Ganguly blast power Knight Riders to victory
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sourav Ganguly hit an explosive innings that propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to a 23-run victory over Deccan Chargers in an Indian Premier League match here Sunday.
Ganguly clobbered 91 off just 57 balls as Knight Riders put up an imposing 204/4 in 20 overs and then restricted the home team to 181/7 to coast to a comfortable victory.
But Riders did not get the match on a platter as Venugopal Rao (71 off 42 balls) produced a breathtaking innings and threatened to take the match away towards the end. The Hyderabad batsman hit six towering sixes and four boundaries, but his heroic efforts went in vain as there was no support for him from the other end.
Deccan Chargers lost wickets at regular interval and at one point were reeling at 5/95 before Venugopal's fireworks enthralled the capacity home crowd who have not savoured a single win of their home team here.
Pacer Ashok Dinda (3/33) broke the back of Deccan Chargers, scything through the top-order in no time. He removed the dangerous Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs and in-form Rohit Sharma before Ganguly (2/25) bowled a tidy spell in the middle overs, giving nothing away to the batsmen.
But it was Laxmi Ratan Shukla (1-16) who reigned in Rao in the last two overs of the match. Rao was hitting experienced campaigners like Umar Gul and Murali Kartik out of the stadium before Ganguly threw the ball to Shukla, who kept his cool and bowled at the yorker length with consistency, cramping Venugopal.
Earlier, skipper Sourav Ganguly, after electing to bat, powered Knight Riders to an imposing total. Ganguly has not had a good tournament with the bat so far but Sunday he produced an electrifying knock, reminiscent of his hey-days.
It was not all power hitting but immaculate timing that saw the ball soaring high over stands after meeting the sweet spot of Ganguly's blade. The Maharaj of Kolkata hit 11 boundaries and five sixes, most of them straight down the ground.
David Hussey (57 off 29 balls) was an able support for Ganguly as the duo punched sixes and fours in the death overs.
After Knight Riders lost their first wicket early with Salman Butt edging one behind off Chaminda Vass in the fourth ball of the innings, they batted with caution. The first six overs fetched 43 and after 13 overs Kolkata only had 89 on the board before Ganguly decided to cut loose.
The last seven overs produced 115 as Ganguly and Hussey raced to a 102-run stand off just 48 balls.
Ganguly took his time to settle down and was good in his shot selection. He often shuffled across and improvised to hit boundaries off Vaas and P Vijaykumar, the new-ball bowlers.
Ganguly changed gears in the last overs and spanked left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha for a couple of straight sixes. Scott Styris too was hit for successive sixes by Ganguly. Vaas, who bowled an unimpressive spell, delivered too many full tosses and Ganguly grabbed the scoring opportunities.
At the other end, Hussey too turned on the heat, hitting RP for two sixes and a four in the 18th over.
Deccan were also hit by some ordinary fielding. Misfields and dropped catches were far too many.
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 12:14 PM 1 comments
Labels: Deccan Chargers, Kolkata Knight Riders
Rajasthan Royals take revenge on Daredevils
Rajasthan Royals took a sweet revenge on Delhi Daredevils beating them by three wickets in the return leg in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here Sunday night.
Royals restricted Daredevils to 156 after deciding to field and then surpassed the target in 19.1 overs. Shane Watson blasted 74 off 40 balls that included five four and as many sixes and Graeme Smith added 24 as Royals kept their winning record at home intact.
Daredevils had thrashed Rajasthan Royals in their first encounter in Delhi but since then the Royals have been a completely changed outfit and now lead the IPL standings with seven wins in nine games. They are almost sure of their semifinal berth now.
Royals did not get a good start to their run-chase and two run-outs put them on the backfoot.
Yusuf Pathan fell short of his crease as a diving AB de Villiers hit the stumps in a flash in the second over. After Mohammad Kaif and Smith were involved in a bad mix-up and were stranded in the middle, Kaif decided to sacrifice his wicket in favour of in-form Smith. Royals lost their first two wickets with just 18 runs on the board when Watson came in the middle.
Smith and Watson hardly got any scoring opportunity with Glenn McGrath keeping them in leash. Farvez Mahroof (1-22), operating at the other end with Mcgarth, also bowled a tight spell. The duo did well not to take any risk against McGrath, who gave just 12 runs in four overs, and Mahroof before taking on young pacers Yo Mahesh and Pradeep Sangwan.
Watson hit Mahesh for two sixes and one four in the ninth over but also survived a dropped catch when skipper Virender Sehwag failed to grab the ball at mid-wicket. The dropped chance proved costly for Daredevils as Watson clobbered the bowlers with some clean strikes. In the next over, Watson hit Sangwan for another six and four.
Leg-spinner Amit mishra (2-27), playing his first IPL match, got rid of Smith in the 11th over with Mahesh holding a spectacular catch at the deep mid-wicket. Mishra also removed Ravindra Jadeja in his next over and brought Delhi back into the match.
Dmitri Mascrenhas fell to Sehwag in the 16th over. In the meanwhile, Watson continued to keep the run rate going. Shane Warne was dropped by Tilekratne Dilashan in the next over at long-on boundary.
Mahroof's 19th over saw a bit of drama with Sehwag and the umpires engaged in a heated debate over a run-out call of Watson which was not referred to the third umpire.
Warne got out on the first ball of Mahroof and in the very next ball Watson was in danger of run-out. But Umpire Steve Davis thought Watson was home and did not ask for a replay. A confident Sehwag spoke to the other umpire, Rudi Koertzen, and finally they called for the third umpire and Watson had to go as he was clearly short of his crease.
Royals survived some anxious moments as they needed seven runs of 12 balls but Niraj Patel hit Mahroof's last ball for a boundary and sealed the match in the first ball of the final over.
Earlier, Warne stuck to his strategy of chasing after winning the toss.
The Royals bowling attack mantained a disciplined line and choked the opposition. They were backed by some excellent fielding. Daredevils batsmen had given in some strong perfromance in the tournament but they had no answers to Royals' bowling. The dual-paced pitch made the job of bowlers easy.
Watson (2-21) used the short ball to good effect and beat the bat of Gautam Gambhir (31) and Sehwag (17) more often. Both openers were not given any room to free their arms and had to contend with ocassional boundaries.
Sehwag tried to cut over point but was caught by Kaif for 17. After Sehwag's fall Shikhar Dhawan was run-out, Gambhir's stumps were rattled and Delhi did not score any boundaries in six overs.
Mascrenhas (2-29), who went for 12 runs in his first over, came back in his second spell to get the wickets of de Villiers (20) and Dinesh Karthik.
Delhi crossed the 100-run mark with Mahroof (39) taking the charge in the final overs. The last three overs fetched 47 runs with Maharoof hitting Warne for four sixes in one over.
Indo-Asian News Service
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 12:13 PM 0 comments
Labels: Delhi Daredevils, Rajasthan Royals
Watson wins third man-of-the-match award in IPL
Shane Watson was adjudged the man of the match for the third time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as Rajasthan Royals beat Delhi Daredevils by three wickets here Sunday night.
Watson (74) scored the third fifty of the tournament and his bowling figures of 2-21 saw him take the man-of-the-match honour.
Other highlights of the match:
# Delhi Daredevils have won four and lost four out of their eight matches.
# Rajasthan Royals became the first team to win seven games out of nine played.
# Gautam Gambhir, with 31 off 23 balls, took his aggregate to 336 in eight matches, with an average of 48.00, regaining his place as the leading run-getter in the IPL, eclipsing Adam Gilchrist's aggregate of 308 at an average of 38.50.
# The 54-run partnership between Farvez Maharoof and Tilakratne Dilshan for the seventh wicket is an IPL record for this wicket, eclipsing 48 between Abhishek Nayar and Harbhajan Singh against Chennai Super Kings at Chennai on April 23.
# Maharoof (39 off 16 balls) posted his career-best score in Twenty20.
# A total of 995 fours and 357 sixes have been recorded in the competition so far.
Indo-Asian News Service
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 12:06 PM 0 comments
Labels: Indian Premier League, Rajasthan Royals, Shane Watson
I am dying to play for Knight Riders: Shoaib Akhtar
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
The arrival of Shoaib Akhtar here Monday night has breathed new life into Kolkata Knight Riders and its supporters. The Rawalpindi Express is all set to play a Knight Rider at the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The 32-year-old controversial fast bowler was finally allowed to play in the IPL after an appelate tribunal suspended for a month his five-year ban by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He had been banned for violating the PCB code of conduct repeatedly.
IANS caught up with Akhtar at his hotel-gym early Tuesday morning.
Q: Are you playing Thursday's match against Bangalore Royal Challengers at Eden Gardens here?
A: Well, I am all set to take the field. Even when I was undergoing so much tension in those miserable situations I didn't skip gym and nets for a single day. Coach John Buchanan wants to test my fitness before he can take a decision whether I will play Thursday or not.
Q: What do you want?
A: Of course I am dying to take to the grounds. I will be practising with the entire team at Eden this afternoon (Tuesday). Honestly, I wish to start my IPL match here. Eden Gardens is lucky for me. After all it was at this ground that I got Sachin Tendulkar out on the very first ball (Asian Test Championship, February 1999).
Q: Have you watched any of the Knight Riders' matches so far?
A: I have not missed a single Twenty20 match. It's difficult to make you understand how I craved to become a part of my team. I even got myself a huge plasma television set to get a feel as if I am watching the matches from the pavilion.
Q: What do you have to say about the fourth consecutive defeat of the team?
A: All we need is one victory right now. Then the entire scenario at the IPL will change. And I am sure we will win.
Q: Don't you think that your presence is a big relief for the team?
A: I don't know about the team, but my presence is the biggest relief for me.
Q: Did you ever think that you would be allowed to play in the IPL?
A: I don't want to discuss my case here. I just want to start afresh. But one thing I would like to say - I have been able to overcome this traumatic situation and return to the field because of IPL chairman Lalit Modi, Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan and captain Sourav Ganguly. The way they stood by me, fought for me and empathised with me is unbelievable. I will never let them down in my life.
Q: Did Sourav Ganguly really support you?
A: I don't know what people think about us (Ganguly and me). But we are old friends. At times we have to be tough on the field when you are playing against each other. But off-field we are close friends. And our friendship has become stronger now. I will try to live up to his expectations in this league.
Indo-Asian News Service
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 11:38 AM 0 comments
Labels: IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders, Shoaib Akhtar
Gavaskar remains ICC cricket committee chairman
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar continues to head the Cricket Committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC). He is taking part in the deliberations at the two-day meeting that started here Monday, the ICC said.
Gavaskar's position became a topic of hot debate after top ICC officials publicly said that the master opening batsman's responsibilities as the panel head were conflicting with his role as a newspaper columnist and television commentator.
ICC president-elect David Morgan as well as CEO Malcolm Speed said that the Indian would have to choose between the two roles. Gavaskar was even summoned to the ICC headquarters here recently to explain some of his comments in the media that did not go down well with the game's global governing body.
After that meeting, the details of which were not released to the media, it was understood that Gavaskar was on his way out even before the ICC annual meetings, to be held here from June 29 to July 4.
But an ICC statement Monday changed the picture.
Gavaskar remains the chairman of the panel that also comprises, among others, Majid Khan (he is standing in for the unavailable Ian Bishop of the West Indies), former Australia captain Mark Taylor, Sri Lankan wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara, Tim May, a former Australia Test spinner and now the CEO of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations, South Africa coach Mickey Arthur, top umpire Simon Taufel and chief ICC referees Ranjan Madugalle of Sri Lanka.
The remit of the Cricket Committee is to discuss and consult on any cricket-playing matters and to formulate recommendations to the ICC Chief Executives' Committee and the ICC Board for approval.
Indo-Asian News Service
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 10:07 AM 0 comments
Laxman hopeful of Chargers' comeback in IPL
Deccan Chargers skipper V.V.S Laxman has asserted that his team was not as bad as the results so far suggested and hoped it would make a comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) soon.
Speaking to the media here Monday a day before his team's game against Chennai Super Kings, he was at pains to drive home the point that the Chargers were more determined than their rivals to win the game.
"We lost a few very close matches after being in winning situations," Laxman said.
Deccan Chargers are currently at the bottom of the IPL points tally with just two points from one win in six outings.
"Super Kings have lost two games, no doubt, but we have lost five. So, that makes us even more determined than them to win tomorrow," Laxman said while defending his mates whom he pointed out were all professionals and aware of their responsibilities.
"It is a great experience to lead players from different countries. They are all professionals and I do not need to tell them individually because they know their responsibilities," he said when asked about his experience as the captain of Chargers.
On the loss of all-rounder Andrew Symonds who left for Australia to join his national team, Laxman said his absence was not felt as much as it was made out to be.
"There are other big-hitters in the team like Adam Gilchrist and Scott Styris, besides Shahid Afridi. So, in that respect, I am quite happy with the combination that we have," he said.
About his own role as an opener, Laxman said the batting order was quite flexible.
"I am doing well opening the innings, but if the situation requires, then we will certainly change the order. Perhaps, even Afridi will open the innings if necessary. It all depends on the situation on a given day," he said.
Asked about the playing eleven, Laxman said they would decide on the composition only after taking a closer look at the pitch Tuesday.
Indo-Asian News Service
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 10:07 AM 1 comments
Labels: Deccan Chargers, IPL
Heavy security cover as Shoaib arrives in Delhi
Controversial Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar arrived Monday afternoon at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here amidst heavy security cover to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“I am happy to back here and thank Lalit Modi (IPL commissioner) for allowing me to play. I am fully fit and looking forward to play in the IPL,” Akhtar told reporters on his arrival here.
The 32-year-old temperamental fast bowler was allowed to play in the IPL after an appellate tribunal suspended a five-year ban on him for a month. He also got a reprieve after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided not to pursue its defamation lawsuit following a compromise between the speedster and board's chairman Nasim Ashraf.
The meeting between the 32-year-old fast bowler and Ashraf took place late Sunday night at the residence of Rehman Malik, a key adviser on interior affairs to the prime minister. Shoaib apologised to Ashraf following which the defamation suit worth $3.37 million was dropped.
The meeting reportedly was organised by Malik, who called Ashraf and informed that Shoaib was ready to apologise to him personally and that the matter should be resolved for the good of Pakistan cricket.
A disciplinary committee of the PCB banned Shoaib for five years for repeatedly violating its code and conduct. PCB chairman Ashraf also slapped the defamatory suit after Shoaib had alleged on a TV show that he had demanded a share of Shoaib's salary from the IPL. He also alleged that Ashraf had tried to extort money from other Pakistan cricketers.
Indo-Asian News Service
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 10:06 AM 0 comments
Labels: Shoaib Akhtar
Kings XI emulate Rajasthan Royals' feat (Highlights)
Kings XI Punjab became the second team after Rajasthan Royals to post five victories in succession in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) when they defeated Bangalore Royal Challengers by six wickets Monday night.
The other statistical highlights of the match are as follows:
* Bangalore Royal Challengers' 126 is their second lowest total in the IPL, next only to their 82 against Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural game at Bangalore on April 18.
* Rahul Dravid (66 off 51 balls) posted his career best score in Twenty20.
* Five ducks in Royal Challengers' innings is a record in the IPL.
* Piyush Chawla became the first bowler to bag three wickets in an innings twice in the IPL. He had earlier figures of three for 28 against Deccan Chargers at Hyderabad on May 1.
* South African Jacques Kallis registered his first duck in Twenty20.
* Kallis' batting average in Twenty20 is 22.84 - 297 runs in 14 innings, including two fifties.
* Kallis' aggregate in seven IPL games is 118 (ave.16.85), including one fifty.
* Australian Cameron White registered his third duck in Twenty20.
* Sreesanth (2/16) produced his best figures in the IPL.
* With Virat Kohli's wicket, Irfan Pathan became the first bowler to bag 12 wickets in the competition at 14.50 runs apiece.
* Zaheer Khan, with Shaun Marsh's wicket, has equalled Irfan Pathan's tally of 12 wickets in the competition.
* Shaun Marsh has batted consistently in the competition, making 163 runs at an average of 81.50 - 84 not out off 62 balls against Deccan Chargers; 40 off 32 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders and 39 off 34 balls against Bangalore Royal Challengers.
Indo-Asian News Service
Posted by Gaurav Shukla 10:04 AM 0 comments
Labels: Kings XI, Rajasthan Royals
