Jaipur cruise past Bangalore, win by 7wkts

Giant killers Rajasthan Royals mauled Royal Challengers Bangalore by seven wickets to maintain their dominance in the Indian Premier League. Earlier, a fine bowling display by Rajasthan Royals wrecked Bangalore Royal Challengers' top order and restricted them to a modest 135 for eight in an Indian Premier League match on Saturday. Put in to bat by Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne, the home team top order, except Ross Taylor, failed to click with Shane Watson and Munaf Patel doing the main damage returning identical figures of 2 for 20. Shivnarine Chanderpaul (2), Rahul Dravid (0), Jacques Kallis (11) and Mark Boucher (4) fell cheaply and that piled pressure on the lower order. Taylor's 20-ball 44 which he made with the help of six fours and three sixes provided some respectability to Bangalore Royal Challengers total. Towards the end, young Praveen Kumar made a breezy 34 from 30 runs with two fours and three sixes before getting run out. He was particularly harsh on Warne. In fact nothing went right from the outset for the Royal Challengers who were invited to bat first on a wicket which appeared to be assisting the bowlers. Rajasthan Royals got immediate success when home team captain Rahul Dravid scored a first ball duck holing out to Ravindra Jadeja at deep fine-leg. A perfect trap was laid for Dravid, who perhaps failed to read the fielder on the boundary line giving Shane Watson a prize wicket. Two overs later his opening partner Shivnarine Chanderpaul also fell to a similar trap to the same combo as Bangalore Challengers were reduced to 16 for 2. Ross Taylor then consolidated the innings with some lusty hitting before seeing the back of his partner Jacques Kallis (11).

Jaipur cruise past Bangalore, win by 7wkts

Shane Watson, finished the game with another boundary of the first ball of the next over. Jaipur won by 7 wickets.
The new man in was Mohd.Kaif, who took strike as the batsmen crossed. Zaheer Khan was then brought back into the attack. He bowled two dot balls. Kaif then got of the mark, with a boundary, as Jaipur were 134/3 after 17 overs.
Sunil Joshi continued the attack as Watson took a single of the second ball after playing the first ball. Smith then hit two consecutive boundaries taking Jaipur to within striking distance of the Bangalore target. Smith then tried to chip Joshi over the boundary, but was hold out in the dee, to end his brilliant innings. Jaipur were 130/3 after 16 overs.
Kumble then came back and Smith took a single of the first ball as Watson gave the strike back to Smith. He again flicked a ball down the leg side for a single. Watson then ended the over with another single. Jaipur were 121/2 after 14 overs.
Praveen Kumar was then brought back into the attack. Watson welcomed him back with a boundary and then smashed him for a huge six. Watson then hit Kumar for four consecuitve boundaries, to get the Jaipur team very close to the Bangalore target. Jaipur were 117/2 after 14 overs.
Joshi continued his spell as Smith swept him for a single. Watson then played out another dot ball and then hitting him for a huge six over mid-wicket. Watson then checked his shot, for another dot ball. He then took a single of the next ball. Smith finished the over with another dot ball. Jaipur were 91/2 after 13 overs.
Kumble continued his spell, as Watson easily tucked him away for a single. Smith then also took another single. Watson then played out two dot balls and then he pushed anohter ball for a single. Smith finished the over with another single. Jaipur were 83/2 after 12 overs.
Sunil Joshi was the new bowler in the attack as he was right on line. Watson played out two dot balls and then flicking a ball for a single. Joshi then bowled another dot ball, as Smith finished the over with another boundary. Jaipur were 79/2 after 11 overs.
Kumble continued his spell, as Watson takes a single of the first ball. Smith then plays a dot ball and then takes another single. Kumble then bowls a wide down the leg side. Watson then takes two runs of the next ball. He ends the over with a dot ball. Jaipur were 73/2 after 10 overs.
Kallis was the new bowler in the attack as Watson took a single of the first ball and Smith also took another single of the next ball. Watson again took another of the next ball. Smith then hit Kallis for a boundary. Smith then finished the over with a dot ball. Jaipur were 68/2 after 9 overs.
Anil Kumble, then came into the attack, as he was greeted by two consecutive delieveries by Watson. He then bowled two dot balls, to square things up. Watson then took another single of the next ball. Smith then completely misjudged the googly from Kumble. Jaipur were 61/2 after 8 overs.
Vinay Kumar continued the spell as Watsom took a single of the first ball. Smith then played a dot ball and then took another single. Watson then took another single. Smith then smashed a boundary of the next ball and then played out a dot ball. Jaipur were 52/2 after 7 overs.
Zaheer continued his spell as he almost got his man, with a lethal lbw shout, that wasnt given by the umpire. Smith then played another dot ball, before taking a single. Watson then took a nasty bouncer and then played out a single of the next ball. Smith then finished the over with another boundary. Jaipur were 45/2 after 6 overs.
The new man in the attack was Vinay Kumar. Smith payed out the first two balls, before pulling him for a boundary in the mid-wicket region. He then took a single of the next ball. Watson then played out the over. Jaipur were 39/2 after 5 overs.
Zaheer continued the attack as Smith took a single of the first ball. Zaheer then removed Pathan, as he skied a ball, which was well taken by Bouncher. The new man in was Shane Watson, who didnt face the ball, as the batsmen crossed. Smith then struck another boundary and then took another single of the next ball. Watson then played out the over. Jaipur were 31/2 after 4 overs.
Kumar continued the attack as Smith took a single of the first ball. Pathan then took a cheeky single, that almost got him run-out. Smith again took a quick single as Pathan finished the over with another boundary.
Zaheer Khan, shared the attack with Kumar, as Smith took a single of the first ball and Pathan smashed a ball for another boundary and then playing out a dot ball. Zaheer Khan then bowled a well directed bouncer, which was well played by Pathan and then pulled another ball over the mid-wicket boundary. He then played out another dot ball. Jaipur were 18/1 after 2 overs.
Praveen Kumar, opened the bowling for the Bangalore team, as Graeme Smith took a single of the second ball as the Jaipur team were under way. Manoj Rawat came into bat with Smith, tried to charge down the track, but got an edge and was removed by Kumar. The new batsman in was Yusuf Pathan, who smashed two consecutive boundaries. Jaipur were 9/1 after the first over.
Zaheer Khan then took a single of the first ball of Shane Warne and Praveen Kumar hit him for a boundary after a dot ball. He then took two runs of the next ball. Kumar again went for a big one, but completely misread the line, but got a single via leg bye. Zaheer Khan then finished the over with another single. Bangalore were 121/7 after 18 overs.
Tanvir continued his spell as a single was taken on the first ball by Kumar. Zaheer Khan then played out two dot balls, and then took a double of the next ball. He then played out two dot balls and then finished the over with a single. Bangalore were 112/7 after 17 overs.
Shane Warne continued the attack, Kumar then played out a dot ball before hitting two consecuitve sixes to him. He then took another single of the mext ball, Zaheer Khan then played out the last ball. Bangalore were 108/7 after 16 overs.
Trivedi then continued the attack. Praveen kumar glanced the ball down the leg side for a boundary. He then played out two dot balls and then took a single of the final ball. Bangalore were 97/7 after 15 overs.
Shane Warne continued his spell and was causing a lot of problems for the batsmen. He bowled two dot balls, as Kumar then took a single of the next ball to give the strike to Joshi, who also took another single. A tight single between the two players resulted in a run-out as Banagalore lost another wicket.
The new bowler in the attack was Yusuf Pathan, as Praveen Kumar took a single of the second ball. Sunil Joshi took a single of the next ball. Kumar then smashed Pathan, for a huge six and then took another single of the final ball. Bangalore were 89/6 after 13 overs.
Shane Warne then came into the attack and looked very dangerous, as Bouncher was not able to read the leg spinner. Boucher played out three dot balls and then got caught from an inside edge as Warne got his man. The new man in was Sunil Joshi, who also played out two dota balls as Warne finished with a wicket maiden. Bangalore were 78/5 after 12 overs.
Tanvir, was brought back into the attack as he beat Boucher all ends up on his first ball, and then he flicked one ball to the fine leg. Praveen Kumar tried to charge down the track, but missed the ball completely. He again went for a big one but missed it again. Tanvir ended the over with another dot ball. Bangalore were 78/5 after 11 overs.
Munaf Patel continued his spell, as Boucher took a single of the first ball. Kohli then played out two dot balls and then edged onw to the keeper, as Banagalore lose another wicket. The new man in was Praveen Kumar, who played out two dot balls. Bangalore were 77/5 after 10 overs.
Trivedi then continued his spell, and after playing out one dot ball, Kohli took another single. Boucher then took a single of the next ball. Kohli then skied another ball, that was taken in the deep, but the fielder, unfortnately touched the ropes, as it was given as a six. Kohli then played out the last ball. Bangalore were 76/4 after nine over.
Munaf Patel continued the attack as Virat Kohli took a single of the first ball. Taylor then went for another big hit, as he was held out in the deep of Patel. The new man in was Mark Bouncher, who was off the mark on the first ball. Kolhli then took another single. Boucher then played out a dot ball. Bangalore were 68/4 after 8 overs.
Siddharta Trivedi was the new bowler into the attack, as Kallis took a single of the first ball and Taylor then also took another single. Kallis then went for a big one, as he charged down the track only to hold out at deep mid wicket. The new man in was Virat Kohli. He was immediately of the mark as he took two runs of his first ball. Trivedi then bowled a bouncer that was too high, and was called a wide. Trivedi then bowled another wide down the leg side. Virat then took another single of the final ball. Bangalore were 64/3 after 7 overs.
Munaf Patel was the new bowler in the attack as Kallis played out the first two balls and then taking a single to give the strike to Taylor, who then smashed a four and six of the next two balls. He then finished the over with another slice to the third man region for another boundary. Bangalore were 57/2 after 6 overs.
Kallis then joined the action as he hit two consecutive boundaries of Watson and then raced to another single. Watson then bowled a good length delievery, that was well played by Taylor, but for no run. Taylor then shuffled across his stumps for another boundary. Taylor then went for another shot, but found the fielder for no run. Bangalore were 42/2 after 5 overs.
Tanvir then continued the spell, and was then greeted by a boundary by Taylor. He then played out a dot ball and then hit another boundary, this time on the leg side. Taylor then finished the over with another boundary. Bangalore were 29/2 after 4 overs.
Watson then continued the spell, and Chandarpaul was having a lot of problems with his immaculate line and length. Watson then bowled another bonncer, which was lofted on the off-side by Chandarpaul, to hold out at third man. The new man in was Kallis, who was the non-striker as the batsman crossed, Taylor then scored another single of the next ball, as he got of the mark, courtsey a misfield. Kallis then played out the over with another dot balls. Bangalore were 17/2 after 3 overs.
The new bowler was Sohail Tanvir, as the lefd hander was right on target. Taylor did manage to get of the strike via leg bye. Chandarpaul then took a single of the next ball. Tanvir then faltered in his line as he bowled a wide. Taylor then smashed two consecutive sixes of the final balls. Bangalore were 16/1 after 2 overs.
Chandrapaul got of the mark with a lot of risk as he stole a single of the first ball. Shane Watson then removed Rahul Dravid on the first ball as he went for an ambitious pull and was held out at deep mid wicket. Watson was right on the money as he was bowling great line and length. Chandarpaul was again beaten as Watson agsin. Watson then bowled a well directed bouncerm, that was well dealt by Chandarpaul. Bangalore were 1-1 after the first over.
Toss: Jaipur skipper Shane Warne won the toss and continued his love affair with chasing as he opted to field on this decent wicket. Anil Kumble gets his first crack at Twenty20 cricket as Jaipur include Sohail Tanvir ahead of compatriot Kamran Akmal. Akmal's absence from the line-up means Mahesh Rawat will be keeping wickets for the visitors.
After Hayden's heroics at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, a while back - the action now moves to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore (or as some say, Bengalooru). Bangalore opened their account against Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium, but Jaipur has been the big surprise package of the tournament so far. With two wins under their belt, the Jaipur boys will be bouyant and will be eager to continue their momentum in the tournament.
The pitch looks a decent cricket wicket - with the bowlers getting something out of the pitch if they put the required effort. The batsmen will still have an edge in this, but disciplined bowling could make the difference.

Kinght Riders Knocked Over In Chennai

Matthew Hayden led the way with a superb unbeaten 70 as the Chennai Super Kings posted a convincing nine-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.
Set 148 for victory, Chennai's openers made short work of closing in on the required tally, Hayden combining for 66 runs in a first-wicket partnership with Parthiv Patel before the Australia stalwart teamed with Mahendra Singh Dhoni for a match-winning stand of 86.
The win is Chennai's third in as many games and propels the Super Kings to the top of the IPL standings.
The Super Kings were brim-full of confidence prior to the match and the self-assurance in their ranks was typified by openers Hayden and Patel, who hit a quickfire 66 inside nine overs before Patel fell for 21.
Having been dropped on 20 by David Hussey, Patel added just one more run before he was caught at deep fine leg by Ishant Sharma off the bowling of Ajit Agarkar.
The loss of the wicket did not affect the focus of Hayden, who claimed his second IPL fifty on his way to posting 70 in just 49 balls. The veteran opener hit three sixes and six fours in a masterly display at the crease.
The manner in which Hayden was bossing the Kolkata attack meant that victory was almost a formality for the hosts, and so it proved as Dhoni joined Hayden in the middle and added 43 runs from just 27 deliveries as Chennai cruised home.
Earlier, the Knight Riders' innings got off to a miserable start with the loss of Brendon McCullum and Ricky Ponting inside three overs.
New Zealander Jacob Oram did the damage for the hosts, first taking the scalp of compatriot McCullum (24) when Suresh Raina took the catch in the covers, while the same duo combined again just a ball later as Ponting was dismissed for a golden duck.
Hussey (nought) and Prasanta Saha (24) fell a short time later, and the writing was on the wall by the time captain Sourav Ganguly was dismissed for a paltry 12 from 19 balls in the ninth over to leave the visitors rocking on 70 for five.
Laxmi Shukla steadied Kolkata with a workmanlike 42 from 33 balls before he was run out in the final over.
Oram finished as the pick of the Chennai attack with three for 32, while there were two-wicket hauls for Manpreet Gony and Palani Amarnath.

Harbhajan can play on Sunday: Shah

Harbhajan Singh, issued a show cause notice by the Cricket Board for allegedly slapping rival paceman S Sreesanth of King's XI Punjab last night at Mohali, is free to play in Sunday's IPL tie for Mumbai Indians against Deccan Chargers. "We have issued a show cause notice to Harbhajan for which he has been given time till Monday evening to reply. He can play in the match," BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said. The match between Mumbai Indians, which has been captained by Harbhajan due to the groin injury to Sachin Tendulkar, and Hyderabad's Deccan Chargers is to be held at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. "The reply from Harbhajan will hopefully make things clearer," he pointed out. The shocking incident took place following a verbal altercation between the two players after the Punjab team, for which Harbhajan plays in the national championship for the Ranji Trophy, defeated the Mumbai franchise outfit owned by Reliance Industries. Sreesanth, also a temperamental player like Harbhajan who represents Kerala in Ranji Trophy, was seen shedding tears at the ground after the alleged slapping incident. Harbhajan was recently embroiled in a controversy Down Under after he was found guilty of racially abusing Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds, who represents the Hyderabad team in the IPL, in the Sydney Test and was banned for two Tests match referee Mike Procter. The punishment was toned down and he was found guilty only of general abuse following an appeal to the International Cricket Council which appointed a retired New Zealand judge to hear the player's appeal. Harbhajan got away with a monetary penalty after the racist slur against his name was removed and the judge later said the ICC did not make him aware of the player's previous brushes with the cricket authorities for breaching its code of conduct on quite a few occasions in the past.

Bhajji 'slaps' Sreesanth, makes him cry

Harbhajan Singh found himself embroiled in yet another controversy after allegedly slapping Kings XI paceman S Sreesanth during their Indian Premier League encounter on Friday. The Kings XI team, led by Yuvraj Singh, is reportedly planning to lodge a complaint against the off-spinner, who later apologised to the paceman in the dressing room of the Punjab team. BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said the board would wait for the report from the team management before deciding on the future course of action. Harbhajan, leading Mumbai Indians side, allegedly slapped Sreesanth when latter said something to him which the off-spinner found offensive. The paceman was seen crying bitterly on the ground at the end of the IPL match, which his team won by 66 runs. While Harbhajan kept mum on the issue during the post-match conference, Sreesanth tried to play down the incident. "It is normal. Nothing serious happened. It is all in the game. I am fine. We will still be part of the national team," Sreesanth said before leaving from the stadium. As Sreesanth came to board the bus to return to the team hotel, waiting media mobbed him to listen to his version. Harbhajan though did not speak on the issue. "Can we have questions on just cricket," Harbhajan said when asked about what happened between him and Sreesanth. Mumbai Indians coach Lalchand Rajput also requested media to restrict their questions to just cricket. The winning captain Yuvraj Singh though was upset by the unsavoury incident and termed it "ugly". "This is really an ugly incident. You do not want to see such things off the field specially after such a win. I am pretty upset at what has happened. This is totally unacceptable," he said apparently criticising Harbhajan Singh. Yuvraj though said he did not know what actually transpired between the two. "I do not know what exactly happened but one does not want to see such things happening." Kings XI coach Tom Moody was also visibly upset by the incident and termed as "unacceptable" Harbhajan's behaviour. "At the end of the day, players shake hands. But today saw more that from Harbhajan and Sreesanth. It is unacceptable behaviour and I am sure officials will take of note. "The positive thing is that Harbhajan had a long chat with Sreesanth. But I am not sure what ramifications this incident will have," Moody said. Upset after his team's third successive defeat, the turbanator also looked unhappy with his teammates. "When you lose nothing seems to be okay. I won't bowl and bat for other people. They have to be captain of their own bowling. I can not do other's job," he said angrily when asked if captaincy was tough. "I don't like losing. When you lose, you don't feel happy."