Indian Premier League 2009 Match Result

18th match: Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals at Centurion - Apr 28, 2009Rajasthan Royals won by 5 wickets (with 9 balls remaining)Delhi Daredevils 143/7 (20/20 ov); Rajasthan Royals 147/5 (18.3/20 ov)

19th match: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders at Durban - Apr 29, 2009Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 5 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)Kolkata Knight Riders 139/6 (20/20 ov); Royal Challengers Bangalore 143/5 (19.5/20 ov)

20th match: Kings XI Punjab v Mumbai Indians at Durban - Apr 29, 2009Kings XI Punjab won by 3 runsKings XI Punjab 119/8 (20/20 ov); Mumbai Indians 116/7 (20/20 ov)

21st match: Deccan Chargers v Delhi Daredevils at Centurion - Apr 30, 2009Delhi Daredevils won by 6 wickets (with 8 balls remaining)Deccan Chargers 148/9 (20/20 ov); Delhi Daredevils 150/4 (18.4/20 ov)

Pakistan v Australia, 4th ODI, Abu Dhabi

Pakistan v Australia, 4th ODI, Abu Dhabi

Time running out for Pakistan

April 30, 2009
Match factsMay 1, 2009Start time 3pm (11.00GMT)
Pakistan need to provide more support to Shahid Afridi if they are to stay alive in the five-match series © Associated Press
Big PictureAustralia are one win away from wrapping up the series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, but not much talk has centred around the team's on-field performance. Since the offspinner Saeed Ajmal was reported for a suspect action the sides have been under more intense focus than during the opening three matches.
Ajmal was fined by the Pakistan Cricket Board for comments directed to Shane Watson and Younis Khan asked why Australia are involved in so many controversies when they face India and Pakistan. Michael Clarke maintained the series had been played in a good spirit.
The talking points will shift to the middle during Friday's fourth ODI in Abu Dhabi. Australia lead 2-1 in the five-match contest - Pakistan lost 10 for 76 in Monday's defeat - as they finalise their preparations for the start of their engagements in England in June.
Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)Pakistan LLWLLAustralia WWLWL
Watch out forShahid Afridi has been outstanding in the opening three fixtures and remains Australia's biggest threat. His 10 victims at 10.70 have caused the most problems, but his 71 runs have also been a headache. The worry for Pakistan has been finding people to offer him significant assistance.
He hasn't been as effective as Afridi, but Nathan Hauritz has been a key performer for Australia. Since coming back into the one-day team in January he has 13 wickets in nine games and in this series has five at 18.60 along with an economy rate of 3.57. The prospect of more spinning surfaces in the remaining matches will lift his mood further.
Team newsBrett Lee is in town after joining the squad this week, but he won't bowl on Friday and is unlikely to be picked until the Twenty20 to end the tour. The rotation of the attack is the main issue for the squad, with Stuart Clark keen for more work and Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Bracken, Ben Laughlin and Doug Bollinger also in the outfit.
Australia (possible) 1 Brad Haddin (wk), 2 James Hopes, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Callum Ferguson, 7 David Hussey, 8 Nathan Hauritz, 9 Stuart Clark, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Doug Bollinger.
Yasir Arafat replaced Shoaib Akhtar in the previous game, but with Pakistan needing to win to stay in touch Shoaib could be recalled to provide some firepower. Ajmal will be feeling vulnerable despite some encouraging returns.
Pakistan (possible) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Younis Khan (capt), 4 Shoaib Malik, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Umar Gul, 9 Shoaib Akhtar, 10 Iftikhar Anjum, 11 Saeed Ajmal.
Pitch and conditionsThe conditions in the UAE, with the low and spinning pitches, are unusual for the Australians, but the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been enjoying it. "The beauty about international cricket is you get the opportunity to play on so many different wickets," he told AAP. "The wickets are a bit slower and lower than they are in Australia and they turn a bit more, but that's the beauty of it, we're playing in different conditions against a totally different side." A similar surface is expected on Friday, when the temperature is predicted to range between 25 and 41C.
Stats and Trivia
In a tough tournament for batsmen, James Hopes leads the run-list with 111, one ahead of Salman Butt
Australia have not won a one-day series since sweeping aside Bangladesh in September
Only three half-centuries have been scored in the series
Quotes"You see a lot now in one-day games, teams consistently getting up near the 300, but as we've seen here all the games have been a contest and I think that's all you're after ... It's enjoyable sometimes to come and play on different wickets and have different plans in mind, to get 220 is a very good score in these sorts of conditions, so it's been quite good."Brad Haddin
"We will learn a lot from this experience, by playing against the Australian team."Younis Khan .

Todays Live Match 28 April 2009

Delhi Daredevils Vs Jaipur Rajasthan Royals

28 April 2009

Venue :SuperSport Park, Centurion Live action starts from: 14:30 GMT (20:00 IST) T20 IPL 2009 Match

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Match results

Indian Premier League, 2009

1st match: Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians at Cape Town - Apr 18, 2009Mumbai Indians won by 19 runsMumbai Indians 165/7 (20/20 ov); Chennai Super Kings 146/7 (20/20 ov)

2nd match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Rajasthan Royals at Cape Town - Apr 18, 2009Bangalore Royal Challengers won by 75 runsBangalore Royal Challengers 133/8 (20/20 ov); Rajasthan Royals 58 (15.1/20 ov)

3rd match: Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab at Cape Town - Apr 19, 2009Delhi Daredevils won by 10 wickets (with 7 balls remaining) (D/L method)Kings XI Punjab 104/7 (12/12 ov); Delhi Daredevils 58/0 (4.5/6 ov)

4th match: Deccan Chargers v Kolkata Knight Riders at Cape Town - Apr 19, 2009Deccan Chargers won by 8 wickets (with 41 balls remaining)Kolkata Knight Riders 101 (19.4/20 ov); Deccan Chargers 104/2 (13.1/20 ov)

5th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Chennai Super Kings at Port Elizabeth - Apr 20, 2009Chennai Super Kings won by 92 runsChennai Super Kings 179/5 (20/20 ov); Bangalore Royal Challengers 87 (15.2/20 ov)

6th match: Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders at Durban - Apr 21, 2009Kolkata Knight Riders won by 11 runs (D/L method)Kings XI Punjab 158/6 (20/20 ov); Kolkata Knight Riders 79/1 (9.2/9.2 ov)

7th match: Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals at Durban - Apr 21, 2009Match abandoned without a ball bowled

8th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Deccan Chargers at Cape Town - Apr 22, 2009Deccan Chargers won by 24 runsDeccan Chargers 184/6 (20/20 ov); Bangalore Royal Challengers 160/8 (20/20 ov)

9th match: Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils at Durban - Apr 23, 2009Delhi Daredevils won by 9 runsDelhi Daredevils 189/5 (20/20 ov); Chennai Super Kings 180/9 (20/20 ov)

10th match: Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals at Cape Town - Apr 23, 2009Match tiedRajasthan Royals 150/6 (20/20 ov); Kolkata Knight Riders 150/8 (20/20 ov)

11th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kings XI Punjab at Durban - Apr 24, 2009Kings XI Punjab won by 7 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)Bangalore Royal Challengers 168/9 (20/20 ov); Kings XI Punjab 173/3 (19/20 ov)

12th match: Deccan Chargers v Mumbai Indians at Durban - Apr 25, 2009Deccan Chargers won by 12 runsDeccan Chargers 168/9 (20/20 ov); Mumbai Indians 156/7 (20/20 ov)

13th match: Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders at Cape Town - Apr 25, 2009Match abandoned without a ball bowled

14th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Delhi Daredevils at Port Elizabeth - Apr 26, 2009Delhi Daredevils won by 6 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)Bangalore Royal Challengers 149/7 (20/20 ov); Delhi Daredevils 150/4 (19.2/20 ov)

15th match: Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals at Cape Town - Apr 26, 2009Kings XI Punjab won by 27 runsKings XI Punjab 139/6 (20/20 ov); Rajasthan Royals 112/7 (20/20 ov)

16th match: Chennai Super Kings v Deccan Chargers at Durban - Apr 27, 2009Deccan Chargers won by 6 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)Chennai Super Kings 165/6 (20/20 ov); Deccan Chargers 169/4 (19.3/20 ov)

17th match: Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians at Port Elizabeth - Apr 27, 2009Mumbai Indians won by 92 runsMumbai Indians 187/6 (20/20 ov); Kolkata Knight Riders 95 (15.2/20 ov)

Chennai Super Kings v Deccan Chargers, IPL, Durban

Chennai Super Kings v Deccan Chargers, IPL, Durban

Gibbs gives Deccan fourth consecutive win

April 27, 2009
Deccan Chargers 169 for 4 (Gilchrist 44, Gibbs 69*) beat Chennai Super Kings 165 for 6 (Hayden 49, Oram 41*, Ojha 2-11) by six wicketsScorecard and ball-by-ball detailsHow they were out
Herschelle Gibbs was the Man of the Match for his unbeaten 69 © AFP
A tenacious display from Deccan Chargers' bowlers followed by a murderous assault from their opening batsmen secured their fourth consecutive win of the tournament and firmly established the Hyderabad side as the team to beat this season.
Pragyan Ojha once again bowled impressively - picking up two wickets in one crucial over, including that of the dangerous-looking Matthew Hayden - to restrict Chennai to merely 165 when they looked set for much more at one stage. The competitive target, however, was diminished by a withering assault from Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs. They blitzed 60 runs off the first four overs and gave their team enough cushion against a few setbacks on their way to victory.
Gilchrist dictated terms from the first over, in which he drove L Balaji to the long-off and extra-cover boundaries. Gibbs took on Manpreet Gony in the next: he charged and lofted straight down the ground for four, pulled over the fine-leg boundary and hit two more fours to midwicket and square leg to take 20 runs off the over. Balaji dropped Gilchrist - a hard caught-and-bowled chance - in the third over and paid for it by conceding 17 runs. Gilchrist deposited the ball into the stands at deep square leg, pulled another one to the midwicket boundary, and launched yet another over the straight boundary. MS Dhoni brought Albie Morkel into the attack but there was barely any improvement as Gilchrist drilled him to the cover boundary and whacked him over the rope at square leg.
With the fast bowlers bleeding runs, Dhoni turned to spin and the breakthroughs came from the unlikeliest of operators. Suresh Raina struck twice with his offbreaks, inducing both Gilchrist, who clobbered 44 off 18 balls, and VVS Laxman to cut to short third man. Deccan had gone from 67 for 0 to 75 for 2 and they scored only 25 runs between overs six and ten. However, the early momentum provided by Gilchrist and the steady half-century from Gibbs, who batted through the innings, ensured that the lull did not do irreparable damage. Gibbs shifted to a lower gear but ensured that he was on strike when eight runs were needed off the last over. The first ball was full from Balaji, Gibbs got under it and heaved it over the deep midwicket boundary to ease Deccan's nerves.
A larger target would have stretched Deccan, given that they had only three balls to spare, and Ojha's double-breakthrough in the 13th over played a crucial role in keeping Chennai to 165. Hayden was at his bullying best, stepping out and muscling bowlers across the quick outfield at Kingsmead. Parthiv Patel continued the odd trend of teams losing a wicket before scoring a run but the early loss did not faze Hayden. He attacked RP Singh, the league's highest wicket-taker, immediately by walking down to swat him to the midwicket boundary and to cut over point. The extra pace and bounce of Fidel Edwards didn't make a difference either and Hayden advanced and powered him through the off side.
Hayden found an attacking partner in Suresh Raina but both batsmen were lucky to survive dropped catches. Raina was let off by debutant Azhar Bilakhia at gully when he was on two and Gilchrist grassed a tough chance to his left when Hayden was on 17. They made Deccan pay for their lapses during a 64-run stand for the second wicket.
Ojha repeated his performance against Mumbai Indians soon after the tactical time-out. Against Mumbai, he took three wickets in successive overs and today he managed to dismiss both Dhoni and Hayden in one. Chennai slipped from 102 for 2 to 103 for 4 in the space of three balls. Curiously Gilchrist didn't give Ojha another over and he finished with figures of 2 for 11 in two overs.
Jacob Oram, who replaced the injured Flintoff, provided Chennai with acceleration towards the end of the innings, hitting the debutant Shoaib Ahmed for massive sixes down the ground. Oram helped Chennai take 20 runs off the 18th over but their total proved too little against Deccan's in-form batting line-up.

Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians, IPL, Port Elizabeth

Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians, IPL, Port Elizabeth

Tendulkar and Jayasuriya overwhelm Kolkata

April 27, 2009
Mumbai Indians 187 for 6 (Tendulkar 68, Jayasuriya 52) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 95 for 9 (Malinga 3-11, Nayar 3-13) by 92 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball detailsHow they were out
Demolition derby: Fans got to see a rare combined batting exhibition from two legends of the game © AFP
Many a time over the last 15 years or so fans of this great game have wondered what it would be like if Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya opened together in a limited-overs game and really turned it on. Today they got a glimpse.
The two masters of the limited-overs game, with a combined age of nearly 76, treated Port Elizabeth to the cleanest, purest exhibition of batting that this season of the IPL has seen. Tendulkar paved the way with a sublime innings and Jayasuriya followed suit with an explosive hand, the veteran pair combining to raise a century stand in 52 balls that flummoxed Kolkata Knight Riders. That stunning opening assault formed the crux of Mumbai Indians' 187 and though Kolkata restricted the damage with six wickets for 48 runs after the tactical break, the damage had been done. Their only realistic chance at victory rested on their explosive openers' shoulders but once they were gone inside three overs the chase was basically kaput.
Mumbai's first five overs were busy, without being spectacular. Tendulkar was beaten a couple times by Ishant Sharma but upper-cut a six and flicked a four in Ashok Dinda's first over. That set the tone for a busy innings, taken up a level when he pulled Ishant for six from outside off stump.
While Tendulkar whisked the ball off his pads and slapped through point, Jayasuriya didn't get much strike. His first shot in anger was a chip just over extra cover's fingertips and a signature clip to fine leg followed. Mumbai were 45 for 0 in five overs. What followed was carnage.
Jayasuriya, who was on 8 as Tendulkar scurried to 30, launched Sourav Ganguly's gentle military-medium stuff for consecutive sixes; Tendulkar swept Ajantha Mendis for six; Chris Gayle went for ten in six balls; Mendis was dumped for two sixes by each batsman in his second over. Tendulkar's fourth six, a deft pick-up over midwicket off Mendis, raised his fifty from 34 balls. Jayasuriya had blasted 33 from 13 balls. The 100 was up in 8.4 overs. When the tactical break was taken Tendulkar was 60 off 39 and Jayasuriya 43 off 21, Mumbai 111 for 0.
For a man who has only played one international Twenty20, Tendulkar batted with amazing fluency. He got the wrists into play superbly, pulling and cutting hard, and used his crease to negotiate the pacers. Mendis wasn't even allowed to settle; Gayle was effortlessly reverse-swept.
There were no crude shots, no cross-batted slogs from Tendulkar and Jayasuriya. This was clinical hitting - each veteran knew the field and backed himself to pick the gaps. It was the experience of 1138 combined international games coming together in a mesmerizing mosaic of boundaries. In between clearing his front leg to lift Mendis there were clever late dabs from Tendulkar, neat tickles from Jayasuriya.
That assault was in stark contrast to the second half of Mumbai's innings, when Kolkata regrouped. The scoring slowed after the break and Tendulkar fell to Laxmi Shukla, looking to take the ball from off stump and work it to leg. Harbhajan Singh strode in, clubbed 18 from 8 balls, and sent a full toss to deep midwicket. Jayasuriya looked for width but instead chipped to cover for 52 from 32 balls. Then Abhishek Nayar was run out, Dwayne Bravo top-edged to the deep, and Shikhar Dhawan edged Ishant. Gayle bowled a decent last over and Mumbai were unable to end on with a flurry.
Kolkata needed almost 9.5 runs an over inside a stadium rumbling like a Jay Z amplifier, and the pressure of chasing a large total under lights affected the Kolkata openers early in their innings. Brendon McCullum shouldered arms to his first ball before he steered Lasith Malinga to point. Gayle thumped Bravo for the 152th six in the IPL only to edge his West Indian team-mate to slip.
Sourav Ganguly wasn't allowed to come onto the front foot and so he used his feet to loft Bravo down the ground for six and four, and with that try for some momentum. But Ganguly struggled to find the boundaries thereafter and Brad Hodge never really threatened with 24 off 22 balls. Both were to fall against the tidy seam-up bowling of Nayar in successive overs, the last nail firmly hammered into Kolkata's coffin.
Nayar, Bravo, Zaheer Khan and Malinga didn't have to do much but keep it near the stumps and wait for an urgent shot. Each struck rather easily and the rest of the batting card made for disappointing reading as Kolkata fell short by 92 runs. From 71 for 3 when Hodge fell, Kolkata folded for 95 in 15.2 overs.
A powerful batting display was followed by an efficient, shining effort in the field, aptly demonstrating that Mumbai pretty much have all the bases covered.

Pakistan v Australia, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi

Pakistan v Australia, 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi

All-round Clarke ensures series lead

The Bulletin by Kanishkaa Balachandran
April 27, 2009
Australia 198 for 7 (Clarke 66, Ferguson 41, Gul 3-38, Afridi 2-31) beat Pakistan 171 (Butt 48, Shehzad 40, Clarke 3-15, Hauritz 2-25 )Live scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsHow they were out
Michael Clarke's return to form couldn't have come at a better moment © Associated Press
Pakistan's propensity to self-destruct cost them the lead in this series in dramatic manner, a batting collapse against spin handing Australia an improbable win. Michael Clarke, the Australian captain, turned in a superb all-round performance with a gritty 66 in the face of some penetrative spin bowling before picking up 3 for 15 amid Pakistan's middle-order chaos. His spin partners, Nathan Hauritz and Andrew Symonds, helped defend a below-par score of 198 as Pakistan fell short by 27 runs.
Spinners have been making headlines in the IPL in South Africa and the story today wasn't any different in the northern hemisphere. Pakistan's own spin trio strangled the runs and picked up three wickets and, by the time their openers Salman Butt and Ahmed Shehzad added 95, the hosts looked set for a series lead. That's when spin worked its magic again.
The cycle-stand collapse - in which shoddy shot selection played no small part - had strong statistical parallels with Australia's in Dubai during the first ODI. Back then, Australia slipped from 95 for 1 to 122 for 9. Today, Pakistan's collapse started at 95 and ended 76 runs later.
The game had drifted from Australia during the first 22 overs of the chase with Pakistan comfortably placed in terms of the required rate and wickets in hand. Only a lapse in concentration from the batsmen could have resulted in a breakthrough and exactly that caused Butt's downfall when he poked Hauritz to Clarke at first slip. The bowler had caused a few flutters in his previous over when he beat the left-hander and the fielders may have sensed that something was about to give. The next ball stopped on Younis Khan, who chipped it to a diving Andrew Symonds at midwicket and Australia had two in two. Misbah-ul-Haq negotiated the hat-trick ball and, in the next over, hit Symonds for a straight six. That prompted the captain to bring himself on and his move paid immediate dividends, Misbah holing out to long-on off the very first ball. The next delivery was an arm ball that Shehzad failed to read and was bowled. Once again, two off two.
That brought together Malik and Afridi, and there was a period of relative calm for Pakistan, though not without the odd scare - including an appeal for a stumping when the third umpire pressed the button for the red light by mistake. One sensed, though, that Afridi wouldn't last too long - and sure enough, determined to break the shackles with a big hit, he advanced down the track and edged to slip. Pakistan had lost half their side in the space of 28 runs and the Australians, having smelt blood, didn't need a second invitation to move in for the kill.
The rest of the wickets were a blur. A miscommunication between Kamran Akmal and Malik, over a single that was there for the taking, summed up the utter confusion. Two balls later, Akmal chipped Bracken to mid-on and he too was history. Yasir Arafat went for a slog and was bowled, Tanvir pulled and top-edged before Umar Gul threw his bat and was bowled Stuart Clark, bringing the match to an end
The drama overshadowed Australia's own struggles with the bat, and Clarke's return to form couldn't have come at a better moment. He was the spinners' bunny in South Africa and in the first ODI but today the fluency returned. He walked in after James Hopes' run-out - off a direct hit by Younis - and eased off the blocks with some crisply timed shots and soft punches down the ground off the seamers. He added 46 for the third wicket with Haddin to help Australia after the loss of two quick wickets.
His effort against the spinners was more impressive given that the ball was gripping and turning and Afridi was varying his pace and slipping in the odd googly. While he attacked the batsmen and looked to pick up wickets, the others - Malik and Saeed Ajmal - teased with flight and cramped the batsmen for room and in general kept it simple.
Clarke wasn't afraid to use his feet but Afridi cleverly dropped the ball short and forced him to defend. He hit the odd wide delivery to the boundary and began to push the singles with a lot more ease in the company of Callum Ferguson, who managed to rotate the strike with Clarke in a 54-run stand, though it included a 10-over spell without a boundary.
Clarke broke the spell with a cover-driven boundary off Ajmal and, in the 38th over, Australia took the batting Powerplay. Clarke pulled Afridi to square leg but the bowler had his revenge when he fired one short, quick and forced the batsman to check his shot. He ended up chipping it tamely to Afridi and was gone - but not before a match-winning 66.

Todays Live Match 27 April 2009

Hyderabad Deccan Chargers Vs Chennai Super Kings

Venue :Kingsmead, Durban Live action starts from: 10:30 GMT (16:00 IST) T20 IPL 2009 Twenty20 match Match

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Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Mumbai Indians

Venue :St George's Park, Port Elizabeth Live action starts from: 14:30 GMT (20:00 IST) T20 IPL 2009 Twenty20 match Match

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Pakistan Vs Australia

Venue :Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi (D/N) Live action starts from: 10:30 GMT (16:00 IST) T20 Australia and Pakistan Tour of UAE 2009 One Day International Match

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Match Result of DLF IPL T20

Indian Premier League, 2009

1st match: Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians at Cape Town - Apr 18, 2009Mumbai Indians won by 19 runsMumbai Indians 165/7 (20/20 ov); Chennai Super Kings 146/7 (20/20 ov)

2nd match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Rajasthan Royals at Cape Town - Apr 18, 2009Bangalore Royal Challengers won by 75 runsBangalore Royal Challengers 133/8 (20/20 ov); Rajasthan Royals 58 (15.1/20 ov)

3rd match: Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab at Cape Town - Apr 19, 2009Delhi Daredevils won by 10 wickets (with 7 balls remaining) (D/L method)Kings XI Punjab 104/7 (12/12 ov); Delhi Daredevils 58/0 (4.5/6 ov)

4th match: Deccan Chargers v Kolkata Knight Riders at Cape Town - Apr 19, 2009Deccan Chargers won by 8 wickets (with 41 balls remaining)Kolkata Knight Riders 101 (19.4/20 ov); Deccan Chargers 104/2 (13.1/20 ov)

5th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Chennai Super Kings at Port Elizabeth - Apr 20, 2009Chennai Super Kings won by 92 runsChennai Super Kings 179/5 (20/20 ov); Bangalore Royal Challengers 87 (15.2/20 ov)

6th match: Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders at Durban - Apr 21, 2009Kolkata Knight Riders won by 11 runs (D/L method)Kings XI Punjab 158/6 (20/20 ov); Kolkata Knight Riders 79/1 (9.2/9.2 ov)

7th match: Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals at Durban - Apr 21, 2009Match abandoned without a ball bowled

8th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Deccan Chargers at Cape Town - Apr 22, 2009Deccan Chargers won by 24 runsDeccan Chargers 184/6 (20/20 ov); Bangalore Royal Challengers 160/8 (20/20 ov)

9th match: Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils at Durban - Apr 23, 2009Delhi Daredevils won by 9 runsDelhi Daredevils 189/5 (20/20 ov); Chennai Super Kings 180/9 (20/20 ov)

10th match: Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals at Cape Town - Apr 23, 2009Match tiedRajasthan Royals 150/6 (20/20 ov); Kolkata Knight Riders 150/8 (20/20 ov)

11th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kings XI Punjab at Durban - Apr 24, 2009Kings XI Punjab won by 7 wickets (with 6 balls remaining)Bangalore Royal Challengers 168/9 (20/20 ov); Kings XI Punjab 173/3 (19/20 ov)

12th match: Deccan Chargers v Mumbai Indians at Durban - Apr 25, 2009Deccan Chargers won by 12 runsDeccan Chargers 168/9 (20/20 ov); Mumbai Indians 156/7 (20/20 ov)

13th match: Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders at Cape Town - Apr 25, 2009Match abandoned without a ball bowled

14th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Delhi Daredevils at Port Elizabeth - Apr 26, 2009Delhi Daredevils won by 6 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)Bangalore Royal Challengers 149/7 (20/20 ov); Delhi Daredevils 150/4 (19.2/20 ov)

15th match: Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals at Cape Town - Apr 26, 2009Kings XI Punjab won by 27 runsKings XI Punjab 139/6 (20/20 ov); Rajasthan Royals 112/7 (20/20 ov)

Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals, IPL, Cape Town

Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals, IPL, Cape Town

All-round Irfan stars for Punjab

April 26, 2009
Kings XI Punjab 139 for 6 (Sangakkara 60, Irfan 39) beat Rajasthan Royals (Jadeja 37, Abdulla 3-21, Irfan 2-26) by 27 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball detailsHow they were out
Irfan Pathan's contribution with the bat was followed by a superb outing with the ball © Associated Press
Two pairs of left-handers played key roles as Kings XI Punjab steamrolled Rajasthan Royals in Cape Town. Punjab struggled after early losses and it was left to Kumar Sangakkara to weigh in with his first half-century of the tournament and the star of the day, Irfan Pathan, to provide the momentum for a fightback. Then, defending a total of 139, Punjab were indebted to double-wicket overs from Irfan and Yusuf Abdulla at the start.
Both left-arm seamers did a sterling job under the Newlands lights, mixing their line and length impressively to check a shaky batting line-up. Rajasthan, who had set themselves a realistic chance of victory in the field fell 27 runs short.
Rajasthan's chase of 140 wasn't a tall order, but their fate was sealed by a rampant left-arm seam attack who snaffled four wickets in the first five overs. Having contributed with the bat, Irfan grabbed two wickets in his opening over. He drew a top edge from Swapnil Asnodkar with a short ball and produced a thin edge off Graeme Smith's bat with a fuller, away-swinging delivery. Rajasthan were 9 for 2.
Yuvraj Singh had opened the bowling with Ramesh Powar but Irfan's success encouraged him to go for an all-pace attack. Adbulla's first over was tidy, costing just six, and his second was disastrous for Rajasthan. Rob Quiney got a faint tickle on one down the leg side and a leaden-footed Dimitri Mascarenhas heard the death rattle second ball when he played around an offcutter.
That left Rajasthan 27 for 4, anxiously needing a partnership and Yusuf Pathan - Man of the Match in their last game - to fire. Yusuf began by picking his brother for a couple fours only to perish sweeping in Piyush Chawa's first over. Another bowling change had worked and Punjab were all over Rajasthan.
Chawla tossed it up and was rewarded with another wicket. The asking-rate kept increasing and it proved too much for Ravindra Jadeja (37) and Shane Warne, who scampered smart singles but couldn't find the boundaries during their 60-run association. Abdulla came back with Rajasthan needing 38 from two overs and cleaned up Jadeja first ball. Irfan gave just six in the last over to cap a great game. That Rajasthan didn't manage one six told a story.
Irfan's two early wickets were crucial defending a small total but that could have been smaller without his contribution with the bat when Punjab were four down for not much. Karan Goel was run out first ball - the second time in the day a wicket had fallen in that manner - before Kamran Khan and Munaf Patel struck. Warne's decision to use each of his pace bowlers in one-over bursts worked wonderfully. There were no consecutive overs for any bowler from the Wynberg end and each time Kamran and Munaf came back they struck first ball.
Kamran removed Ravi Bopara courtesy an athletic dive from Munaf at mid-on and Munaf rcame back to dismiss Yuvraj with one that swung way. Punjab slipped to 48 for 4 when Mahela Jayawardene scooped Munaf to a sliding Kamran at mid-off.
It was Irfan who provided much-needed ammunition. He wasn't always assured against spin, but backing himself to swing freely through the on side he helped Punjab rebuild. Warne and Yusuf were hit for a six each by Irfan, the quicker deliveries were smartly worked square on the off side, and a handy partnership of 75 in 59 balls had begun. Irfan kept up the momentum with some sweetly-timed strokes on the off side, the best of the lot being a cut off Warne when he came back on.
Sangakkara's 60 held the innings together. So often a calm, controlled batsman, he combined his usual elegance with a range of aggressive shots; cutting deftly, pulling powerfully and even launching Warne into a raucous crowd. Mascarenhas found just a hint of swing but too often served up four-balls; Sangakkara took him for three cracking boundaries. A powerful partnership had set up a final flourish but Rajasthan dismissed Irfan and Sangakkara in the 19th over to set themselves a gettable target.
But in the end there was no denying Punjab, piloted to victory by the all-round heroics of Irfan, their brightest star.

Pakistan v Australia, 3rd ODI,

Pakistan v Australia, 3rd ODI,

Change of scenery will decide tight series

April 26, 2009
Match factsApril 27, 2009Start time 3pm (11.00GMT)
Pakistan will look to Salman Butt for a strong platform in Abu Dhabi © Associated Press
Big PictureA committed Australia hit back to level the series on Friday and show they would not be swept aside by Pakistan's crafty spin. While Shahid Afridi starred again with both disciplines, the performance of Andrew Symonds, who struck a half-century and two blows with the ball, gave Michael Clarke's team a big boost after the allrounder's troubles on and off the field over the past year.
After Symonds' innings the Australians were able to cruise to an important victory by six wickets, which moved them alongside their opponents, who were more professional in the opening match in Dubai on Wednesday. Abu Dhabi hosts the final three encounters of the tight series that is testing the progress of both sides as they peer towards the World Twenty20 in June.
Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)Pakistan LWLLWAustralia WLWLL
Watch out forAndrew Symonds displayed good form with the bat for the first time in a long time during his 58 on Friday, an innings which was a relief to him and his supporters. More strong showings in the final three games will help seal his passage to England.
Salman Butt was lucky to survive after his awful mix-up with Ahmed Shehzad in the third over on Friday, but he stayed calm following his reprieve and moved to a useful half-century. With Pakistan's batting not going as well as their bowling, Butt has an important job at the top of the order in setting up the side for a match-winning total.
Team newsClarke called Australia's performance on Friday "brilliant" so don't expect too many changes to the line-up. James Hopes fitted in well at opener and Doug Bollinger was tight in his maiden ODI. Stuart Clark and Ben Hilfenhaus are also in the squad so one of them may come in for the young Ben Laughlin.
Australia (possible) 1 Brad Haddin (wk), 2 James Hopes, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Callum Ferguson, 7 David Hussey, 8 Nathan Hauritz, 9 Stuart Clark, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Doug Bollinger.
Pakistan's batting continued to contain rust on Friday as they were dismissed in the 47th over and some tinkering to the line-up could occur. Shehzad, the 17-year-old opener, will be keen for another chance after his unfortunate run-out for 4 on debut.
Pakistan (possible) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Younis Khan (capt), 4 Shoaib Malik, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Umar Gul, 9 Shoaib Akhtar, 10 Iftikhar Anjum, 11 Saeed Ajmal.
Pitch and conditionsAbu Dhabi is about 125km south-west of Dubai and its ground is the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. The forecast for Monday is a warm, clear day with a maximum of 37C.
Stats and Trivia
Symonds' half-century on Friday was only his fourth in state and international cricket since the beginning of 2008-09
Afridi picked up his 250th ODI wicket in Dubai and has eight victims in two matches
Australia's win in game two took their record for the year to six wins in 17 matches
Quotes"Now we've had a win and hopefully we can start getting a bit of a roll on from here. We've spoken about the amount of games we've failed to win in the last little bit, so hopefully from here we can continue to improve. We've got things we can work on but [Friday] was not a bad effort from us."Andrew Symonds
"We knew that Australia would come down hard on us, they were our fears."Younis Khan

Australia v Pakistan 2009

Australia v Pakistan 2009

Saeed Ajmal reported for suspect action

April 26, 2009
Umpires have taken notice of Saeed Ajmal's bowling action © AFP
Saeed Ajmal, the Pakistan offspinner, has expressed surprise at being reported for a suspect action, and believes Shane Watson might have played a role in drawing the umpires' attention to his doosra. Ajmal suspected Watson spoke with Asad Rauf and Billy Bowden about his bowling action during the second one-day international at the Dubai Sports City Stadium; two days after he had befuddled Australia's batsmen with a series of doosras in a spell of 2-19.
Whether prompted or not by the Australian allrounder, the umpires found enough cause for concern to report Ajmal's action, making him the second off-spinner to be cited for a doosra in a fortnight. Johan Botha, the South African limited overs vice-captain, was reported after the fourth ODI against Australia in Port Elizabeth, and will have his action tested at the University of Western Australia this week.
"They told me in the first game some of my doosras had [a] little elbow bend," Ajmal told Cricinfo. "I was very surprised. My first-class debut was in 1996 and this has not happened before. I think Watson was talking [with] umpires about this. He was speaking with them and when the match finished the umpires said there is a problem. [But] I am not disappointed. I am playing tomorrow [in the third ODI]. It is not a problem."
Pakistan's coach, Intikhab Alam, was more critical of the process that resulted in Ajmal being reported after the second ODI against Australia. Describing the spinner as a "gutsy young man", Alam questioned the handling of the matter by the umpires.
"Ajmal has played against four countries and nobody raised any finger on his action and suddenly this decision comes," he told AFP. "I think they [ICC] are lacking consistency in this process. He bowled exceptionally well and suddenly they decided that he has a problem with his action."
Rauf and Bowden, along with off-field officials Zameer Haider and Nadeem Ghauri, submitted a report to the ICC in which it was stated that, having monitored Ajmal's action over the two ODIs in Dubai, there was sufficient concern for it to be scrutinised further. Ajmal, the ICC and the PCB will be sent footage of the bowler's action, and Ajmal is required to present himself for testing by an ICC-approved biomechanist within 21 days.
The latest report comes as Botha prepares to fly to Perth for re-examination on his contentious doosra. The citing of two off-spinners in a fortnight has prompted speculation of an ICC crackdown on doosras, but Alam was confident Ajmal would be cleared and free to bowl the delivery in future matches.
"Murali bowls such a delivery and he was cleared, Harbhajan was cleared, and there is no difference between these two and Ajmal," Alam said. "I don't agree that Ajmal bowls a different doosra, there is only one kind of doosra. Ajmal has hyper-mobility in his arm and I hope everything goes well for him."
Ajmal can continue to play for cricket until the tests on his action are conducted. If, during the examination, he bowls a single delivery with an elbow flexion in excess of 15 degrees, he will be suspended and ordered to undertake remedial work on his delivery motion.
Meanwhile, Nathan Hauritz, the Australian off-spinner, said he was experimenting with his own version of the doosra in the nets. "I just think it takes a lot of time, a lot of practice, just trying to get all the body parts right and in the right place," Hauritz told AAP. "I try to practice it two or three times a week, about 10 balls, because it gets very painful, my body's not used to it."

Today's Live Match 24 April 2009

Mohali Punjab Kings Vs Bangalore Royal Challengers

24 April 2009

Venue :Kingsmead, Durban Live action starts from: 14:30 GMT (20:00 IST) T20 IPL 2009 Twenty20 match Match

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Pakistan Vs Australia

24 April 2009

Venue :Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium (D/N) Live action starts from: 10:30 GMT (16:00 IST) ODI tralia and Pakistan Tour of UAE 2009 One Day International Match

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Indian Premier League 2009 Match Result

Indian Premier League, 2009

1st match: Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians at Cape Town - Apr 18, 2009Mumbai Indians won by 19 runsMumbai Indians 165/7 (20/20 ov); Chennai Super Kings 146/7 (20/20 ov)

2nd match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Rajasthan Royals at Cape Town - Apr 18, 2009Bangalore Royal Challengers won by 75 runsBangalore Royal Challengers 133/8 (20/20 ov); Rajasthan Royals 58 (15.1/20 ov)

3rd match: Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab at Cape Town - Apr 19, 2009Delhi Daredevils won by 10 wickets (with 7 balls remaining) (D/L method)Kings XI Punjab 104/7 (12/12 ov); Delhi Daredevils 58/0 (4.5/6 ov)

4th match: Deccan Chargers v Kolkata Knight Riders at Cape Town - Apr 19, 2009Deccan Chargers won by 8 wickets (with 41 balls remaining)Kolkata Knight Riders 101 (19.4/20 ov); Deccan Chargers 104/2 (13.1/20 ov)

5th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Chennai Super Kings at Port Elizabeth - Apr 20, 2009Chennai Super Kings won by 92 runsChennai Super Kings 179/5 (20/20 ov); Bangalore Royal Challengers 87 (15.2/20 ov)

6th match: Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders at Durban - Apr 21, 2009Kolkata Knight Riders won by 11 runs (D/L method)Kings XI Punjab 158/6 (20/20 ov); Kolkata Knight Riders 79/1 (9.2/9.2 ov)

7th match: Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals at Durban - Apr 21, 2009Match abandoned without a ball bowled

8th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Deccan Chargers at Cape Town - Apr 22, 2009Deccan Chargers won by 24 runsDeccan Chargers 184/6 (20/20 ov); Bangalore Royal Challengers 160/8 (20/20 ov)

9th match: Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils at Durban - Apr 23, 2009Delhi Daredevils won by 9 runsDelhi Daredevils 189/5 (20/20 ov); Chennai Super Kings 180/9 (20/20 ov)

10th match: Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals at Cape Town - Apr 23, 2009Match tiedRajasthan Royals 150/6 (20/20 ov); Kolkata Knight Riders 150/8 (20/20 ov)

Pakistan v Australia, 2nd ODI, Dubai

Pakistan v Australia, 2nd ODI, Dubai

Australia push to turn corner after opening setback

April 23, 2009

Match factsApril 24, 2009Start time 3pm (11.00GMT)
Shahid Afridi was the all-round star of the opening encounter © AFP
Big PictureAfter a bad start for Australia and a strong one for Pakistan, both teams are chasing more improvement for the second match of the five-game one-day series in Dubai on Friday. Pakistan's first engagement since the terror attacks in Lahore showed some batting rustiness, but there was no problem with their slow bowling, which remains a key problem for Australia despite the denials of Michael Clarke.
Australia's play in the middle order was awful as they lost 8 for 27 on the way to a four-wicket defeat. They have called for more video footage of Shahid Afridi, who took six wickets, and the offspinner Saeed Ajmal before the second game, but given their performance against slow bowlers over the past few months, it would be a surprise to see a major change in results.
Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)Pakistan WLLWWAustralia LWLLL
Watch out forShahid Afridi dominating a match should not be a surprise, but the way he did it with the ball - and not the bat - was breathtaking. Afridi's 6 for 38 from 10 overs were career-best figures and he swept through Australia to set up the success. A 16-ball 24 also gave the team some momentum when they threatened to make the small chase overly difficult.
Another allrounder, James Hopes, had a fine day too, but his strong contributions of 48 not out and 2 for 22 off eight were dwarfed by Afridi's output. Hopes has developed into a handy performer with bat and ball and now needs his team-mates to fire around him.
Team newsMarcus North is in the squad following Shaun Marsh's quick exit with a hamstring injury, but his late arrival will probably rule him out of game two. Marsh returns home and his gap will require some series reshuffling, with Michael Clarke and Shane Watson contenders to partner Brad Haddin at the top of the order.
Australia (possible) 1 Michael Clarke (capt), 2 Brad Haddin (wk), 3 Shane Watson, 4 David Hussey, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Callum Ferguson, 7 James Hopes, 8 Nathan Hauritz, 9 Stuart Clark, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus.
Following their encouraging opening, Pakistan are unlikely to do too much to their side, which needs match practice following their unscheduled break. Expect Afridi and Ajmal to create more problems, especially if they work in tandem.
Pakistan (possible) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Kamran Akmal (wk), 3 Younis Khan, 4 Shoaib Malik, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Nasir Jamshed, 8 Umar Gul, 9 Shoaib Akhtar, 10 Iftikhar Anjum, 11 Saeed Ajmal.
Pitch and conditionsThis is the last game in Dubai before the series switches to Abu Dhabi for Monday's match. Clear and warm conditions are predicted for the day-night encounter.
Stats and Trivia
Pakistan have never been beaten by Australia in four ODIs in the United Arab Emirates
In 18 games in the UAE Australia have won 10 and lost eight.
Both Afridi and Ajmal recorded personal-best figures in the opening contest
Quotes"We don't have exposure in domestic cricket in Australia to that style of bowling. It is difficult when the first time you get it is when you step up to international level ... My shoulder will probably get worn out throwing offspinners and doosras."Australia's coach Tim Nielsen looks for ways to fix his team's spin problems
"It was a fantastic team effort. The fast bowlers did well to check the openers and then Afridi and Saeed Ajmal bowled very well. We wobbled a bit when batting but all's well that ends well."Younis Khan after the opening success

Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals, IPL, Cape Town

Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals, IPL, Cape Town

Yusuf and Kamran steal Rajasthan a thriller

April 23, 2009

Kolkata Knight Riders 150 for 8 (Ganguly 46, Gayle 41, Kamran 3-18) tied with Rajasthan Royals 150 for 6 (Yusuf 42, Mendis 2-19). Rajasthan win in Super Over

Yusuf Pathan hit seven fours and four sixes in all to ensure a thrilling win for Rajasthan Royals © AFP
Yusuf Pathan broke the IPL's first tie and with it Kolkata Knight Riders' hearts through clean hitting in the Super Over, to chase down 16 runs in four deliveries. It was intense drama at Newlands with the match swinging either way - from the moment Rajasthan Royals lost two wickets in the first three overs till Sourav Ganguly's dismissal with two runs required and one ball to go - as the excitement spilled over into the Super Over, the solution to a Twenty20 tie.
It was Yusuf who helped Rajasthan recover from their second bad start in the tournament, at 14 for 2 in 2.2 overs this time. He plundered 42 off 21 balls, hitting six boundaries and two sixes. He then bowled the first over for Rajasthan, with fast, bouncy offbreaks to keep Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum from getting off to a quick start. His first three overs bowled inside the Powerplays, to two of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket went for just 12.
Later, Sourav Ganguly pulled another one out of the old hat to almost mastermind a chase that looked gone with five down and 57 required in the last six overs. His 46 off 30 balls - especially the backing away and hitting through the off side - evoked the days when Ganguly used to be the best ODI batsman in the world.
Kamran Khan, Shane Warne's left-arm sling prodigy, bowled the designated Super Over for Rajasthan, but he had already bowled a 'super over' before that - the last over of the actual match. Kolkata needed only seven to win off that over, and despite starting off with a wide, Kamran took Ganguly's wicket off the fifth ball and a single off the last ball ensured the dream result for the IPL, a tie.
Three Kolkata players would especially be heartbroken. Gayle, who was limping when he lofted the ball into the stratosphere many a time during his 41 off 33 balls, got the chase going. He then hit three successive boundaries in the Super Over to set Rajasthan a difficult target. He also assisted Ajantha Mendis in pulling back Rajasthan after Yusuf had reprised some of his last year's form. Mendis removed Yusuf and Graeme Smith, two of Rajasthan's most dangerous batsmen, in one over, and gave away only 19 in his four overs.
But in four balls of his Super Over, Mendis went for 18. Yusuf hit him over wide long-off for a first-ball six. He was then dropped off the second ball, with Brad Hodge failing to latch on to the miscued slog sweep running in from long-on towards mid-off. The third ball was hit over midwicket, and the fourth swept along the ground to square-leg boundary. Cricket can be tough on the toughest of players.
The most dejected - and it showed - was Ganguly, who brought in all his experience to fight Shane Warne's canny tactics to single-handedly take the game to a stage from where it should have been a cruise. But with eight required off eight, he lost his partner, Yashpal Sharma, to an irresponsible shot. On the fifth ball of the last over, with two required he himself went looking for a four through the off side and edged Kamran.
Heart-broken or not, when we look back at this game, Yusuf, Kamran, and Warne's innovative leadership will shine as the brightest moments.
Yusuf had come into bat when Anureet Singh, the Railways medium-pacer, and Ishant Sharma had taken out the Rajasthan newcomers Paul Valthaty and Rob Quiney in three balls early after they were put in by Kolkata. The changes were necessitated by a growing concern over some of the Indian domestic batsmen's capabilities on the bouncier pitches of South Africa.
But Yusuf put any such doubts over his credentials to rest as soon as he came in. A monstrous straight six off Ishant off the third ball he faced was followed by an across-the-line boundary off the next ball. Yusuf tried to spoil a decent debut by Anureet through a swivel-pulled six off the next ball he faced. Ajit Agarkar was the next in line, and he suffered the worst treatment, going for three boundaries in four balls. From 14 for 2 in 2.2 overs, Yusuf had taken Rajasthan to 54 for 2 at the end of the Powerplay through a brilliant counterattack.
But that's when Mendis came on, and turned the game around. Such was the choke applied by Mendis and Gayle that Rajasthan had to wait for 49 deliveries in the middle overs for a boundary. From 70 for 2 in eight overs, they went to 132 for 6 in 19 before Abhishek Raut, another debutant, ruined Anureet's debut with two sixes and a four in the last over.
A simplistic and a ruthless way to look back at the match would be to look at the 20th overs of each innings. Both times Kolkata looked a stronger side, but Rajasthan pulled it back through their immense fighting qualities. In the process the teams produced a Twenty20 classic. The only pity was that the teams had to be separated after they had both made multiple comebacks from seemingly impossible situations.

Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kings XI Punjab, IPL, Durban

Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kings XI Punjab, IPL, Durban

Strugglers search for top gear

April 23, 2009
Match factsApril 24, 2009 Start time 16.30pm (14.30GMT)

Bangalore's batting just hasn't been up to scratch © Getty Images
It hasn't been the start both teams would have hoped for, already having lost two matches each. Bangalore Royal Challengers' biggest problem has been their top-order batting: they have lost a wicket in the first over in every match, and end-of-Powerplay scores of 29 for 3, 46 for 2, and 31 for 2 aren't the best of platforms.
They now come up against a team which has one of the weaker bowling attacks around, a Kings XI Punjab outfit that is struggling to cope with the loss of Brett Lee, Sreesanth and Jerome Taylor. Another key performer they are missing is Shaun Marsh, who invariably provided them a cracking start last season.
While rain has dogged much of the tournament, no team has suffered as much as Punjab, both of whose games have been curtailed before even the tactical time-out was reached. They'll be hoping for a full match, and one that will finally get them off the mark.
Form guideYuvraj Singh remains the pivotal performer for Punjab, especially in the absence of the hard-hitting Australian trio of Marsh, Luke Pomersbach and James Hopes. They have other batsmen who can score quickly, but none have the explosive capability that Yuvraj possesses. Fast bowler Yusuf Abdulla was drafted in for his knowledge of South African conditions, but hasn't done much of note yet and needs to step up.
Bangalore's bowlers have looked clueless when Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist went on the rampage against them, and their batting has misfired in all three games so far. The fielding in the game against Deccan Chargers also didn't match the sharpness of the opposition's. They need their big guns, particularly the foreign ones, to raise their games if they are to improve on their showings.
Watch out forDale Steyn v Yuvraj Singh: Steyn has been quick, but hasn't made the sort of impact expected from a team's pace spearhead. His side will be looking to him to rein in Yuvraj, who can cause as much damage as the veteran Australians who sunk Bangalore in their two previous matches.
Team newsWith Rahul Dravid having had to prop up the batting so far, Bangalore will be tempted to include the power hitting of Mark Boucher or Cameron White in their side. Rajesh Bishnoi hasn't done much with his limited opportunities, and his place could come under scrutiny.
Bangalore: (probable) 1 Robin Uthappa, 2 Praveen Kumar, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 Kevin Pietersen (capt), 5 Rahul Dravid, 6 Virat Kohli, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Karan Sharma, 9 Vinay Kumar, 10 Anil Kumble, 11 Dale Steyn
Despite two losses, Punjab aren't likely to tinker with their four overseas players, mainly because of a lack of quality options. The bowlers haven't had too much of a chance to show what they are capable of, so they could retain their places.
Punjab: (probable) 1 Karan Goel, 2 Ravi Bopara, 3 Yuvraj Singh (capt), 4 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 5 Mahela Jayawardene, 6 Irfan Pathan, 7 Taruwar Kohli, 8 Piyush Chawla, 9 Vikramjeet Malik, 10 VRV Singh, 11 Yusuf Abdulla
Head-to-head recordPunjab were one of the teams to beat in the league phase last season while Bangalore were dismal right through the tournament. Punjab posted easy wins both the times they came up against Bangalore in 2008.
Quotes"We were in the same position last year, so hopefully we can go and pick things up."Yuvraj Singh looks to history for inspiration

Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils, IPL, Durban

Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils, IPL, Durban

Delhi clinch high-scoring thriller

April 23, 2009
20 overs Delhi Daredevils 189 for 5 (de Villiers 105*, Dilshan 50, Balaji 3-19) beat Chennai Super Kings (Hayden 57, Raina 41, Sangwan 3-28)

AB de Villiers played the perfect Twenty20 innings to set up Delhi Daredevils © AFP
Delhi Daredevils, inspired by AB de Villiers' superbly-paced century, held their nerve in the field to beat Chennai Super Kings in the first close game of IPL 2. de Villiers' century, the first of the tournament, came after Delhi's innings started in catastrophe and powered them to the highest total this season. Matthew Hayden charged a stiff chase with another aggressive innings and Suresh Raina's cool head kept Chennai on par with the asking rate, but Delhi won the battle of the death overs to sneak a thriller. Leading, expectedly, was the parsimonious Daniel Vettori who, after striking after the seven-and-a-half minute tactical break, bowled a decisive penultimate over.
This was a win fashioned with the bat. Tillakaratne Dilshan and de Villiers added 68 at a frenetic clip after Delhi were struggling at 8 for 2 with Gautam Gambhir - out to the very economical L Balaji first ball - and Virender Sehwag - pulling needlessly - out early. Dilshan started like a man with a train to catch, slashing five fours and two sixes in his first 15 balls. Taking a cue from de Villiers, who pulled Manpreet Gony for an easy six over midwicket, Dilshan picked the same bowler off his pads for six. Then he welcomed Albie Morkel into the attack by thumping three successive boundaries in a 17-run over. Dilshan slashed Andrew Flintoff over slip and then pulled him for a flat six. Fourty-five had been crashed off three overs and Dilshan's fifty took 24 balls. He fell slapping a full toss to extra cover.
While Dilshan was going berserk, de Villiers looked briefly like he was at the wrong party, simply scurrying down the other end with open-faced steers behind square. But once Dilshan departed de Villiers had to play host. The pattern of scoring changed from boundaries to nudges, flicks and cuts to third man. It appeared, as Chennai sneaked in 29 boundary-less deliveries and Balaji returned to dismiss Dinesh Karthik, that Delhi may have squandered Dilshan's platform.
Then Morkel drop a sitter off de Villiers the ball after he had raised his half-century and all hell broke loose. Clearing his front leg and relying on amazing hand-eye contact de Villiers thumped three sixes and three fours before clipping his 51st delivery to raise an amazing century. His second fifty needed just 19 balls.
It was a power-packed innings, highlighted by de Villiers' stunning assault in the last four overs: nothing matched the 20 he smashed in four successive balls off Flintoff. The fifth-wicket stand between de Villiers and Manoj Tiwary was worth 74 in 5.5 overs, Tiwary's contribution being nine.
Chasing the highest target set this season, Chennai needed something special. Hayden sparked it, with ten in the first over of the chase. Ashish Nehra looked like a man who hadn't played international standard opposition in months, dragging the ball short to allow a pumped Hayden clip runs through midwicket. Avishkar Salvi struggled to locate his line - either serving full or dropping short - and Hayden merrily ransacked him to the leg side in a 24-run over. Hayden raised his fifty from 22 balls.
Domination led to his dismissal and gave the impressive Pradeep Sangwan his second wicket. Having got Parthiv Patel driving to de Villiers at cover with a full one, Sangwan opted for a shorter length and Hayden miscued a pull to the deep.
At the half-way mark Chennai were 106 for 2, well on track thanks to Hayden. Vettori varied his pace and length to stifle MS Dhoni and drew a nick through to Karthik. Suresh Raina kept the flame burning with another gem - finding the boundary every over - before he sent a Sangwan full toss down long-on's throat for a 27-ball 41. Sangwan bowled well and picked up three wickets.
It was still anyone's game with Flintoff at the crease, 42 needed and Nehra called back for the 16th over. Flintoff worked a single, Morkel clipped four, but when Flintoff got back on strike Nehra forced him to hole out to long-off.
Salvi returned to bowl a five-run 17th over but thanks to Chennai's good work the asking rate was under ten. It was nerve-racking as both teams battled for a decisive edge. Nehra kept it very full and straight, Karthik missed a run out, Morkel survived another tight over. With 24 needed from 12 Sehwag tossed the ball back to Vettori, who immediately dismissed a sluggish S Badrinath. Vettori's over included a six by Gony and a run out to set pulses soaring, but by then the match had been decided. David Warner may not have gotten a game yet but he made his presence felt with two catches in the deep and a direct hit in the last over. A chase that had started with power ended in a panic.
Three overseas stars showed there was more to Delhi than Sehwag and Gambhir, further indication that this is the team to beat in the IPL.

Pakistan cricket

Pakistan cricket

Pakistan ponder options for change of address

April 23, 2009
The PCB is considering putting forth a proposal to host its share of the World Cup matches in Dubai, with Pakistan as 'host' © AFP
Nearly a week after the ICC's decision to move away the 2011 World Cup from Pakistan and effectively rule out international cricket in the country due to security concerns, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is weighing up options of how to move on. Though officially there has been silence from the board - apart from filing an official protest to the decision with the ICC - contact has been maintained with the ICC hierarchy on how best to proceed and two options on where Pakistan will play its designated 'home' cricket from now have become clear.
One is playing cricket at a designated neutral venue, such as Dubai. As an indication of the viability of this option, it is learnt that the PCB is considering putting forth a proposal to host its share of the World Cup matches in Dubai, with Pakistan as 'host.' It seems, however, that the proposal has been ruled out already by the ICC. "No, that is not an option," Haroon Lorgat, chief executive, ICC, told Cricinfo. "The board has made a decision. But I think this is a proposal (the PCB) is considering making. That is flowing from discussions I had today [Thursday] and yesterday with various people, including Pakistan ministry of sport."
Even as a longer-term option, the PCB concedes there are concerns. Logistically, in terms of distance at least, it is workable but board officials currently in the UAE are wary of the financial difficulties involved. "Dubai is a very expensive option," a senior board official told Cricinfo. "Security costs, hotel costs and just hosting a cricket match here is very expensive so that aspect has to be looked at."
The other option that has come up in discussions is for the PCB to work out individual arrangements with other countries to host its matches. New Zealand, for example, were due to tour later in the year: that series could now be held in New Zealand with Pakistan as the designated hosts. In such a case, Pakistan gets the hosting fee while NZC will charge the PCB a nominal amount for expenses.
But this bilateral, case-by-case arrangement could run into complications with TV rights. Ten Sports owns the right to broadcast Pakistan's home matches for the next five years. In New Zealand's case, Sky New Zealand owns rights to home matches and clearly some agreement will have to be worked out in such a scenario: the PCB says it will go ahead with this arrangement only if it is guaranteed TV rights money. A neutral venue such as Dubai or Abu Dhabi - where Ten Sports owns the rights - makes that option more attractive.
There is still a belief in Pakistan's cricket circles that countries can be convinced to visit. But one official said you would have to be "senile" to expect countries to come now. "After the attacks of March 3, it is impossible to expect anyone to come here. We fought at the meeting to retain the tournament but the simple truth is that players are just not willing to travel here right now," he said.


Let's allow the situation to cool down, and make sure Pakistan continues to play international cricket in the interim. It is impossible to put a timeframe on this. It could be next month, it could be six months, it could be the end of this year Haroon Lorgat, ICC chief executive

The board "protested vigorously and fought to retain Pakistan's host status, but there was no support," an official present at the meeting told Cricinfo. The BCCI, it is learnt, didn't support Pakistan openly because there was a chance of the World Cup being lost altogether to Australia and New Zealand. Indeed, Pakistan is said to have preferred this option, asking instead to be inked in for the 2015 World Cup.
The financial fallout from the loss of the World Cup may not be as hefty as was originally predicted. World Cup hosts receive US$750,000 per game from the ICC but this mostly covers the expenses of organizing the match. All 10 full members share 75% of the total profit: thus each country will get a 7.5% share, and Pakistan will not miss out on that. What they will lose, however, is the gate money and that raised through hospitality.
The ICC insists it will stand by and help Pakistan through this, rejecting the notion that the country is being isolated. "I am worried that there was any message suggesting we were looking to distance ourselves from Pakistan," Lorgat said. "That is not true. In fact, it is quite the opposite. We are very keen for Pakistan to continue playing international cricket.
"There is a great reluctance from all players to go to Pakistan right now. Let's allow the situation to cool down, and make sure Pakistan continues to play international cricket in the interim. It is impossible to put a timeframe on this. It could be next month, it could be six months, it could be the end of this year."
Lorgat added that the PCB had been offered a taskforce to work with them and monitor the situation. "We hope the offer will be accepted. The offer is on the table."

Todays Live Match 23 April 2009

Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Jaipur Rajasthan Royals

Venue :Cape Town Live action starts from: 14:30 GMT (20:00 IST) T20 IPL 2009 Twenty20 match Match

KKR
Vs
JRR

Chennai Super Kings Vs Delhi Daredevils

Venue :Kingsmead, Durban Live action starts from: 10:30 GMT (16:00 IST) T20 IPL 2009 Twenty20 match Match

CSK
Vs
DD

Australia v Pakistan ODI Series - 1st ODIAustralia v Pakistan

Australia v Pakistan ODI Series - 1st ODIAustralia v Pakistan

Played at Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium (neutral venue) on 22 April 2009 - day/night (50-over match)

Result Pakistan won by 4 wickets (with 35 balls remaining)

IPL T20 Result Updt

8th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Deccan Chargers at Cape Town - Apr 22, 2009Deccan Chargers won by 24 runsDeccan Chargers 184/6 (20/20 ov); Bangalore Royal Challengers 160/8 (20/20 ov)

Pakistan v Australia, 1st ODI, Dubai

Pakistan v Australia, 1st ODI, Dubai

A welcome win, no doubt

April 22, 2009
Pakistan's win in Dubai was only their second in the last 12 ODIs © Associated Press
It really didn't matter that Pakistan chased down their target tonight with all the assurance of a one-legged man roller-skating in quicksand with his hands tied behind his back. It only mattered that they chased them down at all, even if at one stage it seemed Misbah-ul-Haq was bent upon wresting his countryman's hold on the longest international innings of all time.
Pakistan are not used to playing against Australia and they are certainly not used to winning against them; this was only a second win in their last 12 ODIs (over nearly seven years) against them. Though not many in this team are scarred by that kind of record, they batted as if that history was firmly on their mind. If this was a weakened, transitional Australia, it was Australia nonetheless and Pakistan can happily point to an absent middle-order bearded wonder and an equally absent lanky fast bowling genius.
But with the added layers of what has happened to Pakistan cricket over the last two months, the broader fate that has befallen them over the last two years, and to a nation seeking cheer as desperately as Susan, it is as welcome as might be a water cooler in the Thar desert. The details don't matter as much as the bigger picture but they are worth noting, if only to sketch an outline over the rest of the series.
Intikhab Alam, Pakistan's coach, had said before the series that spin would be key, but could he have imagined this? The modern Australia have often been limited against spin, struggling against it to score at pace. Johan Botha and several South African spinners played key roles in the two ODI series wins over them this year so Intikhab wasn't talking cheap.
But to crash so haplessly so as to lose eight for 27 at one stage and more significantly, look so utterly bewildered? Shahid Afridi has been one of Pakistan's better ODI bowlers in a unit that has struggled to show bite, conceding 300-plus five times since last June. He forms Pakistan's holding pattern generally: bring down the run-rate during the middle overs, maybe pick up one or two momentum-stifling wickets. He is rarely expected to wreck an entire line-up.
It's difficult to see what he did so differently today to what he has been doing. He did get marked drift and appreciable turn, as he does. He was accurate, as he is. He was generous mixing in his wrong 'uns and the other tidbits, as he always is. The only surprise was that Australia were so poor at playing fare that, among others, Sri Lanka and India have handled with relative comfort.
His collaborator Saeed Ajmal, meanwhile, has quietly gone about doing what is expected of many modern offies. He doesn't give runs up cheaply and it compensates for a lack of guile. His doosra has always spun and he doesn't mind using it, but Australia read him as well as you might expect them to read an Urdu newspaper. If you didn't know about their previous with spin, this could be put down as a freakish glitch. It may yet prove as much, at least in this series.
For now, though, the need isn't for such analysis. For tonight and tomorrow, Pakistan can bask a little in the glow of this win. How significant it might prove cannot yet be told, but much caution must be advised for days ahead. All Australian sides, even this one, have fight in their DNA - they will not let this series slip by just as they didn't this match.
And Pakistan are well-rehearsed in letting slip some good cheer from their grasp. The euphoric win against Sri Lanka in the 2006 Champions Trophy after Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif had been sent back, heralded only a shambolic exit soon after. More recently, they slipped against Sri Lanka at home, having trumped Murali and Mendis first up. Nobody will forget either that they were bowled out for 75 in the last game of that series; in fact their last ODI before this one.
Maybe the struggle to chase tonight is a good thing after all. It will - or it should - keep real the difficulty of the task ahead.

Today's Match 22 April 2009

Pakistan Vs Australia

22 April 2009

Venue :Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium (D/N) Live action starts from: 10:30 GMT (16:00 IST) ODI tralia and Pakistan Tour of UAE 2009 One Day International Match

PAK
Vs
AUS

Bangalore Royal Challengers Vs Hyderabad Deccan Chargers

22 April 2009

Venue :Newlands, Cape Town Live action starts from: 14:30 GMT (20:00 IST) T20 IPL 2009 Match

BRC
Vs
HDC

IPL T20 Result Update

6th match: Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders at Durban - Apr 21, 2009Kolkata Knight Riders won by 11 runs (D/L method)Kings XI Punjab 158/6 (20/20 ov); Kolkata Knight Riders 79/1 (9.2/9.2 ov)

7th match: Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals at Durban - Apr 21, 2009Match abandoned without a ball bowled

Pakistan v Australia, 1st ODI, Dubai

Pakistan v Australia, 1st ODI, Dubai

Comeback chance for Shoaib and Symonds

April 21, 2009
Match factsApril 22, 2009Start time 2.30pm (10.30GMT)

Andrew Symonds returns to the ODI fold after a long absence © Getty Images
Big PictureFor a team which has had little international cricket in the recent past the next couple of weeks is a huge opportunity: Pakistan have only played two Tests and six ODIs in the last nine months, but will play five ODIs and a Twenty20 game over the next 16 days against the second-best team in one-day cricket. While that's a significant occasion for Pakistan, it'll also test their preparedness - if they come out rusty, their lack of match practice could be ruthlessly exposed. It'll help, though, that their team is being led Younis Khan, a captain who exudes positive energy and is probably the best man to keep team spirits high in such depressing times.
For Australia, the problem is the opposite: they've played 12 Tests and 18 ODIs in the last nine months, and they have so much more cricket coming up in the next few months that some of their big names have been forced to take a break. Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson are being rested, while Brett Lee isn't yet fit enough. In Ponting's absence, Michael Clarke will lead a team which has been struggling to assert itself in ODIs lately, losing a couple of series to South Africa and drawing one to New Zealand. The series is also an opportunity for a couple of players to return to the national fold - Andrew Symonds is back in ODIs after a ten-month absence, while Stuart Clark has an opportunity to stake his claim again after recovering from an elbow injury.
There'll be plenty of focus on the venue too: the Dubai Sports City Stadium will become the 172nd venue to host an ODI, and by all accounts the 25,000-seater has impressed both teams. With so much uncertainty over the security situation in Pakistan, a good show here will encourage more games - possibly even Tests - at this ground, which will be good news for Pakistan and for world cricket.
Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)Pakistan LLWWWAustralia WLLLW
Watch out forAndrew Symonds: Back in the Australian ODI team for the first time since July 2008, Symonds will be keen to prove he has worked on his attitude and his form, and is ready to perform at the top level again. Strong displays here will strengthen his case for a place in Australia's squad for the World Twenty20, and perhaps even the Ashes.
Shoaib Akhtar: There are plenty of question marks about Shoaib's form and fitness, but his ability to turn it on when fully focused isn't in doubt. The dry conditions in Dubai should help his reverse-swing too.
Team newsPakistan are most likely to play three specialist fast bowlers - Shoaib, Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir - with Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik offering spin support. Nasir Jamshed should be back at the top of the order after missing the last couple of series.
Pakistan (probable) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Nasir Jamshed, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Saeed Ajmal.
Despite putting together century stands in their last two games in South Africa, Australia are likely to disturb the opening combination of Brad Haddin and Clarke, and instead put Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson at the top of the order. Haddin is likely to drop to No.3, with Clarke in next. With Johnson and Siddle resting and Lee injured, the bowling attack will have some changes too, and Clark might get an early chance to prove his fitness.
Australia (probable) 1 Shaun Marsh, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Brad Haddin (wk), 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 David Hussey, 7 Callum Ferguson, 8 Nathan Hauritz, 9 Stuart Clark, 10 Nathan Bracken, 11 Ben Laughlin.
Pitch and conditionsPakistan aren't playing at home, but conditions at the Dubai Sports City Stadium will probably resemble those in Lahore or Karachi. The heat will be quite acute, and the dry conditions should offer plenty of encouragement for the spinners.
Stats and Trivia
Australia have been in wretched ODI form this year, winning only five matches out of 15, and losing nine.
Nathan Bracken has been one of the below-par performers during this period, with only ten wickets in 14 matches at an average of 39.93 and an economy rate of 5.34.
In 11 ODIs against Australia, Younis has only scored 158 runs at an average of 15.80, with one half-century.
These two teams last played an ODI more than three years ago, during the VB Series in February 2005. Australia won the best-of-three finals 2-0.
Quotes"Personally, I'm delighted to be back in Aussie colours - I've had a few decent tussles with Pakistan over the years, my debut in Pakistan for starters, and the 2003 World Cup, and I've no doubt this will be a tough series against them. The challenge is there for all of us to roll up our sleeves and get into it."Andrew Symonds is glad to be back in the ODI squad
"We've been given a fantastic opportunity to perform and put your hand up while guys are out resting or injured. It gives somebody else an opportunity to push for the 2011 World Cup."Michael Clarke puts a positive spin to the fact that so many top players are missing from the Australian squad
"There is no alternative to playing at home but unfortunately we have to play in Emirates but the conditions here are similar to Pakistan and we feel it is like a home away from home. I hope Pakistani people who live here will come to encourage us."Younis Khan tries to make the best of a difficult situation
"I am pleased at Shoaib's discipline both on and off the field. He has shown promise and he is bowling with commitment, and I have lots of hope that he would deliver for us, which, I tell you, is very important." Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan coach, has high expectations from Shoaib Akhtar

Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL

Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL, Durban

Teams keen to get off the blocks

April 20, 2009
Match factsApril 21, 2009Start time 12.30pm (10.30GMT)
Karan Goel's sixes over wide long-on after charging the Delhi Daredevils bowlers were a treat to watch in the last match © Getty Images
Big Picture
Both Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders lost the opening game of their IPL campaigns on a rainy Sunday in Cape Town and the teams are now preparing to take on each other in Durban, where unfortunately the weather forecast for Tuesday is also bleak.
Punjab, however, will not be too disheartened even though Delhi beat them by ten wickets at Newlands. Their innings was curtailed to 12 overs by rain and further showers reduced Delhi's target to 54 in six overs, leaving Punjab's bowlers with little chance. The highlight of the game for Punjab was the performance of their openers, Ravi Bopara and Karan Goel, who added 67 at more than ten runs an over.
Kolkata, on the other hand, had a horrid outing against Deccan Chargers. Their pre-tournament build up was fraught with controversy over the multiple-captain theory and the issue was laid to rest only days before their first match, with Brendon McCullum taking over the leadership duties from Sourav Ganguly. The unrest reflected in their performance: Kolkata were 34 for 4 after 10.4 overs and the top-score was Brad Hodge's 31. Unlike those of other franchises, Kolkata's owner Shahrukh Khan was vocal about his disappointment over his team's performance and another poor outing will only increase pressure and criticism levels.
Player form guide
Punjab: The openers Goel and Bopara surprised a few people with the power with which they hit the ball against Delhi. Both of them played aggressive cameos while Yuvraj also smashed a couple of sixes before he was run out. The bowlers - Yusuf Abdulla and Vikramjeet Malik in particular - barely had a work out because of the shortened innings but they withered under a fierce onslaught from Virender Sehwag.
Kolkata: The explosive opening combination of Chris Gayle and McCullum failed against Deccan and the rest of the batsmen followed suit. The bowling did not inspire either - Ashok Dinda was the only one who took a wicket - as Deccan needed to take no risks to meet an asking-rate of less than six an over.
Watch out for
Karan Goel: He opened for Punjab, when quite a few expected Kumar Sangakkara to partner Bopara, and thrived against the new ball. He began by powering the ball square on the off side but the shots that stood out were his sixes over wide long-on after charging the fast bowlers.
Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle: They are one of two overseas opening combinations in the tournament. Both batsmen are dynamic hitters but both failed against Deccan. Don't bet on both failing once again.
Friendly fire
Ishant Sharma v Yuvraj Singh: The last two times Yuvraj batted at Kingsmead, he smashed 58 off 16 balls against England, and 70 off 30 balls against Australia during the World Twenty20. Ishant will hope to have more success against him than Stuart Broad and Stuart Clark did.
Team news
Punjab are likely to play the same overseas players as they did against Delhi, unless they want to give Burt Cockley a go instead of Yusuf Abdulla. There isn't too much reason to change the Indian players either because they barely had chance to succeed or fail in the first game.
Punjab: 1 Ravi Bopara, 2 Karan Goel, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Yuvraj Singh (capt), 5 Mahela Jaayawardene, 6 Irfan Pathan, 7 Piyush Chawla, 8 Taruwar Kohli, 9 Vikramjeet Malik, 10 VRV Singh, 11 Yusuf Abdulla.
Kolkata did not play Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis in the first game, choosing to give the fourth overseas-player's slot to Australian allrounder Moises Henriques. However, they might think about including Mendis, given that their others managed to take only one Deccan wicket among them.
Kolkata: 1 Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), 2 Chris Gayle, 3 Sourav Ganguly, 4 Brad Hodge, 5 Aakash Chopra, 6 Laxmi Ratan Shukla, 7 Moises Henriques, 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Murali Kartik, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Ashok Dinda.
Head-to-head record
Punjab won their first match against Kolkata in the 2008 IPL by nine runs but lost the second game by three wickets in a last-over finish.

IPL POINT TABLE AS ON 20 APRIL 2009

Team Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR

Delhi Daredevils 1 1 0 0 0 2 +3.167

Deccan Chargers 1 1 0 0 0 2 +2.849

Chennai 2 1 1 0 0 2 +1.825

Mumbai Indians 1 1 0 0 0 2 +0.950

Bangalore 2 1 1 0 0 2 -0.425

Kolkata 1 0 1 0 0 0 -2.849

Kings XI Punjab 1 0 1 0 0 0 -3.167

Rajasthan Royals 1 0 1 0 0 0 -3.750

IPL RESULT 5TH MATCH

5th match: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Chennai Super Kings at Port Elizabeth - Apr 20, 2009Chennai Super Kings won by 92 runsChennai Super Kings 179/5 (20/20 ov); Bangalore Royal Challengers 87 (15.2/20 ov)

Todays Match 21 April 2009

Mohali Punjab Kings Vs Kolkata Knight Riders

Venue :Kingsmead, Durban Live action starts from: 10:30 GMT (16:00 IST) T20 IPL 2009 Match

MPK
Vs
KKR

Jaipur Rajasthan Royals Vs Mumbai Indians

Venue :Kingsmead, Durban Live action starts from: 14:30 GMT (20:00 IST) T20 IPL 2009 Match

JRR
Vs
MI

LIVE ON

SONY SET MAX

Indian Premier League 2009--Ganguly among runs for KKR

Indian Premier League 2009

Ganguly among runs for KKR

April 9, 2009
Leading by example: Sourav Ganguly © AFP
The controversy over John Buchanan's multiple-captain strategy for the Kolkata Knight Riders does not seem to have affected Sourav Ganguly, who was among the runs in a practice tie against the Eagles in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
Ganguly hit a brisk unbeaten 61 and was well-supported by Cheteshwar Pujara (66 not out) as KKR ran out winners by nine wickets, the Kolkata Telegraph reported. With the IPL beginning on April 18, the pre-tournament form will come as a welcome boost for Ganguly, who was embroiled, before leaving India, in a controversy surrounding Buchanan's theory.
"I don't wish to comment on the captaincy issue. But, yes, it's nice to get runs in one's first match in new conditions. However, there's a long way to go, there's plenty of work to be done," the paper reported Ganguly as saying.
Buchanan's concept of having multiple leaders, later altered to 'one captain, many strategists' would redefine leadership in cricket. It has been on trial during these warm-up games, albeit with little success. The first two games against the same opposition on Tuesday, with Laxmi Ratan Shukla at the helm, resulted in heavy defeats - by 48 runs and four wickets respectively.
Ganguly, who sat out both those matches, replaced Aakash Chopra on Wednesday. Although it remains uncertain if the side would have a regular or rotating captain, Ganguly would no doubt have made a firm claim.
Ajit Agarkar and Charl Langeveldt also showed good form with the ball picking up two wickets apiece. However, an injury to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, who underwent surgery on his left thumb late on Monday, caused some concern.
"Nothing can be assumed till the stitches are removed. For now, we've just got to wait and watch," said Joy Bhattacharjya, KKR's team director.

Indian Premier League 2009

Indian Premier League 2009

Tactical time-out hampers team's momentum - Tendulkar

April 20, 2009
Sachin Tendulkar isn't a fan of the tactical time-out © Getty Images
The IPL's new 'tactical timeout' is hampering the momentum of a team in a Twenty20 match, Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar has said. The seven-and-a-half-minute break in the middle of an innings has also been criticised by Mumbai offspinner Harbhajan Singh, who told NDTV he did not like it because it "breaks the rhythm".
"Yes, we have done well in our last match but I think the strategy breaks are hampering the momentum of a team," Tendulkar said. "The seven and a half minute breaks are a bit too long."
Mumbai began their IPL campaign by beating Chennai Super Kings by 19 runs in Cape Town on Saturday and Chennai's head of cricket operations, VB Chandrasekhar, was also not pleased by the scheduled break.
"The seven and a half minute break after 10 overs is quite a distraction and comes in the way of valuable momentum, but that is something all teams will have to live with this year," Chandrasekhar wrote in his blog on the team's website. "Further, we had an unscheduled break of seven to eight minutes with a magnificent black canine holding centre stage amid hilarious scenes never before witnessed."
Chandrasekhar, a former India batsman and ex-national selector, is not the only credible face in the IPL to have voiced concerns about the timeout that was introduced to show more commericials on Indian television. Tom Moody, the Kings XI Punjab coach, admitted on Sunday that the timeout had affected his team's momentum, leading to a loss against Delhi Daredevils.
"We had the momentum and we had seven and a half minutes to lose it," Moody said. "It was the perfect time for Daniel Vettori to come on and secure the momentum back in favour of Delhi. But there are going to be days in this tournament when it works in our favour too."
Meanwhile, Chandrasekhar wrote Morkel's omission was a key reason for Chennai's 19-run loss to Mumbai. "A last minute change to the side was to prove costly for us as Albie landed here sans his gear. The airline had lost it in transit from Johannesburg where he had played the last ODI game against the touring Aussies," he wrote. "Albie was very disappointed and stressed at the sad turn of events. We missed him for his all-round skills, although Thushara did bowl well in his opening spell."
The other disappointments for Chennai was the catch dropped by Mathew Hayden at slip to let off Sachin Tendulkar off Andrew Flintoff and the three sixes hit by Abhishek Nayar in another Flintoff over. "Tendulkar was dropped early and later, Abhishek Nayar got stuck into Freddie," Chandrasekhar wrote. "A little more planning was necessary for local players and that is an area to be addressed with greater care. Nayar's cameo gave them a competitive score. These factors, combined with a bad start to our chase when we lost a couple of early wickets, put us quickly in a catch up mode especially as Haydos [Hayden] couldn't dictate terms to Bhajji."