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Charged up Challengers enter semis
Where there is Daredewill, there is a way
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Courtship, once more
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Charged up Challengers enter semis
Theoretically, Chargers had to reach their target in a little over 11 overs to create a passage for King’s XI Punjab into the last four. But even in defeat they entered the semifinals. Delhi Daredevils await them on Friday, while Chennai Super Kings tackle Royal Challengers on Saturday. Anil Kumble himself took the new ball, zig-zagging in with his cutters, when Chargers batted. But Jacques Kallis, who shared the new ball with him, hobbled off after delivering his first over. This handicapped Royal Challengers’ attack; but with a knockout match looming, they were, clearly, averting risk. The fireworks, though, didn’t ignite until Herschelle Gibbs (the mainstay in Chargers chase with 60 in 43) twice flicked Praveen Kumar for sixes to square leg. This over cost 22 runs; and was followed by two more maximums at the expense of Roelof van der Merwe, as Gibbs glided into this left-arm slow bowler to clear long off. Gibbs and Adam Gilchrist sprinted to 68 in 6.5 overs for the 1st wicket when the latter top edged a pull. But horror of horrors, with the South African on 49, Robin Uthappa floored a sitter at long on off Akhil Balachandra. But Akhil at least extracted justice, when local hero played a tired looking pull and Pandey running in from square leg made no mistake. In the following over Andrew Symonds was bowled by van der Merwe, thus pegging Chargers back to 119 for four in 15.1. And they sank to 137 for six, as Venugopal Rao was run out and Rohit Sharma caught on the long on fence on the same total. An almost packed stadium in glistening late afternoon light – later to turn to a starry sky – witnessed the contest. Challengers lost Kallis early after winning the toss, caught at square leg. But R P Singh, who benefitted from this dismissal, missed a dolly at thirdman in the next over to grant Pandey a life at two off Ryan Harris. Challengers went about their task in a calculated manner. The first six did not surface until the 8th over – van der Merwe hoisting Pragyan Ojha against the spin to midwicket. 12 runs emerged from this over. Pandey and van der Merwe realised 55 for the 2nd wicket. The South African, though, was soon stumped off Symonds. The promising Ojha gobbled removed both Rahul Dravid and Ross Taylor. But as the sun set and the floodlights took effect, it was a luminous glow at the other end, as the fresh and fearless Pandey pounced on Tirumalsetti Suman, slogging him for sixes off consecutive balls in the 11th over. The last ball of the 18th over heralded Pandey’s 100. He only needed a single; but he cracked Symonds wide of long on and scurried back for a second. The crowd gave the overjoyed teenager a thunderous ovation. Next, he created room to cannon Jaskaran Singh over long on for half a dozen. But the real bombardment was reserved for the final over. First, Pandey landed R P behind the sightscreen. Following this, Virat Kohli joined the frolic with two more sixes – both to midwicket. The over cost R P 23 runs. Scoreboard Royal Challengers: Deccan Chargers: Player of the match: Pandey
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Where there is Daredewill, there is a way
Centurion, May 21 The Daredevils, who had already assured themselves of a berth in the semifinals, could have won with a bigger margin had they not lost four wickets in quick succession to make it a little tight in the end. Chasing 166 to win, Delhi had a rollicking start with opener David Warner (15) and Gambhir clobbering the pacers all over the park, which included a six off Dhawal Kulkarni over long on by Warner.
However, the Australian was sent packing by Kulkarni when he mishit a raising delivery only to lob it to Ashraful. Skipper Virender Sehwag then joined Gambhir in the middle and the duo recreated their old magic by stitching together a 68-run partership for the second wicket to help Delhi score fifty in 5.2 overs and then reached 104 in 11 overs. Out of form, Sehwag found his form back and punished the bowlers with disdain. Kulkarni was at his receiving end in the sixth over when he dispatched the lanky pacer three times across the boundary to accumulate 14 runs. In the 10th over, Sehwag picked up his first six off Abhishek Nayar and followed it up with two more fours to score 16 runs off the over. Gambhir, meanwhile, kept the scoreboard ticking before his mishit skier was caught by Ashraful at third man in the 12th over. After cruising along comfortably at 104 for one at one stage, Delhi lost the wickets of Tillakaratne Dilshan (24) and Sehwag in successive deliveries in the 15th over to slump to 144 for four. Two overs later, inform AB De Villiers (6) and Rajat Bhatia (2) returned to the hut to reduce Delhi to 153 for six with Harbahjan Singh capturing all the four wickets giving away only 17 runs. But by then it was too late as Amit Mishra picked up the winning run to take his team home in 17.3 overs. Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane cracked a brisk 41-ball 56, while Sachin Tendulkar hit a patient 46 as Mumbai Indians posted a competitive 165 for eight against Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League here today. Rahane stitched together a 54-ball 73-run partnership with Tendulkar for the fourth wicket to anchor the Mumbai Indians after skipper Virender Sehwag won the toss and decided to field. Rahane's innings was studded with five boundaries and two hits over the fence. Put into bat, Mumbai made a shaky start, losing three quick wickets -- Sanath Jayasuriya (0), JP Duminy (9) and Mohammad Ashraful (2) -- as they stuttered to 31 for 3 in the first six overs. Australian Dirk Nannes in his first legal delivery in the first over trapped Jayasuriya leg before wicket to put Mumbai on the back foot. Tendulkar then played two beautiful looking shots at square leg and mid-off to step up the tempo, while new man Duminy also got into the act, greeting Nannes with a flashy hook and a straight drive for successive boundaries. However, Nannes had the last laugh as he sent him packing in the next ball, when Duminy nicked his away swinging delivery only to be caught behind by Dinesh Karthik. — PTI Scoreboard Mumbai Indians: Delhi
Daredevils: Player of the Match: Sehwag
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Mongia awaits BCCI reply
Chandigarh, May 21 The former Indian player recently sent letters to the BCCI and the PCA seeking permission to play from the state association. Speaking to The Tribune, the southpaw said, “I have sent a letter to the BCCI and am awaiting their response.” Mongia’s contract with the ICL already stands terminated. Mongia was suspended along with Chandigarh Lions skipper Chris Cairns from the ICL in October last on disciplinary grounds. Mongia told the TNS that he had no plans to go back to the league. However, he parried all questions about receiving offers from the IPL. “This is all nonsense. There is no question of receiving any offers from the IPL unless the BCCI lifts the ban,” said the former Chandigarh Lions player. Meanwhile, Chandigarh Lions’ offie Gaurav Gupta and right-handed batsman Harpreet Singh today received their NOCs. All Chandigarh players had applied for NOCs except Amit Uniyal. “I need some time to deicide as it will be a crucial decision,” said the left arm medium pacer. So will PCA take them in? On this Mahender Singh, member of the PCA, said, “The players are supposed to send their NOCs to the BCCI and after receiving the go ahead from the board, the PCA will decide the future course of action for the players in its executive meeting.” The players are practicing at the Sector 16 cricket stadium and awaiting for the forthcoming Katoch Shield as on the basis of this tournament they can be selected for Ranji trophy. However, Singh said he did not think they would be able to play in the Katoch Shield as the probables have already been selected.
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Istanbul, May 21 Jadson’s 15-yard shot slipped through the grasp of Werder goalkeeper Tim Wiese in the 97th minute after the teams had been locked 1-1 at the end of normal time yesterday. The Germans thought they had snatched an equaliser in the last minute of the additional period, only for on-loan Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro’s bundled effort to be ruled out for a foul on Dmytro Chygrynskiy. Brazilian striker Lsuiz Adriano had finished coolly to give Shakhtar the lead in the first half, before an error by goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov allowed Werder centre-back Naldo to level. Shakhtar become the first team from Ukraine to lift a European trophy since the break-up of the Soviet Union, while they will also be the last team to lift the UEFA Cup before its re-launch as the Europa League next season. — AP/PTI
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Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi are all set to re-invent their on-court rivalry of the 90s once again.
The two Americans will face off on October 25 at the casino-hotel resort The Venetian Macao in the Chinese territory and gambling enclave.
Praising Agassi, Sampras said in a telephone conference: "We always had really tough matches and we brought out the best in each other." When the duo were top and second-ranked men's players in the world in the mid-1990s, the rivalry "transcended the sport," Sampras said. "When people ask me who my great rival is I always tell them Andre." Sampras won 64 singles titles, and Agassi took 60, including being the last man to win all four grand slam titles over his career. In 34 meetings between the two, Sampras won 20, including the finals of the 1990, 1995 and 2002 U.S. Opens, plus Wimbledon in 1999. Agassi beat Sampras in the 1995 Australian Open final. — AP
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At 19 years, 231 days, Manish Pandey became by far the youngest centurion in the catalogue of the Twenty20 Indian Premier League and only the second century-maker in the current tournament. His unconquered 114 off 67 balls, studded with 10 fours and four sixes, powered Royal Challengers to 170 for four, which Deccan Chargers failed to match, falling short by 12 runs.
At 19 years, 231 days, Manish Pandey became by far the youngest centurion in the catalogue of the Twenty20 Indian Premier League and only the second century-maker in the current tournament. His unconquered 114 off 67 balls, studded with 10 fours and four sixes, powered Royal Challengers to 170 for four, which Deccan Chargers failed to match, falling short by 12 runs.
Shane Warnes: