Punjab win a cliff-hanger

Mahela Jayawardene's innings ensured that his captain Yuvraj Singh had another victory.

Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds both made succesful returns to the tournament, but only one of them was destined to end up on the winning side today. And with a performance that put Punjab right back in the reckoning for a semi-final berth, the triumphant returning Australian for the day was Brett Lee.

Yuvraj Singh won the toss and chose to bowl, perhaps influenced by the fact that his side had chased so spiritedly against Chennai, and that their bowling was stronger this time around. Although they lost Gilchrist in the 5th over, Hyderabad got off to a decent start, reaching 50 in 5.5 overs. However the advent of spin in the sixth over, slowed things down and Hyderabad lost two more wickets. The match was keenly balanced at the strategy break with Hyderabad at 72 for 3. Punjab wrested the advantage in the next few overs, picking up another wicket and stemming the flow or runs, and at the end of the 15th over Hyderabad were 100 for 4, looking at possibly 150 if they had some good overs, but more likely 140 considering the way they had scored till then. However, nobody had reckoned with Andrew Symonds, who simply exploded to snatch visions of a low total away from Punjab. Symonds who was on 17 off 17 balls then, ended up at 60 not out from 36 balls, and took Hyderabad to a more than satisfactory 168 for 5 at the end of their 20 overs. Giving him good support was Venugopal Rao who scored a valuable 32 off 25 balls, and was involved in 95 run partnership with Symonds that came off just 9.2 overs. Lee had returned figures of 4-024-1, and had been by far the most dangerous and penetrative bowler for Punjab.

Punjab got off to a frenetic start to their innings, with Sunny Sohal throwing his bat around, but the advent of Rohit Sharma and his golden arm slowed things down for them. Punjab were 40 for 0 after 4 overs, when Sharma came on and got both openeres - Sohal and Katich - in his first over. That put the brakes on Punjab's free scoring. Yuvraj and Sangakkara strung together a partnership. In the process they gave Symonds a taste of his own medicine, smashing him for 20 runs off his first over. The partnership was broken by young Shoaib Ahmed in the 10th over when Sangakkara was bowled trying to be too clever, ending up playing the ball so finely that it clipped his stumps. Disaster struck for Punjab when 2 balls later Yuvraj skied a shot and the ball settled nicely in Gilchrist's safe gloves, and Punjab headed into the break at 86 for 4.

Pragyan Ojha who had recovered from the injury that kept him out of the previous game, was back this time and he bowled a controlled 4 over spell in which he gave just 24 runs, but Punjab took runs off the other bowlers to remain in the hunt. Mahela Jayawardene played a gem of an innings 43 from 28 balls, to take Punjab to the doorstep of victory, but pulled his hamstring going for a tight second run and got run out. With Brett Lee and Piyush Chawla at the crease, Punjab needed 19 off the final 2 overs, when Brett Lee changed the equation with a fiercely struck six flat over the head of long-off. With 8 needed off the final over, RP Singh mis-directed a bouncer off the first ball, that Chawla helped to the fine-leg boundary and Punjab breathed a sigh of relief, eventually winning by 3 wickets in 19.5 overs.

Turning Point of the Match: The six that Brett Lee hit off the fourth ball of the 18th over. That changed the equation for Punjab from 16 off 9 balls to 10 off 8, and swung an oscillating match decisively Punjab's way.

Man of the Match: Mahela Jayawardene for his super-cool innings under pressure. With him being the last recognized specialist batsman left, he guided the chase in a calmly professional manner and would have probably been there at the end if it hadn't been for the pulled hamstring.

Soundbytes:

"We've got Wilkin Mota in for....[long pause]...Karan Goel!" - In tune with Karan Goel's largely forgettable performances so far (bar one match), his captain Yuvraj forgot his name at the toss.

"We just had to keep our cool and Brett batted really well at the end to take us to victory" - Mahela Jayawardene is as understated and elegant in his speech as he is in his batting.

Hayden terms Sreesanth an overrated bowler

Centurion, May 08: Australia’s burly batsman, Matthew Hayden, who devastated the Kings XI Punjab bowling attack on Thursday to lead his side to a well deserved victory has lashed out at S Sreesanth calling him an overrated bowler.

The former Aussie opener smashed Sreesanth all over the ground taking 32 runs in 19 deliveries off Sreesanth before getting out to him just short of the three figure mark.

TV cameras showed Sreesanth lashing out at Hayden as the latter headed towards the dugout. The batsman later hit back at Sreesanth in the post match press conference saying that he becomes an easy target for the opposition as he loses his cool in pressure match situations.

"I think he is an overrated bowler and so I think he was a great target for us to go at. He always loses his cool under pressure and I think tonight was a good example of that," Hayden told reporters during the post match press conference.

India will be tough to beat in T20 WC: Misbah

Karachi, May 08: Pakistan`s vice-captain Misbah-ul Haq says defending champions India would be a tough team to beat in the upcoming Twenty20 World Championships in England.

"I think many of their players have gained a lot by playing in the Indian Premier League. It has given them the confidence to play T20 cricket the way it should be played -- with a positive frame of mind, sensibly and without any fear of getting out," Misbah told reporters.

The middle-order batsman, who was standing-in for captain Younis Khan in yesterday`s one-off T20 match in which Pakistan outclassed Australia in Dubai last night, also expressed confidence about his team, which lost to India in the final in 2007, doing well in the second edition.

"I have always said we are good at this form of the game because our players have played lot of domestic T20 cricket and every player knows what his role is supposed to be in this format of cricket," he said.

Misbah said the Pakistani players had done well in the inaugural T20 World Cup because of their experience.

"Although we have played little T20 international cricket but we have lot of experience at the domestic level."

Pakistani players will take part in their national T20 championship in Lahore before going to the World Cup in England.

Younis was nowhere to be seen at the ground and was said to be down with fever while other Pakistani players were also in high spirits after their commanding win over Australia.

Allrounder Shahid Afridi, who won the man of the match award for his bowling, chirped "definitely" when asked by former Australian batsman Dean Jones if he thought Pakistan could win the World Cup this time.

Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who scored a century in the last one-dayer against Australia in Abu Dhabi and another unbeaten 50 in the T20 game, said he was happy with his form and wanted to continue with it in the World Cup.

Akmal also made it clear he had no issues with whatever number he was asked to bat at.

"I don`t mind if they send me to open the innings at number three or any other position. I just want to do well and I enjoy batting," he added.

IPL is not a global competition: Fleming

Kimberley, May 09: Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming has rejected John Buchanan`s suggestion of increasing the number of overseas players in the playing eleven, saying the Indian Premier League is not a global competition and is meant to promote Indian players.

Never short of ideas, Kolkata Knight Riders coach Buchanan recently floated the idea of increasing the number of foreign players in a team, but IPL Chairman and Commissioner Lalit Modi turned down the request saying there would be no change in the format.

“I think it`s absolutely okay. I am very strong on that. The more you increase the role of the overseas players, the more you diminish the role of Indians. I don`t think that`s quite right,” Fleming was quoted as saying.

“If you are going to make it a global competition and called it the World Premier League, then you can use as many international players as you can. But it`s the Indian Premier League and it`s all about Indian players, performing well and winning games, accompanied by overseas players rather than the other way around,” he added.

The Super Kings have benefitted from their young Indian players who have done well with likes of Shadab Jakati and Sudeep Tyagi rising to the occasion brilliantly.

Impressed with the development, Fleming said he wants more from his Indian players.

“I`d hate to see a team made up of pre-dominantly of international players and you fit the Indian players then just to make up the numbers if that makes sense. I think you are going to have your strong Indian players developed and then you can accompany that with your overseas players,” the former Kiwi skipper said.

Instead Fleming suggested the IPL management to cut down the number of overseas players from 10 to six in each team.

“There`s a strategy involved. You don`t have to have 10 overseas players. The argument is that there are six overseas players waiting on the sidelines. Well it`s up to you to manage that. And just as you have to manage your Indian players.”

“So there is good strategy involved rather than just buying the best players and making up the team. The strategy of putting the team together is a very important part of this tournament,” he said.

Afridi confident of Pakistan's good show at T20 WC

Karachi, May 09: Pakistan may be short of match practice ahead of the Twenty20 World Championship but all-rounder Shahid Afridi says his side would still be quite a handful for the opposition teams at the mega-event in England next month.

“We will be a different and more confident team in the World Cup. It was a good victory for us in the T20 match against Australia and it has put us in the right mood for the tournament,” Afridi told reporters after his return here from the UAE following the ODI series loss to Australia.

“We are looking forward to doing well in the World Cup and avenging our defeat in the final last time,” he added

“It is disappointing the way we lost the one-day series to Australia from winning positions. But it was a good tough series for us and we are mentally prepared for the Twenty20 World Cup.”

Afridi was one of the few success stories in the series against Australia, impressive with both bat and ball in the low scoring matches.

“I thought the batting was disappointing as it didn`t lend enough support to the bowlers who did a very good job in the series,” he said.

Afridi said in the three matches Pakistan lost, it was in a position to win but buckled under pressure.

“All the players were very ashamed and embarrassed after the way we lost the third match after being in a strong position,” he recalled.

Pakistan, chasing 199 for victory collapsed, after being 95 for no loss at one stage.

“I thought after the match that considering the position we were in, even the Karachi or Sialkot teams should have won that game and closed the series,” he said.

Afridi said the players at times played reckless shots under pressure but have learnt their lessons from the series.

He also denied rumors about groupings and splits in the team.

“We were like a team in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and I think at a time when Pakistan cricket is going through a crisis because of the international teams not coming to Pakistan the media should support us and encourage the team before the World Cup,” he said.

Lord's Test: Eng beat West Indies by 10 wickets

London, May 08: England completed a 10-wicket victory over West Indies on Friday within three days after the visitors had finally displayed some fighting spirit with the bat.

Brendan Nash (81) and Denesh Ramdin (61) shared the first century partnership of the match to ensure England would bat again after West Indies had been asked to follow on Thursday.

The match looked destined to end even earlier after England captured three wickets in 12 deliveries shortly before lunch. Nash and Ramdin had other ideas, adding 143 for the sixth wicket before England wrapped up the innings.

It was the first time for four years that England have won the first Test of a series.

West Indies must now win the second Test starting at Chester-le-Street next Thursday to retain the Wisden Trophy they regained from England in the Caribbean this year.

They were the third choice team to visit England at the start of a packed summer which includes the Twenty20 World Cup and the Ashes series against Australia.

The British government refused to issue visas for a Zimbabwe team and their initial replacements Sri Lanka had too many players committed to the Indian Premier League to be able to field a competitive side.

Nehra sizzles with ball as Delhi humble Mumbai

East London, May 08: A B de Villiers continued his great IPL form as his unbeaten half-century helped Delhi Daredevils clinch a thumping victory against Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets.

De Villiers (50*) took only 37 balls to reach his fifty with the help of 6 fours and one 6.

Chasing a moderate 117, opener Gautam Gambhir and David Warner gave Delhi Daredevils a solid start. Both the batsmen were combining caution with aggression as the required rate was not very high.

But despite having a good start Delhi lost both the openers in quick succession. Part-time offie J P Duminy first had David Warne stumped by wicket-keeper Pinal Shah. Warner scored 21. Immediately after Warner, stand-in skipper Gambhir (19) also departed giving Harbhajan Singh his only wicket of the match.

But A B de Villiers and Tilakratne Dilshan carried the momentum for the Delhi team taking them close to victory with a 61-run partnership. When everything was set for a victory with Delhi reaching 107/2, Dilshan (17) nicked one off Lasith Malinga and caught well by the wicket-keeper leaving de Villiers and Karthik (5*) complete the formalities of winning the match for Delhi.

Chasing a moderate 117, opener Gautam Gambhir and David Warner gave Delhi Daredevils a solid start. Both the batsmen were combining caution with aggression as the required rate was not very high.

But Despite having a good start Delhi lost both the openers in quick succession. Part-time offie J P Duminy first had David Warne stumped by wicket-keeper Pinal Shah. Warner scored 21. Immediately after Warner, stand-in skipper Gambhir (19) also departed giving Harbhajan Singh his first wicket of the match.

But A B de Villiers and Tilakratne Dilshan carried the momentum for the Delhi team taking them close to victory with a 61-run partnership. When everything was set for a victory with Delhi reaching 107/2, Dilshan (17) nicked one off Lasith Malinga and caught well by the wicket-keeper.

Earlier, the left-arm pace duo of Dirk Nannes and Ashish Nehra did the trick again for Delhi Daredevils as they picked up two wickets each to restrict Mumbai Indians to a paltry 116, the lowest total posted by the Mumbai team, in allotted 20 overs.

Rajat Bhatia also came good with the ball in the middle overs, claiming 3 wickets for 15 runs in his 4 overs. The Delhi Daredevils also fielded well as they effected three run-outs.

Electing to bat first, Mumbai Indians’ gamble to tinker with their opening pair seemed to have come a cropper as both Luke Ronchi and JP Duminy fell for duck in the first over itself.

Ronchi fell to a needless run-out in just the second ball without opening his account. A brilliant pick-up and throw from David Warner accounted for him while Dirk Nannes induced an edge from Duminy to wicket keeper Dinesh Karthik to send him packing.

Sachin Tendulkar, who was trying to salvage the Mumbai pride, ran himself out for 15. Stumper Dinesh Karthik produced a stunning throw from behind to find Sachin short of crease. After 6 overs, Mumbai were struggling at 30 for 3.

A senseless shot by Pinal Shah saw Mumbai lost another wicket as they were reeling at 33 for 4 in 8th over. When the situation demanded Pinal’s coolness, he suddenly lost it and he was holed out at mid-wicket while trying to play a lofted shot off Rajat Bhatia.

Despite losing four wickets in heap, Mumbai Indians were slowly rebuilding their innings, courtesy Dwayne Bravo (35) and Abhishek Nayar (18). But just when everything was looking well for Mumbai, both the batsmen got out trying to speed up the run-rate.

Like the last two matches Virender Sehwag did not take to the field due to an injury and in his place Gautam Gambhir was leading Delhi Daredevils. For Mumbai Indians, Zaheer sat out again due to a naggin injury.

Mumbai Indians left out Sanath Jayasuriya and brought in Luke Ronchi in his place.

Teams

Delhi Daredevils (Playing XI): Gautam Gambhir(c), David Warner, AB de Villiers, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dinesh Karthik(w), Mithun Manhas, Rajat Bhatia, Amit Mishra, Pradeep Sangwan, Ashish Nehra, Dirk Nannes

Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Sachin Tendulkar(c), Luke Ronchi, Pinal Shah(w), Jean-Paul Duminy, Dwayne Bravo, Abhishek Nayar, Saurabh Tiwary, Harbhajan Singh, Rohan Raje, Lasith Malinga, Dhawal Kulkarni

Kuznetsova dumps Azarenka on road to Rome finals

Rome, May 08: Svetlana Kuznetsova stormed into Rome finals on Saturday after beating teenager Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-4.

It is the second consecutive final for the eighth-ranked Russian, who won the Porsche GP in Stuttgart, Germany, last week.

Kuznetsova broke Azarenka three times to capture the first set in 41 minutes.

In the second, the sixth-seeded Azarenka pushed ahead with a break but appeared to lose her concentration as she disputed a call by the umpire in the third game. She lost the next five games and surrendered on the fourth match point.

Kuznetsova will face either top-ranked Dinara Safina or Venus Williams.

Kuznetsova beat Safina in straight sets in Stuttgart, for her first title in almost two years.

Raj Royals’ Amit Singh reported for suspect action

Zeecric Bureau

Durban, May 08: Rajasthan Royals faced a crisis of sorts on Friday after their bowler Amit Singh was reported for suspect action by the umpires. Amit, who helped his side beat Bangalore by a convincing seven wickets, joined his team-mate Kamran Khan in the suspect bowling action list after on-field umpires Daryl Harper and K Hariharan reported him.

Amit`s case has been referred by the IPL to the Rajasthan Royals team management and the IPL Technical Committee for further scrutiny under Law 24.3 of the Laws of Cricket.

"After the game against Royal Challengers Bangalore at SuperSport Park, TV footage was obtained and examined by all the three umpires, including TV umpire Tyron Wijewardene. They decided further action was necessary under Law 24.3 of the Laws of Cricket," the IPL said in a statement.

"The matter has been referred by the IPL to the Rajasthan Royals team management and the IPL Technical Committee," the statement added.

The 27-year-old little known medium pacer, who plays for Gujarat in Ranji Trophy, however, can continue playing until he is proven guilty of an illegal action.

Amit, who has taken seven wickets from two IPL matches, was adjudged Man of the Match for his sterling display on Thursday as Rajasthan beat Royal Challengers by seven wickets. Amit`s Rajasthan team-mate and left-arm pacer Kamran has been ordered two weeks rehabilitation by the IPL Technical Committee after being reported for suspect bowling action in their match against Chennai Super Kings here on April 30.

Beer trouble for Shane Warne; will IPL bear?

Zeecric Bureau

Centurion, May 08: Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne’s antic of having a sip of beer during the IPL match has created lot of controversies in the cricketing circle.

Though consumption of alcohol by a player while a game is on may not come under anti-doping rules governed by WADA and practised by the International Cricket Council but for most, the act has hurt the spirit of the gentleman’s game.

Shane Warne, who was involved in lot of controversies during his playing days, went against the `spirit` of the game when he decided to take a quick sip from a glass of beer offered by a fan when his team, Rajasthan Royals. Warne was walking out to field after the first strategy break in the game against the Royal Challengers on Thursday.

Though the incident was shown on TV, the IPL governing body seemed to have decided not to take up the matter further as there was no official statement in this regard.

Warne has been having a great run in IPL as his team is winning most of the matches. A few sips of beer simply added needless debate for his team which has recently been dogged by the issue of suspect bowling actions.