Report
When the two Shanes shone
Shane Warne did what he's been doing for more than a decade and a half while the other Shane, Watson, showed what a valuable acquisition he is at $125,000
Cricinfo staff
22-Apr-2008
| ||
While Yuvraj Singh and Tom Moody were being made to walk slowly over red-hot coals after a second successive defeat, the two Shanes, Warne and Watson, sat in the seats reserved for the media. When Moody was asked whether he had expected the "journalist in blue" to bowl as well as he had despite his preparation consisting largely of playing poker, the answer was revealing.
"Bowling spin can be like poker as well," he said with a wry smile. "Shane's still got the knowledge of how to bowl, and we know he thrives on the big stage. He might pull up a little sore tomorrow though."
Warne snickered when he heard that, but his presence amongst the notepads and dictaphones was almost appropriate given how the King's XI had failed to find any sort of answer to the questions that he posed.
Full postWatson and Warne sparkle in Rajasthan victory
The Australian domination in the IPL continued as the two Shanes - Watson and Warne - starred with bat and ball respectively to power Rajasthan Royals to their maiden victory
The Bulletin by Kanishkaa Balachandran
21-Apr-2008
Rajasthan Royals 168 for 4 (Watson 76*, Jadeja 36*) beat Kings XI
Punjab 166 for 8 (Yuvraj 57, Warne 3-19) by six wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
| ||
Australian domination in the IPL continued as the two Shanes - Watson and Warne
- starred with bat and ball respectively to power Rajasthan Royals to their maiden
victory in the tournament, fittingly in front of their home crowd at the Sawai
Man Singh Stadium. Shane Warne's 3 for 19 restricted Kings XI
Punjab to what appeared to be a par score of 166 but the target was overhauled
fairly comfortably, thanks to a fiery 49-ball 76 by Watson, supported by an
unbeaten 36 by the young Ravindra Jadeja.
Rajasthan were pegged back early in their chase, losing their openers with the score
on 19. Sreesanth induced a thin edge off his first delivery to send back Mohammad
Kaif, while Yusuf Pathan returned a leading edge while trying to whip Brett Lee
across the line. Kamran Akmal, fresh off a Twenty20 international for Pakistan
against Bangladesh on Sunday, fended off a verbal assault from Sreesanth before
falling to a well-judged catch by Piyush Chawla running backwards at deepish mid-on.
Full postTitans through despite Duminy heroics
The Morkel brothers and Roelof van der Merwe starred in the field for the Titans as they beat the Cape Cobras by six runs in their Standard Bank Pro20 semi-final
Ken Borland
20-Apr-2008
Titans 158 for 7(du Plessis 44, Behardien 32*, Duminy 4-24) beat Cape Cobras 152 for 6 (Smith 34, Duminy 52) by six runs
Scorecard
Scorecard
The Morkel brothers and Roelof van der Merwe starred in the field for the Titans as they beat the Cape Cobras by six runs in their Standard Bank Pro20 semi-final at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday.
Francois du Plessis (44) and Farhaan Behardien (32 not out) shone with the bat for the Titans as they scored 158 for 7 after deciding to bat first. Graeme Smith (34) was tearing into the Titans bowling before van der Merwe brilliantly ran out the national captain. The cunning bowling of Albie Morkel and the pace and fire of Morne Morkel then ensured the home side were left with a mountain to climb.
JP Duminy motored to a half-century as he and Henry Davids (17) shifted gears to give the Cobras a late shout. They needed 16 off the last over, bowled by left-arm spinner van der Merwe, and although Davids sent the first delivery back over the bowler's head for six, they were to fall short as the rookie star removed both batsmen courtesy of well-judged catches by Behardien.
Full postBoucher seals thrilling win for Bangalore
In a match dominated by South African stars, the batting efforts of Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis edged the all-round contribution of Shaun Pollock
The Bulletin by S Rajesh
20-Apr-2008
Bangalore Royal Challengers 166 for 5 (Boucher 39*) beat Mumbai Indians 165 for 6 (Uthappa 48) by five wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
| ||
In a match dominated by South African stars, the batting efforts of Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis edged the all-round contribution of Shaun Pollock, as Bangalore Royal Challengers recovered from Friday's mauling to register their first win of the tournament. Set a challenging 166 by the Mumbai Indians, Bangalore rode on an unbeaten 39 from Boucher, and his 55-run stand with Kallis sealed a five-wicket win with two balls to spare.
The absence of Sachin Tendulkar would have been a huge downer for the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium, but none of them could complain about the quality of action. The bounce on the pitch kept the bowlers interested, and the batsmen on their toes - one of them, Mumbai's Dominic Thornely, was so surprised by a Zaheer Khan bouncer that he copped a blow above the eye which required 15 stitches. Robin Uthappa and Pollock were the two major contributors for Mumbai, with Sanath Jayasuriya chipping in with a cameo at the start.
Full postMisbah's 87 powers comprehensive rout
Misbah-ul-Haq turned in another spectacular performance in the game's shortest format, smashing an unbeaten 87 to set up a massive 102-run victory
The Bulletin by Siddarth Ravindran
20-Apr-2008
Pakistan 203 for 5 (Misbah 87*, Younis 47) v Bangladesh 101
(Nazimuddin 42, Amjad 3-3) by102 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
| ||
Misbah-ul-Haq turned in another spectacular performance in the game's shortest format, smashing an unbeaten 87 to set up a massive 102-run victory in Pakistan's one-off Twenty20 match against Bangladesh in Karachi. The visitors were comprehensively outplayed yet again as they finished their miserable tour with another abject performance, conceding 203 runs in the field and managing just 101 in reply.
In the first Twenty20 international to be held in Pakistan, Shoaib Malik's decision to bat first seemed to have gone awry when in-form openers Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal were both dismissed in the first over. Bangladesh's joy was shortlived, however, as Younis Khan and Misbah made light of the loss of wickets to propel Pakistan to 84 for 2 by the end of the ninth over.
Full postHussey clinches nail-biter for Kolkata
Kolkata Knight Riders, driven by an innings of grit and tenacity from David Hussey, scraped home by five wickets on a minefield of a pitch
The Bulletin by Kanishkaa Balachandran
20-Apr-2008
Kolkata Knight Riders 112 for 5 (Hussey 38*, Extras 28) beat Deccan Chargers 110 (Symonds 32, Kartik 3-17) by five wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
| ||
A minefield of a pitch at Eden Gardens was the setting for an intense thriller as the Kolkata Knight Riders, driven by an innings of grit and tenacity from David Hussey, scraped home by five wickets in a low-scorer against Deccan Chargers. There was no shortage of drama during the chase of 111 and a floodlight failure towards the end only added to the tension. In the end, Kolkata managed their second straight victory and the usually raucous home crowd got their money's worth.
Though a target of 111 appeared modest by Twenty20 standards, the surface ensured batsmen would have to battle for every run. The game hung in the balance with Kolkata requiring 22 off 20 balls, before the lights suddenly failed. Hussey, though, sealed the deal once play resumed. Giving the charge to Scott Styris, he deposited him for a huge six over long-on before flicking him to fine leg for four the following ball. Ten runs in a crunch situation was far too many and it was only fitting that Hussey clinched it with a six.
Full postGambhir and Dhawan seal Delhi win
After two first-innings totals which had gone in excess of 200, the bowlers at last had their say at the Feroz Shah Kotla, as Delhi Daredevils thrashed Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets in a disappointingly one-sided game
The Bulletin by S Rajesh
19-Apr-2008
Delhi Daredevils 132 for 1 (Gambhir 58*, Dhawan 52*) beat Rajasthan Royals 129 for 8 by 9 wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
| ||
After two first-innings totals which had gone in excess of 200, the bowlers at last had their say at the Feroz Shah Kotla, as Delhi Daredevils thrashed Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets in a disappointingly one-sided game. Rajasthan didn't have a chance after their batsmen had floundered badly, putting up a dismal 129 on the board. Gautam Gambhir's unbeaten 58, and his 112-run partnership with Shikhar Dhawan - who helped himself to a half-century as well - finished off the run-chase in a mere 15.1 overs.
The only bit that went right for Rajasthan was the toss, which Shane Warne, their captain, won and had little hesitation in choosing to bat. When Taruwar Kohli survived five deliveries from Glenn McGrath in the corridor and spanked the sixth one over cover point for six, it seemed the run-fest had started all over again. As it turned out, Rajasthan had little to celebrate thereafter. In his next over, Kohli chanced his arm again against McGrath, but only found Mithun Manhas at midwicket. McGrath went on to bowl the first maiden over of the tournament, and from there Delhi never let the initiative slip.
Full postNottinghamshire rout Kent by 10 wickets
A round-up from the fourth, final and drizzly day of the opening round of County Championship matches
Cricinfo staff
19-Apr-2008
Division One
| ||
Nottinghamshire became the first side to notch a win in 2008's Championship with a comprehensive rout of Kent, who were beaten by 10 wickets at Canterbury. Nottinghamshire only needed 22 runs to complete the victory with Will Jefferson (5) and Matthew Wood (17) guiding them home.
Hampshire's match against the champions Sussex ended in a predictable draw, with rain preventing any play on the fourth day at The Rose Bowl.
Full postMagnificent Hussey inspires Chennai win
A pair of Australians, in what was more KFC Twenty20 action than IPL, treated a buzzing Mohali crowd to a run-filled Saturday clash as the bandwagon moved north
The Bulletin by Jamie Alter
19-Apr-2008
Chennai Super Kings 240 for 5 (Hussey 116*, Raina 32, Badrinath 31*) beat Kings XI Punjab 207 for 4 (Hopes 71, Sangakkara 54) by 33 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
| ||
A pair of Australians, in what was more KFC Twenty20 action than IPL, treated a buzzing Mohali crowd to a run-filled Saturday clash as the bandwagon moved north. Unfortunately for Kings XI Punjab, James Hopes' 32-ball 71 couldn't overhaul a massive total of 240, while the Chennai Super Kings had their Western Australia specialist Michael Hussey to thank for a massive total. His scintillating unbeaten 116, another superb exhibition for this juiced-up format, left Punjab a mountain to climb and with Yuvraj Singh dethroned early they could muster only 207 for 4.
"We'll just have to put runs on the board and pressure on Yuvraj," was Mahendra Singh Dhoni's reason for batting first on what looked a dry pitch and 20 overs later his team had reason to feel confident. Walking in at No. 3 after Brett Lee's pace and bounce accounted for Parthiv Patel, Hussey looked on as Matthew Hayden's cameo came to end. Then Dhoni, the most expensive player in the IPL, flopped for 1, though replays suggested an inside-edge on to pad. But Hussey, preferred to Stephen Fleming today, was immediately dancing down to hit Lee through extra cover and past midwicket.
Full postSalman Butt stars in series whitewash
Pakistan took their second consecutive 5-0 series sweep at home with a 150-run victory in the fifth one-dayer at the National Stadium and extended their winning streak to a record 11
The Bulletin by Kanishkaa Balachandran
19-Apr-2008
Pakistan 329 for 9 (Butt 136, Younis 69) beat Bangladesh 179 (Mahmudullah 37, Asif 3-35) by 150 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
| ||
It was as if the series result was decided even before Bangladesh agreed to tour the country. Pakistan took their second consecutive 5-0 series sweep at home - their first was against Zimbabwe - with a comprehensive 150-run victory in the fifth and final one-dayer at the National Stadium and extended their winning streak to a record 11. The win was set up by a career-best 136 off 124 balls by Salman Butt, and his stand of 179 for the second wicket with Younis Khan propelled Pakistan to a massive 329 which proved way beyond reach for Bangladesh who effectively lost the game after Mohammad Asif inflicted a top-order wobble.
Shoaib Malik had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss, a move prompted by the fact that there was little chance of dew troubling the bowlers later in the evening. It was a good toss to win, as the batsmen were rarely challenged under the blazing afternoon sun.
The pitch had a sprinkling of grass, though it only helped to bind the cracks together. The opening bowlers, Mashrafe Mortaza and Shahadat Hossain, bent their backs early, hoping to get some pace and nip, but the pitch wasn't very cooperative. That was to be the trend through Pakistan's innings after Kamran Akmal's early departure, when Butt and Younis took control and milked the bowling authoritatively.
Full post