Chennai Super Kings 246 for 5 (Vijay 127, Morkel 62) beat Rajasthan Royals 223 for 5 (Ojha 94*, Watson 60, Bollinger 2-15) by 23 runs
T-20 at its best in a match between CSK and Rajisthan Royals today on the 3rd april 2010. this by far is the most high scoring match in which in total 40 overs both teams scored in total 469 runs of just 40 overs.
cricket is - at its best as Chennai Super Kings, led by M Vijay, pulverized the Rajasthan Royals bowling and set up a 23-run win. Having been given first use of a belter of track by his captain, an in-form Vijay drubbed a dazed attack into submission with an outstanding century of powerful and clean hitting that carried Chennai to a record total. From 91 for 2 after ten overs, Chennai ransacked 155 in the final ten, and 76 in the last five, with Vijay and Albie Morkel setting a record for the tournament's highest partnership.
After 20 overs that resembled the mid-point of the French Revolution, Rajasthan had their task cut-out. Their reply was a hard-hitting one led by Naman Ojha and Shane Watson, but though they titled at the windmill for a while, Doug Bollinger's fine debut - 2 for 15 from four overs - made sure Chennai held on for a victory that kept alive their hopes of a place in the semi-finals.
There's a special kick that comes from finding a new sensation. So step up, Vijay, and take your bows. On a scorching Saturday afternoon, Chennai bolted out of the stables. The tone was set when they reached 66 for 1 after six overs, with Vijay flexing his muscles to reach 28 off 14 balls. Suresh Raina was cut off by Warne for the second time this season, but that proved to be the best thing to happen to Chennai. Morkel teed off with a trademark slogged six off Abhishek Jhunjhunwala, and when Warne began with a terrible long hop the result was six more. Vijay also launched Warne for six to raise a fifty.
After that costly over Chennai's run rate was near ten. It went past that mark the first ball of the next over, as Vijay late cut Yusuf Pathan for four and charged him for six, and then nearly touched 11 when Morkel slogged four and six off successive deliveries. Off went Yusuf to nurse figures of 0 for 44 from four overs. Two more incredible shots flowed in the next over, bowled by Shaun Tait. Morkel's unleashed a perfect drive past cover, Vijay made room and used the pace on the ball to steer a six over third man. By this time the fans were high on some awesome batting, and a pulled six out of the ground sent the spectators at deep midwicket into delirium. After 15 overs, Chennai were 170 for 2.
Upon the conclusion of the 16th over, they were 196 for 2. Vijay's seventh six came promptly on resumption after the time-out, with Sumit Narwal starting off by bowling length. Morkel didn't want to be left out and drove a straight six to raise the century stand in 43 balls, but was left marvelling at his partner's strokeplay when two more sixes flew off Vijay's bat in a 26-run over. Narwal went for 41 in two overs and it was left to Warne, Watson and Tait to try rein in the rampant batsmen.
Rajasthan had a chance to run out Vijay but Warne failed to collect cleanly. Two runs from four balls seemed like damage control, but Morkel rounded off by taking ten off the last two deliveries. A hammered straight-drive down the ground for four got Vijay to three figures from just 46 balls, and he celebrated with more devastating hitting down the ground as Rajasthan's bowling imploded. Even the wickets of Morkel, Vijay and MS Dhoni in the final over couldn't give Rajasthan much lift. Vijay was responsible for 52% of his team's runs, and his incredible 152-run alliance with Morkel left them battered.
After losing the toss Warne, beads of sweat dripping down his face, said he didn't have too many issues with Rajasthan having to chase. This clearly wasn't what he had in mind, even if Rajasthan's openers took 62 off the Powerplays without trying anything silly and Ojha and Watson gave it their all. Morkel's first two overs cost 29 as Michael Lumb and Ojha took three fours a piece, but a tidy start from Muttiah Muralitharan forced Lumb to continue attacking Morkel and that led to his dismissal for 37. The cheers across the ground reached a crescendo four balls later when Bollinger did a David Hussey and plucked a surreal catch to dismiss Yusuf. It was another example of how seriously boundary-catching is taken, as Bollinger parried that ball over the ropes, threw it back into play, and then hopped across to pouch it. And to think yesterday Kings XI Punjab's fielders couldn't catch dollies inside the circle.
Bollinger was into the thick of things later when he was handed the ball after a tidy two-over spell early. Watson had targeted the midwicket boundary ruthlessly during his 25-ball 60, hitting Murali for three sixes in the 15th over, but a missed swipe against Bollinger left his stumps rattled. Watson and Ojha, who played excellently after keeping wickets in the sweltering heat, had looted 97 in 43 deliveries with some audacious shot-making but with the dangerman gone, Rajasthan's chase fizzled despite Ojha battling on to an unbeaten 94. In a match where 469 runs were made in 40 overs, Bollinger allowed just 15 runs from four overs.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
An Indian woman who claims to be Pakistani cricket ace Shoaib Malik’s wife has demanded he divorce her before he weds India’s top tennis star Sania Mirza, reports said Saturday.
Mirza, 23, and Malik, 28, who are both Muslim, will marry in April and live in Dubai, family members told local media late last month.
But Ayesha Siddiqui, from the southern Indian city of Hyderabad,said Malik married her by telephone in 2002 and that she possesses documents to prove their alliance.
Siddiqui has threatened to sue Malik if he refuses to “formally divorce”her before marrying Mirza, The Times of India newspaper reported. TV stations carried similar reports.
She also circulated copies of her Muslim nuptial agreement to media outlets in India and Pakistan and spoken about the alleged relationship with Malik, the newspaper reported.
“Malik can marry Sania Mirza only after divorcing me,” Siddiqui said.
“He dumped me because his teammates said I was fat. I need an official divorce now.”
The cricketer has denied the marriage and says he will file a defamation suit.
The sporting marriage between Mirza and Malik, apparently unprecedented in the perennial rivalry between the nuclear-armed South Asian rivals, comes two months after Mirza broke off her engagement to a childhood friend.
Shoaib Malik’s brother-in-law Imran Malik told AFP the pair would wed April 11. The wedding is expected to take place in Hyderabad followed by a reception in Pakistan later this month.
Meanwhile, the couple’s wedding plans have also run into objections from Indian hardline Hindu groups who say Mirza should not be allowed to represent India in tennis after her wedding to a Pakistani citizen.
"She will become a Pakistani citizen after marriage and there is no way she can play for India,” right-wing political party Shiv Sena’s chief Bal Thackeray said.
However, Mirza, who is recovering from a wrist injury that has seen her ranking slip from 27 in 2007 to 92, has said she will continue playing for India after her wedding.
“India is my country and it will always remain so,” she said
favorite for T-20 is Pakistan:Adam Gilchrist
Former Australian wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist has said that both India and Pakistan are major contenders for winning the upcoming ICC T20 World Championship in the West Indies.
“Pakistan are definitely a big threat. Yes, I am aware of the turmoil going on in Pakistan cricket, but the defending champions are a good outfit in this format of cricket. They are one of the contenders,” International Cricket Council’s website quoted Gilchrist, as saying.
He said while India are an experienced side and have been performing well in the recent past, Pakistan, despite the recent controversies, remain a tough side to beat in the slam-bang version of the game.
“Obviously they are contenders, too. A big contenders, I must say. Their batting is deep down, bowlers are experienced. It’s a well-balanced side under MS Dhoni. Moreover, they were the champions in the inaugural edition, too. Definitely they have a good chance in the Caribbean,” Gilchrist said.
Commenting on chances of his home team winning the title, Gilchrist said Australia have the potential to beat world’s best teams, but added that one can not predict a winner in T20 cricket.
“Actually, the format is such that you cannot pinpoint any winners in a T20 tournament. One performance is enough to turn the match. It’s totally unpredictable,” he said.
greame swann arrested on suspesion of drunk driving
England cricketer Graeme Swann was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving, a newspaper said Saturday.
The Nottinghamshire off-spinner, ranked the second best bowler in the world, was stopped as he returned to his home in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, central England, said the Daily Mirror.
The tabloid said the 31-year-old was stopped round the corner from a police station and about a mile (1.5 kilometres) from his home.
He was arrested following a roadside breath test and later released on bail, the paper said.
“A 31-year-old man was arrested on Byron Road, West Bridgford, at 3:23am on Friday, April 2 on suspicion of drink-driving,” said a spokeswoman for Nottinghamshire Police.
Swann told the Daily Mirror he had no comment to make.
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