Raina top scorer in IPL

Published>Wed, Mar 31 10 09:53 PM

Chennai, March 31 (IANS) Suresh Raina's unbeaten 44 off 35 balls in Chennai Super Kings' five-wicket win over Bangalore Royal Challengers Wednesday catapulted him to the top of the run scorers list in the Indian Premier League.

Aggregating 1,093 at an average of 36.43 in 38 matches, Raina overtook Deccan Chargers skipper Adam Gilchrist's tally of 1,081 in 36 matches at an average of 30.88.

Other statistics of Wednesday's match:

Murali Vijay recorded a career-best 78 off 39 balls -- his maiden half-century and his highest innings in the IPL.

Vijay's knock was his second fifty in Twenty20 and his career-best.

Vijay's innings was embellished with six sixes, registering a strike rate of exactly 200.00.

Raina's runs tally of 238 at an average of 47.60 in eight matches is the highest for Chennai in the third edition of the IPL.

Raina now needs just one six to complete 50 sixes in the IPL, the top two being Gilchrist (57) and Yusuf Pathan (56).

Chennai Super Kings recorded their third victory in the third edition of the IPL.

Bangalore's defeat by five wickets is their third in seven matches in the 2010 edition of the IPL.

Chennai have posted their third win in seven games against Bangalore in the IPL.

Jacques Kallis has taken his run-aggregate to 362 at an average of 120.66, including four fifties, in seven innings.

Kallis became the second player to post four fifties in the third edition of the IPL.

With 314 at an average of 52.33 in seven innings, Sachin Tendulkar is the second in terms of runs' tally.

Kallis has now completed 900 runs in the IPL, amassing 922 at an average of 34.14, including 8 fifties, in 33 matches.

Shadab Jakati's excellent figures of 4-1-17-2 are his best in the third edition of the IPL.

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We lost momentum towards end of our batting: Kumble

Published Wed, Mar 31 10 09:43 PM

Chennai, Mar 31 (PTI) Bangalore Royal Challengers captain Anil Kumble today attributed his side''s five wicket defeat to Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League to the loss of momentum towards end of their batting, saying that it had made them 20 runs short of a challenging total. "We had the momentum until the 13th or the 14th over, but then we lost it a little bit," Kumble said referring to Jacques Kallis'' inability to force the pace of scoring at a crucial stage of the game. "We were some 20 runs short, and that made it a little hard for us," said Kumble. The former India captain said RCB were still well placed for a semifinal berth as seven more matches are left in the league stage. "There still are seven matches to go. Four out of seven is not a bad start. Yes, we lost a bit of momentum in the batting period and there were no early wickets. But Murali Vijay batted really well, and you must give credit to the Super Kings," he said. RCB lost back-to-back matches in the IPL III but Kumble compared it to last year''s performance. "We had plenty of losses at the start last year as well but we changed that. We have two games in the next three days, and hopefully they will go our way," he said. Chennai Super Kings opener and man of the match, Murali Vijay was happy that he contributed to his side''s win but said he should have carried his bat till the end of run chase. "It''s something I will work on. I am really happy that my contribution helped the team win. I enjoyed batting out there today in front of my home crowd," said Vijay, who made a scintillating 78 run off 39 balls. "This match really mattered to us as a team. Everyone was pumped up. From now on, we will take every match as it comes. Our next match is against the Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, and we will concentrate on what we can get out of that game," he added. On his quickfire 78, Vijay said, "I have proved a few things to myself. Getting runs in Twenty20 cricket under pressure is really difficult. This format is very intense and it tests you physically and mentally. I really enjoyed this knock, but what makes it even more special is that it helped the team register a victory and keep us in the hunt for a semifinal berth." PTI RE PDS

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Shillong Lajong hold Air India to 1-1 draw

Published Wed, Mar 31 10 09:29 PM

Mumbai, Mar 31 (PTI) Shillong Lajong FC rallied to hold Air India to a 1-1 draw in a 19th round I-League clash at the Cooperage ground here today. Striker N D Opara converted a penalty in the 19th minute to give the airmen an early lead, but Wailadmi Passah''s strike in the 83rd minute restored parity for the north-east club. A penalty was awarded to the home side after Opara was brought down by Passah. Opara made no mistake to convert it. Shillong Lajong made valiant attempts to equalise and they got a couple of opportunities to restore parity in the first half. However, Seikhohao Tuboi''s shot off a pass from Anil Gurung was blocked. Air India custodian Arnab Das Sharma then pulled of a fine save of a shot by Daniel Bidemi, who was set up by Tuboi after beating a couple of defenders. Fifteen minutes into the second half, Tuboi was again in the thick of action as he was in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Sharma. But his shot from the left was wide of the target. Lajong continued to make inroads into the Air India citadel and finally found success when Passah took advantage of a goalmouth melee and scored the equaliser. Following the draw, Air India have 23 points from 19 games, while Lajong have 21 points, also from 19 matches. PTI VKV AT PDS

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Daredevils pacer Nannes out for a week with injury

Published>Wed, Mar 31 10 09:15 PM

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) Delhi Daredevils fast bowler Dirk Nannes missed Wednesday's game against Rajasthan Royals with a finger injury and has been ruled out for a week from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The left-arm pacer sustained the injury after being hit by a scorching drive from Wriddhiman Saha in Daredevils' last game against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Feroze Shah Kotla Monday.

Nannes received stitches on the fingers and had to leave the field immediately without completing his over.

Nannes will surely miss the game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, April 4, but a top team official told IANS that he would be fit for the away match against Kolkata Knight Riders April 7.

Delhi have already been hit by injuries to captain Gautam Gambhir, who had to sit out for three matches, while paceman Ashish Nehra is yet to play a game.

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Ghei soars to 2nd place, Randhawa also in hunt

Published Wed, Mar 31 10 08:29 PM

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) Old hand Gaurav Ghei rolled back the years and brought home a sparkling five-under 67 to grab the second place while pre-tournament favourite Jyoti Randhawa also hurled himself in title contention as 32 Indian golfers made the halfway cut in the USD 300,000 SAIL Open here today. Swede rookie Richard Karlberg''s strong second round of three-under 69 kept him atop the leaderboard at 10-under 134 but Ghei, whose last win on Asian Tour came in 2007, put himself hot on Karlberg''s heels. After rounds of 68 and 67, Ghei trails Karlberg by one shot and is followed by the talented Shamim Khan (136) who jumped to third place after a strong three-under 69. Randhawa, who has won four Asian Tour titles at the Delhi Golf Club, also joined the mix and his four-under 68 today placed him fifth in the leaderboard -- four shots off the lead. Overnight second SSP Chowrasia slipped down the leaderboard after going one-over 73 today and the Kolkata pro joins compatriot Shiv Kapur, who turned in 72, at sixth place at five-under 139. Eight professionals crowd the eighth place at four-under 140 and the list includes Rahil Gangjee (71), Gaganjeet Bhullar (72), Himmat Rai (71) and Pappan (69). Indian Open winner C Muniyappa (145) slid to tied 52nd after carding a 76 today. Ghei''s sterling show brought smiles on the Indian faces and barring the 13th hole bogey, the seasoned golfer hardly put a foot wrong. Ghei began with a bang when he had an easy tap in for an eagle three on the first hole after a pin point approach shot with his rescue club. On his way back, Ghei sunk birdies on the 11th, 15th, 16th and 17th holes -- while dropping his lone bogey on the 13th -- to sign off with a five-under card. .

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Fennell feels Delhi Commonwealth Games preparations are 'in great shape'

Published>Wed, Mar 31 10 08:13 PM

Montego Bay, Mar. 31 (ANI): Commonwealth Games Federation President Mike Fennell has expressed optimism that Delhi will put up a first-class show as host of the XIX Commonwealth Games later this year.

"Things are in great shape. We had hoped all the venues would be ready ahead of time so we could test them but they will be completed ahead of the start of the Games," he said on the sidelines of the Queen's Baton Relay 2010 Delhi's visit to Jamaica.

Speaking at a reception hosted by the Indian community at Montego Bay, Fennell said the perceived setbacks in the planning especially in operations and management was no different from those of other major sporting events.

"India has spared no resources for the Games and everything will be first class," he said.

Fennell said the main concerns were about the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium that will host the opening ceremony, but assured that they should be completed soon.

He added that the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, which hosted the FIH World Cup hockey recently, is one of the finest anywhere in the world and promised that the Thyagaraj Stadium where the netball event will be held will impress. (ANI)

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S.Korea to offer North matches in World Cup bid

Published>Wed, Mar 31 10 07:53 PM

If South Korea win the bid to host the 2022 World Cup, they plan to offer North Korea the right to host a few games to help ease tension between the two neighbours, bid chairman Han Sung-joo said on Wednesday.

"It (hosting the World Cup) will contribute greatly to not only the football game itself but to the international situation in and around the Korean peninsula," Han told Reuters by telephone on Wednesday.

"We have plans to arrange a couple of games, maybe two or three games to be played in the northern part of Korea."

Tensions between the two foes rose again last week after a South Korean navy ship sank in the disputed Yellow Sea border off the west coast on Friday, with reports the North may have been involved although that was later ruled out.

Han said ties in sport, especially soccer, could help the two countries become closer.

"We don't know exactly what the situation will be by the year 2022, we might be a unified country or we might still be a divided country, either way it will be a good opportunity to bring North Korea into the mainstream of the world and it will contribute good relations between north and south."

The hosting of World Cup matches would help the impoverished North, who will play in their first World Cup finals for 44 years in June.

North Korea has come under mounting pressure to end a more than one-year boycott of international talks to end its efforts to build a nuclear arsenal.

The tensions have spread to the football sides after the South beat the North 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier last year.

North Korea complained to world governing body FIFA that their players had suffered vomiting, diarrhoea and headaches as a result of poisoning by the South, a claim rejected by the south.

But Han was confident that the offer of hosting matches could go someway to help repair relationships.

"We have not discussed this matter in any official way and I don't expect the North Korean football people to be able to say anything authoritative about this but we will have plenty of time between this year and 2022 regarding the collaboration," Han said.

Korea and Qatar are bidding to host the 2022 event with Australia, England, Japan, Russia, United States and the joint bids of Belgium/Netherlands and Spain/Portugal bidding for 2018 and/or 2022 with the decision on the both hosts being made in December.

DOING IT OURSELVES

Han also rejected a claim that it was too soon for South Korea to host another World Cup after they jointly held the 2002 event with Japan.

"It looks like it is too soon... but it will be 20 years apart. It will be a whole new game than 2002 and we are emphasising that it will be our first bona fide full World Cup if we can get it.

"Doing it ourselves, we will have greater responsibility but also greater opportunity to accomplish a more coherent and efficient and much more focused World Cup that we have seen before."

Should South Korea be chosen, Han believes they can set an example for emerging countries to host major international events.

"It would be giving a message that a country that came out of war, under development and division can become a very successful developed and capable country and provide a World Cup that contributes to regional and world peace."

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