Mumbai, May 25
Kiwi batsman Corey Anderson conjured up an astonishing 95-run knock under tremendous pressure to single-handedly power Mumbai Indians to the play-offs as the hosts rattled Rajasthan Royals by five wickets in a high-scoring thriller, here today.

Aditya Tare goes berserk with joy after smashing a six to give Mumbai a spot in the play-offs. PTI

Requiring to chase down a 190-run target within 15 overs, Mumbai Indians overhauled the target in 14.4 overs when Aditya Tare hoisted James Faulkner for a six.

In a heart-stopping finish, when scored were tied in 14.3 overs, Tare pulled off one of the most memorable strokes of his career that helped his side sneak into the play-offs.

It was a humongous task to score 190 runs in 14.3 overs as the target was initially but Anderson, who holds the world record of scoring fastest hundred in One-dayers, showed his worth with one of the most destructive knocks in IPL. His unbeaten 95 runs came off 44 balls with nine fours and half-a-dozen sixes.

With this win, Mumbai edged out Royals on Net-Run-Rate to book a qualifier match against Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday at Braborn stadium here. Anderson did what Yusuf Pathan did to Sunrisers Hyderabad yestreday.

Mumbai were 61 for 3 and looking down the barrel but left-handed Anderson and Ambati Rayudu shared a game-changing 81-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Rayudu blasted 30 runs off just 10 balls. Tare sounded the death-knell for Royals with a first ball six off left-arm quick Faulkner, who conceded 54 runs without taking a wicket. Royals bowling let them down badly.

Earlier, Sanju Samson and Karun Nair hit came up with responsible knocks to help Rajasthan Royals post an imposing 189 for four after being put into bat.

Samson scored 74 off 47 balls while Nair took 27 balls for his 50-run knock as the two young batsmen shared a 100-run stand in 57 balls after early departure of Shane Watson. Samson, who opened the innings instead of Ajinkya Rahane, hit three sixes and seven fours, while Nair's knock was studded with two sixes and seven fours. — PTI

Scoreboard

Rajasthan Royals
Watson c Pollard b Harbhajan 8 (18)
Samson c Harbhajan b Gopal 74 (47)
Nair c Simmons b Bumrah 50 (27)
Hodge not out 29 (16)
Faulkner c Anderson b Pollard 23 (12)
Cooper not out 0 (0)
Extras: (lb 2, w 3) 5
Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 189
Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-134, 3-136, 4-185
Bowling: Anderson 2-0-14-0; Bumrah 4-1-30-1; Ojha 4-0-31-0; Harbhajan 4-0-43-1; Gopal 3-0-36-1; Pollard 3-0-33-1.

Mumbai Indians
Simmons c Faulkner b Kulkarni 12 (8)
Hussey b Cooper 22 (11)
Anderson not out 95 (44)
Pollard c Hodge b Cooper 7 (3)
Rohitc Nair b Kulkarni 16 (11)
Rayudu run out 30 (10)
Tare not out 6 (1)
Extras: (lb 3, w 4) 7
Total (5 wickets; 14.4 overs) 195
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-53, 3-61, 4-108, 5-189
Bowling: Faulkner 3.4-0-54-0; Kulkarni 3-0-42-2; Watson 2-0-33-0; Cooper 4-0-38-2; Tambe 2-0-25-0.

Teams in Play-offs

• Kings XI Punjab
• Kolkata Knight Riders
• Chennai Super Kings
• Mumbai Indians

Mohali, May 25
Kings XI Punjab beat Delhi Daredevils by seven wickets at the PCA Stadium, Mohali, on Sunday. There couldn't have been a more boring way to describe the result of an inconsequential tie between Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils. Even if the result had been the other way round, Kings would have remained first and Delhi would have remained last in the points table.

The fun for the Sunday crowd was in being there, savouring the fours and sixes. Delhi Daredevils, like in the entire season, were again disappointing. Though they did hit 15 fours, nine of them by Kevin Pietersen, the team could not hit a single six. The duty to send the crowds back home smiling finally rested on the home team and David Miller was not the one to shirk away from this responsibility. He lived up to his reputation for big hits and finished off the match (119/3 in 13.5 overs) with a six.

Over all, there were no big conclusions to be drawn from this match, only momentary joy. It was a fun match and ended that way too.

Though Delhi had threatened to play the spoilsport by posting only 115 in 18.1 overs, Kevin Pietersen (58), ever the entertainer, scored a half-century with some fierce cuts and wild swings. Like always, there were some strokes of luck in his innings this time too. After the defeat, Pietersen apologized to his Delhi's fans. He could apologised to his Punjab fans also.

When Kings XI Punjab's turn came, big names such as Virender Sehwag, Glen Maxwell faded into oblivion as a dust storm gathered around. The home grown talent, Manan Vohra, seized the opportunity and in no time he was the darling of the crowds. The sixth over of Jimmy Neesham saw two consecutive fours, a six, interspersed by four leg byes. His straight bat hits, square drives and lofty shots evoked plenty of oohs and aahs in the crowd. The 47 runs he scored took 38 balls came primarily in mid off and mid on region. Manan effectively killed the contest but did not last to see the end.

“It's my home ground, so it's always fun to bat out there. I guess the management had a better plan for me. I was just waiting for my turn. I knew when I get a chance I could do something special. Players like Maxwell, David Miller, George, Viru. They're stroke players, and it gives me the freedom to go after the bowling,” said Manan Vohra, the man of the match.

Delhi Daredeviles
Pietersen lbw b Dhawan 58(41)
Agarwal c Sehwag b Johnson 2(5)
Karthik c Patel b Awana 13(7)
Jadhav c Vohra b Awana 0(4)
Tiwary run out (Dhawan/Bailey) 8(11)
Duminy c Patel b Karanveer 8(8)
Neesham c Bailey b Karanveer 12(20)
Nadeem not out 3(7)
Shami b Patel 0(1)
Tahir c Dhawan b Patel 4(4)
Unadkat c Maxwell b Johnson 0(1)
Extras: (lb 1, w 6) 7
Total (all out; 18.1 overs) 115
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-44, 3-44, 4-67, 5-91, 6-93, 7-110, 8-111, 9-115
Bowling: Awana 3-1-15-2; Patel 4-0-28-2; Johnson 3.1-0-27-2; Karanveer 4-0-22-2; Dhawan 4-0-22-1; 

Kings XI Punjab
Sehwag c Karthik b Shami 9(7)
Vohra b Tahir 47(38)
Maxwell c Pietersen b Unadkat 0(3)
Miller not out 47(34)
Bailey not out 1(1)
Extras: (lb 5, w 10) 15
Total (3 wickets; 13.5 overs) 119
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-16, 3-112
Bowling: Shami 3-0-26-1; Unadkat 2-0-3-1; Neesham 1-0-14-0; Duminy 2-0-15-0; Tahir 3.5-0-32-1; Nadeem 2-0-24-0.

Kolkata, May 25
On a high after smashing the fastest fifty in the IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Yusuf Pathan slammed his critics saying that they had no clue as to how hard he works. “People don’t know what all I’m doing to achieve all these things. It’s their job to criticise, they are getting paid for that and I’m being paid for playing and doing my duty. Everybody is doing their job,” Yusuf said responding to the outpouring criticism.

“Whatever they may say, I know what I’m doing to achieve. I’m clear about what do I want and I know my ability. I know how much can I score in an over and the hard work I put in to make those 20 runs in an over.”

“I know how much I work in nets and in free time when there’re no matches. I just keep backing myself. It’s like being well prepared before an exam. I don’t care about what people say,” the senior of the Pathan brothers said in the post-match presser.

The misfiring Baroda all-rounder, who was bought by KKR in a $2.1 million deal, paid back the faith blasting a 22-ball 72 to help his team chase down Sunrisers Hyderabad’s 161 in 14.2 overs and storm into Qualifier one by knocking off Chennai Super Kings from the second spot on net run rate.

KKR needed to chase down the target in 15.2 overs and when Yusuf came in, the equation was 106 from 47 balls as SRH let off the big hitter by dropping on 0 and 16. As Yusuf exploded back to form, world’s No 1 bowler Dale Steyn cut a sorry figure conceding 26 runs in an embarrassing over that read 4, 6, 6, 4, 4, 2 as KKR chased down the target. — PTI

Chandigarh, May 25
Who’s the best coach this IPL season? Sanjay Bangar, indeed. And who’s the worst? Well, hold your breath, it’s Gary Kirsten. It’s difficult to believe, but that’s what the results suggest, quite emphatically at that. And it’s tough to argue with numbers and results, especially in the IPL where it’s all about instant success and failure, where a team is champion one year and the bottom scrapper in the next.

It’s indeed quite surprising to see the two names throw up the kind of results they have — Bangar-coached Kings XI have looked almost unbeatable, Kirsten’s Delhi Daredevils have been the punching bag this season. Still, Bangar’s startling success is a lot less surprising than the shocking failure of the South African. He’s after all the same Guru Gary who coached India to the World Cup win in 2011, shepherded them to the coveted No. 1 rankings in Tests, and every player vouched for his man-management skills and his ability to create an environment in which the players gave their best.

So what has gone so horribly wrong for Gary the super coach? To be fair, Delhi have one of the worst bowling attacks, and the batsmen, including the mercurial Kevin Pietersen, have let the team down. But then, isn’t the claimant to the title of the best coach expected to rise over these hurdles and get the team to put in at least a par performance? Delhi Daredevils, however, have embarrassed themselves and the coach too, as they hurtled from one defeat to another, without ever looking to fight back.

The question is, was Kirsten over-rated when he coached India, or is the IPL as much a matter of chance for the coaches, as it is for a majority of the players? Or Kirsten didn’t feel the assignment inspiring and challenging enough to be as involved as he did with the India assignment?

His dramatic failure also throws up a question on whether the coach matters at all in T20 beyond running a training session and picking up the final XI. Take a look at the Mumbai Indians support staff and where they are placed this season, and one would automatically start doubting the role of coaches. The side, which won the title last year, has the likes of John Wright, Robin Singh, Jonty Rhodes amongst their coaching staff and Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Ricky Ponting as mentors and advisors. Yet, they were below average this year.

Even Bangar, without taking away any credit from him, wouldn’t have looked as pretty without the Glenn Maxwell phenomenon that hit the opposition like a tornado. And perhaps no could take credit for that sort of individual brilliance. He can, though, take credit for maximizing Maxwell’s impact by using him in the top four slots, thus giving him the maximum time to strut his stuff.

And that’s what, quite surprisingly, Kirsten failed to do. Even after his top and middle order failed without fail, he didn’t promote his form players JP Duminy and Kedar Jadhav up the order.

Mumbai’s—or Kirsten’s — performance shows that it’s impossible to identify ‘good’ or ‘great’ in the shortest format of the sport. The pre-season promotion of Kirsten or Pietersen or Kohli or Gayle or Tendulkar in the fickle T20 format is nothing else than just so much hot air.

Gareth Bale, who scored Real’s second goal, celebrates after the match in Lisbon on Saturday

Lisbon, May 25
Real Madrid came back from the dead to write another glorious chapter in their history when they beat Atletico Madrid 4-1 in extra time helped by goals from Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo to win a 10th European Cup on Saturday.

With Atletico poised to win the trophy for the first time after going ahead with a first-half Diego Godin header, Real struck back after relentless pressure with a Sergio Ramos header in the third minute of added time from a Luka Modric corner.

That sent the final into extra time and with a tiring Atletico almost out for the count after taking a battering for most of the second half, Real scored three times in the last 10 minutes. Bale headed them in front after 110 minutes, Marcelo made it 3-1 following a solo run eight minutes later before Ronaldo, the Portugal captain playing in his capital city, converted a penalty.

The goal was Ronaldo's 17th of the Champions League campaign, a record for one season, and he became the first player in the competition’s 59-year history to score for two different winning sides in open play in the final, having scored for Manchester United when they won the 2008 European Cup.

The victory also meant Carlo Ancelotti became only the second coach to win the European Cup three times after Bob Paisley's Liverpool triumphs in 1977, 1978 and 1981. Italian Ancelotti also won the trophy twice as a player with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990, while Real became the first team to score four goals in the final since Milan's 4-0 win over Barcelona in 1994.

"Yes that was just incredible, what can I say, it was our aim from the start of the season," Ancelotti said. "It was such a hard game and Atletico were such powerful opponents, but I think we deserved it in the end.

"We scored in extra time. We believed that we could win the game and it went well for us in the end. Everyone did well and what they could and we finished drained, exhausted but very, very happy. Were we lucky to score so late? I don't think so, I think we deserved it."

In contrast Atletico coach Diego Simeone was ordered off the field by referee Bjorn Kuipers for running on to the pitch after Atletico went 4-1 down, but he was much calmer when he faced the media later, walking in to applause at the news conference.

The Argentine said he was angry because Real defender Raphael Varane flicked the ball at him but added that he should not have acted as he did. "After a 4-1 scoreline maybe it was pointless for me to get angry. But if you analyse the whole match Real Madrid were better in the second half, they pinned us in our own half and we could not move."

For Atletico the evening evoked painful memories of the last time they reached the final in 1974 when they were leading Bayern Munich in Brussels only for Georg Schwarzenbeck to equalise in the last minute of extra time to force a 1-1 draw and a replay which Bayern won 4-0 two days later.

This time Atletico were almost as close to glory and a Champions League and domestic league double but instead Real secured a Champions League and Spanish Cup double as Ancelotti's first season in charge ended in absolute joy for their fans at the Stadium of Light and utter dejection for Atletico's.

A header from Bale 20 minutes into extra time turned the match a month after the Welshman scored the winner with a stunning solo goal in a 2-1 King's Cup triumph over Barcelona. Marcelo made it 3-1 with a shot from outside the box that goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois should have saved before Ronaldo converted the penalty after being fouled by Gabi. — Reuters

Monaco, May 25
Germany's Nico Rosberg won the showcase Monaco Grand Prix for the second year in a row on Sunday to snatch back the Formula One world championship lead from Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton.

Rosberg's second victory of the season, from a controversial pole position that increased the tension between the two title rivals, took his points tally after six races to 122 with Hamilton on 118. The Briton, who complained 13 laps from the end that he had something in his eye and could not see properly, was second as dominant Mercedes chalked up a sixth win in a row and fifth successive one-two finish.

"It's another special day for me, for sure," said Rosberg of his fifth career win. "Lewis drove well and pushed me hard. The pressure was on but I kept it cool and pulled a bit of a gap at the end."

Daniel Ricciardo took third after chasing Hamilton nose-to-tail to the finish while team mate Sebastian Vettel, in his 100th race for Red Bull, retired after eight laps with a power unit problem. — Reuters

New Delhi, May 25
World No.1 Lee Chong Wei watched helplessly as Japan scripted a famous come-from-behind victory over five-time champions Malaysia to lift their maiden Thomas Cup trophy at the Siri Fort Sports Complex, here on Sunday.

Japan extended Malaysia's 22-year-long wait for the elite men's team competition title after beating them 3-2 in a thrilling summit clash.

Japan had made the semi-final of the prestigious biennial event in 2012 in their best-ever finish till date in the Thomas Cup and they enjoyed one of their best days in badminton history on Sunday when they pulled off a sensational win over Malaysia to cap a successful campaign in the tournament.

A large number of Malaysian fans were left devastated by the loss and some even cried, while Japanese players broke into wild celebration and formed a human circle. Malaysia had secured the final berth after a 12-year wait - they last reached the summit clash in 2002 in Guangzhou but lost 2-3 to Indonesia. Malaysia's last title came in 1992.

World No.1 Chong Wei had given Malaysia the winning start by beating Kenichi Tago in the first game 21-12, 21-16. At one point, it looked like Tago will make the tie a three-setter after the Japanese shuttler raced away to a four-point lead, but Chong Wei managed to bounce back to draw 15-15 before putting his team 1-0 ahead.

However, the Japanese drew level in the first doubles to tie the score at 1-1 in the five-game final. The first doubles between Japan's World No.3 pair of Kenichi Hayakawa-Hiroyuki Endo and Malaysia's Tan Boon Heong-Hoon Thien How was an engrossing contest.

Tan-Heong had taken the first set 21-12 but lost the second 17-21. In the decider, the Japanese pair staved off a stiff challenge before prevailing 21-19.

Japan surged ahead after their second singles player Kento Momota beat Chong Wei Feng in straight games 21-15, 21-17 before Malaysia clawed their way back through the second doubles pair of Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, who defeated their opponents Keigo Sonoda-Takeshi Kamura 19-21, 21-17, 21-12. It all boiled down to the third singles between Japan's Takuma Ueda and Malaysia's Daren Liew. Both played attacking game and engaged each other in long rallies and deft drops.

It was again a three-setter, which Takuma won 21-12, 18-21, 21-17 in one hour and 18 minutes to end his country's elusive wait for the title.

New Delhi, May 25
India suffered a big blow before the start of the hockey World Cup as striker Ramandeep Singh was ruled out of the tournament after seriously injuring himself during a practice match against Argentina in The Hague.

Ramandeep got hit in his right eye socket and also damaged his cheekbone in the second half of the match. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was operated upon.

Hockey India named Lalit Upadhyay as Ramandeep's replacement.

Meanwhile, India fought hard before losing 1-2 to Argentina. India's lone goal came in the second half from the stick of Dharamvir Singh. India will play another practice game against South Africa. — PTI

Chandigarh, May 25
The Boxing India's (The Bout Outside The Ring) bid to cobble the support of 35 state units is gathering steam and indications are that the newly formed body might just manage to erect a ragtag structure in the coming days.

Even after the Saturday 'deadline' got over, BI officials refused to divulge the number of applications received, saying the timeline had been extended till Monday to give more time to the members.

Maharashtra Boxing Association president and one of the supporters of Boxing India, Jay Kowli, had asked the state associations and affiliated boards to send applications by Saturday evening to be a part of the new body and pave the way for holding elections.

“The situation would become clear by Tuesday only. But we can say that we have received an overwhelming response from state members, including major players,” said Kowli.

Sources said that Muralidharan Raja group, one of the three factions (Bhandari group and the BI being the other two) involved in the tussle for seeking AIBA's recognition, is not averse to joining hands with BI. “Raja's response has been very positive and he has encourage his group members to apply for the BI affiliation,” said a BI source, adding that Raja wields clout over 8-10 state units.

Left with no other option, the Bhandari group too indicated its willingness to test new waters. But, at the same time, it insisted that “the focus would be to revive the defunct federation and seek a way forward”.

“The IABF is ready to hold fresh elections with all due procedures laid down by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) and abide their rules and regulations. The AIBA is forcing on us a new set of individuals without listening to us, without even conducting any inquiry,” said an official of the now defunct IABF.

The IABF has some reservations regarding the newly-formed body (BI), the most prominent being the BI seeking support from state units without laying down the constitution. Another is the inexperience of the people at the helm the BI to run the sport at this level.

“Till some time back, one was the sponsor of the national boxing federation, and the other is an entrepreneur who failed to raise a professional boxing league in India. Now, they want to run the sport and play with the future of the boxers,” said an official of the defunct body.

The letter sent out by BI to all state units on Wednesday indicates that all state units would be invited to the general assembly to discuss “the long-term development programme based on which BI will adopt the new Constitution and conduct elections as per AIBA directive and Government of India National Sports Code.”

Paris, May 25
Roger Federer spent as little time as possible on court on the opening day of the French Open on Sunday, beating Lukas Lacko 6-2 6-4 6-2 before returning to his parental duties on Mother's Day in Paris.

Roger Federer returns to Lukas Lacko during their first round match

Serena Williams, the No.1 seed and overwhelming favourite to retain the women's title, needed time to find her rhythm against France's Alize Lim before winning 6-2 6-1. The American's older sister, Venus, also reached the second round.

Watched by his wife, Mirka, and his twin girls, Federer moved gently through the gears against the shaggy-haired Slovakian under grey skies. The former champion admitted a trace of fear before the start of the year's second grand slam. "I wasn't nervous actually going into the match," said Federer, 32.

"It's more just like those hints of fear, maybe yesterday, maybe this morning at one point, just for like five seconds 'Oh, I really hope I don't have to pack my bags today', that kind of feeling."

Serena, who warmed up for the match against her training partner wearing a blazer suit, committed 23 unforced errors in the first set, allowing the local favourite two break points in the fifth game, but the American always had too much power.

Venus Williams, wearing a self-designed dress that added splashes of colour to a grey day, showed she is still a force at the age of 33 by taking, and returning, all that Belinda Bencic could throw at her in winning 6-4 6-1.

Agnieszka Radwanska, the third seed, won 6-3 6-0 after the first seven games against Zhang Shuai went against serve. — Reuters

London, May 25
England play their final home match before the World Cup this week with manager Roy Hodgson hoping Friday's friendly against Peru will show his preparations are on the right track. After a weekend off following last week's training camp in Portugal, the squad's build-up moves into the second stage on home soil tomorrow at St George's Park.

Hodgson is planning a more intense series of training sessions than on the Algarve, where he was limited by the need to allow players' bodies to recover from a long season. Peru provide South American opposition similar to that England will encounter when they face Uruguay in Sao Paulo, and the emphasis in training is likely to be on how to deal with a Latin tempo of play.

While the media and public will be expecting England to head off across the Atlantic for their final training camp in Miami with a win behind them, Hodgson is more focused on the performance.

“I believe is if the team plays well, and we see good defensive work or attacking work, that will stand us in good stead; if we don't see it and big problems are highlighted, we better get down to work afterwards,” he said earlier this week at the team's Vale do Lobo base.

"There will be a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of people wanting to play in that game. I have 25 players who will be putting their hands up saying, 'Pick me, pick me, I want to play'. It would be nice if we could get some playing time for everybody in the three warm-up games (England will play Ecuador and Honduras in Miami). Whether it is achievable is another matter."

Hodgson is unsure as to whether he will play a "first XI" in any of the matches, or indeed if he will have a "first XI" as such. "There's so much competition for places at the moment that it would be very bold of me to say, 'This is my best team'. Especially in those front positions, there's an awful lot of talent.”

— The Independent

BRIEFLY

Srinivasan all set to chair ACC Meeting in Chennai
Mumbai: The Indian cricket board’s president-in-exile N Srinivasan is all set to chair a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Chennai on Monday. The meeting has been kept a hush-hush affair as the Tamil Nadu strongman refused to divulge any information about it when he was contacted. Sources within the BCCI were not even ready to divulge about the venue of the meeting. However according to reliable sources within the ACC, this meeting is not one where the executive body is summoned. “This is not an executive body meeting of the ACC. This is a meeting of the finance and marketing wing of the Asian council. Various aspects of sponsorships and investments in tournaments across the Asian region will be discussed. Srinivasan is the chairman of the finance and marketing wing,” said a source preferring anonymity.

Ashraf denies approaches to Afridi, Akmal
Karachi: The former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf on Sunday dismissed reports about bookmakers making approaches to Pakistani players, Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal, during the One-day series played against England in the UAE in 2012. The claim was made in a British newspaper and also partially confirmed by the present board Chairman, Najam Sethi at a recent press conference. However, Ashraf, who is fighting a court battle to get himself reinstated as the PCB chief, said that he had no knowledge of any approach to any Pakistani player. “I don't think any such incident actually occurred there,” said Ashraf.

Ashok gets invitefor Modi’s swearing-in ceremony
New Delhi: Legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand's son Ashok Kumar has been invited by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to attend the oath-taking ceremony of India's next Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Monday. Ashok Kumar received the invite on Saturday from the President House. “It's a huge honour for me. I am feeling privileged. I will be definitely attending the ceremony,” Ashok Kumar told The Tribune. Ashok said he hopes that the next government would work for the betterment of hockey. “If I'll get a chance to interact with Modi, I would request him to improve the standard of hockey in the country. I also hope that the next government recognises the efforts of my late father.” — Agencies/TNS