Tanvir bowls Rajasthan to victory

Rajasthan Royals scored a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in their Indian Premier League match in Jaipur on Sunday and moved into the top of the table.
Needing just 110 to win, the Rajasthan team reached the target for the loss of only two wickets and with 5.4 overs (34 balls) to spare.
The win was the Shane Warne led team's fifth straight after their opening loss at the hands of Delhi. The Chennai team, meanwhile, suffered their second straight reverse, after the loss against Delhi in their last match, after winning their first four matches.
South African captain Graeme Smith (35 not out) and Swapnil Asnodkar (32) put on 78 runs for the opening wicket to put the result beyond doubt, if any.
Earlier, a sensational best ever bowling spell of Twenty20 cricket by Pakistani left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir (6/14) helped Rajasthan Royals skittle Chennai Super Kings for a paltry 109.
Tanvir's unbelievable 4-0-14-6 figure was also the best of the IPL so far.
He was ably supported by Munaf Patel (2 for 16), Shane Watson (1 for 19) and captain Shane Warne (1 for 29) in completely destroying the Super Kings batsmen after their captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat.
Tanvir started on a sensational note removing Parthiv Patel (0) LBW from his first ball with the visiting opener plumbed in front of wicket failing to fend off a delivery which swung in after pitching at the off stump.
The Pakistani pacer then castled New Zealander Stephen Fleming for a duck for another LBW verdict to send both the Super Kings opener back to the hut in the very first over of their innings with scoreboard reading 1 run for two wickets.
Tanvir, who swung the ball both ways, did not stop there and he had S Vidyut in the third over caught out Shane Watson for five to send the visitors reeling at 11 for three and end his own opening spell of two overs with an unbelievable 2-0-2-3.
He returned for the second spell in the 17th over from the first ball of which he sent Super Kings top scorer Albie Morkel' (42) stumps cart-wheeling to end a 44-run sixth wicket partnership -- highest for the Chennai side -- with Suresh Raina (27).

Pollock shines as Mumbai beat Delhi

With some excellent bowling in display, Mumbai Indians defeated Delhi Daredevils by 29 runs in the Indian Premier League clash at the DY Patil Stadium.Earlier, Mumbai Indians batting failed to prosper yet again and the home team were restricted to 162 for eight by the high-flying Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League match at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday. Put in to bat by Delhi captain Virender Sehwag, the home team - with only one victory in their first five matches - sparkled sporadically but with no batsman willing to bat till the end, finished up with a less-than-competitive score. Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya (34), newcomer Yogesh Takawale (14), Dominic Thornely (30) and Robin Uthappa (22), in the top order, got starts but failed to make them count as Delhi Daredevils struck at regular intervals to stop their progress. After a opening stand of 46 between their new pair of wicketkeeper Takawale and veteran Jayasuriya, who looked in supreme touch and struck one six and six fours in his 16-ball knock, the innings went into a decline before being propped up by Thornely and Uthappa. The third wicket pair added 52 runs in 36 balls but once this stand between Thornely and Uthappa was broken, there was a steep slide. From 102 for two, the home team slid to 112 for six and despite the best efforts of captain Shaun Pollock, who top-scored with 33 in 15 balls, with 3 sixes and 2 fours and was leading the team again after Sachin Tendulkar was declared unfit, the final tally did not assume a menacing proportion.

Shoaib likely to arrive in Kolkata to join Riders

Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar, cleared to play in the cash-rich Indian Premier League with his ban suspended for a month by a Pakistani tribunal, is likely to fly in to the city on Monday to join the beleaguered Kolkata Knight Riders. Akhtar, whose availability has given a boost to the Knight Riders after the team's string of four successive losses, would be assessed for fitness on Tuesday ahead of Sourav Ganguly-led side's game against Bangalore Royal Challengers here on May 8. Earlier in the day, a three-member appellate tribunal of the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to suspend the five-year ban on Akhtar for a month, paving the way for his participation in the IPL. Officials of Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment, which owns the Knight Riders, were euphoric on receiving the news. "We are glad and relieved that Shoaib is finally going to turn out for us. We hope he is available to play in Thursday's match. This development has also made Shah Rukh happy," said top Red Chillies official IS Bhandari. Cricket Association of Bengal President Prasun Mukherjee also welcomed the development. "Shoaib's inclusion will definitely give a boost to the team after four defeats," he said. Akhtar was bought by the Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders for $425,000 in the players' auction. However, the side's plans went awry when the PCB slapped the ban on the 32-year-old pace spearhead for his public criticism of the Board after being given a retainership instead of a contract. The Appellate tribunal granted the temporary relief after Akhtar and his lawyers moved an urgent application yesterday that the ban be suspended so that he can earn his livelihood in the IPL. The tribunal had refused to stay the ban earlier this week, while allowing the fast bowler to play anywhere outside Pakistan. But the governing council of the IPL had barred him from the tournament saying he would not be allowed until the ban is lifted.

Shoaib likely to arrive in Kolkata to join Riders

Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar, cleared to play in the cash-rich Indian Premier League with his ban suspended for a month by a Pakistani tribunal, is likely to fly in to the city on Monday to join the beleaguered Kolkata Knight Riders. Akhtar, whose availability has given a boost to the Knight Riders after the team's string of four successive losses, would be assessed for fitness on Tuesday ahead of Sourav Ganguly-led side's game against Bangalore Royal Challengers here on May 8. Earlier in the day, a three-member appellate tribunal of the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to suspend the five-year ban on Akhtar for a month, paving the way for his participation in the IPL. Officials of Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment, which owns the Knight Riders, were euphoric on receiving the news. "We are glad and relieved that Shoaib is finally going to turn out for us. We hope he is available to play in Thursday's match. This development has also made Shah Rukh happy," said top Red Chillies official IS Bhandari. Cricket Association of Bengal President Prasun Mukherjee also welcomed the development. "Shoaib's inclusion will definitely give a boost to the team after four defeats," he said. Akhtar was bought by the Shah Rukh Khan-owned Kolkata Knight Riders for $425,000 in the players' auction. However, the side's plans went awry when the PCB slapped the ban on the 32-year-old pace spearhead for his public criticism of the Board after being given a retainership instead of a contract. The Appellate tribunal granted the temporary relief after Akhtar and his lawyers moved an urgent application yesterday that the ban be suspended so that he can earn his livelihood in the IPL. The tribunal had refused to stay the ban earlier this week, while allowing the fast bowler to play anywhere outside Pakistan. But the governing council of the IPL had barred him from the tournament saying he would not be allowed until the ban is lifted.