High on confidence after two successive victories, Delhi Daredevils will strive to continue with the winning momentum while a struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore will try to recapture the lost sheen they started with when the two teams lock horns in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.

The Delhi team, by virtue of their back-to-back wins against Kings XI Punjab and last year’s runner-up Chennai Super Kings, is comfortably placed second in the points tally.

In contrast, the Vijay Mallya-owned Bangalore team tamed defending champions Rajasthan Royals in their campaign-opener comprehensively but since then lacking the consistency and languishing on the seventh slot in the tally after losing three encounters on the trot.

The Delhi side will surely count upon their formidable batting line-up with skipper Virender Sehwag joining hands with his Team India opening partner Gautam Gambhir to start the innings, followed by South Africa batsman AB de Villers. The Protea played a beacon with his 54-ball 105 to guide Daredevils to victory in the last match against Chennai and the team will expect another blistering knock from the cricketer on Sunday.

With cricketers like Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan and New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori figuring in the middle order besides ‘keeper Dinesh Karthick and Bengal boy Manoj Tiwary, Delhi batting line-up will be a hard nut to crack.

In bowling department, Delhi cricketer Pradeep Sangwan who scalped 3- 28 in last outing, will find support from the Australian Dirk Nannes and Indian Ashish Nehra. Besides, experienced spinner Vettori will also add to the worry of the Pietersen-led Bangalore side, which was handed a seven-wicket defeat by the Punjab team yesterday.

Former England skipper Pietersen, is surely under pressure and will do everything to prove their first-match win was not a false dawn.

Their Batting department has been inconsistent so far but the opening pair of Kiwi all-rounder Jesse Ryder, who made 32 in last match, and Robin Uthappa has to do a decent job if the Bangalore team to win the match.

However, Protea Jaques Kallis and Kiwi Ross Taylor are seemingly recapturing their touches and may well come out with some crucial innings in Sunday’s encounter.

Their bowling department is lacking the penetration power since they skittled out the Rajasthan team for a paltry 58 in the first tie, thanks to Anil Kumble’s five-for, but failed to do the trick in the subsequent matches.

Tags: Ab De Villiers, Anil Kumble, Ashish Nehra, Bangalore Royal Challengers, Chennai Super kings, Daniel Vettori, Daredevils, Delhi Daredevils, Dilshan, Dinesh Karthick, Gautam Gambir, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Jacques Kallis, Jesse Ryder, Kevin Pietersen, Manoj Tiwary, Rahul Dravid, Robin Uthappa, Ross Taylor, Royal Challengers, Royal Challengers Vs Delhi Daredevils, Vijay Mallya, Virender Sehwag

Related posts

• Oram might pull out of IPL (0)
• Delhi Daredevils Vs Rajasthan Royals: Rajasthan hopes for semis spot (0)
• Royal Challengers Vs Chennai Super Kings: Challengers won by 2 wickets (0)
• Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Mumbai Indians: Mumbai opens with a struggling start (0)
• IPL is important for me says Flintoff (0)

Bad weather continued to spoil match at the Newlands cricket ground in Cape Town as continuous rain washed out the Indian Premier League match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, on Saturday.

Brendon McCullum led Kolkata and Mahendra Singh Dhoni led Chennai got one point each after the abandonment of the tie.

It was raining since morning and the match was called off without a ball being bowled.

Both the teams badly needed a win as each of them has lost two matches out of three.

Chennai Super Kings now stand at third position in the points table due to a superior net run rate while Kolkata Knight Riders occupy fifth spot.

Tags: Brendon McCullum, Chennai Super kings, Dhoni, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL 2009 News, IPL Scores, IPL Updates, Knight Riders Vs Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight riders, Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Related posts

• NZ Vs India Second test Preview (0)
• Match 58 – IPL 2- Chennai lost to Bangalore by 6 wickets (0)
• Chennai Super Kings Vs Mumbai Indians: Mumbai ended their chance of reaching semi-finals (0)
• Sachin and Zaheer out of West Indies tour (0)
• Mumbai Indians Vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Mumbai Indians pose with a great Victory (0)

A half-century by Herschelle Gibbs and Pragyan Ojha’s three wickets helped Indian Premier League (IPL) leaders Deccan Chargers record a 12-run win over the Mumbai Indians on Saturday.

Gibbs struck 58 off 44 balls as the Chargers posted 168 for nine before left-arm spinner Ojha claimed three for 21 to restrict Mumbai to 156 for seven in Durban.

It was the third victory in three matches for Deccan, who are now two points clear at the top of the table.

The Chargers were pegged back by Dwayne Bravo and Lasith Malinga who took three wickets apiece.

Despite losing a wicket in the second over of the reply, Mumbai’s run-chase began well with Sachin Tendulkar and JP Duminy putting on 82 for the second wicket off 60 balls.

Ojha then accounted for both batsmen, Tendulkar for 39 and Duminy for 47 as Mumbai fell behind the run-rate.

The Indians began the 18th over needing 26 to win off 12 balls but wickets from left-arm seamer RP Singh and fast bowler Fidel Edwards ended their hopes.

Tags: Adam Gilchrist, Deccan Chargers, Deccan Chargers Vs Mumbai Indians, Duminy, Dwayne Bravo, Hershchelle Gibbs, Hyderabad Deccan Chargers, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Malinga, Mumbai Indians, Pragyan Ojha, RP Singh, Sachin Tendulkar

Related posts

• Delhi Daredevils Vs Kings XI Punjab: Must win for Punjab (0)
• IPL to miss top players (0)
• Mumbai Indians Vs Rajasthan Royals: Warne could not defy playing Tendulkar (0)
• Sachin meets Saraswathi Vaidyanathan his seniormost fan (0)
• Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians emerge Victorious (1)

Dwayne Bravo and Lasith Malinga shared six wickets to restrict Deccan Chargers to 168/9 in 20 overs in the 12th match of the Indian Premier League at Kingsmead

Seamer Malinga finished with the figures of 3 for 19 equally complimented by Bravo who also picked up three wickets after giving away 34 runs.

Both the pacers did their job perfectly to restrict Chargers charge after they had a flying start in the initial part of the match.

Deccan chargers openers Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs gave their team a rollicking start after opting to bat first. Deccan team was steady at the score of 88 after losing just one wicket at the halfway stage but somehow lost the plot in the latter part.

The opening duo stitched a crucial partnership of 63 runs before Gilchrist chased a Dwayne Bravo’s widish delivery that took a faint edge en-route to wicket-keeper.

Gilchrist hammered three sixes and same number of fours in his 20 ball 35 blitz. Dwayne Smith played a quick-fire knock of 22 ball 35 runs. He added 61 runs for the second wicket with Herschelle Gibbs.

Gibbs scored his maiden IPL fifty in just 38 balls that included five fours and two sixes. Gibbs got run out after a terrible mix-up with Venugopal Rao. Rao called Gibbs for the second run before saying no to his partner.

Venugopal Rao got out after a scorching yorker by Malinga rattled Rao’s stumps. The second wicket went in the form of Dwayne Smith, who came on the front foot to slog sweep Jaysuriya’s delivery but got deceived by the flight as the ball hit the stumps.

Rohit Sharma didn’t contribute much as he got out early after trying to slice Bravo’s delivery over extra cover but didn’t get the right elevation resulting Shikhar Dhawan taking an easy catch.

Deccan Chargers’ has been the story of the tournament so far. The last year’s bottom placed team is now leading the points table with two sweeping victories from two matches. They have crushed Kolkata Knight Riders and Bangalore Royal Challengers. With the kind of form they are running, Chargers have certainly worn the favourite tag in the tournament.

Tags: Adam Gilchrist, Bangalore Royal Challengers, Bravo, Deccan Chargers Vs Mumbai Indians, Dwayne Smith, Hershchelle Gibbs, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL Scores, IPL Updates, Malinga, Rao, Sachin Tendulkar

Related posts

• Royal Challengers Vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Challengers bounce back (0)
• Chennai Super Kings Vs Rajasthan Royals: Badrinath, Hayden lead to Chennai victory (0)
• Chennai Super Kings Vs Kings XI Punjab: Clash between Kings (0)
• Kolkata Knight Riders Vs Rajasthan Royals: Kolkata won toss and opts to bowlout Rajasthan (0)
• Tait banned from playing in IPL 2 (0)

Kolkata Knight Riders will be eager to bounce back from their disappointing Super Over loss against Rajasthan Royals, when they face runners-up Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League on Saturday.

Knight Riders came close to winning Thursday but it was the brilliance of Kamran Khan and Yusuf Pathan, who turned the match in the favour of defending champions Rajasthan Royals.

Knight Riders have just one victory in three matches and are lying in the seventh spot in the eight-team league.

Last year’s runner-up Super Kings also have one win in three matches and will be desperately looking for two full points against Knight Riders at the Newlands.

Though their batting has looked good, Super Kings’ problem has been their bowling, especially at the death. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will have to do some work to sort out his team’s bowling.

The onus once again will be on batsmen Matthew Hayden and Dhoni to put the runs on the board for Super Kings. The absence of England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be a blow for the Chennai team. Flintoff has been ruled out of the IPL and will fly back home for surgery of a knee injury.

For Knight Riders, skipper Brendon McCullum is yet to shine with the bat and the focus will be on him to give a good start along with Chris Gayle, who has been in terrific touch.

Sourav Ganguly, who came close to winning the match against Royals with a defiant knock, will be eager to prove himself again. Ganguly also played a crucial role with the ball against Kings XI Punjab.

Tags: Andrew Flintoff, Brendon McCullum, Chennai Super kings, Dhoni, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Knight Riders Vs Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight riders, L Balaji, Mathew Hayden, Shah Rukh Khan, Sourav Ganguly, Super Over, Yusuf Pathan

Related posts

• Chennai Super Kings Vs Delhi Daredevils: Chennai Super Kings gunning for revenge (0)
• Bruised Bangalore takes on Kolkata as Chennai Superkings faces Deccan Chargers (0)
• Mumbai Indians Vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Getting Sachin, Sanath out early is the key (0)
• Dilshan and Raina led their Teams to success (0)
• Royal Challengers Vs Mumbai Indians: Bangalore looking to halt Mumbai Winning streak (0)

Mumbai Indians will have to pull out all the stops when they face table-toppers Deccan Chargers, who will look to maintain their hot form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) at Kingsmead Saturday.

Mumbai Indians made a thumping start to the tournament, beating last year’s runner-up Chennai Super Kings before rain forced them to split points against Rajasthan Royals.

Deccan Chargers’ has been the story of the tournament so far. The last years bottom placed team is now leading the points table with two sweeping victories from two matches.

They have ruthlessly crushed Kolkata Knight Riders and Bangalore Royal Challengers. With the kind of arsenal at their disposal, Chargers have certainly worn the favourite tag a week into the tournament.

Captain Adam Gilchrist has led the team from the front with a smashing 45-ball 71 against Royal Challengers. Rohit Sharma has been a revelation with his clean strikes. The side also boasts of power-hitters like Herschelle Gibbs and Scott Styris.

Sharma, who has been out-of-form in the last couple of months, is happy to be back among runs.

“I was not in good touch, so I wanted to perform in the IPL. It is very important for me to play well here and I am happy to have made the right start,” he said.

Sharma also feels they have enough experience in the ranks to guide them in the tournament.

“I think we can be one of the top teams this year. Because we have seasoned campaigners who have played here before and they know how to adjust to the conditions.”

The bowling attack of the Chargers has also come good. The express-pace of Fidel Edwards and the swing of R.P Singh have not allowed other teams to explode in the powerplay. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha has shone in the middle overs with crucial wickets. Ojha is not afraid of giving air to the ball and that has given him three important wickets, all stumped.

Mumbai Indians will be a bit rusty as they will be playing after a full week. Their last match against Rajasthan Royals was washed out. The Sachin Tendulkar-led side will be eager to take the field, having started the tournament with a big win against Super Kings. They are third in the table with three points from two matches.

Tags: Adam Gilchrist, Chennai Super kings, Deccan Chargers, Deccan Chargers Vs Mumbai Indians, Hershchelle Gibbs, Hyderabad Deccan Chargers, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL Scores, IPL Updates, Laxman, Mumbai Indians, Pragyan Ojha, Rajasthan Royals, Rohit Sharma, RP Singh, Sachin, Scott Styris

Related posts

• Mumbai Indians Vs Rajasthan Royals: A battle between Sachin and Warne (0)
• IPL 2- Semi-Final 1- Result and Stats of Delhi Vs Deccan (0)
• IPL Best Performers – Delhi Vs Chennai (0)
• Chennai Super Kings Vs Deccan Chargers: Deccan Chargers top IPL with their next win (0)
• Mumbai Indians Vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Sachin and Jayasuriya gave dazzling open to the Team Mumbai (0)

Ravi Bopara blasted his way to a half century to help the Kings XI Punjab beat the Bangalore Royal Challengers by seven wickets at Kingsmead on Friday for their first victory in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

Bopara carved his way to 84 off 59 balls with four fours and five sixes as Punjab, chasing Bangalore’s total of 168 for nine, scored 173 for three to win the match with six balls remaining.

Opening batsman Bopara initially played a vigilant innings as he used up 46 balls to reach fifty but the right-hander then cut loose, adding 32 runs to his score, off 13 balls.

He was caught at midwicket by New Zealand’s Jesse Ryder off the bowling of seamer Jacques Kallis with Punjab needing 11 runs from 11 balls to win.

Bopara had shared in a third-wicket stand of 66 off 34 balls with skipper Yuvraj Singh and it was Punjab’s captain who finished the match in some style by belting a Kallis delivery over long-off for six to end the innings not out on 30.

Punjab’s innings appeared to have stalled due to an economical performance from leg spinner Anil Kumble, who served up a four-over spell that captured a wicket and cost 19 runs, but then Bopara and Yuvraj took control of the match.

Bangalore’s total was built on 62 off 46 balls from South African Kallis after opener Ryder had got the innings off to a fast start thanks to his 32 from 21 balls.

Left-arm swing bowler Yusuf Abdulla accounted for both men before adding the wickets of England’s Kevin Pietersen (0) and Kiwi Ross Taylor (35) as he finished with career best Twenty20 figures of four for 31 off four overs.

Abdulla received admirable support from fellow left-arm swing bowler Irfan Pathan who snared three for 35 off four overs including two wickets in the last over of Bangalore’s innings.

Tags: Anil Kumble, Bangalore Royal Challengers, bollywood, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, IPL Updates, Jacques Kallis, Jesse Ryder, Kevin Pietersen, Kings XI Punjab, Preity Zinta, Ravi Bopara, Ross Taylor, Royal Challengers Vs Kings XI Punjab, Yusuf Abdulla, Yuvraj Singh

Related posts

• Knight Riders Vs Deccan Chargers: Knight Riders hope to perform well (0)
• Deccan Chargers Vs Mumbai Indians: MI looking to stop DC win (0)
• The Ashes: 1st Test: England vs Australia: England saved by draw (0)
• Royal Challengers Vs Delhi Daredevils: Kallis keeps semis hope alive (0)
• T20 World Cup 2009 Team Announced: RP Singh Back (0)

After falling prey to the rain Gods fury twice, the struggling Kings XI Punjab will hope for better luck this time while Royal Challengers Bangalore will strive to get into the groove when the two teams cross swords here on Friday.

Things are not really falling in place for the Punjab team, who are languishing at the bottom of the table after losing first two encounters after the heavens opened up at crucial junctures on both occasions, forcing the umpires to apply the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The Yuvraj Singh-led side lost their campaign-opener against the Delhi Daredevils by ten wickets before going down to the Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders in another rain-truncated encounter.

Although they are yet to open their account a week into the IPL’s second edition, the Punjab team undoubtedly possesses a mighty batting order, led by stylish left-hander Yuvraj himself, and is poised to take on Bangalore’s bowling line-up consisting erratic paceman Dale Steyn, Praveen Kumar and Kiwi all-rounder Jesse Ryder, apart from Jacques Kallis and Anil Kumble.

Yuvraj, who scored a brisk 28-ball 38 in the match against the Kolkata side, will also count on Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara and his country-mate Mahela Jayawardene for timely contributions.

On the other hand, Royal Challengers started their journey in style by comprehensively beating defending champions Rajasthan Royals by 75 runs, but since then, they are suffering from lack of consistency. Skipper Kevin Pietersen will surely draw from his experience to recapture the form they showed in the first match.

Besides Pietersen, the onus of building the innings will also be on star all-rounder Kallis and Rahul Dravid, whose 48-ball 66 was the cornerstone of Bangalore’s win against the Royals.

With the team management adamant on continuing with Robin Uthappa behind the sticks instead of South African Mark Boucher, the Karnataka cricketer also has to play his part as an opening batsman to lay the foundation for a fighting total or to chase a stiff target.

Tags: Anil Kumble, Bangalore Royal Challengers, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL Updates, Jacques Kallis, Jesse Ryder, Kevin Pietersen, Kings XI Punjab, Kumar Sangakkara, Preity Zinta, Rahul Dravid, Royal Challengers, Royal Challengers Vs Kings XI Punjab, Uttappa, Vijay Mallya, Yuvraj

Related posts

• Delhi Daredevils Vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Will Kolkata win over Delhi? (0)
• Kings XI Punjab Vs Rajasthan Royals: Clash between Pathans (1)
• IPL is important for me says Flintoff (0)
• Chennai Super Kings Vs Delhi Daredevils: Delhi won toss, chose to bat (0)
• Deccan Chargers Vs Royal Challengers: Thrilling Clash between Deccan and Bangalore (0)

Yusuf Pathan smashed 18 runs off four balls as the Royals snatched victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders in a ’super over’ after their Indian Premier League match ended in a tie at Newlands on Thursday.

Kolkata needed only seven to win off the last over of the normal match, bowled by teenaged left-arm fast bowler Kamran Khan.

After starting the over with a wide, Khan, 18, dismissed former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly for 46 with his fifth ball.

With two needed to win off the last ball, Ishant Sharma hit a fierce drive which was parried by Royals captain Shane Warne at cover. The batsmen ran one but Sharma was run out attempting the winning run.

Khan was entrusted with the ’super over’ and was struck for three successive fours by Chris Gayle as the Knight Riders scored 15 for one, with Gayle caught off the last ball.

Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, who took two for 19 in four overs in the match, bowled the ’super over’ for Kolkata but Pathan hit him for 6, 2, 6, 4.

Chasing a modest total of 150 for six, Kolkata twice seemed headed for victory. Gayle was in imperious form as he hit 41 off 33 balls before falling to Warne.

The pendulum swung to the Royals with 44 needed off 25 balls.

But Ganguly slammed a no-ball from Munaf Patel for six, then made use of the free hit off the next ball to thrash another six.

With the target reduced to 31 off 24 balls, Ganguly seemed set to take Kolkata home before chasing a wide ball from Khan to be caught behind.

Pathan, who top-scored with 42 in his team’s full innings, was named man of the match.

Tags: IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL Updates, Ishanth Sharma, Kamran Khan, Knight Riders, Knight Riders Vs Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight riders, Munaf Patel, Rajasthan Royals, Shane Warne, Sourav Ganguly, Yusuf Pathan

Related posts

• Airtel Champions League Twenty20: Schedule (0)
• Tait banned from playing in IPL 2 (0)
• Bangalore Royal Challengers Vs Kolkata Knight Riders: RC restrict Kolkata to 139/6 (0)
• Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings (0)
• Tit-Bits (0)

AB de Villiers won the battle of the master blasters against Matthew Hayden on Thursday to give Delhi Daredevils a nine-run win over Chennai Super Kings in an Indian Premier League thriller.

South African De Villiers rode his luck to finish unbeaten on 105 as Delhi made 189-5 in their 20 overs and Australian Hayden hit 57 as he triggered a heroic run chase that ended at 180-9 after a late collapse at Kingsmead.

Victory maintained the 100 percent record of Delhi while Chennai suffered their second loss in three matches in a tournament. “I kept it simple, hit the ball and enjoyed myself. I really had to work hard for my first 50 as my timing was a bit off, but the runs flowed from then on,” De Villiers said after the first ton of the 59-match tournament.

Delhi team-mate Paul Collingwood of England branded the De Villiers innings “perfect” and recently retired Test batsman Hayden called it a “magnificent, patient and methodical” stand.

Daredevils lost their openers inside the first two overs and needed a hero.Enter De Villiers to gradually subdue his opponents and hit six sixes and five fours in a 54-ball masterclass. He did have a moment of luck after reaching 50 when compatriot Albie Morkel was guilty of sloppy fielding at the boundary to drop a simple opportunity of sending De Villiers packing.

Hayden made a quickfire 57 in a reply that was on track until former England skipper Andrew Flintoff was caught by substitute David Warner to leave Chennai on 156-5 and two last-over run-outs settled the outcome.

Tags: Ab De Villiers, Albie Morkel, Andrew Flintoff, Chennai Super kings, Chennai Super Kings Vs Delhi Daredevils, Daredevils, Delhi Daredevils, Dhoni, Gambir, IPL 2, IPL 2009, IPL Scores, IPL South Africa, Mathew Hayden, Paul Collingwood, Sehwag, Super Kings

Related posts

• Dada’s Day out in the Eden Garden (0)
• Chennai Super Kings Vs Kings XI Punjab: Chennai makes it to the semis (0)
• IPL to miss top players (0)
• Chennai Super Kings Vs Kings XI Punjab: Clash between Kings (0)
• Deccan Chargers Vs Delhi Daredevils: Deccan win will guarantee them Semi-final spot (0)