Indian Premier League

IPL 6 week 5 review: Spills, thrills and Miller's drills

Fatherly advice, Caribbean generosity, a debut at 41 and more in Cricketnext's review of the fifth week of the IPL's sixth season. Innings of the week David Miller's bombastic, scarcely believable 101 not out off 38 balls - the third-quickest IPL century - to take Kings XI Punjab to a successful chase of 191 against Royal Challengers Bangalore tops the list hands down. Punjab were 51 for 3 when the...  

Ben Rohrer gives credit to Rajasthan Royals for victory

Jaipur: After his 40-ball 64-run knock went in vain, Delhi Daredevils batsman Ben Roherer Tuesday credited their opposition, Rajasthan Royals, for pulling off a nine-wicket win in the Pepsi Indian Premier League here. "It wasn't that we bowled badly but it was their batsmen who were very good. They are world-class batsman and it was hard to stop them when they got going. We had thought that 154 was a...  

Holders KKR out of play-off race as Mumbai climb to second spot

Mumbai: Chasing an uphill target of 171, Kolkata Knight Riders surrendered meekly to Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede stadium on Tuesday losing the tie by 65 runs to bow out of IPL 6 play-off race, effectively ending their title defence. With the tournament fast approaching its business end, it was must win match for Kolkata, but an opening stand of 93 runs between Sachin Tendulkar (48) and Dwayne Smith (47)...  

Andy Bichel hopes Chennai Super Kings will bounce back

Hyderabad: Chennai Super Kings bowling coach Andy Bichel hopes that the team would bounce back in Wednesday's match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, after the huge loss to Mumbai Indians in their last Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter. "Its probably the loss we needed. It has put us in position of working hard and fight the way we have won seven matches in a row," he said after the team had a...  

Shane Watson in awe of 'amazing' Rahul Dravid

Jaipur: Shane Watson on Tuesday spoke reverently of the influence and guidance of Rahul Dravid, stating that the former India skipper was a constant source of inspiration for him and Rajasthan Royals. "Rahul as a person is one of the most amazing people whom I have met in my life. He has got utmost respect from all the players, from all the support staff. He is doing an amazing job...  

Hyderabad chase play-off berth against stirred CSK

Hyderabad: It came as a shocker to many, seeing the mighty Chennai Super Kings falling like a pack of cards against Mumbai Indians, but having qualified for the IPL 6 play-offs the men in yellow would like to go into the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium looking to erase the horrible memories from Sunday. Chennai have already qualified, but they would want to make things difficult for Sunrisers Hyderabad who are...  

Hyderabad wicket is challenging, not bad: Tom Moody

Hyderabad: On the eve of their match against defenders Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad's chief coach Tom Moody says the track at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium here looked challenging but wasn't as bad as it looked statistically. "I am sure tomorrow (Wednesday) it is going to be on a new wicket again. I am sure it will be a good contest between bat and ball," Moody said. Sunrisers,...  

Buzz over Sachin Tendulkar's first match in Dharamsala

Dharamsala: God of cricket Sachin Tendulkar's imminent knock in the land of gods has sent the excitement quotient soaring across the boundary. His fans are desperately awaiting his first ever match at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association's (HPCA) sole venue, located at an altitude of 4,000 feet above sea level here, May 18 when Mumbai Indians take on Kings XI Punjab. "Most of the tickets for the second IPL match...  

Rajasthan make short work of Delhi, go to No. 3

Jaipur: If it's the Sawai Mansingh Stadium opposing teams are pretty much facing an uphill battle. That truism of IPL 6 was again evident on Tuesday as Rajasthan Royals chased down a target of 155 with nine wickets and 13 deliveries in hand to all but secure their progression to the IPL 6 play-offs and confirm Delhi Daredevils' elimination. Rajasthan came into the game tied on second spot with three...  

AS it happened: Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Game 53, IPL 6

Riding on an inspiring bowling performance, Mumbai Indians registered a 65-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders and moved to second place in points table. Read on for the live updates ...  

Nearly 42, legspinner Pravin Tambe is oldest IPL debutant

Jaipur: At 41 years and 212 days, little-known legspinner Pravin Tambe on Tuesday became the oldest debutant IPL history - having never played a single first-class match. Tambe, who hails from Maharashtra, was handed his IPL cap at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here and performed creditably by conceding 30 runs from four overs. It marked a rare occurrence where an IPL team handed a debut to someone at that age...  

I was enjoying myself in the middle: David Miller

Mohali: Ecstatic after powering Kings XI Punjab to an improbable IPL win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, David Miller said a "nice piece of willow" and a lot of luck carried him through to the best knock of his career so far. The 23-year-old South African struck an unbeaten 38-ball 101 to guide KXIP home while chasing a mammoth target of 190 against the RCB on Monday. "I just tried to...  

Made some adjustments for Twenty20: Pujara

Mohali: Generally bracketed as a Test batsman with an impeccable technique, Cheteshwar Pujara on Monday said that he did make minor adjustments to his style to adapt to the requirements of the fast paced format in the on-going IPL. "I think ultimately the basic technique has to be there even when you want to accelerate. But I think it is about shifting gears at the right moment... My basic technique...  

If it's in the arc, it's out of the park: that's David Miller

After putting 190 on the board and reducing Kings XI Punjab to 64 for 4 halfway through their chase on Monday, Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore almost had another win the bag and a foot in the play-offs door - until David Miller proved to be the giant killer. The South African played his best and undoubtedly one of the most scintillating innings in the IPL history to strike...  

Spinners are playing huge role in T20s: Mushtaq Ahmed

Jaipur: Twenty20 cricket is heavily loaded in the favour of batsmen but Mushtaq Ahmed reckons that the spinners of late have been able to influence the outcome of the matches in the shortest format. Ahmed, one of the best leg-spinners the game has seen, said the best thing about spinners is that they have a lot of variety to attack the batsmen. "A lot of teams are winning the matches...  

We are very much in race for the play-offs: Gautam Gambhir

Mumbai: Despite having won just four out of 11 games, Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir is confident that his team will be able to beat Mumbai Indians Tuesday's IPL encounter and stay in contention for the play-offs. "We are very much in the race. I haven't heard anyone say that we're out. A lot of people are saying that we need to win five out of five. But if...  

Mathematically alive KKR hope to tame mighty Mumbai

Mumbai: Both Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are coming off desperate but clinical wins in their last league game in IPL 6, but on Tuesday, when these two meet, KKR will be the one living on the edge as a loss will put an end to their title defence. Mumbai toppled Chennai Super Kings by an overwhelming 60 runs to stay in the top half of the points table,...