Chennai Super Kings face royal challenge

CHENNAI: There's always an added flavour of southern rivalry to a Tamil Nadu-Karnataka contest. The Indian Premier League is more about franchises, but if you ask the owners of bothChennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, they will say that this is one contest they would hate to lose. 

The local crop of the CSK team, too, harbours similar sentiments. They play Karnataka in different competitions through the year and there's always the added zing to be the best side of the zone when they are up against the boys from Bangalore. The likes of MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina have been in the mix for four years now and they understand what their franchisee expects out of them in this needle clash. 

RCB, though, has undergone quite a few changes this year. The likes of Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid,Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey and R Vinaykumar are gone and it is difficult for the new crop to understand the sentiments of a Karnataka-Tamil Nadu scuffle. However, Kumble is pretty much a part of the RCB think-tank and one can be rest assured that the hard taskmaster will tell the boys what is expected from them in this prestige fight. 

And the very fact that RCB have lost two games in a row should also make them all the more keen to turn the tables on CSK. Though the IPL is a long journey and there have been quite a few comebacks after initial jitters, Daniel Vettori's boys cannot risk another failure in this game. 

The fact that Tillakaratne Dilshan hasn't been at his menacing best at the top of the order has left the team management a little worried. The team banks heavily on the Sri Lankan and though he has got a half-century against Mumbai Indians, RCB hope for something more from the opener. CSK, on the other hand, have been boosted by the addition of Doug Bollinger to lead their pace attack, but it's to be seen whether they play him right away against RCB. 

"Bollinger is a welcome addition to our attack and he is almost back to his full fitness," CSK coachStephen Fleming didn't commit whether he will play Saturday's game. RCB, though, are struggling with the injury of Dirk Nannes. The left-arm paceman is a brilliant T20 bowler, but now that he is unavailable, the load is a little too much on Zaheer Khan. The Indian pacer has had a long season and hasn't looked at his lethal best in the IPL. 

However, RCB skipper Daniel Vettori isn't losing sleep over it. "CSK are a very good team, but Kings XI have showed that they are beatable. There's no reason why we can't repeat the same thing," Vettori said after their loss to Deccan Chargers on Thursday. 

The loss was surely a bit of a disappointment for CSK, but Dhoni's boys are looking to forget it as a one-off episode. The arrival of Mike Hussey has increased their options, but the team management didn't give clear indications whether he will play on Saturday. 

Key Clashes: CSK vs RCB 

Doug Bollinger vs Tillakaratne Dilshan: Bollinger is back from an injury lay-off and will be the spearhead of the Chennai Super Kings attack. He was pretty much the backbone of the CSK pace attack last season and it will be on Tillakaratne Dilshan to counter him. The duel between the two can well decide the fate of the match 

MS Dhoni vs Daniel Vettori: Both are canny skippers and know how to handle their resources. Both the skippers have suffered defeats in their last games and they will have to motivate their boys to come back hard. It will also be interesting to see how Dhoni handles Vettori in the middle. The left-arm spinner has been good in the IPL so far and it may come down to Dhoni to take a few liberties against him and negate his effect. 

Zaheer Khan vs Murali Vijay: Vijay looked good in the game against Kings XI and he can be a threat to any attack if he is able to negotiate the first couple of overs. Zaheer though, will bring all his experience into play and will look to strike early and put CSK on the backfoot so the famed middle-order comes under pressure. But if Vijay does play out Zaheer without much difficulty, things may go uphill for RCB.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl-2011/news/Chennai-Super-Kings-face-royal-challenge/articleshow/7996827.cms

Brendon slams ton as New Zealand rout Canada

Brendon McCullum slammed his maiden World Cup century as New Zealand routed minnows Canada by 97 runs in their penultimate Group A match to seal a berth in the quarterfinals here today.

Wicketkeeper McCullum slammed 101 in 109 balls, studded with 12 fours and two sixes, to help New Zealand amass 358 for six, the highest ODI score at Wankhede Stadium, before the Kiwis restricted their unfancied rivals to 261 for nine to take full two points.

Chasing the huge target, Canada gave a semblance of fight by skipper Ashish Bagai who made 84 in 87 balls with ten fours and Jimmy Hansra, who made a determined unbeaten 105-ball 70 with the help of four fours and a six.

The dismissal of Bagai, who put on 125 runs with Hansra before edging off-break bowler Nathan McCullum to the latter's brother and wicketkeeper Brendon, and a cameo knock of 31 in 35 balls by opener Hiren Patel were the few highlights of Canadian run chase.

Brendon McCullum claimed three catches and also contributed to a run out to emerge the man of the match.

The Black Caps were handicapped in the bowling by the absence of their captain Daniel Vettori, nursing a knee injury sustained during their big victory over Pakistan. They suffered another blow after speedster Kyle Mills, who grabbed the first two Canadian wickets quickly, limped off the field with a leg injury.

After today's victory, New Zealand are on top of Group A with eight points from five matches and they play their last league match against Sri Lanka at this venue on March 18.

Canada, with only two points from five ties, have no chance to progress further. They face defending champions Australia on March 16 in Bangalore in their last match.

The North Americans' run-chase, after the Black Caps posted the highest-ever ODI total at this venue, never took off in serious vein after they lost two wickets within the first five overs, Kyle Mills accounting for both the victims.

Mills sent back opener Ruvendu Gunasekara and one-down Zubin Surkari in his second and third overs before leaving the field because of a quadriceps injury in his left leg.

Both were snapped up by Taylor in the slip cordon to leave Canada gasping at 2 for 4.

There was a period of counterattack from the minnows when Hiren Patel struck three fours in an over from Tim Southee, one of which was a top edge behind wicketkeeper Brendon.

It was, however, too good to last as he departed for a 35-ball 31, that included five fours and a six off James Franklin, edging Jacob Oram to Brendon behind the stumps after having added 46 runs for the third wicket with Bagai.

Bagai and Hansra kept the Canadians in the hunt with their century stand for the fourth wicket that ended when the former was caught behind trying to accelerate scoring in the face of climbing asking rate.

Hansra retired hurt when on 53 in the 39th over when the total was 179 for five and Canada needed a staggering 180 runs in 71 balls. He later came back to resume his innings at the fall of the eighth wicket but the fight, whatever was left of it, was over though the minnows prevented their rivals from bowling them out.

Mills was the most impressive bowler for the Black Caps with two for two while the tall Oram (3 for 47), Tim Southee (1 fo 36), Jesse Ryder (1 for 15) and spinner Nathan McCullum (1 for 56) were the other wicket takers.

Earlier, New Zealand rode on Brendon McCullum's maiden World Cup ton and stand-in skipper Ross Taylor's breezy half century to post 358 for six after being sent into bat.

Apart from McCullum and Taylor, other contributors were Jesse Ryder (38), Scott Styris (20-ball 35), Kane Williamson (34) and James Franklin (31 not out in eight balls). Franklin hoisted Rizwan Cheema for three sixes and a four in the final over to help the Kiwis cross the 350 mark.

The last ten overs yielded 122 runs, including 31 runs in the last, that helped the Black Caps shoot past the previous highest aggregate of 299 for four made by India against Sri Lanka in 1987 at this ground which is hosting its first tie in the ongoing World Cup and first international in more than three and a half years.

McCullum was on song from the start after New Zealand were asked to bat on the newly laid turf and proceeded to cut, pull and drive his way to his hundred, his third in 189 ODIs.

The 29-year-old wicketkeeper also put on 53 runs for the first wicket in 9.5 overs with his in-form opening partner Martin Guptill (17) to lay foundation of the massive total.

McCullum consolidated the innings with another partnership of 96 with one-down batman Ryder before giving further impetus with Taylor through a stand of 36 for the third wicket.

He fell just after Canada opted for the bowling power play, unable to clear short cover fielder Ruvindu Gunasekar.

He had raced to his 100 in 107 balls a few minutes earlier.

Taylor, captaining the side in place of injured Daniel Vettori and coming into the tie after his match-winning 131 not out against Pakistan at Pallekelle, then took over the attacking reins. He slammed four sixes and a four to take 30 runs off Harvir Baidwan in the 39th over to up the tempo.

Taylor, appearing well set to race to his second hundred of the tournament, was dismissed in the 41st over.

For Canada, off-spinner John Davison, a veteran of three World Cup campaigns, applied the brakes with an economical spell of nine overs while leg-spinner Balaji Rao finished with two wickets, including that of Taylor, while Harvin Baiwan grabbed three.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/132304/sports/can-vs-nz-match-report.html

Aus vs NZ: Convincing 7-wicket win for Aussies against Kiwis

Australia beat their trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand by seven wickets in a one-sided World Cup Group B match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground in Nagpur on Friday. 

Chasing a partly 207, the Australians got off to a fine start with openers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin milking away the Kiwi bowlers. The duo batted on at ease even as the Kiwis tried hard to figure out a way to stop their charge.

Their bowling lacked the kill and the Aussies continued to pound away boundaries. Finally Kiwi pacer Hamish Bennett managed to break their partnership when the Aussie score was 133 runs. It was a slower ball that did the trick albeit a bit late. Haddin went for an aerial shot and ended up giving a catch to James Franklin at deep midwicket. Haddin scored 55.

With the partnership broken, the other opener Shane Watson too lost his rhythm and got out in the 20th over when the Aussie score was 136/2. He was cleaned bowled by Bennett on 62.

A few minutes later Aussie skipper Ricky Pointing too fell trying to play Tim Southee down the leg side. The ball was wide off the leg side and Ponting still touched it trying to play it towards the fine-leg boundary. But keeper Brendon McCullum had other plans, he collected the ball and even before Ponting could realise his error his bails were off. He scored 12 as the Australia score read 167/3.

Finally, Michael Clarke and Cameron White batted on to carry the Aussies to victory in the 34th over.

New Zealand innings

New Zealand posted a meagre 206 against Australia in their World Cup Group A match. The total could have been all the more dismal hadn't Nathan McCullum and skipper Daniel Vettori staged a late revival at death.

In the morning, Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss and decided to bowl under overcast conditions - a move aimed helping his pacemen excel. And that's what they did with Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson ripping the Kiwi batting apart.

Shaun Tait started the job rather early removing opener Brendon McCullum in the fourth over of the day.

However, it was more of McCullum's fault in the way he got out. He went for a big hit right away and Jason Krejza took a fine catch in the deep. He fell for 16 as New Zealand slumped to 20/1 in 3.4 overs.

Shortly after McCullum's dismissal, the other opener Martin Guptill too walked back with Shane Watson castling him on 40/2 in the 9th over. He scored 10.

But, that was just the beginning of the Aussie charge as Mitchell Johnson claimed two wickets in the space of two balls to push the Kiwis to the wall. Ryder fell for 25 while James Franklin hadn't even opened his account, when Johnson removed them. The New Zealand score at the stage was 66/4 in 13.5 overs.

Clearly the Aussies pacemen were at a party and Shaun Tait struck back to make sure he had more reason to cheer. After removing McCullum in early, he claimed seasoned batsman Scott Styris in the 15th over when the Kiwi total was 67/5. Poor Styris hadn't even opened his account.

Tait was far from satisfied and in his next over he struck again to get rid of Ross Taylor (7) with a fine yorker. Kiwis were reeling on 73/6.

Six wickets down and the pitch dry by then, the Kiwis finally managed to forge a small 48-run partnership with Nathan McCullum and Jamie How sticking together for 40 minutes.

The two used 12 overs and scored the rate of four runs an over helping their team cross the 100-run mark. But in the 29th over, leg-spinner Steve Smith decided to break their stand. He tossed the ball in the middle and removed How with an LBW decision. The Kiwis went for a decision review, but it proved to be unsuccessful as New Zealand slumped to 121/7.

Finally, Nathan McCullum decided to stage a comeback, but it was too late for the Kiwis as he along with skipper Daniel Vettori were the last recognised batsmen in their camp. Nathan carried on and even scored the team's highest individual total with 52 on board.

However, after staying at the crease for more than an hour a change in bowling foxed Nathan as he became Mitchell Johnson's third victim on 175/8 in the 42nd over. Once again the Kiwis decided to use the review and once again it proved unsuccessful.

Skipper Daniel Vettori too departed with Brett Lee claiming his wicket. He scored a resolute 44 helping the Kiwis cross 200-run mark.

Eventually New Zealand were all out for a partly 206 on the first ball of the 46th over with Shaun Tait (3-35) and Mitchell Johnson (4-33) claiming seven wicket between them.

Source:-http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/130835/sports/aus-vs-nz-match-report.html