Cricket : Sachin scores 50 th Test Centuary Barrier

[Pintu]

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Sports | Easy draw for India

Easy draw for India
- Dhoni & Co. clubbed with South Africa, England and West Indies

A STAFF REPORTER

Calcutta: Apart from enjoying the advantage of home conditions in the 2011 World Cup, India will have another edge in the quadrennial event as they have been placed in a relatively easy group.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the groupings after the second day of the board meeting in Johannesburg Wednesday.

India, who will be co-hosting the mega event with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, have been clubbed with South Africa, England, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and the Netherlands in Group B.

Group A comprises Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.

The groupings have made Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men job a tad easy as South Africa, England and the West Indies appear the only tough contenders.

Moreover, the Windies challenge might be weakened if the West Indies Cricket Board fails to resolve the differences with their top players that has kept the likes of Chris ***le, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo out of action.

India are currently ranked No. 2, behind Ricky Ponting’s Australia.

The last edition of the 50-over format World Cup in the West Indies in 2007 was a forgettable experience for Team India as the Rahul Dravid-led side failed to progress further than the group stages.

When the World Cup was last held in the subcontinent, in 1996, India had made the semi-finals before bowing out to co-hosts Sri Lanka.

Group A, however, is certainly the group of death as defending champions Australia will have to fight off strong challenges from Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.

Besides the ICC president David Morgan and ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat, representatives of 10 full members and three associate members attended the meeting. The Board of Control for Cricket in India president Shashank Manohar represented India.

The other decisions and issues which came up for discussion in the meeting were:

The schedule for the ICC U-19 World Cup, which will take place in New Zealand in January 2010, was approved by the board.

A discussion took place on the promotion of cricket and it was decided that further research would be carried out on concepts like day/night Tests.

The ICC board also approved in principle the draft Future Tours Programme (FTP) post-2012 as recommended by the ICC chief executives’ committee last week. The draft programme was agreed subject to no member being disadvantaged relative to the current FTP.

It was decided that discussions on the controversial ‘whereabouts’ clause of the World Anti-Doping Agency will continue and, in the meantime, in-competition and out-of-competition drug testing of all international cricketers will continue as usual.

The board received an update on the Pepsi ICC Development Programme and heard specifically from ICC principal advisor I.S. Bindra on the work currently under way to promote cricket in the US and China. As part of his report, Bindra highlighted the development potential in both the US and China and encouraged all Full Members to play more competitive cricket in those countries.

The board unanimously approved a new and enhanced ICC Code of Conduct, Anti-Corruption Code and Anti-Racism Code.

The board received updates from a number of task teams, including those charged with looking into Zimbabwe, Pakistan and the general security around international cricket.

 

[Pintu]

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Sports | Kumble, Pandey pick up awards

Kumble, Pandey pick up awards

A STAFF REPORTER

Calcutta: Former India captain Anil Kumble and promising youngster Manish Pandey, both from the Royal Challengers Bangalore, featured among the awardees when the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 Wednesday night honoured the outstanding performances in domestic T20 competitions from across the world over the last one year.

While Kumble picked up the award for the best bowling figures in a match for his effort (5/5) against the Rajasthan Royals during IPL II Pandey took the honours for the best batting average with a tally of 168 runs at an average of 84.

Also among the awardees was Victorian Bushrangers and Kolkata Knight Riders’s Brad Hodge, who earned the distinction of bagging the most runs (cumulative) for the two teams.

Meanwhile, the Champions League technical committee approved Glenn McGrath of the Delhi DareDevils and Stiaan van Zyl of the Cape Cobras as replacements for Paul Collingwood and Richard Levi respectively.

Other awardees

Hamish Rutherford, Otago Volts — Best Batting Strike Rate (SR 167.94, 220 runs).

Isuru Udana, Wayamba Elevens — Best Bowling Strike Rate (SR 8, 16 wickets).

Samuel Badree, Trinidad & Tobago — Best Bowling Economy (4.33 runs).

Dirk Nannes, Victorian Bushrangers and Delhi DareDevils — Most Wickets (27 Wickets).

Michael Lumb, Hampshire — Highest Individual Score (124 ..).

 

[Pintu]

The Press Association: New format for World Cup

New format for World Cup

(UKPA) – 7 hours ago

England will face India and South Africa in an expanded seven-team group in the first round of the 2011 World Cup.

The format - two groups of seven teams - was confirmed by the International Cricket Council on Wednesday and England were placed in Group B, with West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and Holland also awaiting them.

The new format for the tournament in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which will see the overall number of games reduced from 51 to 49, will take over from the much-criticised structure of the last World Cup which began with four groups of four and progressed to a Super Eight stage.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/321427_RCB-elect-to-bat-against-Cobras

RCB elect to bat against Cobras

STAFF WRITER 20:5 HRS IST

Bangalore, Oct 8 (PTI) Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Anil Kumble won the toss and elected to bat against Cape Cobras in the opening match of the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament here today.

Squad:

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Anil Kumble (capt), Manish Pandey, Jacques Kallis, Roelef van der Merwe, Rahul Dravid, Ross Taylor, Robin Uthappa, Virat Kohli, Mark Boucher, Praveen Kumar, R Vinay Kumar.

Cape Cobras: Andrew Puttick (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Henry Davids, J P Duminy, Justin Ontong, Ryan Canning, Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Claude Henderson, Monde Zondeki, Charl Langeveldt.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/314302_Gambhir-unveils-CL-trophy-before-city-students

Gambhir unveils CL trophy before city students

STAFF WRITER 13:14 HRS IST

New Delhi, Oct 5 (PTI) India batsman Gautam Gambhir today unveiled the diamond-studded trophy that would be handed to the winner of USD six million Champions League Twenty20 tournament, commencing from October 8.

Gambhir, captain of the Indian Premier League's Delhi Daredevils team, unveiled the 1.5-foot tall trophy with his teammates and scores of children in attendance during a brief function at a city school.

Besides the trophy, winner of the 12-team tournament would also receive USD 2.5 million prize money, while share of the runner-up side would be USD 1.3 million.

"I can assure the supporters that the Delhi team would leave no stone unturned to put up good performance in the tournament," Gambhir said.

Delhi Daredevils coach Greg Shepperd, paceman Dirk Nannes, leg-spinner Amit Mishra, wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik and Rajat Bhatia were among others present on the occasion.

 

[Pintu]

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Sports | JP Duminy shines as Cobras win

JP Duminy shines as Cobras win

Bangalore: JP Duminy dazzled with an unbeaten 99 to guide Cape Cobras to a five-wicket victory over the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening Group C match of the inaugural Champions League T20 Thursday.

Not a single Bangalore bowler was spared as the left-hander struck eight fours and five sixes in his scintillating 52-ball knock to power the South African side home with two balls to spare. For the Royal Challengers, Praveen Kumar picked up three wickets for 32 runs.

Earlier, Robin Uthappa made a brisk 51 off 39 balls while Ross Taylor scored an unbeaten 53 to help the Royal Challengers post a formidable 180 for four from their 20 overs.

The Cobras’ run chase got off to horrendous start as Praveen Kumar took Herschelle Gibbs’ outside edge with the last ball of the opening over to see the opener depart for a duck.

Cobras’ captain Andrew Puttick became Praveen’s next victim when Virat Kohli picked up his catch.

It was then that Henry Davids (27 off 21) and JP Duminy stabilised the innings with a 48-run third wicket stand before the former fell prey to first change R. Vinay Kumar.

But Duminy used his experience to great effect and played sensibly to keep the Cobras in the game.

Needing 53 off the last five, Ryan Canning stepped on the gas, cutting Kohli for four. Duminy finished off the over with another boundary off the last ball.

To the disappointment of the Bangalore fans, skipper Anil Kumble dropped Duminy on 74 off his own bowling and the left-hander then rubbed salt into the former India captain’s wound by hitting his next ball over the mid-wicket boundary.

The 25-year-old middle-order batsman, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, finished off the proceedings, slamming Vinay Kumar over wide long-on.

Earlier, electing to bat first the Royal Challengers had a cautious start to their innings and it took a smart shot from Jacques Kallis to bring the first boundary in the second over.

(PTI)

 

[Pintu]

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Sports | DareDevils look for a head start

DareDevils look for a head start

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Gautam Gambhir

New Delhi: All eyes will be on Delhi DareDevils’ Virender Sehwag and his quest for a return to form when the franchise take on Australia’s Victoria Bushrangers in their Airtel Champions League T20 opener at the Kotla Friday.

Sehwag, who has been troubled by a shoulder injury, made a comeback leading Rest of India in the Irani Trophy at Nagpur but a viral infection kept him out of action for most part of the match.

With the series against Australia round the corner, the dashing opener would be keen to get back to form as soon as possible.

“I am raring to go,” said Sehwag, who has been training with the team for two days now.

A final decision on his availability for the match, however, will be taken Friday.

If Sehwag is the star member for the DareDevils, the Victoria challenge will come from opener Brad Hodge, regarded as one of the best T20 players in the world.

Apart from Hodge, Victoria have players like Cameron White and David Hussey, who have enough ammunition to throw at the home side.

DareDevils, on the other hand, are a depleted team in the absence of Paul Collingwood, Daniel Vettori, whose replacement by Yogesh Nagar has been approved by the league technical committee Thursday, and AB de Villiers.

The newly-crowned captain, Gautam Gambhir, however, exuded confidence and said his team was still capable of performing well.

Asked how it felt leading the team, Gambhir said he was enjoying his new role but was quick to add that a captain was only as good as his team.

“It also adds to your responsibility.

“If you are not the leader, you only have your game to think about, but once you are the captain, you have to worry about each and every individual. So it’s a different challenge but most cricketers want this responsibility.”

Teams

Delhi DareDevils (from): Gautam Gambhir, Rajat Bhatia, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Dinesh Karthik, Mithun Manhas, Amit Mishra, Dirk Nannes, Ashish Nehra, Aavishkar Salvi, Pradeep Sangwan, Virender Sehwag, Owais Shah, Manoj Tiwary and Glenn McGrath.

Victoria Bushrangers(from): Cameron White, Aiden Blizzard, Aaron Finch, Shane Harwood, John Hastings, Brad Hodge, Jon Holland, David Hussey, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Peter Siddle and Matthew Wade.

 

[Pintu]

The Press Association: Bravo helps to sink Sabres

Bravo helps to sink Sabres

(UKPA) – 1 hour ago

Dwayne Bravo claimed four wickets as Trinidad and Tobago beat Somerset Sabres by 44 runs in the Champions League Twenty20 in Bangalore.

Denesh Ramdin was the calming influence in a trigger-happy T&T batting show, the wicketkeeper-batsman top-scoring with a run-a-ball 39 in a total of 150 for nine.

Seamer Bravo then claimed four wickets, and T&T's three spinners proved a handful in the middle overs as Somerset were bowled out for 106 off the last ball - leaving their chances of going through to the second round in jeopardy.

Zander de Bruyn top-scored for the Sabres with an unbeaten 43.

Somerset's hopes now rest on T&T beating the Deccan Chargers in the final group game. Should the Indian Premier League team prevail, Somerset's net run-rate could well ruin their chances.

Sabres skipper Justin Langer admitted afterwards: "We have made it hard for ourselves now.

"We are very disappointed but Trinidad and Tobago played brilliantly - in all aspects of the game they beat us.

"It was quite fearless cricket - great Caribbean cricket - and it came off well."

 

[Pintu]

The Press Association: Yorkshire stand by Hoggard decision

Yorkshire stand by Hoggard decision

(UKPA) – 3 hours ago

Yorkshire have defended their decision to release Matthew Hoggard and pointed out the former England seamer turned down a new contract earlier in the year.

The county also claim to be "extremely disappointed" that the 32-year-old chose to break the news himself in an interview with a national newspaper.

Hoggard said he felt he had "effectively been sacked" after learning last week that his contract at Headingley Carnegie would not be renewed.

A statement from Yorkshire read: "The club is extremely disappointed that Matthew broke the news to Monday morning's edition of The Times newspaper.

"The club has every respect for Matthew Hoggard as a player and as a person and had been working over the weekend with Matthew's representatives at the Professional Cricketers' Association to ensure the news broke at a mutually agreeable time, thereby assisting his transition to a new county in the most positive manner possible.

"An extremely competitive two-year contract, with the option of a third year based on performance, was offered to Matthew Hoggard at the beginning of the season; a deal that would have retained his position as one of the highest earners at the county. Matthew turned that contract offer down as he wanted a higher salary and a longer contract.

"The club and player agreed that they would review the situation after the season had ended.

"Over the course of the summer the club has reviewed its playing staff for 2010 and made plans to secure a number of key players.

"This has become increasingly costly due to the tightening of work permit regulations for overseas players and the demand for young England qualified talent."

Hoggard, who has played for Yorkshire for the past 15 seasons and was their top wicket-taker in the LV County Championship this summer, told The Times: "I'm shocked and bitterly disappointed. I think I've been loyal to Yorkshire."

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/328211_Kallis--supershow-takes-Bangalore-to-Super-Eight

Kallis' supershow takes Bangalore to Super Eight

STAFF WRITER 23:11 HRS IST

Bangalore, Oct 12 (PTI) Jacques Kallis smashed a breezy unbeaten 73 and took three wickets to steer Royal Challengers Bangalore to Super Eight stage of the Champions League as the Indian side trounced Otago Volts by 80 runs here today.

The hosts joined Cape Cobras from group C in the quarter-final league after winning their do-or-die match convincingly at M Chinnaswamy stadium.

Bangalore top order put a superb show after opting to bat as all the four batsmen who came to bat made contribution in rattling up a massive 188 for two.

The hosts then skittled out the Kiwi side for a scrimpy 108 with 2.1 overs to spare.

Kallis, who batted through the innings, put on a quick- fire 75 for the first wicket with Robin Uthappa (42) to give Bangalore a brilliant start.

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Mumbai to host 2011 World Cup final​

NEW DELHI: Mumbai will host the final and Mohali one of the semi-finals, according to the allocation of India's share of matches in the 2011 cricket World Cup announced on Wednesday. India, which co-hosts the showpiece event with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in February-March 2011, will organise 29 matches at eight venues, the Indian cricket board said in a statement.

Link

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/331794_IPL-champions-Deccan-ousted-from-Champions-League


IPL champions Deccan ousted from Champions League

STAFF WRITER 23:31 HRS IST

S Janakiram

Hyderabad, Oct 14 (PTI) Reigning IPL Champions Deccan Chargers crashed out of the Champions League after suffering a narrow three-run defeat against Trinidad and Tobago in their do-or-die Group A match here today.

The see-saw match witnessed pulsating action till the last ball at Rajiv Gandhi stadium.

Chasing 150 to win, the hosts could manage just 146 for nine in their stipulated 20 overs.

The hosts required eight runs off the last over but they had no recognized batsman at the crease and the tail-enders could fetch only four runs.

The victory of the Caribbean side also cleared the entry of Somerset into the quarter-final league from group A.

Deccan had lost their first match to the English County Somerset early in the event.

 

[Pintu]

AFP: India unveil eight World Cup venues

India unveil eight World Cup venues


(AFP) – 9 hours ago

NEW DELHI — Mumbai will host the final and Mohali one of the semi-finals, according to the allocation of India's share of matches in the 2011 cricket World Cup announced on Wednesday.

India, which co-hosts the showpiece event with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in February-March 2011, will organise 29 matches at eight venues, the Indian cricket board said in a statement.

The full schedule of the 14-nation tournament is due to be announced in Mumbai on November 9.

The Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, being renovated for the World Cup, will host three matches, including the final, while Mohali will stage one semi-final and two other games.

The one quarter-final alloted to India will be held in the western city of Ahmedabad, which will also host two more matches.

New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Nagpur and Kolkata will each stage four matches, including one featuring the home team.

Sri Lanka will host 12 and Bangladesh eight of the remaining 20 games in the 49-match tournament after Pakistan were removed as co-hosts by the Innternational Cricket Council due to security concerns.

Sri Lanka will stage the other semi-final and one quarter-final, while Bangladesh will host the opening ceremony on February 18 and two quarter-finals.

The 14 teams have been divided into two groups with the top four from each qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Group A features defending champions Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya.

Group B comprises India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and the Netherlands.

Distribution of India's matches:

Mumbai - Final plus two matches

Mohali - Semi-final plus two matches.

Ahmedabad - Quarter-final plus two matches.

New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Nagpur, Kolkata host four matches each.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/330570_In-form-Cobras-look-to-ambush-Victoria


In-form Cobras look to ambush Victoria

STAFF WRITER 15:31 HRS IST

Bangalore, Oct 14 (PTI) Unbeaten in group stage, South Africa's Cape Cobras will bank on their in-form batting to get the better of a wounded but formidable Australian side Victoria Bushrangers in the first League B match of the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament here tomorrow.

Table toppers from Group C, Cape Cobras rode on their batters' blistering form to beat local favourites Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kiwi side Otago Volts in the preliminary stage.

Victoria, on the other hand, head into tomorrow's match after being handed an embarrassing defeat by a rather inexperienced Sri Lankan side Wayamba Elevens in the second Group D match.

Last night's loss came as rude shock for Victoria, who were flying high after outplaying Delhi Daredevils in the opening match.

The Cobras have a clear upper-hand in batting department with the likes of J P Duminy and skipper Andrew Puttick in sensational form.

 

[Pintu]

RCB have a tough route to traverse

Kumble’s men take on Victoria Bushrangers

RCB have a tough route to traverse
By R Kaushik, Bangalore, Oct 14, (DHNS):

Their familiarity with conditions and a passionate home following notwithstanding, Royal Challengers Bangalore have a mountain to climb as they eye a semifinal berth in the inaugural Champions League T20 tournament.

Like fellow IPL franchisees Delhi Daredevils, Anil Kumble’s team faces the unenviable task of winning both its League B fixtures if it is to make it to the last four of the competition.

Without a point going into the second stage, the Challengers’ first test is on Thursday, against Victoria Bushrangers who, like Cape Cobras, carry two points forward by virtue of their victory over fellow qualifiers from preliminary Group D, the Daredevils.

For most of the business end of IPL II in South Africa earlier this year, the
Challengers found themselves needing to win every game to qualify for the knockout stage and, therefore, the current scenario isn’t an unfamiliar one.

The unfamiliarity, however, stems from precious little first-hand knowledge of Thursday’s opposition, though in these days of readily available video footage, there are few secrets anymore in the cricketing world.

As they showed on Monday against the Otago Volts, the Challengers are at their most dangerous when pushed into a corner. That’s exactly where they are now, so the Bangalore faithfuls have every reason to believe Kumble’s boys will rise to the challenge manfully.

Brilliantly served by the top order in their first two matches, the Challengers will require a formidable batting line-up to again come to the party on Thursday. The Chinnaswamy stadium surface has fulfilled the demands of Twenty20 cricket -- reasonable pace, even bounce, little lateral movement -- admirably. With Jacques Kallis and Ross Taylor in the forefront and the Indian trio of Robin Uthappa, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid chipping in handsomely, the Challengers’ batting looks in fine fettle, though they can expect a sterner test from the likes of Shane Harwood, Peter Siddle and Clint McKay.

Despite rolling over the Otago Volts for just 108 the other day, there are obvious weaker links in the Challengers’ bowling, necessitating Kallis, Praveen Kumar, Kumble and Roelof van der Merwe to step up to the plate.

A case can be made out for Dale Steyn to replace Mark Boucher, with Uthappa donning the big gloves, an idea that will occupy the attention of the management team of Kumble and coach Ray Jennings.

The Bushrangers, flying high after their commanding victory over the Daredevils last week, were brought down to earth on Tuesday when the Wayamba Elevens outwitted them in a low-scoring encounter at the much-maligned Feroze Shah Kotla. The Bushrangers played the rules beautifully, targeting the nett run rate rather than an outright victory in a bid to secure qualification.

With momentum a largely over-rated concept in the T20 format, it is unlikely that Cameron White will read too much into Tuesday’s debacle, though the one-time Royal Challenger will know better than most of the flair and substance Bangalore bring with them.

The prolific Brad Hodge, repeatedly overlooked by Australia, will be the Bushrangers’ batting lynchpin, but T20 games are seldom won by mere individual brilliance. The collective might of the Challengers aren’t unaware of that.

 

[Pintu]

The Press Association: Somerset crash out

Somerset crash out

(UKPA) – 4 hours ago

Somerset's Champions League Twenty20 campaign came to an abrupt end as they suffered a convincing six-wicket defeat at the hands of New South Wales in Hyderabad.

A ferocious batting display from Blues opener David Warner, who hit 40 from just 16 balls, helped the Australian state side ease past Somerset's uncompetitive 111 for seven with 49 balls to spare.

After being asked to bat first Somerset's innings was wrecked by three Stuart Clark wickets and they had plummeted further until Zander de Bruyn (23) and Wes Durston's unbeaten 20 helped the county side at least pass the 100-run mark.

Warner then put the Somerset bowlers to the sword, smashing six fours and two sixes during his brief but entertaining innings, and ensure the Blues' place in the semi finals.

Somerset's batting frailties again came to the fore as they suffered another top-order collapse.

Clark, who took over after two tidy overs from Brett Lee with the new ball, removed Craig Kieswetter (13) and departing skipper Justin Langer (five) - who had announced before the Champions League that it would be his swansong with the Sabres - in his first over.

Clark struck again to remove James Hildreth (six), who promised much with an attractive boundary to get off the mark, in his second over.

Arul Suppiah (eight) was then run out and Peter Trego (three) perished while attempting to heave Nathan Hauritz across the line to leave Somerset reeling at 44 for five inside 10 overs.

De Bruyn and Omari Banks (15) briefly arrested the fall of wickets with a 37-run stand for the sixth wicket but both batsmen were dismissed in the space of an over and Somerset were in real danger of failing to cross the three-figure mark.

Durston, who top-scored with a career-best 57 in Somerset's previous game against Trinidad and Tobago, bafflingly was demoted to number eight. Yet, he drilled two boundaries and a six, the only one of the inning, to help Somerset pass the 100-run mark.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/336856_NSW-seal-semifinal-berth-in-CL-with-crushing-win

NSW seal semifinal berth in CL with crushing win

STAFF WRITER 18:52 HRS IST

S Janakiram

Hyderabad, Oct 18 (PTI) Stuart Clark did the spadework and David Warner then set the tone of the chase as New South Wales crushed Somerset by six wickets with 8.1 overs to spare to book a semifinal berth in the Champions League Twenty20 here today.

Clark (3/15) and his bowling colleagues first restricted Somerset to an unflattering 111 for seven and Warner (40 off 16 balls) then came down hard on the English side as NSW cruised to 112 in 11.5 overs, losing four wickets and recording a thumping victory that earned them a semifinal berth.

Chasing the modest target, the Australian team was off to a flying start with Warner cracking six boundaries and two huge sixers during his brief stay as the first five overs yielded 57 runs.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/336238_Bangalore-beat-Delhi--both-sides-out-of-CL-T20

Bangalore beat Delhi, both sides out of CL T20

STAFF WRITER 11:30 HRS IST

Bangalore, Oct 18 (PTI) Bangalore Royal Challengers and Delhi Daredevils crashed out of the Champions League Twenty20 after the formers' eight-wicket victory over their Indian Premier League opponents here.

In a dramatic League B Super Eight match played last night at the packed Chainnaswamy Stadium, Ross Taylor smashed a blistering 65 off just 38 balls to help Bangalore surpass the target of 139 with nearly five overs to spare.

Earlier, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Anil Kumble led from the front by grabbing three wickets to restrict Delhi Daredevils to a modest 138 for six.

Bangalore were only playing for pride as they were already out of contention for a semifinal berth after Cape Cobras' victory over Victoria Bushrangers in another League B match yesterday.

The eventful day saw the first match being delayed by one hour and 40 minutes and reduced it to 17-over-a-side affair due to bomb scare.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1091020/jsp/sports/story_11634829.jsp

DareDevils sign off with a win

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Man of the Match Owais Shah in
action at the Kotla on Monday. (PTI)

New Delhi: The near capacity crowd that thronged the Kotla to cheer the Delhi DareDevils, went back a happy lot as the home team defeated Cape Cobras by 30 runs in the Champions League Twenty20 at the Kotla on Monday.

It was a fine advertisement of the DareDevils’s popularity as the fans cheered their favourite side all through the match, despite knowing that Gautam Gambhir and Co. are already out of the tournament.

The supporters were richly rewarded for their enthusiasm as the DareDevils bowlers dismissed the South Africans for just 84, after the batsmen failed once again, putting up just 114 on the board.

On Wednesday, the all-Australian first semi-final, between New South Wales Blues and Victoria Bushrangers, will be played at the Kotla. Next day, Cape Cobras will take on Trinidad and Tobago in Hyderabad.

Left-arm pacer Dirk Nannes and leg-spinner Amit Mishra were the main architects of this improbable DareDevils victory. Defending a not too impressive score of 114 for six, the two bowlers exploited the favourable conditions and did not allow the Cobras to settle down.

If Nannes and Dilshan started the rout by sending back two Cape Cobras openers — Andrew Puttick and Herschelle Gibbs — with just 17 runs on the board, Mishra broke the visitors’ backbone with a double strike in the 11th over of the innings.

He first had Rory Kleinveldt caught by Owais Shah, and then bowled Jean-Paul Duminy two balls later to bring the Cobras to their knees. From then on, the South African side could never make a comeback.

Put in to bat, the DareDevils were once again a disappointment. Backed by a slow pitch that made batting difficult, the visitors were able to restrict the Delhi team for a low score with some clinical bowling display.

Except for a breezy 26 by Dinesh Karthik, and some quick scoring by Man of the Match Owais Shah (39) towards the end of the innings, there was no firework.

The two DareDevils openers — Gautam Gambhir and Tillekaratne Dilshan — were dismissed early. While Dilshan was castled by one from Rory Kleinveldt that kept low, Gambhir edged one on to his stumps two balls later. Virender Sehwag, who had shown some form, opted to sit out.

Karthik tried to retrieve the position and dispatched Kleinveldt for three consecutive fours. He was, however, run out for no fault of his own as Owais, who came in after Manoj Tiwary’s dismissal, responded poorly to a call for a run that left Karthik stranded in the middle.

DareDevils’ score was lent an element of respectability by Shah, who made amends for his lapse during Karthik's dismissal with some aggression at the death.

While the local team’s batsmen struggled against pace, their spinners turned the tide against the Cobras with three important wickets — Gibbs, JP Duminy and Justin Ontong.

Gambhir, knowing how tricky the pitch was, opted to open the bowling with Dilshan. The turn on offer was evident on his second delivery itself, when he trapped Gibbs in front to one that turned in from outside the off stump.

Duminy, charged with the responsibility of guiding the innings after Davids’ departure, was castled by Mishra, by one that kept extremely low, and Ontong was bowled through the gate, deceived by Dilshan’s flight.

With the pitch behaving as expected — the ball coming on slowly and the bounce uneven — bowlers from both teams stuck to a plan that followed a pattern adopted by other teams at the venue.

But, strangely enough, the flow of each innings was altered by run outs which prevented the possibility of a par-score on this track.

Karthik’s attacking 23 was ended by a typical blunder from his partner Shah, while Henry Davids’ dismissal off a direct hit proved decisive in bringing Delhi back into the game.

Davids had dominated a stand of 27 with Duminy, launching Dilshan into the stands and punching Rajat Bhatia for a boundary, but was found short by a steaming throw from Pradeep Sangwan at short third while responding to a single.

Nannes, who had uprooted Andrew Puttick’s off stump in the fourth over, returned for his second spell and delivered immediately.

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/341603_Katich-praises-team-mates-for-all-round-show

Katich praises team-mates for all-round show

STAFF WRITER 23:59 HRS IST

New Delhi, Oct 21 (PTI) New South Wales captain Simon Katich today heaped praised on his team-mates for their all-round show against country cousins Victoria Bushrangers in the Champions League Twenty20 semifinals here and said their consistent performance will give them the edge in the final.

"It was a great team effort everybody chipped in. David Warner and Phil Hughes set the foundation for us when we batted. Others chipped in lower down the order. After that our bowlers did a fantastic job," Katich said after his side crushed country cousins Victoria Bushrangers by 79 runs.

"We have been consistent with bat and ball. Our bowlers have been fantastic and batsmen have not let the team down. I think we will go into the final with a lot of confidence especially after today's win," he added.