Pune's time to take forward steps

Pune Warriors started their campaign in IPL 2012 with an uplifting win against pre-tournament favourites, Mumbai Indians and followed it up with an easy win over Kings XI Punjab. But since then, they have played seven games and won only two, with a hat-trick of losses. Second from the bottom, Warriors still have a chance of qualifying for the play-off stage, but with just six games to go they will need to stay focussed. Mumbai Indians have had...

Read More

IPL 5: CSK batsmen hurting team's title defence

The fifth edition of the Indian Premier League has been a poor one for the defending champions Chennai Super Kings so far, who have performed below par despite having some big players in their ranks. Once touted as favourites to complete the hat-trick of the title, Chennai are fifth in the points table and on current form, it seems difficult for them to qualify for the play-offs. The biggest worry for CSK has been the form of their batsmen. Murali...

Read More

IPL 5: Nervous Punjab hold on to beat Ban

Kings XI Punjab kept their nerves towards the end of their chase to register a four-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in an Indian Premier League (IPL) nail-biter at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. Chasing 159 to win, the visitors were on their way to an easy win at one time with just 13 runs needed to close out the match, but a flurry of wickets, especially three run-outs, took the match into the last over. With five runs required...

Read More

IPL 5: Watson's wicket was special: Negi

Jaipur: Young Delhi Daredevils left-arm spinner Pawan Negi, who shot to limelight with a four-wicket haul against Rajasthan Royals in an Indian Premier League match on Tuesday, termed Shane Watson's scalp as the prized one. The 19-year-old orthodox spinner played a stellar role in Delhi's comprehensive six-wicket win over Rajasthan with impressive figures of 4 for 18 from his four overs. "I was just trying to stop the flow of runs. It was a good...

Read More

IPL 5: Pietersen exits IPL as Clarke makes debut

New Delhi: Delhi Daredevils' Kevin Pietersen flew home on Wednesday after a highly successful stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as Australia captain and Pune Warriors' batsman Michael Clarke made his debut in the Twenty20 tournament. Pietersen, who left midway through the league to prepare for England's home series against the West Indies, scored 305 runs at an average of 61.00 in his first season with the Delhi Daredevils. He played eight...

Read More

IPL 5: Smith to replace Johnson at Mumbai Indians

New Delhi: West Indies allrounder Dwayne Smith has signed up with Mumbai Indians as a replacement for Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson and would be joining the IPL team on Thursday. Smith, who had played for Mumbai Indians during the inaugural edition of IPL and represented Deccan Chargers in the next two editions, was roped in after Johnson failed to recover from a toe injury and was ruled out of IPL 5. "Mumbai Indians have signed West Indies...

Read More

Chris Gayle boycotts county contract, will join national team

New Delhi: Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle scrapped his deal with Somerset county and made himself available for the national team and virtually ended his year-long stand-off with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). But Gayle, who is playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB), in a statement said that he is committed to West Indies cricket and told Somerset that he will not be honouring the contract....

Read More

IPL 5: KXIP is growing in confidence now, says Hussey

Bangalore: With his side jumping to fourth place with Wednesday's thrilling four-wicket win, Kings XI Punjab skipper David Hussey said that his side is confident now and keen to better in the remaining matches. Punjab almost lost the match from a winning position but Piyush Chawla held his nerves to smash a six off the penultimate ball to steer his side home while chasing 159 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. "We tried to clutch defeat from...

Read More

IPL 5: Can't afford to lose next two games, says Vettori

Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Daniel Vettori said that his team fell short by 50 to 60 runs despite Chris Gayle (71) and Virat Kohli (45) putting on 118-run second wicket stand together and laying a solid platform against Kings XI Punjab in their last IPL match. "We lost momentum in the last five overs of our innings. The way they [Kings XI Punjab] bowled demoralised us and we could not score 50 or 60 runs in the slog overs," Vettori...

Read More

IPL 5: Injured Sreesanth out for five months

New Delhi: An injured Shanthakumaran Sreesanth will be out of action for five months as he needs two surgeries on his toes. He last played for India in August during the team's tour of England and has featured in only one first-class match. The fast bowler opted for ayurvedic treatment than going for surgery and had thought earlier of being fit for the CB series in Australia. Late last month, Sreesanth went to the Nation Cricket Academy [NCA] in...

Read More

KKR gag on players' media interaction

Kolkata: Ahead of their keenly-awaited IPL clash with the Sourav Ganguly-led Pune Warriors India, the Kolkata Knight Riders management has placed a gag order on their players for interacting with the media. "We have some rules and regulations that we are following," Knight Riders' Bangladeshi recruit Shakib Al Hasan said when contacted. The team had signed with a PR firm to arrange players' interaction with media, but the agency now says they are...

Read More