New Delhi, April 10
Tirumalasetti Suman (55) struck his back-to-back Indian Premier League half century as Deccan Chargers scored a thumping six-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings here today. Suman, who hit an unbeaten 78 in his side's seven-wicket win over Bangalore two days back, played sheet anchor with a sensible 44-ball innings which was laced with four boundaries and two sixes as Deccan chased down the modest target of 139 with five balls to spare.

Earlier, Chennai Super Kings made a modest 138 for eight thanks mainly to Suresh Raina's 42-ball 52 after opting to bat at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium at Jamtha here.

Deccan, who today notched up their fifth win from 11 matches, began their run chase on a shaky note but recovered later thanks to Suman and Andrew Symonds who made a 22-ball 27 down the order.

Captain Adam Gilchrist (7) was back in the pavilion in the fifth at team score of 32. Three balls and as may runs later, the other opener Monish Mishra departed for a 18-ball 21 and Deccan were in a spot of bother at that stage.

Rohit Sharma could contribute just eight and it was left to Suman and Symonds to repair the innings which the duo did with a 46-run stand for the fourth wicket in 32 balls. Symonds, who also hit an unbeaten half century in Deccan's win against Bangalore in their last match, and Dwayne Smith took their home with a 32-run stand for the unfinished fifth wicket from three overs as Deccan scored 139 for four in 19.1 overs. For Chennai, Ravichandran Ashwin was the most successful bowler with two wickets fro 13 form his four overs while Sadab Jakati and Raina took a wicket apiece.

Earlier, Suresh Raina's (52) half century was the lone bright spot in Chennai Super Kings' batting card as all-rounder Ryan Harris' three-wicket haul helped Deccan Chargers restrict them to 138 for eight. Chennai were off to a flyer with opener Matthew Hayden and M Vijay putting on 41 runs in little over four overs. — PTI

Scoreboard

Chennai Super Kings:

Vijay run out 23 (13)

Hayden c Gilchrist b Harmeet 19 (18)

Raina c Sharma b Harris 52 (42)

Dhoni b Ojha 7 (13)

Hussey c Sumanth b Symonds 8 (11)

Badrinath c Mishra b Singh 6 (6)

Ashwin c & b Harris 5 (6)

Thushara c Symonds b Harris 8 (8)

Jakati not out 0 (0)

Bollinger not out 2 (3)

Extras: (b 2, lb 3, w 3) 8

Total: (8 wickets; 20 overs) 138

Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-65, 3-82, 4-110, 5-121, 6-122, 7-132, 8-134.

Bowling: Harris 4-0-18-3, RP Singh 2-0-18-1, Rohit 2-0-19-0, Harmeet 4-0-21-1, Smith 1-0-14-0, Symonds 4-0-23-1, Ojha 3-0-20-1.

Deccan Chargers:

Mishra st Dhoni b Ashwin 21 (18)

Gilchrist c Dhoni b Ashwin 7 (8)

Suman c Raina b Jakati 55 (44)

Rohit c Tyagi b Raina 8 (15)

Symonds not out 27 (22)

Smith not out 13 (8)

Extras: (lb 2, w 6) 8

Total: (4 wickets; 19.1 overs) 139

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-35, 3-61, 4-107.

Bowling: Ashwin 4-0-13-2, Bollinger 3-0-31-0, Jakati 4-0-29-1, Thushara 4-0-27-0, Raina 3.1-0-25-1, Tyagi 1-0-12-0.

Mohali, April 10
The victory came a bit late. As Irfan Pathan clobbered Zaheer Khan for a thundering four at the start of the 20th over to the long-on fence, there was jubilation all round the Kings XI Punjab camp. Electing to bat first, Kings XI restricted Mumbai Indians to 154 for 9 in the 20 overs. The hosts chased the modest target without any major hiccups, finishing at 158 for 4 in 19.2 overs to register their third win in the tournament.

The victory is inconsequential as Kings XI are already out of the race for the semifinals, while Mumbai retain their position at the top of the table despite the defeat. Except for their luck with the toss, the day belonged to Kings XI. They bowled with purpose. Irfan Pathan and Piyush Chawla were particularly impressive, claiming three wickets each, while rookie seamer Luv Ablish took two. Man of the Match Kumar Sangakkara led from the front. Their batting came good, resulting in a facile win.

Chasing the 155-run target, Kings XI were never in any sort of trouble. New recruit Adrian Barath never looked out of depth. In the company of Mahela Jayawardene, the diminutive batsman batted with confidence. He showed good defence and never hesitated to attack either. He backed his instincts and was involved in 41-run first-wicket stand with Jayawardene in 4.3 overs before Jayawardene departed.

Two successive fours he hit off Zaheer, which went racing to the long-off and long-off fence, proved that he was not afraid of the reputation of the bowler. Sangakkara played a measured knock. It was the skipper who anchored the innings in a brilliant fashion. Though they lost the wickets of Barath and Yuvraj at the other end, the left-handed batsman kept his cool. As the Kings XI approached the target, he played some glorious strokes. By the time he departed after contributing 42-ball 56, the side was on the threshhold of victory.

Brief Scores:

Kings XI Punjab: 158 for 4 (Sangakkara 56, Barath 33)

Mumbai Indians: 154 for 9 (Duminy 35, Chawla 3-24, Pathan 3-29) Kings won by six wickets.

Jaipur, April 10
In a crucial match that may well throw up the first semifinalist of IPL Season 3, table toppers Mumbai Indians will take on the hosts, in-form Rajasthan Royals, at their home ground here tomorrow. Mumbai Indians, who seemed invincible till halfway into the tournament, have been jolted by two consecutive defeats and that too at the hands of the teams at the bottom of the table.

In the last one week the side has thrown away two opportunities to be the first team to make it to the final four. Needing only a single win to make it to the semifinals, the side will have to regain the momentum and get back to its winning ways. What has also become clear in their recent defeats is that if they want to win the championship they will have to reduce their dependence on Sachin Tendulkar.

Their foreign players - Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard and Jean Paul Duminy - will have to contribute with the bat to achieve the same. Though they also have two promising batsmen in Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu, the former has been inconsistent and the latter has failed to get a big score for his team. Talking about hosts, after some lacklustre performances, the Rajasthan Royals have done remarkably well to bounce back in the tournament with six wins in their last eight games.

Going by the kind of form they are in they seem certain to qualify for the semifinals. A comprehensive win against Kings XI Punjab in the last match has further boosted the morale of the team. Their openers - Naman Ojha and Michael Lumb - are in great form. While Ojha is among the leading run-getters in the tournament, scoring 352 at a strike rate of 141.36, Lumb displayed his mettle with a blistering 83 off just 43 deliveries in the last match. 

Augusta (Georgia), April 10
England’s Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter handled a tougher Augusta National to share the Masters lead as both chase their first major championship and attempt to hold off Tiger Woods. Poulter, who once boasted that it would be just him and Woods when he reached his potential, made his only bogey on the 18th hole for a second straight 68. Westwood had everything from an eagle to a double bogey in his wild round of 69 yesterday.

They were at 8-under 136 after two rounds - the first time either of them has been in the lead in a major. Two shots behind was Woods, a position that has surprised just about everybody except him. “I usually put myself in contention most of the time here,” Woods said after a 2-under 70. “And this year, I’m right there.” If that’s not enough big-name contenders, Phil Mickelson is along for the ride.

Mickelson needed a birdie on the 18th hole to be paired with Woods, just as they were in the final round last year. His 65-foot putt banged off the back of the cup before spinning away, giving the left-handed American a 71. Woods and Mickelson were at 138, along with K.J. Choi, Ricky Barnes and Anthony Kim, the American coming off a victory last week in the Houston Open. Woods has captured so much attention at this Masters because of his swift and spectacular downfall from a sex scandal that kept him out of golf the last five months. — AP

New Delhi, April 10
For the first time ever, Indian players have been given top billing in the Asian Badminton Championship, to prove that the game has come of age in the country. Saina Nehwal, who is tipped to win the gold, has been seeded No 1 in women’s singles while Jwala Gutta and V Diju, the consistent pair, have been seeded top in the mixed doubles, in the Yonex-Sunrise Badminton Asia Championship, to be held at the brand new indoor hall at the Siri Fort sports complex from April 12 to 18.

An elated Badminton Association of India president V K Verma said it was for the first time that Indian players were getting top seeding in an international shuttle event, in which the field consists of the very best. Former All-England champion and present national coach Pullela Gopi Chand said, “Today, we can call ourselves a strong badminton nation”.

Saina said she would face a tough draw against Thailand, though she was well-prepared to meet the challenge. “I have been training really well. I hope I will give my best”, she said at a media interaction here today, as the Indian team geared up for the prestigious event, in which 21 countries would participate.

Gopi Chand said India had a strong singles, doubles and mixed doubles teams, and the hosts should fare well. He said the performance of the Indian players during the last two years has been “fanstatic”. “We had some great performances as a team. We will have the best results here”, he said.

Though China may not field some of their top women players, the competition would still be top class. Gopi Chand said the Asian Championship would be a good preparation for the Indian team for the ensuing Thomas and Uber Cup Championships. 

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