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...Race into trouble
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Bravo Mumbai! West Indian Dwayne Bravo’s unbeaten 70 and some tight bowling by Harbhajan help Mumbai Indians beat Kings XI by eight wickets Such is the strike rate in Twenty20 cricket, the quality of modern-day bats (predominantly made in Punjab), that 120 is rarely defendable; and it unsurprisingly wasn’t. King’s XI Punjab, consequently, lost by eight wickets to Mumbai Indians, who gingerly reached their target in less than 17 overs.
Nothing seems to be working
Sudirman Cup
India to take on South Africa in Davis Cup
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KKR stay out of race...
Chasing 174 for a win built around skipper Brendon McCullum’s 84, Royal Challengers feasted on Knight Riders’ below-par bowling and romped home with four balls to spare at the Supersports Park. Royal Challengers won their fifth match from the 11 played so far while Kolkata side continue to be bottom-placed with after their ninth loss from 11 ties. Kolkata have so far won just one match - against Kings XI Punjab via Duckworth Lewis method. Bangalore were off to a brisk start with Jesse Ryder (22) and Jacques Kallis (32) adding 58 runs for opening wicket in eight overs but Kolkata bowlers removed three batsmen in the space of 10 balls. Bangalore were reduced to 70 for two at the strategy break and in the subsequent over they also had Robin Uthappa out of the scene. Kolkata had a chance to make the next batsman Taylor their third victim by taking him run out but instead ended up giving him five runs in his first ball. Taylor ran for a sharp single to mid-off as Hussey went for the stumps but lacking a backing from either the 'keeper or the slip fielders which resulted in an overthrow which went for a four through fine leg. Taylor waged a lone battle against the KKR with Rahul Dravid (12) falling cheaply to Ajantha Mendis and Mark Boucher being unbeaten on 13 at the other end. Knight Riders bowlers Ishant Sharma and Ajit Agarkar did the most damage to the team's win prospects as they returned figures of 0-40 and 1-45 respectively in their four overs each. Put in to bat, Kolkata team were struggling at 21 for 2 in 4.2 overs with veteran opener Sourav Ganguly (4) and Arindam Ghosh already cooling heels in the dugout, thanks to R Vinay Kumar's impressive opening spell. But McCullum and Hussey, who was playing his first match in the tournament, steadied the innings with their 70-run partnership. McCullum, who was dropped by Boucher off Jesse Ryder in the seventh over, went on to use the opportunity for a defiant knock studded with 10 fours and two big sixes while Hussey adorned his stint in the middle with three boundaries and two towering sixes. Just when Hussey was pacing up for a bigger score, Balachandra Akhil exhibited his bowling skills to claim the big wicket. Akhil bowled Hussey in the 14th over.
— PTI Scoreboard Kolkata Knight Riders: McCullum not out 84 Ganguly c Boucher b Vinay 4 Ghosh c Boucher b Vinay 7 D Hussey b Akhil 43 Mathews c Kohli b Kumble 16 Saha not out 10 Extras (b 5, w 2, nb 2) 9 Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 173 Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-21, 3-91, 4-134. Bowling: Vinay 4-0-33-2, Kallis 4-0-40-0, Ryder 4-0-25-0, Kumble 4-0-28-1, Appanna 1-0-10-0, Akhil 3-0-32-1. Royal Challengers: Ryder c Ganguly b Agarkar 22 Kallis c McCullum b Kartik 32 Uthappa c Mathews b Kartik 7 Taylor not out 81 Dravid c & b Mendis 12 Boucher not out 13 Extras (lb 1, w 6, nb 2) 9 Total (4 wickets; 19.2 overs) 176 Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-63, 3-74, 4-122. Bowling: Ishant 4-0-40-0, Mendis 4-0-21-1, Agarkar 4-0-45-1, Mathews 2.2-0-31-0, Hussey 1-0-10-0, Kartik 4-0-28-2.
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...Race into trouble
New Delhi, May 12 Jadeja revealed how an Indian player was asked to come off while fielding and when asked why he was called back, one of the assistant coaches said, “You Indian, you do as you’re told.” “The player and coach involved are said to be Agarkar and Andy Bichel,” NDTV reported Tuesday. The alleged incident happened 15 days ago and team owner Shah Rukh Khan had to intervene to resolve the issue. Jadeja claimed he had the information from players in the team and said the Knight Riders were no more than a divided house. Bottom placed Knight Riders have been dealing with controversies before the start of the tournament when coach John Buchanan popped up the idea of multi-captaincy. A blogger, who claims to be a player, has been spilling out the juicy dressing room gossip of the Knight Riders. — IANS No comment by KKR
Kolkata: The Kolkata Knight Riders today declined to comment on the sensational revelation by former Test cricketer Ajay Jadeja that racial discrimination was prevalent in the Shah Rukh Khan-owned side in the Indian Premier League. Jadeja said yesterday that an Indian player was asked to come off while fielding and when asked why he was called back, one of the assistant coaches said, "You bloody Indian, you do as you're told." Asked for a reaction to Jadeja's comments, KKR director Joy Bhattacharya, who is in South Africa, declined to comment. But a team insider claimed that racial bias existed in the team which is langishing at the bottom of the table in the ongoing IPL. The insider cited examples of Sourav Ganguly and Aakash Chopra, Sanjay Bangar among others and said: "Racial discrimination is clearly prevalent in the side. Ganguly was sacked as captain two days before Knight Riders first match... Chopra and Bangar were sent home by the Kolkata Knight Riders’ management, after the fourth match." When contacted, former India opener Chopra told PTI: "I don't want to comment on this or on any other incident. Let the team management speak on this issue." John Buchanan, who heads the franchise’s cricket operations, boasts of a long coaching staff that includes chief coach Matthew Mott, trainer Adrian Le Roux, physio Andrew Leipus, assistant coach Michael Buchanan, assistant coach Brad Murphy, wicket-keeping coach Wade Seccombe, fielding coach John Deeble, bowling coach Andy Bichel and cricket manager Joydeep Mukherjee. The World Cup winning Australian coach also has his son Michael Buchanan for a post which is termed as ‘strength trainer’.
— PTI |
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Bravo Mumbai! A cavalier, Caribbean-style exhibition by Trinidadian Dwayne Bravo – he nailed an unbeaten 70, embroidered by three sixes, the third massively over the sightscreen off Yuvraj Singh – ensured victory. The final flourish was a handsome hook to midwicket at the expense of Irfan Pathan. Sachin Tendulkar was in tandem at the finish, having slog swept Piyush Chawla to midwicket for half a dozen. KXIP must now win their three remaining matches to be in the running to qualify for the semi-finals. Mumbai, on the other hand, re-entered the frame. Their positive run rate could stand them in good stead in the event of teams ending up equal on points. However, the introduction of Sreesanth proved a respite for Bravo, who was experimented as an opener. Two towering drives off the front foot against successive good length deliveries landed in the stands behind long off and long on off. And he cracked a four to midwicket off the next ball to increase the bowler’s misery. It seemed a good decision to bat first. It was still sunny and the wicket dry. But KXIP completely wasted the favourable conditions. The only redeeming feature was a blast from the blade of a man who had previously promised much, but not delivered - Sunny Sohal. Undeterred by the departures of his more established partner, Simon Katich, who top edged a pull to mid-off, and Irfan Pathan, who absentmindedly spurned an opportunity to shine in pinch-hitting duties, the rugged Punjabi right-hander pegged 43 in 23 balls! He slashed Bravo square for six; and cleared the fence twice more at cover at the expense of Dhawal Kulkarni and thirdman, again at Bravo’s cost. These, in addition to five spanking fours. Indeed, notwithstanding the fall of wickets, the 50 of the innings erupted in 5.2 overs. But the next ball started a slide King’s XI failed to arrest. Sohal was careless about regaining his crease at the non-striker’s end after taking a start. Tendulkar at extra cover ruthlessly punished the laxity. Kumar Sangakkara was then bowled by a top spinner from Harbhajan, Yuvraj only managed an outside edge to a pull and Luke Pomersbach, replacing the injured Mahela Jayawardene, was bowled by a flighted delivery from Ajinkya Rahane. Karan Goel, who has earlier opened the innings, persevered manfully, if a little cautiously compared to his natural tendencies. He remained not out on 20 – the second highest contribution – but at 89 for seven KXIP had really reached a point of no return. If the advent of one-day cricket catapulted fielding to new heights, T20 has carried this to even dizzier levels. Rohan Raje’s catch at long off, racing in, diving forward was testimony to this. It was a remarkable example of courage and skill. Scoreboard Kings XI: Sohal run out 43 Katich c Harbhajan b Kulkarni 0 Irfan run out 0 Sangakkara b Harbhajan 8 Yuvraj c Bravo b Duminy 12 Mota c Harbhajan b Duminy 4 Pomersbach b Rahane 5 Goel not out 20 Lee c Raje b Malinga 8 Chawla run out 0 Sreesanth not out 1 Extras (b 3, lb 1, w 12, nb 2) 18 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 119 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-22, 3-50, 4-67, 5-79, 6-79, 7-89, 8-106, 9-112. Bowling: Malinga 4-0-32-1, Kulkarni 3-0-24-1, Bravo 2-0-17-0, Raje 1-0-10-0, Harbhajan 4-0-9-1, Duminy 4-0-15-2, Rahane 1-0-5-1, Jayasuriya 1-0-3-0. Mumbai Indians: Jayasuriya c Mota b Lee 4 Bravo not out 70 Rahane lbw b Chawla 1 Tendulkar not out 41 Extras (w 4, nb 2) 6 Total (2 wickets; 16.2 overs) 122 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-40. Bowling: Lee 4-0-25-1, Irfan 3.2-1-14-0, Sreesanth 1-0-21-0, Chawla 4-0-32-1, Yuvraj 2-0-14-0, Goel 2-0-16-0. Player of the match: Harbhajan
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India held, out of medal hunt
Kuantan (Malaysia), May 12 Skipper Sandeep Singh (31st, 34th minutes) converted two of India’s four penalty corners to put the side ahead but the Indian defence crumbled at crucial junctures to allow China escape with a draw. For China, Lu Feng Hui (45th) and Yu Yang (59th) sounded the boards. India were beaten 2-3 by Pakistan in their tournament opener. China’s tenacity and their ability to slow the pace of the game won the day for them against an inconsistent Indian side which played well in patches. The Indian wingers, especially Arjun Halappa, was impeccable with his crosses but the forward line, comprising Rajpal Singh and Prabhjot Singh, was guilty of fumbling and mis-trapping the ball on a number of occasions. However, Sandeep, who was off-colour in the first match against Pakistan, answered his critics in style, converting two short corners in a span of three minutes to see the defending champions go into the breather with a comfortable 2-0 lead. Sandeep opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a fierce drag-flick that beat the Chinese custodian’s hands down after Tushar Khandekar had earned India’s first penalty corner. Three minutes later, he doubled the lead with another immaculate short corner conversion. With a 2-0 cushion, the Indians came out all attacking in the second half but the strategy backfired as it created open spaces in the mid-field and the nimble-footed Chinese were quick to cash in on the opportunity with swift counter-attacks. The Chinese, who spoilt India’s medal hopes in 2006 Asian Games beating them 3-2, reduced the lead in the 45th minute when Hui found the net with an indirect variation from their first penalty corner. But it was rival forward Yang who drove the final nail in India’s coffin in the 59th minute with a delicate touch from a free hit following a costly defensive lapse. A desperate India worked hard for the elusive winner but the Chinese defence stood tall to thwart any threat to their place in the last four stage. Just 50 seconds from the hooter, Sandeep did get an opportunity to seal the match and a semi-final place for India but this time his drag-flick was stopped by a diving Chinese goalkeeper Su Ri Feng to dash India’s hopes.
— PTI |
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Nothing seems to be working
Chandigarh, May 12 The draw against China was all the more shocking as India enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 lead until three quarters of the game. In fact, Asia Cup is the qualifying tournament for the 2010 World Cup that India intends to hold in New Delhi. In the previous eight editions, India was always among the medallists. It is a bad omen for a team to start complaining and cribbing even before the start of an important tournament. Players were bitter over pittance in the name of Diem allowance given to them in Kuantan. It was no way to start defending a title that the team had won two years ago in Chennai. There appears to be something seriously wrong with Indian hockey. Not only consistency, it has been unable to rid itself of certain inherent weaknesses because of which it cannot hold on to early advantage or lead. A careful analysis of the performance of Indian team in last five to seven minutes of its last 50 international matches makes interesting revelations. More than 40 per cent of defeats after good start came because of failure of the team to defend its citadel in the dying moments of the game. Lack of motivation may be a possible explanation for the last minute gasp. If other teams get a penalty corner in the last 30 seconds, invariably they would score against us. And in case India gets a golden chance like this to break the deadlock, it gets frittered away as it happened today. Sandeep, who put India ahead with two brilliant goals, failed with the last award of the game. Hence India has to fight for fifth to seventh position in a tournament of seven teams. |
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Hoops of hope
Patiala, May 12 The training programme had been organised by the Basketball Federation of India. Walsh said he had already visited Chennai, Bangalore and New Delhi and he was travelling around to know more cities and get to know more about Indian culture. This is his eleventh visit to India during the last three years and during these visits he has held a series of training camps for players and coaches’ clinic, wherein children of areas which are in turmoil have participated. The training camps are aimed at social education through sports which Walsh believes can play a crucial role in the healing touch. He has held such camps in areas like Kashmir and some other cities. During the course of an interview with The Tribune here, Walsh revealed that he had conducted such programmes in 12 different cities so far. He said he was in the process of getting a feel for basketball allover the country. He said in New York he was actively engaged in starting a project which could use the game of basketball against teen depression. He said that the problem of teen depression was marked. Walsh was at the NIS for three days where he trained and interacted with students of diploma in basketball and basketball coaches. |
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Sudirman Cup
Guangzhou, May 12 World number 10 Saina was in full control of her match against Mariya Diptan whom she dismissed 21-18 21-9 in just 22 minutes. Arvind Bhat too ambled to an easy win, defeating Valeriy Atrashchenkov 21-16 21-11 in a 31-minute encounter. Earlier, Sanave Thomas teamed up with Rupesh Kumar to give India 1-0 lead by outplaying Vitaly Konov and Dmytro Zavadsky 21-14 21-6 in just 21 minutes. Aparna Balan and Shruti Kurian too hardly broke a sweat as they thumped Larisa Griga and Elena Prus 21-7 21-14. The seasoned mixed doubles pair of V Diju and Jwalla Gutta quelled a late challenge from Dmytro Zavadsky and Mariya Diptan before taming them 21-15 22-20 to complete the rout. India's third and final game in Group 3B is against Scotland tomorrow. If India top the group, they would take on the country that finishes on top of Group 3A and the winner would be promoted to Group 2.
— PTI |
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India to take on South Africa in Davis Cup
New Delhi, May 12 The winning team will advance to the 2010 World Group, while the losers will start next year in their respective Group I zonal event.
— PTI |
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Centurion, May 12
Man-of-the-match Taylor was given a reprieve when the Kolkata side goofed up and failed to run him out in his very first delivery in which he ended up scoring five runs. He made full use of his second life and hit seven four and five sixes to help Royal Challengers emerge triumphant in the thrilling match.
Kallis, who faced 38 balls and decorated his stint with four boundaries and a six, was the first one to go with left-arm spinner Murali Kartik getting him caught by McCullum on the second ball of ninth over. Ryder followed as he tried to slice an Ajit Agarkar delivery to over the covers but instead ended up sending it to the third man and Ganguly took the sitter on the second ball of the 10th over.
Such is the strike rate in Twenty20 cricket, the quality of modern-day bats (predominantly made in Punjab), that 120 is rarely defendable; and it unsurprisingly wasn’t. King’s XI Punjab, consequently, lost by eight wickets to Mumbai Indians, who gingerly reached their target in less than 17 overs. 
Four tight overs from the reliable Brett Lee and Pathan, who troubled the batsmen with his swing, pushed Mumbai on to the defensive. These included the dismissal of Sanath Jayasuriya, caught at deep third man. As the evening progressed, it wasn’t easy to pick up Lee’s extra pace. Bravo ducked and weaved and was once even it on the helmet.