Delhi Daredevils beat Kings XI Punjab by 29 runs

The change of scenery at the Ferozeshah Kotla had immediate effect on the fortunes of Delhi Daredevils. As the track went from brown to green, Delhi roared back to ground the flying Kings XI Punjab by 29 runs on Saturday.

Contrary to the belief that the pacemen would hold sway on what can be called an 'anti-Kotla' track, it was the batsmen who dominated the proceeding from the moment Adam Gilchrist won the toss and put the Daredevils in to bat. 

The faster the Kings XI bowlers bowled, the farther the ball went off the flashing willows of Virender Sehwag and David Warner. In the first hour of the game, there was massacre at Kotla by the Daredevils openers. Warner (77; 48b, 7x4, 4x6) and Sehwag (77; 35b, 8x4, 4x6) feasted on a track that had enough bounce and movement to keep all the pacemen interested. 

The level of Delhi's confidence could be judged by the fact that they went in with an all-pace attack including first games for Varun Aaron and Ajit Agarkar. The opening stand of 146 was the highest so far in IPL 4, overhauling 136 put on by Kings XI's Gilchrist and Paul Valthaty, and set the platform for the total of 231/4. It was the first 200-plus total this year and the third-highest IPL total ever. 

Every Delhi batsmen enjoyed the extra pace coming on to the bat and were aided by the wayward Kings XI fast bowlers. Venugopal Rao (28 not out, 15b, 3x4, 1x6) and Naman Ojha (19 not out, 8b, 1x4, 2x6) provided the finishing touches to the fantastic opening charge. 

Kings XI attempted to return the favour with two Australian southpaws in Adam Gilchrist (42; 33b, 8x4, 1x6) and Shaun Marsh (95; 46b, 9x4, 6x6). The duo's 72-run stand for the second wickets kept the visitors interested in the match but Aaron picked up his first IPL scalp by crashing through Gilly's defence with a 142-kph delivery. 

Marsh got to within five runs of a second IPL century but skied Morne Morkel with the side still needing 48 to win off 14 balls. David Hussey, playing his first match this season, scored a 10-ball 20 (2x6) but the target was too steep for Kings XI to overhaul as they ended up at 202/6. This season's sensation Paul Valthaty (14; 10b, 2x6) smashed a couple of sixes but his luck ran out as he top-edged Irfan Pathan to point. 

The Delhi bowlers, much like their counterparts, got carried away at the sight of the green track. All the bowlers took a pounding again but the cushion of a massive total got Delhi past the finishing line.

Sachin Tendulkar turns 38, won't celebrate birthday

Iconic Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar turned 38 today with the historic World Cup triumph being the most memorable high of a successful year for the veteran batsman.

But the big day is expected to be devoid of any major celebrations because of the death of Shri Sathya Sai Baba, of whom Tendulkar is a devotee.

Asking his fans to pray for the well being of Sai Baba, Tendulkar had yesterday tweeted, "I m praying for Shri Sathya Sai Baba's quick recovery. Hope everyone will join me in praying for his return to good health." But with the spiritual guru succumbing to multiple organ failure this morning, Tendulkar may not celebrate his birthday at all.

The 86-year-old Sai Baba had been undergoing treatment for multi-organ dysfunction since March 28.

Tendulkar, who sits on such a huge pile of runs and records which any contemporary batsman would find nearly impossible to exceed, is not known to be flamboyant in his celebrations.If he is not busy on the field, an intensely private Tendulkar prefers to blow the candles just in the company of his two kids, wife Anjali and other family members.

In fact, the Mumbaikar got his biggest gift weeks before the special day.

The trophy might have been lifted first by Mahendra Singh Dhoni after the finals on April 2 but much before India won it, the members of the World Cup squad were falling over each other to dedicate it to Tendulkar, who was making his sixth and perhaps the final appearance in the mega-event.

Tendulkar had played five World Cups before this edition but had never been a part of the winning squad. His dream was finally fulfilled this time and even for a man who is known to be discreet in expressing emotions, the tears were all too visible when his teammates carried him on their shoulders for a lap of honour.

Just a couple of days before his birthday this year, Tendulkar interacted with wheel-chair bound soldiers in Pune via a video conference as IPL commitments could not allow him the time to meet them in person.

"Respectful greetings, my dear soldier brethren; I have learned to take up responsibility and fight till the end from you people," the batting maestro, who is an honorary Air Force Group captain, told the soldiers during his interaction from Mumbai.

The 80-odd soldiers are undergoing rehabilitation at the paraplegic centre in Pune's Khadki cantonment area and are wheel-chair bound. Some of them are paralysed neck-down and some others waist-down.

The lot wanted to meet the icon cricketer personally, but that wasn't possible immediately as Tendulkar was busy leading Mumbai Indians in the fourth edition of IPL.

In fact, the legend wouldn't be at home today as he will be here for MI's match against Deccan Chargers.

Via the video conference, Tendulkar also cut a birthday cake and symbolically exchanged bouquets with the members of the country's armed forces.

Just one short of completing his 100th century in international cricket, records are fairly routine for Tendulkar but for the cricketing fraternity every run he scores just adds to the legend that the right-hander has become.

A staggering 14,692 runs scored in 177 Tests before the ongoing one at a robust average of 56.94 confirmed Tendulkar's greatness in the longer version of the game.

And in the 453 ODIs he played, a whopping 18,111 were added to his mountain of runs at an average of 45.16.

Mumbai Indians beat Chennai Super kings by 8 runs

The Mumbai Indians proved to be too good for the Chennai Super Kings, beating them by 8 runs at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium in match 25 of IPL-4 on Friday. Earlier, Rohit Sharma cracked a blistering 87 to help last year’s runners-up Mumbai Indians rally strongly and put up a challenging total of 164 for four. Rohit, who came to the crease at the fall of skipper Sachin Tendulkar in the fourth over, put on half century stands with Ambati Rayudu (27) and Andrew Symonds (31 not out) to help the home team recover from 13 for two at the Wankhede Stadium tonight.

He was finally out in the last over holing out to long on fielder Michael Hussey off Doug Bollinger. Thanks in large measure to Rohit, who hit five sixes and eight fours from 48 balls, and his partnerships of 61 with Rayudu and of 87 with Symonds, who hit two sixes and a four in 36 balls, Mumbai’s total assumed challenging proportions on a track offering some movement to the pace bowlers. Rohit’s knock came after Mumbai had lost both their openers Rajagopal Satish for a duck and in-form Tendulkar for nine.

For Chennai, Doug Bollinger grabbed two for 30. Albie Morkel at last found his touch with the ball and bowled a splendid four-over spell, including one maiden over, to take 1-19. Suraj Randiv got one for 31. Mumbai commenced their innings with a new partner for skipper Tendulkar, Rajagopal Satish replacing James Franklin who opened in the previous game against Pune Warriors. But the move did not click as Satish failed to get going and put pressure on his captain.

 

Facing the first over from Albie Morkel after his team was asked to take first strike, Satish failed to connect all the deliveries barring one which ended up as a near-catch to the point region and the opening over was a maiden. Tendulkar started promisingly with a superb back-foot cover-drive in the next over from left-arm Doug Bollinger who began with four wides with a short ball that bounced over Chennai captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

But Satish fell off the very first ball in Morkel’s second over, spooning a tame catch to short mid-wicket fielder Anirudha Srikkanth to leave the home team at eight for one. The big blow was reserved by Bollinger when he induced Tendulkar (five in eight balls) with a short ball that the champion batsman gloved in trying to pull and gave a dolly catch to slip fielder Michael Hussey to leave MI tottering at 13 for two in the fourth over.

Rohit Sharma, who had completed Mumbai’s victory over Pune two days ago with a six, began in splendid fashion by square driving Bollinger for two boundaries in the same over. The talented Mumbai batsman then flicked Morkel, who bowled four overs at a stretch for 20 runs and was able to extract appreciable movement off the pitch, for a four. Sharma slammed the first six of the contest by hoisting Joginder Sharma, playing in his first match of the season after replacing Shadab Jakati, over long on.

Mumbai, 41 for two after the power play six-over period, reached 50 in the eighth over. The introduction of R Ashwin for Morkel after the latter’s full quota got the desired result for the Super Kings by arresting the run-rate a bit. The home team’s third wicket pair completed their half century stand when Rohit square cut Suraj Randiv for another four after the Lankan offie was brought in for Joginder. After the 10th over, Mumbai were 67 for two.

 

Rayudu (27) departed in the 11th over after having added 61 runs with Rohit in 7.3 overs. Lured by Randiv, he gave the bowler the charge but was deceived by a straight ball and Dhoni made an easy stumping. He hit four fours in 29 balls. In the same over, Rohit edged the Lankan spinner for a four and then essayed a classy lofted cover-drive. Rohit later struck Randiv straight to the sight screen for his second six to bring up his 50 in 31 balls and the team’s 100 in the first ball of the 15th over.

At the end of the 15th over, Mumbai were 107 for 3. They added 57 runs in the last five overs. The 16th over bowled by Joginder proved very expensive for the visitors with Rohit hitting the medium pacer for two fours and Andrew Symonds, struggling to middle the ball, carted him over long on for a six. Sixteen runs came off it and the 50 of the fourth wicket stand too was raised in 29 balls.

Symonds later whacked Ashwin straight over the ropes for his second six and the Mumbai run-rate had perked up nicely with eleven more added in the 17th over and they were 135 for 3. Rohit even scored a scooped six off Bollinger in the 18th over. Sharma then went hammer and tongs against Suresh Raina by slamming the part timer for two sixes in the 19th over while the Chennai fielding too was put under pressure.

Kings XI Punjab beat Rajasthan Royals by by 48 runs

Praveen Kumar (2-22) led disciplined Kings XI bowling attack to help Punjab beat Rajasthan Royals by 48 runs in their Indian Premier League clash at the PCA stadium in Mohali.

Chasing 196-run target, Rajasthan Royals lost wickets at regular intervals against Kings XI Punjab. Ashok Menaria top-scored for the Royals as he hit a six and two fours in his 26-ball 34 innings.

Ryan McLaren dismissed Stuart Binny in the thirteenth over after Binny revived the Royals run-chase with Ashok Menaria. Binny and Menaria added valuable 50-run for the fifth wicket in just 30 balls. Binny hit a six and two fours in his 24-ball innings.

Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla trapped Ross Taylor LBW for naught in the eighth over to reduce Royals to 49/4. Pacer Praveen Kumar struck in the previous over to get rid of dangerous Shane Watson (24).

Watson hit four boundaries in his quick 16-ball knock but failed to hold the faltering Royals innings.

Royals lost Swapnil Asnodkar (9) and Rahul Dravid (8) early and in quick succession. Praveen scalped Asnodkar in the third over after Ryan Harris gave Punjab an early breakthrough in the previous over.

Put in to bat, Shaun Marsh (71) and Paul Valthaty (46) helped Kings XI Punjab post massive 195/7 against Rajasthan Royals.

Punjab were set to cross 200-run mark before Shaun Tait (3-22) and Shane Watson (2-24) led Royals fight back in the end to stop them after the hosts raced to 169/2 in 15 overs.

Punjab managed to score just 26 runs in last five overs, scoring only two boundaries during the period.

Marsh led the Punjab charge after openers gave them terrific start as he slammed three huge sixes off Warne's single over to raced to his fifty in just 29 balls. Marsh also hit six fours in his 42-ball blitzkrieg.

Kings XI lost Dinesh Karthik (21) in the sixteenth over, which started their final overs misery, after he added valuable 70-run third wicket stand with Marsh.

In-form Paul Valthaty (46) failed to hit another half-century after giving his team a flying start against Rajasthan.

Royals skipper Shane Warne dismissed Valthaty in the tenth over and checked the Punjab’s marauding march. Valthaty smashed three huge sixes and four boundaries in his quick-fire 31-ball innings.

Punjab lost their captain Adam Gilchrist (28) in the fifth over after he added a rapid 67-run opening partnership with new batting sensation Valthaty.

Gilchrist slammed a six and four boundaries in his 16-ball cameo as Kings XI raced to fifty in just 2.5 overs, which is the fastest in the IPL history so far.

Shane Watson gave Royals first breakthrough when he scalped Gilchrist wicket.

Punjab’s innings started dramatically as no balls saved both openers early after Siddharth Trivedi clean bowled Gilchrist in the first over and Valthaty was caught at third slip off Shaun Tait in the next over.

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne won the toss and decided to field against Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday.

Kochi Tuskers Kerala beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 6 runs

Kochi Tuskers Kerala defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by six runs to halt the winning run of the local team on Wednesday night at the Eden Gardens here.

Chasing Kochi's total of 132 for the loss of seven wickets, KKR could only reach a score of 126 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their quota of 20 overs.

Kochi Tuskers Kerala beat Kolkata Knight Riders by six runs at the Eden Gardens.
Chasing a modest total of 133 for victory, Kolkata finished with 126-9.
Kochi's third straight win as Kolkata register their second loss of the tournament.

Manoj Tiwary top-scored for KKR with a brilliant 46, while Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers for Kochi with 2-25

Mumbai Indians beat Pune Warriors by 7 wickets

Mumbai Indians registered a seven-wicket win over Pune Warriors India in an exciting last-ball finish in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Wankhede Stadium here Wednesday.
Opting to bat first, Pune Warriors were bowled out for 118 runs in 17.2 overs after Robin Uthappa made a valuable 37-ball 45. Match of the Match Munaf Patel picked up three for eight.

While chasing, Mumbai Indians lost James Franklin (6), who was promoted as an opener, in the second over, but skipper Sachin Tendulkar (35) and Ambati Rayudu (37) took the match away from Pune's grasp with their 74-run stand for the second wicket.

Tendulkar and Rayudu played patiently and waited for the poor balls to punish them for boundaries. Tendulkar hit two fours in his 39-ball innings and rotated the strike intelligently. Rayudu also smacked four fours during his 40-ball stay.

But the departure of Tendulkar and Rayudu in consecutive overs, created panic before Rohit Sharma (20) and Andrew Symonds (16) took the hosts home with their unbeaten 35-run stand.

Mumbai Indians needed five runs from the last over and after four singles from the first five balls, Sharma smacked left-arm spinner Murali Kartik's last ball for a huge six for the winning runs.

Earlier, Pune Warriors put on one of their worst batting performances in the IPL and struggled against the Mumbai Indians' pace attack. Pacers Lasith Malinga, Abu Nechim and spinner Ali Murtaza also got two wickets each.

But it was Munaf, who gave the Mumbai Indians the crucial breakthroughs, and also picked up the important wicket of captain Yuvraj Singh, who didn't trouble the scorers.

Stripping Idea was to be famous says : Poonam Pandey

 

 Poonam Pandey became a household name, thanks to her promise to strip if India won the World Cup. While she didn't quite get down to the act, the model says she was fully aware of what she was saying and enjoyed the public response.

"I took it as fun, but people made an issue out of that because I was an Indian girl and not allowed to do such things," Poonam, 20, revealed.

"I did many things like starting a fan page on Facebook where I did an exclusive photo shoot. But I was not satisfied, so I came up with this idea, which worked well. It was my own decision and I was awake and fully aware of what I was saying," said Poonam.

Suddenly she became a much googled name on the internet.

She said she was refused permission by the cricket board about stripping before the victorious Indian team and will not request it any more.

"But I want the media to support me and convey my message to the members as there is no point in asking same thing again and again".

Did she face any difficulties after her announcement?

"Yes, there were many problems which nobody can even think of. I avoided going to public places. I faced issues like court cases, arrest warrants and calls from the moral police. But, anyway, it was a good experience," she said, giggling.

Now Poonam is ready to show her dare devil attitude on the small screen as a participant on Colors' adventure show 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 4' where she will feature with 12 other celebrities.

"I have seen the previous season of the show. It's something very different and adventurous and that will not be a problem for me as I was into sports during school days. It will be fun facing my fear.

"This season, the production has added the word 'Torchaar' which says many things, so I am looking forward to go on the ride with Bollywood Khiladi Akshay Kumar," said Poonam.

She was one of the top contestants of the Gladrags' model hunt contest last year and also modelled for the Kingfisher calendar.

"It's a very strange story. I am a 20-year-old girl, still going to college in Mumbai But I don't get the time to attend classes because of work. I started my career six-and-a-half months back, so it's a new experience for me.

"When I thought of becoming a model, the next day I got Gladrags' offer. After that I did the Kingfisher calendar and then I became the most downloaded model on the internet; so the journey was exciting," Poonam said.

Is Bollywood her next destination?

"Of course, everyone targets Bollywood. I got movie offers and item numbers but I will not disclose it at the moment because I have not given any commitment to anybody," said Poonam