M Subromoney
Durban, April 23
AB De Villiers blasted a 54-ball 105 to record the first century in the second edition of the Indian Premier League as Delhi Daredevils snatched a slender nine-run win over Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling match here today.

On a day which saw more than 350 runs being scored, Delhi Daredevils first posted an imposing 189 for five and then restricted the opponents just nine runs short of the target in the stipulated 20 overs.

Chasing 190, Chennai went off to a flying start, courtesy a sparkling 22-ball 50 runs by Australian Matthew Hayden but once he was back in the hut the Super Kings lost the plot completely.

Hayden was removed by Pradeep Sangwan in the eighth over and once Parthiv and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (5) also perished, Suresh Raina (41 off 27 balls) and Andrew Flintoff (16) joined hands to stitch together a 31-run crucial stand.

Needing 42 runs in last five overs, the Super Kings could not keep the score ticking and fell like a house of cards. Manpreet Gony (6), Joginder Sharma (4) and Laxmipathy Balaji (0) run themselves out in pursuit of quick runs and handed a narrow nine win to the Daredevils in the end.

For Delhi, Pradeep Sangwan returned with a three-wicket haul for 28 runs and Daniel Vettori scalped two crucial wickets giving away 29 runs. 

Earlier, Tillakaratna Dilshan scored a 24-ball 50 to set the tone for the Delhi innings, while De Villiers hit a 54-ball century to propel Delhi after they were pushed to the backfoot by Chennai, removing the explosive openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir within two overs.

De Villiers' innings was bejewelled with six massive sixes and five hits to the fence. Electing to bat first, Delhi Daredevils were left tottering at eight for two with Gambhir losing his wicket in the very first ball of the innings.

Gambhir (0) paid the price for being overconfident as he danced down the pitch in the very first delivery off Balaji only to be caught behind by Dhoni.

Sehwag (6) soon joined him in the hut after he tried to pull a rising delivery of Manpreet Gony in the next over only to be caught by Albie Morkel at mid on.

However, new batsmen Villiers and Dilshan joined the groove and shrugged off the early disappointment to notch up a 68-run partnership in just 38 deliveries to post 76 for two in eight overs. — PTI

Delhi Daredevils:
Gambhir c Dhoni b Balaji 0
Sehwag c Morkel b Gony 6
AB de Villiers not out 105
Dilshan c Raina b Morkel 50
Karthik c Flintoff b Balaji 18
Tiwary c Flintoff b Balaji 9
Vettori not out 0
Extras (w 1) 1
Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 189
Fall of wickets1-0, 2-8, 3-76, 4-114, 5-188.
Bowling: L Balaji 4-0-19-3, Gony 4-0-45-1, Morkel 4-0-41-1, Flintoff 4-0-50-0, Joginder 1-0-8-0, Muralitharan 3-0-26- 0.
Chennai Super Kings:
Patel c de Villiers b Sangwan 16
Hayden c Nannes b Sangwan 57
Raina c de Villiers b Sangwan 41
Dhoni c Karthik b Vettori 5
Flintoff c sub b Nehra 16
Morkel not out 13
Badrinath c sub b Vettori 7
Gony run out 6
Joginder run out 4
Balaji run out 0
Muralitharan 
not out 0
Extras (lb 6, w 8, nb 1) 15
Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 180
Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-90, 3-108, 4-139, 5-156, 6-168, 7-175, 8-179, 9-179.
Bowling: Nannes 4-0-32-0, Nehra 4-0-33-1, Salvi 3-0-41-0, Sangwan 4-0-28-3, Vettori 4-0-29-2, Tiwary 1-0-11-0.

Put into bat, Rajasthan Royals had earlier managed 150 for six, a total they owed largely to Yusuf Pathan (42) even though it was Abhishek Raut (21 not out) who provided the late charge for them.

Chasing a victory target of 151, Chris Gayle (41) sizzled at the top while Sourav Ganguly (47) too shone as the Knight Riders managed exactly 150 for eight in their allotted 20 overs.

In the 'Super Over', Knight Riders managed 15 runs off Kamran Khan's over with Chris Gayle scoring 13 off it before being dismissed in the final ball.

In reply, Rajasthan Royals scored 18 off Ajantha Mendis' first four balls with Yusuf Pathan hitting 6,2,6 and 4 to seal the win.

Earlier defending the modest total, Royals captain Shane Warne sprung a surprise by opening the attack with Yusuf Pathan but it was his former Hampshire mate Dimitry Mascarenhas who drew first blood by removing a struggling Brendon McCullum (3). 

At the other end, Gayle had warmed up by hitting Mascarenhas for back-to-back sixes and was not content yet. In his next over, Mascarenhas was hit for another six, preceded by a four, as Gayle looked in murderous mood.

Stepping in to stop the run flow, Warne too copped one but the wily Aussie eventually had the last laugh in his duel with Gayle as he lured the West Indian to go after him and Ravindra Jadeja took a well judged catch in the deep.

Warne's then came up with two masterstrokes that pegged back the Kolkata outfit. Kamran Khan removed Laxmi Ratan Shukla (13), who lived dangerously all along, in his first over while Munaf got rid of Brad Hodge (5) with his fifth delivery.

His team in dire straits, Ganguly tip-toed his way before back-to-back sixes off Munaf, the second from a free-hit, eased the pressure on him.

Yashpal Singh (20) gave him good company before departing in the penultiamate over and Ganguly too fell in the final over.

Needing two off the last ball, Ishant Sharma managed to complete the first run before running himself out, leading to the stalemate.

Earlier, Yousuf Pathan's 21-ball 42 and Abhishek Raut's unbeaten 13-ball cameo of 21 helped the Royals reach the 150-mark. Put into bat after a rain-delayed start, the Rajasthan outfit ran into rough weather, losing opener Paul Valthaty (5) and Rob Quiney (6) inside 14 balls. — PTI 

Tomorrow’s match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kings XI Punjab

Scoreboard

Rajasthan Royals:
Smith c Gayle b Mendis 15
Valthaty c Sharma b Anureet Singh 5
Quiney c Gayle b Sharma 6
Y Pathan c Yashpal b Mendis 4 2
Jadeja c Yashpal b Ishant 22
Mascarenhas b Anureet 27
Raut not out 21
Warne not out 2
Extras (lb 3, w 7) 10 
Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 150
Fall of wickets:1-8, 2-14, 3-70, 4-73, 5-112, 6-125.
Bowling: Ishant 4-0-36-2 ,Anureet 4-0-35-2, Agarkar 1-0-14-0, Mendis 4-0-19- 2, Ganguly 3-0-23-0, Gayle 4-0-20-0
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Gayle c Jadeja b Warne 41
McCullum c Kamran b Mascarenhas 3
Shukla c Rawat b Kamran Khan 13
Hodge c Rawat b Patel 5
Ganguly c Rawat b Kamran 46
Bangar c Smith b Kamran Khan 2
Yashpal c Raut b Warne 20
Agarkar not out 1
Ishant run out 1
Extras (lb 8, w 9, nb 1) 18
Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 150
Fall of wickets:1-25, 2-60, 3-67, 4-71, 5-94, 6-143, 7-149, 8-150.
Bowling: Yusuf 4-0-27-0, Mascarenhas 4-1-29-1, Warne 4-0-25-2, Kamran 4-0- 18-3, Munaf 3-0-36-1, Jadeja 1-0-7-0.
Player of the match: YK Pathan 

Durban, April 23
Sourav Ganguly may no longer be the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, but team owner Shah Rukh Khan feels the former Indian skipper is still a “dude” and pivotal in the side’s scheme of things in the on-going IPL.

“Dada is fantastic and there is no two ways about it. He does not need to prove it to anyone how great as a player he is. We know it in KKR. He's the main cog of our team. He’s the guy the team centres around,” Shah Rukh said in praise of Ganguly.

“(Brendon) McCullum, (Chris) Gayle, Brad (Hodge), David (Hussey), Ishant (Sharma), (Ashok) Dinda, Laxmi Ratan (Shukla) all feel the support from him, feel his intelligence, feel his winning ways. Dada is a dude,” said the Bollywood superstar.

Shah Rukh also felt that Ganguly's two wickets for 24 runs tilted the match in his team's favour against Kings XI Punjab. “Against Kings XI Punjab he was amazing with those couple of wickets. When Dada came on and got those two early wickets it changed the match in our favour and after that also he sort of kept them quiet and scared. I think that made a lot of difference," he was quoted as saying by IPL official website.

Shah Rukh said it was too early to start celebrating after his team posted its first win in two games by beating Kings XI Punjab. “It’s good for the team that it has started coming together. Our top-order whether it's Ishant Sharma (in bowling) or Sourav Ganguly, Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle (batting) all are coming good together.

“We did not play too hot on the first day. I think the first match would be considered as a practice match and we are working on the mistakes committed on day one. The team is working together and that's what makes me feel a little more firm and good. But there is still a long way to go,” he said.

Shah Rukh had a tough choice when asked who he thinks is bigger hitter between Chris Gayle or Brendon McCullum. “It is very difficult to say that. With Gayle we have a bet that he has to send one ball from South Africa to Kolkata and with McCullum we have that he has to send one back to New Zealand. We'll find out who is going to win. I think both have their different strengths. Gayle has this timing and strength, McCullum has all timing and bliss." — PTI

New Delhi, April 23
India stands a “very good” chance of becoming a franchisee in the Indian Premier League-inspired World Series of Boxing, WSB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ivan Khodabakhsh said here today.

Khodabakhsh, who is also the Sports Director of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), was in the capital today to meet prospective franchisees and said he was impressed with the interest shown by them.

“India has a very good chance of becoming a franchisee in WSB. It's a big country, has lots of spectators to offer and has huge revenue generating potential,” Khodabakhsh said after the meeting this morning.

The WSB is set to roll out next September and will have four teams each from Asia, America and Europe vying for a yet-to-be-decided prize money. India is competing with six other Asian nations, including China and Kazakhstan, to be one of the franchisees.

“Obviously I can't put India's chances in percentage at this point but certainly a lot of interest has been shown,” he added. The details of which companies are keen to become WSB franchisees were not revealed but the number was put at six by Khodabakhsh.

“We met six interested parties and there were a lot discussions. There are some more who are keen but were not able to attend today's meeting,” he said.

The event borrows heavily from professional boxing and pugilists would take the ring without headguards and vests -- a must in amateur boxing. The boxers will compete in five rounds of three minutes each.

The franchisees would be decided by July and the September World Championships in Milan would act as the selection trial for the boxers. AIBA's business partner for the event IMG's vice President Julian Brand said WSB was inspired by IPL and its stupendous success in India.

“We are already associated with the IPL and it is an inspiration for WSB. Given the performance of Indian boxers in Beijing Olympics and given the pool of talent that has been shown to us by the Indian Boxing Federation, we are convinced there can be no better time to have such an event,” he said.

“But whether India would be a franchisee cannot be guaranteed at this moment. And it would be a major opportunity lost if no company manages to become a franchisee,” he added.

Khodabakhsh said the WSB will help prevent good boxers from turning pro for money as they will stand to earn between USD 30,000 to USD 300,000 if they get the three-year contract with one of the 12 franchisees.

“The problem with pro boxing is that there are several federations - WBC, IBF and likewise. These federations are not credible for the boxers so AIBA wants to clear the mess. We want to give the boxers a good credible system,” he explained. 
— PTI 

BRIEFLY

Sachin has not changed his playing style: Achrekar
New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar will turn 36 on Friday but his chilhood coach Ramakant Achrekar says nothing has changed in his iconic ward in last over two decades, not even his style of playing. "He used to attack and still go after the bowlers. He never got terrorised by any bowler in the world. What has changed, nothing. He is still like this," Achrekar told PTI-Bhasha on the eve of Tendulkar's birthday. "He is the same Sachin for me. He is very busy but never forgets to meet me and talk about cricket, cricket and cricket. Cricket is his passion and I wish him on his birthday that this passion remains the same," he said. — PTI

Prakash in quarters of US ATP Challenger event
New Delhi: Prakash Amritraj upset fourth seed and world number 109 Vincent Spadea in straight sets to advance to the singles quarter-finals of the USD 50,000 ATP Challenger event in Tallahassee, United States. The Indian, who achieved his career best ranking of 185 last week, stunned his American opponent 6-4, 6-1 in the second round clash. He will next take on another American in seventh-seed John Isner in the last-eight stage match. Isner defeated Sweden's Bjorn Rehnquist 6-1, 7-6 (4) in his second round match. Harsh Mankad is the only Indian surviving in doubles. He has already made it to the quarter-finals with his Austrian partner Martin Fischer. — PTI

Win over Aussies would have been sweeter at home: Younis
Karachi: Pakistan skipper Younis Khan today rued missing the opportunity of playing against Australia at home, saying the victory over the world champions in the first one-dayer would have been sweeter in front of the home crowd. "The team would have loved to perform well in front of home crowds instead of playing a big series like this one at a neutral venue," Younis told the 'Geo TV'. Pakistan beat Australia by four wickets in the first One-day International in Dubai to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Younis said despite support from the crowd at Dubai, the players missed playing at home. — PTI

ESS earn Wimbledon broadcasting rights till 2014
New Delhi: Leading sports content provider ESPN STAR Sports and the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club have announced a six-year broadcast rights agreement for the Wimbledon Championships from 2009-2014. This deal gives ESS exclusive broadcast rights including cable & satellite and terrestrial and new multimedia rights across platforms in 24 markets across Asia. — PTI

Ghei tied 21st after strong opening round
Jeju Island: Veteran of many a battle, Gaurav Ghei brought home the best opening round card by an Indian -- a three-under 69 -- to lie tied 21st after the opening round of the Ballantine's Championship golf tournament here on Thursday. Among his compatriots, Delhi lad Shiv Kapur and Kolkata pro SSP Chowrasia turned in identical 71s to share the 55th spot. Jyoti Randhawa got off to a rather average start and his level-par 72 had the lanky pro at tied 78th, one shot ahead of brother-in-law Digvijay Singh who lied tied 102nd. — PTI

YBK Kolkata to have India's first artificial grass pitch
New Delhi: Indian players' dreams of playing on an artificial football surface will be realised soon with the first such pitch coming up in the famous Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata in three months at a cost of Rs five crore. Now FieldTurf Tarkett, a synthetic turf producing company with its headquarter in Hyderabad, has bagged the contract from the West Bengal government to install "a next generation artificial grass" at Yuba Bharati Krirangan, the world's second biggest stadium in terms of capacity. — PTI