Scoreboard

Super Kings:

Anirudha b Kallis 64

Vijay c Bhatia b Abdulla 4

Raina c Ladda b Yusuf 33

Dhoni c Bisla b Kallis 29

Albie not out 15

Styris not out 5

Extras (b 1, w 2) 3

Total (4 wkts; 20 overs) 153

Bowling: Abdulla 4-0-26-1, Yusuf 3-0-19-1, Balaji 4-0-25-0, Kallis 3-0-34-2, Ladda 3-0-29-0, Bhatia 3-0-19-0.

Knight Riders

Bisla st Dhoni b Jakati 27

Kallis c Badrinath b Ashwin 54

Yusuf run out 11

Tiwary st Dhoni b Randiv 27

Morgan st Dhoni b Raina 6

Gambhir run out 1

Shukla c Styris b Southee 14

Bhatia not out 0

Abdulla not out 3

Extras (lb 1, w 7) 8

Total (7 wkts; 20 overs) 151

Bowling: Albie 3-0-32-0, Southee 4-0-30-1, Ashwin 4-0-26-1, Randiv 4-0-33-1, Jakati 4-0-26-1, Raina 1-0-3-1.

Hyderabad, April 8
A completely new-look Deccan Chargers would look to test their strength when they take on last edition laggards Rajasthan Royals in the battle between two former champions in their opening match of the Indian Premier League here tomorrow.

Deccan, the IPL second edition winners, have changed all their squad after finishing fourth and failing to qualify for the Champions League Twenty20 last year, with a new captain in Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara.

The home side looked less formidable in batting this time around without the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds and they would hope the new recruits find form quickly to start their campaign on a winning note at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium at Uppal.

Sangakkara was in prime form in the World Cup but the other key batsmen like South African Jean Paul Duminy and Australian Cameron White have not been in the best of their form recently for their respective countries.

Their other two-prized catches in the January auction were Englishman Kevin Pietersen and South African fast bowler Dale Steyn. Pietersen, however, will not be able to play this season as he had undergone a hernia operation during the World Cup and that has dealt a blow to Deccan. Steyn, who has been in red-hot form recently, will be available and he will be joined in the pace department by India discard Ishant Sharma who would want to prove a point after being ignored by the national selectors for the World Cup.

With the West Indies and England tours coming up after the IPL, Ishant would want to impress the national selectors and stake a claim for a place in the Indian squad. In the spin department India Test players Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha would take the bulk of slow bowling responsibility and they would also want to do well with the West Indies and England series coming up.

Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, would be looking to revive their IPL fortunes as they have been on the downslide in the last two editions after their inaugural crown. They have not added many big names in their squad this year except for ropping in former India captain Rahul Dravid and dashing New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor as they are set to continue relying on local talent.

Dravid and Taylor will have to form the bullwork of their batting till utility man Shane Watson of Australia returns from national duty in Bangladesh. — PTI

Kochi, April 8
Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK) will be aiming for a dream debut when they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their opening match of the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League. For the Kochi fans, it will be a momentous occasion as their only association with big time cricket has been the odd ODIs involving India.

The Kerala Ranji Trophy team never delivered at the domestic level save producing a couple of Test players like S Sreesanth and Tinu Yohanan. If the debutants under the stewardship of Mahela Jayawardene can upset the Daniel Vettori-led RCB at home, the interest and popularity of the team among the locals will skyrocket.

Also it will be a shot in the arm for the owners as the franchise was mired in various controversies in the lead up to the event. On paper, RCB top-order that boasts of names like AB de Villiers, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Virat Kohli and the very talented Saurabh Tiwary can murder any opposition on a given day.

The quartet is one of the best among 10 teams and it will be a real test for Kochi bowlers to restrict this line-up for a modest score. With Dilshan likely to open the batting, one can expect a lot of entertainment from the dashing Lankan.

The fans may not have got their share of 'Dilscoop' during the World up but in the shortest version, Dilshan can be expected to line himself up for that overhead shot.

De Villiers is another player who can rip apart in any bowling. Not to forget Kohli who is fresh from his World Cup triumph and would be itching to show one and all as to why Vijay Mallya's team decided to retain him.

Not to forget Saurabh Tiwary who got more than a million dollar deal during the auctions. Tiwary whose towering sixes were a hit with the Mumbai Indian fans during the last edition would hope that gets into the groove for RCB straightaway. When it comes to batting, Kochi may face a few problems as they don't have a good Indian batsman in their line-up. Apart from Parthiv Patel who is an effective T20 player, there aren't any big Indian names. VVS Laxman is not likely to make much of a difference in this format.

A lot will depend on how many times skipper Jayawardene and New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum fire. McCullum who will forever be remembered for his unbeaten 73-ball-158 during the first edition hasn't really fired after that knock.

Sri Lankan Thisara Perera has been one of the better buys by Kochi as his all-round abilities are in sync with the demands of Twenty20 cricket. It was his little cameo in the final overs that helped Lanka post a challenging total against India in the World Cup final.

When it comes to bowling, the two teams are on even keel. If RCB have a top quality seamer in Zaheer Khan and the best left-arm spinner in the world in skipper Vettori, Kochi will have the wily old Muttiah Muralitharan trying to pull a trick or two out of his bag.

Murali will be ably supported by R P Singh who has been out of national reckoning for the past couple of years. With India's tours of West Indies and England coming up, the likes of R P, Vinay Kumar, Ravindra Jadeja will be eager to prove themselves.

The Teams (From):

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Daniel Vettori (capt), TM Dilshan, AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Saurabh Tiwary, Mohammed Kaif, CM Gautham (wk), Zaheer Khan, Abhimanyu Mithun, Dirk Nannes, Ryan Ninnan/Abrar Kazi

Kochi Tuskers Kerala: Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Brendon McCullum, Parthiv Patel (wk), VVS Laxman, Owais Shah/Brad Hodge, Ravindra Jadeja, Thisara Perera, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ramesh Powar, R Vinay Kumar, Muttiah Muralitharan. — PTI

Mumbai, April 8
Sachin Tendulkar has said that Indian team's World Cup triumph after 28 years has had a huge impact on his son, Arjun, but he would not force him to become a cricketer. Talking to reporters at the Wankhede Stadium — the venue of the historic victory — Tendulkar said, "I was inspired by Indian team's victory in 1983 World Cup. The 2011 victory has made a huge impact on my son Arjun... I will not pressurise him to become a cricketer. He can choose what he wants to do."

Tendulkar was at the stadium last night to meet his Mumbai Indians team-mates, and partake of the mood on the eve of Indian Premier League's start in Chennai tomorrow. Talking about his mother's reaction when he returned home after the 2011 World Cup victory, Tendulkar said he could see joy in her eyes. "When I returned home, my mother became very emotional, and there were tears of happiness (in her eyes)."

His mother greeted him with traditional 'aarati'. "When we returned to the hotel, there were huge crowds waving at us... I have never seen anything like this before," he said, talking about the jubilation after the historic win.

When asked about Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi's controversial remarks about Indians, Sachin refused to say much. "No comments...I have no control over what someone has to say," he said.

Among those Tendulkar met at the stadium was was former Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, bought for USD 850,000 by the Reliance Industries-owned franchise. — PTI

New Delhi, April 8
Shahid Afridi feels deeply hurt and has appealed to the Indian Cricket Board that Pakistan players shouldn't be treated as "untouchables" when it comes to including them in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

"It is high time that Pakistani cricketers should also get a place in IPL. For three seasons including the current one, we haven't been a part of the IPL. We have no problems playing in India as we have just played a World Cup semi-final there. We are deeply hurt that they are treating us like 'untouchables'," Afridi told PTI Bhasha from Karachi.

"I am not saying that I want to play IPL but it could be a great platform for youngsters. They could make a mark for themselves." As many as 11 Pakistan players were part of inaugural season of IPL in 2008.

"Our PM Yusuf Raza Gilani responded in positive on that invitation. Now IPL can be a platform to further ease the tension," he said.

"We should play more and more against each other. This will not only ease the pressure but will also reduce the unwanted media hype surrounded with Indo–Pak matches," he said.

For Afridi, Indo- Pak matches are not war as players of both teams share great rapport off the field.

"On field, yes there are moments of pressure and tension whenever we play but off it, we are all friends. I share great bond with Harbhajan and respect Sachin a lot," said Afridi. — PTI

Augusta, April 8
It was not a happy debut at the Masters for Arjun Atwal, only the second Indian to play at the fabled Augusta National Club, as he ended at tied 97th with a eight-over 80 after the opening round. Atwal had a disappointing second nine during which he had three double bogeys. Overall, the Indian, who is one of the closest friends of Tiger Woods, with whom he played the practice rounds, had just one birdie, one eagle, two bogeys and four double bogeys in a highly eventful and roller-coaster round.

Atwal's friend Tiger Woods had a one-under 71 with three birdies and two bogeys, on 10th and 11th. Atwal bogeyed fourth and fifth, and his sole birdie came on eighth. On the back nine, he double bogeyed 10th, 12th, 13th and 18th, but in between eagled the 15th. However, Asian Tour honorary members Y E Yang and K J Choi of Korea got off to a flying start at The Masters with matching five-under-par 67s.

They lie in tied third place, two strokes from leaders Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Alvaro Quiros of Spain at the Augusta National Golf Club. Yang, Asia's first Major champion, made the turn in 32 before mixing his card with two birdies and one eagle against three bogeys in the back nine.

He would have taken a share of the lead but slipped back with bogeys in the last two holes. Yang won the 2009 PGA Championship and that has given him a boost in confidence.

Choi, a seven-time US PGA Tour winner, endured a slow start with a pair of birdies and bogeys in the first 11 holes but burst into life from the 13th hole when he returned with five birdies in his closing six holes.

Choi is making his ninth appearance in The Masters and is buoyant by his strong finishes in Augusta, the best placing being in tied third in 2004. He said the Augusta National Golf Club reminded him of fond memories from his first Asian Tour victory at the 1999 Korean Open. Young Rory McIlroy and Alvaro Quiros claimed the first-round lead at the Masters by shooting 7-under-par 65s.

Together, they headed an onslaught of international talent at the top of the leader board. Nine of the highest 13 finishers were non-Americans.

McIlroy, who has four career top-10s in Major is hugely talented and seen as a player who could go on to become one of the greats in the game. The conditions at Augusta National Golf Club were superb, and the play of McIlroy and Quiros matched the pristine setting.

In a flawless performance that brought to mind his first-round 63 in last year's British Open, McIlroy made seven birdies and no bogeys to shoot a 7-under-par 65. Quiros, playing in the final group of the day, birdied the 17th and 18th holes in fading light to join McIlroy atop the leader board. — PTI

New Delhi, April 8
Singapore’s Mardan Mamat posted a three-under 69 to lead the field take the lead with 15-under 201 after three rounds of the US$ 300,000 Panasonic Open (India).

He was closely followed by the Indian brigade led by Anirban Lahiri, who scored a 68 to trail the Singaporean by three shots on 204 while Manav Jaini carded a 67 to take third place at 205.

Jyoti Randhawa, Himmat Rai and Mukesh Kumar are bunched at tied fourth on 207 in the newest event on the Asian Tour. Mardan enjoyed a bogey-free round with three birdies on holes four, eight and nine. First round leader Lahiri also had another performance of his own to savour. The 23-year-old marked his card with a birdie on the sixth before adding another three in his outward-nine.

Jaini also kept up the pressure on the Mardan and Lahiri by matching his second round 67 to keep himself in contention for his first win on the Asian Tour.

Leading scores: 201 - Mardan Mamat (Sin, 67, 65, 69); 204 - Anirban Lahiri (Ind, 65, 71, 68); 205 - M Jaini (Ind, 71, 67, 67); 207 - H Rai (Ind, 70, 67, 70), J Randhawa (Ind, 73, 66, 68), Mukesh Kumar (Ind, 70, 71, 66); 210 - Ben Fox (US, 70, 66, 74), Prom Meesawat (Tha, 74, 70, 66); 211 Chawalit Plaphol (Tha, 74, 66, 71), Tjaart van der Walt (RSA, 72, 68,71), Rashid Khan (Ind, 74, 68, 69); 212 - S Singh (Ind, 74, 69, 69), B Henson (US, 71, 73, 68), U Park (Aus, 77, 69, 66); 213 - S.S.P. Chowrasia (Ind, 73, 72, 68). 

Charleston, April 8
Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza advanced to the quarterfinals of the Family Circle Cup WTA tournament here with a straight-set victory over Sabine Lisicki of Germany. Sania, who made it to the main draw through the qualifying rounds, beat the German wild card entrant 6-4 6-4 in the second round singles match of the USD 721,000 prize money clay court event.

She will now meet 11th seed Shuai Peng of China in the quarterfinals. Peng had upset seventh seed Russian Nadia Petrova 6-3 5-7 6-2 in another second round match. Sania has also reached the quarterfinals in the doubles with her partner Elena Vesnina of Russia.

The unseeded Indo-Russian duo had pulled off a big upset by ousting second seeds and strong contenders Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymonds with a straight-set win in the first round. In the doubles quarter-finals, they will take on the Russian-Australian combination of Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova. — PTI