The Kiwi is yet to find a pill which could get rid of his headache of filling up the fifth bowler's slot. The middle-order, especially the Indian batsmen Virat Kohli, Saurabh Tiwary and Cheteshwar Pujara have not been firing on all cylinders on a consistent basis.

The lack of fifth bowler in the side has been used to the hilt by oppositions.

The RCB fans not only saw this against Chennai Super Kings, but in yesterday's game against Rajasthan Royals who plundered over 100 runs in the last six overs.

Vettori, however, was hoping Chris Gayle to play a part as a fifth bowler to either take wickets or contain runs. But the West Indian could not live up to his expectations after he conceded 21 runs in his only over last night. The time is probably ripe for mercurial Sri Lankan opener Tillakratne Dilshan to get a chance against the Warriors tomorrow.

Steve Smith played a crucial knock in Pune’s last win.

Even more, Vettori is very much concerned about the middle-order collapse in all the matches, except the opening game against DD in which South African AB de Villiers rescued the team with a flamboyant 60.

The Indian batsmen would like to put their hands up and consolidate upon solid starts. Virat Kohli has looked good, but has not capitalised on the starts. He would look to reverse the trend against the Warriors.

Vettori, for a change, would like to turn the tables on Pune by opting to bat first -- provided he wins the toss -- on a strip, which he thinks, would help the batsmen and make life difficult for the team chasing. On the other hand, though the Warriors are missing the services of key players like Yuvraj Singh and Graeme Smith, the current skipper and former India captain Sourav Ganguly has been inspiring the team in this edition of the IPL.

Under his leadership, they have lost just one match, against Kings XI Punjab, but decimated Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings convincingly. The team is placed second in points table. Pune would be hoping to continue their winning ways. The Sahara-owned team is capable of finishing on top of the points table as it has quality players at its disposal.Robin Uthappa, Jesse Ryder, Steven Smith and Marlon Samuels have fared well in this year's IPL so far. — PTI

Jaipur, April 16
Back on home turf after a comprehensive victory in their previous match, Rajasthan Royals would start firm favourites when they take on the struggling Deccan Chargers in an IPL match here tomorrow.

Riding on Ajinkya Rahane's unbeaten hundred and Owais Shah's blazing fifty, Rajasthan beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 59 runs in Bangalore last night to recover from back-to-back losses in Kolkata and Mumbai.

The biggest positive to be drawn from last night's win was the cracking form of Rahane and Shah.

Champions of the inaugural IPL, Rajasthan have also benefitted from the experience of their captain Rahul Dravid, who has filled in the void left by Shane Warne quite commendably so far.

Rahane, the orange cap holder for the moment, has been the pick of the batsmen and has emerged as the only centurion so far in the current edition of the IPL. The 23-year-old impressed with his shot-selection and temperament last night.

Shah, too, has been outstanding and has delivered when the situation has demanded as far as accelerating the run rate is concerned.

Dravid has also been able to forge good opening partnerships with Rahane so far while the rest of the batting comprising Ashok Menaria and Brad Hodge have been Impressive. Their bowling line-up, which is devoid of any big names, has also been consistent. Medium pacers like Sidhartha Trivedi, Amit Singh, Kevon Cooper and Pankaj Singh have taken their chances.

On the other hand, Deccan Chargers seems to be a team in disarray as they have lost both their matches and their batsmen like Parthiv Patel, skipper Kumar Sangakkara, Cameron White, Darren Bravo and Shikhar Dhawan have not been able to convert good starts into long innings.

As far as bowling is concerned, South African quickie Dale Styen has been impressive but others like Manpreet Gony, Daniel Christian as well as spinners Amit Mishra have been unable to stem the run flow at crucial junctures.

The slight drizzles in past couple of days has made the weather a little humid but while hosts would looking to carry on their winning streak, the visitors who are languishing at the bottom of the table would be aiming to put their act together. — PTI

Jaipur, April 16
Deccan Chargers skipper Kumar Sangakkara says it requires "exceptional skill" to execute the switch-hit and he is certain that the much talked-about controversial shot will soon be up for discussion in the ICC meetings. "I feel it requires exceptional skill to play and perfect that shot. It is not Kevin Petersen of England but many others too who play the switch-hit.

"Remember David Warner also played such shot against the Indians. It needs a lot of skill to play that but I am sure that it would come for discussion at the ICC meeting quite soon," Sangakkara said ahead of their Indian Premier League match against Rajasthan Royals.

Asked about the low-scoring but close matches in this edition of the IPL, the Sri Lankan said it was the fifth year of the tournament and the bowlers have learnt to defend low totals.

"It is the fifth year of IPL and bowlers have learnt to defend low scores. It is more about the wickets, which are low and slow. Perhaps when the wickets become flat the bowlers will have to come out with new strategies. These are interesting times for cricket and many new things are coming up," he said.

Talking about the back-to-back losses in their first two matches, Sangakkara said that his side was having the right balance to challenge other teams.

"It was unfortunate to lose both the matches as we too had our moments. Eighteen were needed in the last over but we could not defend. Perhaps we were 15 run short.

"But we have the right balance and the ability to challenge the other teams. I am happy with the manner in which we fought in those matches."

When asked about the long break after their previous match on April 9, the Deccan Chargers captain said that the it works in two ways.

"We were up against two good teams and there was a long break which works in two ways. First it gives you the opportunity to watch other teams play and secondly it gives you time to work on your weaknesses.

"We have done both and I believe we have the right overseas and domestic players' balance to come back strongly." Not reading much into Ajinkya Rahane's splendid ton against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sangakkara said that it not necessary to work out a special for the batsman. — PTI

Dubai, April 16
The International Cricket Counil's Executive Board has voted to split the role of the President and the Chairman as recommended by the contentious independent governance review headed by Lord Woolf from 2014 onwards.

After the second of its scheduled 2012 meetings here this weekend, the ICC's Executive Board has decided to recommend one of the suggestions made by the Woolf report to its annual conference in Kuala Lumpur in June.

"Following a Board resolution agreed at the last meeting, the directors confirmed the necessary amendments to the constitution to split the role of the ICC President and Chairman of the Board," the ICC said in a statement.

"The amended Articles will now be placed before the ICC Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur at the end of June for consideration and approval," it added.

"Having considered several options to deal constructively with the Woolf Report, the ICC Board agreed that, in the first instance, there was a real need for further discussion among the Directors and Members in an effort to build consensus.

"In addition to already agreeing the split to the President/Chairman's role and creating targeted funding for Members in line with the Woolf recommendations, the Directors were keen to begin discussion among themselves to develop a clearer understanding of the role of the ICC." If the recommendations are implemented, the role of the ICC President will be reformed after the Annual Conference in 2014 to separate the Chairman of the Board position from that of the ICC President.

"Until then, the current roles for the ICC President and Vice president will remain, after which the Vice-Presidency will cease to exist and a new Chairman of the Board post created," the ICC stated.

The term of office for the new ceremonial role for the President will be one year and will rotate, as it currently does, among the members. The President will not be a voting member of the Board.

The Chairman, who will be appointed by the Board for a maximum of six years (three x two year terms) will also be non-voting. — PTI

Australia 1st innings

Warner c Sammy b S’ford 29

Cowan lbw b Roach 28

Watson c Barath b S’ford 56

Ponting c Sammy b Roach 7

Clarke c S’ford b Deonarine 45

Mike batting 26

Wade batting 11

Extras (lb3, nb3) 6

Total (5 wkts; 90 ovrs) 208

Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-65, 3-83, 4-167, 5-178.

Bowling: Edwards 13-7-28-0, Roach 18-4-77-2, Sammy 12-4-16-0, Shillingford 32-11-56-2, Deonarine 15-3-28-1.

London, April 16
Wayne Rooney fired Manchester United five points clear at the top of the Premier League as his double inspired a 4-0 rout of Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday. Rooney opened the scoring with an early penalty and Danny Welbeck increased United's lead before half-time.

England forward Rooney bagged his 31st goal of the season in the second half before Nani's late goal sealed a crucial victory. Thanks to Rooney's brace, Sir Alex Ferguson's men were able to reestablish a significant lead over title rivals Manchester City with four games left to play.

After their shock midweek defeat at Wigan, and City's 6-1 demolition of Norwich on Saturday, this was the perfect response from United. "Wednesday was a blip, we just didn't turn up but today we put in a good performance," said United defender Rio Ferdinand.

"We weren't thinking about City's result. The pressure is always on us, from within, from the fans, the manager, the pressure to win is always there.

"We played some good football today with some nice one-touch football. We want to win every game. We don't care where we win the title -- it could be in the garden, as long as we win it."

Sunday's win, however, came laced with controversy. Last Sunday, United winger Ashley Young earned a penalty and got QPR's Shaun Derry sent off in process when he fell under minimal contact from the midfielder in a 2-0 win.

And the England international was involved in another controversial incident against Villa when he appeared to exaggerate his fall after Ciaran Clark stuck out his leg in the penalty area in the seventh minute. Referee Mark Halsey gave the penalty and Rooney calmly stroked home the spot-kick.

The champions increased their lead in the 43rd minute when Welbeck slid in to score after Villa defenders James Collins and Nathan Baker failed to clear Patrice Evra's low cross. — AFP

Munich, April 16
Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger has insisted Bayern Munich must make home advantage count against Real Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League semifinal first-leg. "It's all or nothing on Tuesday," said the Germany star, with Munich's Allianz Arena set to also host this year's Champions League final on May 19. "We have to go to the limits and beyond, but we can do it with our fans behind us. "It won't be easy, and it comes down to mental strength. I hope we show that mentality which is a Bayern trademark."

Real warmed up for Munich with a 3-1 win over Spanish league strugglers Sporting Gijon on Saturday with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his 41st league goal of the season, a record achievement currently matched only by Barcelona's Lionel Messi.

In contrast, Bayern were held to a goalless draw in Munich by mid-table Mainz which effectively handed the German league title to Borussia Dortmund with Bayern eight points behind with three games left. Coach Jupp Heynckes, who took Real Madrid to the 1998 European title, paid the price for resting his stars with captain Philipp Lahm, midfielder Thomas Mueller, wing Franck Ribery and striker Mario Gomez all starting on the bench. — AFP

New Delhi, April 16
Sunaina Kumari, president of the Bowling Federation of India, has been re-elected as the vice-president of the Asian Lawn Bowls Federation (ALBF) for a second consecutive term. Sunaina, who is the daughter of Indian Olympic Association secretary-general Raja Randhir Singh, said the Asian body has allotted the 10th Asian Lawn Bowls Championship-2013 to India.

The biennial board of governors of the ALBF was held at Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur during the 9th Asian Lawn Bowls Championship held from April 6 to 11.A 14-member Indian team participated in the championship, in which Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the UAE also participated.

Sunaina said the Indian women players made history when every member of the squad clinched a medal. In the pairs’ event, Manu Pal and Kavita won the silver while in the triple event, the team of Pinki, Farzana and Lovely Chaubey annexed the silver, defeating Thailand. In the women fours, Pinki, Farzana, Kavita and Manu Pal defeated China to lift the bronze.

In the Under-25 category, Nain Muni Saikia won the gold, beating a Malaysian player while Tania Chaudhary bagged the bronze.