Siraj, who was not retained by Benglauru, bowled to tight lengths in Bengaluru's first home game of the season before Liam Livingstone’s 40-ball knock of 54 lifted the total to 169-8.

Buttler dropped one of the three catches and missed out stumping of Livingstone but smashed an unbeaten 73 off 39 balls as Gujarat cruised to 170-2 in 17.5 overs, denying Bengaluru of a third straight victory.

Opening batter Sai Sudharsan (49) missed out on his third straight half-century, but his 75-run partnership with Buttler led Gujarat to its second win of the season.

Buttler had a few tough months coming into the IPL as he stepped down as England captain after an early exit from the Champions Trophy. But he shrugged of the disappointment for his new IPL franchise, even if being a bit scratchy behind the wickets.

Captain Shubman Gill scored run-a-ball 14 before he sliced a catch to Livingstone at third man just one ball after hitting Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six inside the power play.

But with dew settling in, Buttler and Sudharsan batted with lot of aggression before a dried ball brought success for Bengaluru. Sudharsan tried to play a lap-shot against Josh Hazlewood (1-43) for the second time but offered a simple catch to wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma.

Buttler raised his second half-century of the season with a six over long-on against Livingstone as Bengaluru had little answer to Englishman’s aggression. Impact player Sherfane Rutherford also hit three sixes in his quickfire unbeaten 30 off 18 balls as he finished off the game with a pulled six off Hazlewood.

“Really enjoyed it (batting),” Buttler said. “The bowlers did a fantastic job. If we fielded better, myself included, we would have chased less.”

Siraj and pace bowler Arshad Khan bowled at a good pace and proved captain Gill’s decision to bowl first right as Bengaluru slipped to 42-4 inside the first seven overs.

Virat Kohli (7) started with a cover driven boundary in Siraj’s first over before pulling Khan’s back of the length delivery straight into the hands of Prasidh Krishna at backward square leg in the next over as he walked off to the much disappointment of home team fans.

Buttler missed out a straightforward edge of Phil Salt (14), but Siraj uprooted the off stump of Englishman and also clean bowled Devdutt Padikkal (4). Ishant Sharma then pinned captain Rajat Patidar plumb leg before wicket for 12 as Bengaluru lost four top-order batters.

“It was emotional because I played for seven years here,” Siraj said of his long association with Bengaluru. “There was some nervousness and some emotion … (but) I have belief that I can do well, irrespective of wherever I am playing and that is my mindset.”

Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma (33) shared vital 52-run stand off just 38 balls before left-arm spinner Sai Kishore (2-22) dismissed Sharma and Krunal Pandya in his two successive overs.

But Livingstone took on ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan (0-54) and struck three sixes in his one over after twice getting dropped and Buttler missing out on a stumping chance.

Livingstone cashed in on the chances as Bengaluru scored 64 off the final five overs with Tim David hitting two sixes and three boundaries in his little cameo of 32 off 18 balls.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Tim David is bowled out by Gujarat Titans' Prasidh Krishna during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Liam Livingstone bats during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Gujarat Titans' Sai Kishore, second right, and teammate Gujarat Titans' Ishant Sharma celebrate the dismissal of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Krunal Pandya during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli walks off the field after losing his wicket to Gujarat Titans' Arshad Khan during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Gujarat Titans' Sai Sudharsan bats during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Gujarat Titans' Jos Butler bats during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Devdutt Padikkal is bowled out by Gujarat Titans' Mohammed Siraj during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Gujarat Titans' Sherfane Rutherford, left, and batting partner Jos Butler run between the wickets to score during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Gujarat Titans' Rashid Khan, right, reacts as Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Liam Livingstone runs between the wickets to score during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Gujarat Titans' Mohammed Siraj appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Liam Livingstone during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Gujarat Titans' Jos Butler bats during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

NEW YORK (AP) — Seven-time WNBA All-Star Elena Delle Donne, a two-time league MVP and a key part of Washington's 2019 championship, is retiring after 11 seasons.

Delle Donne, 35, made the announcement on social media Friday and referenced a line from one of her favorite childhood books that reads, “How did get so late so soon?”

“I have asked myself that over and over again in the process of coming to the decision to retire from playing basketball,” Delle Donne wrote on Instagram. “Being able to say that out loud was one of the hardest parts of my career. My body seemed to make this decision before my mind accepted it, but I now truly know this is the right thing for me at the right time.”

The second overall pick in 2013 by Chicago, Delle Donne spent a dozen years as one of the faces of the WNBA. She played the last six seasons of her career in Washington — she opted out of 2020 because of health concerns — and turned down a contract in February 2024 to step away from basketball.

She averaged 19.5 points and 6.7 rebounds in 241 regular-season games. She also played in 40 playoffs games, where she averaged 17.9 points, 6.1 boards and 2.3 assists.

“Words cannot adequately express how thankful I am to my family, all of my incredible teammates, friends, executives, sponsors, staff and most importantly the amazing fans that have accompanied me on this journey,” she wrote. "This game has been my life, and I am grateful for the memories and how much it’s given me. It feels good to close this chapter knowing I gave it my all, and I can’t wait for what’s next!”

WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

FILE - Washington Mystics' Elena Delle Donne drives up the court against the Las Vegas Aces during the second half of Game 3 of a WNBA playoff basketball series Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

FILE - Washington Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne poses with the 2019 WNBA most valuable player trophy at a press conference, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

FILE - Washington Mystics' Elena Delle Donne smiles after scoring during a WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)