Monday, 30 April 2012

IPL 5: Clinical Mumbai thrash Deccan by five wickets


IPL 5: Clinical Mumbai thrash Deccan by five wickets
Backed by a disciplined bowling display and later Rohit Sharma's patient 42-run knock helped Mumbai Indians beat Deccan Chargers by 5 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Chasing a meagre target of 101 runs, Mumbai got off to a nervy start, as Deccan's prime fast bowler Dale Steyn struck on the very first ball of the second innings to clean up opener Richard Levi for a duck. Initially there was seam and swing for the faster bowlers and quickies troubled the Mumbai batsmen. Then in the sixth over youngster Veer Pratap Singh claimed Sachin Tendulkar (14) caught at second slip by Dan Christian.

IPL 5: Delhi pull off incredible one-run win over


IPL 5: Delhi pull off incredible one-run win over Rajasthan
How Rajasthan Royals managed to lose only they will know, as Delhi Daredevils pulled off a narrow one-run victory in a match that went down to the last ball at the Ferozshah Kotla on Sunday. At one time in control of their chase of 153, Rajasthan needed 15 runs off the last two overs, with nine wickets in hand and the in-form Ajinkya Rahane at the crease. However, Morne Morkel bowled an excellent penultimate over, and though Rahane hit Rajasthan’s first six off the fourth ball of the final over to give them hope, he could not get the two runs required off the last ball, and in fact, did not even get a single to take the game to the Super Over.

IPL 5: CSK square up to KKR in important contest


IPL 5: CSK square up to KKR in important contest
Defending champions Chennai Super Kings are under pressure to win against high-flying Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Chidambaram Stadium on Monday. Out of nine matches, the MS Dhoni-led team has won four and lost four, while one tie was washed out. With all the teams, probably with the exception of Deccan Chargers, in contention for the play-offs at the halfway mark, every match takes on huge importance from here on. And while a win for Kolkata will make them a cinch along with Delhi Daredevils for the knock-outs, it will make life much tougher for Chennai and the rest.
A Chennai win will be good for the league, that anyway has not ever been as wide open as this time around. Going by form, Kolkata go into the match as favourites after winning three out of their last four ties. Chennai must be short on confidence after Saturday's loss against Kings XI Punjab when they failed to chase down 157 in their own backyard. CSK's batting has been a major concern this season and barring South Afican Faf du Plessis, the rest of the batting has been a real downer.

IPL 5: Kolkatans behind KKR, insists Gambhir


IPL 5: Kolkatans behind KKR, insists Gambhir
Kolkata: Jubilant after leading his side to a facile triumph over Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir is now plotting revenge over Pune Warriors India - the side led by one of Kolkata's favourite sons Sourav Ganguly. Having guided the side to a 47-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in front of a packed Eden Gardens Saturday night, Gambhir hoped that the spectators would root for KKR in their match against Pune on May 5 despite Ganguly leading the opposition. "The way we have played, I think Kolkata will get a lot of support from the people. It`s Kolkata`s team... No other team belongs to Kolkata," Gambhir, who smashed a 51-ball 93 for his second Man-of-the-Match this season, said after the win.

IPL's 2G spectrum: Gayle and Ganguly


IPL's 2G spectrum: Gayle and Ganguly
The lynchpins of their respective teams, Sourav Ganguly and Chris Gayle have revolutionised the fifth season of the tournament. While Ganguly has stirred a dilapidated Pune Warriors India, who finished second from bottom in their debut season last year, the Chris Gayle storm, though not as strong so far as it was in the previous season, has blown away most of the opposition and remains pivotal to the fortunes of Royal Challengers Bangalore.

IPL 5: Morkel over changed the game: Dravid


IPL 5: Morkel over changed the game: Dravid
New Delhi: Morne Morkel's penultimate over, which yielded just three runs and a wicket, helped table-toppers Delhi Daredevils snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, said a disappointed Rajasthan Royals captain Rahul Dravid, after his side slumped to an unexpected one-run loss in an Indian Premier League match on Sunday.