I want Sachin to play against us: McGrath

Missing his long time on-field rival Sachin Tendulkar retired Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath hopes to bowl at the master batsman when Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians face off again in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
"Hopefully, Sachin will be fit in the next match. I wish him best of luck," the legendary pacer told PTI.
Talking on the sidelines of a fashion event in the capital on Friday night, McGrath said the Mumbai team was dearly missing Tendulkar.
"If Sachin comes to the Mumbai side, it will add extra pressure on the rival team as the little champion has the capability to win matches on any given day, he said.

The Australian said the Delhi Daredevils was a balanced side and was one of the strong contenders for the title.
"We have a good combination of youth and experience. Losing the last match against Chennai felt bad but we played some good cricket," said McGrath.
Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag exuded confidence that his side would lift the IPL title.
"We have performed very well till now and the boys are enjoying the IPL format. We are sure that we will win the IPL," he said.

Super Kings beat Kings XI by 18 runs

Lakshmipathy Balaji claimed first Indian Premier League hat-trick, as Chennai Super Kings beat Kings XI Punjab by 18 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Chennai Super Kings excelled with superb all-round display to record a comprehensive win over Kings XI Punjab. Earlier, Subramaniam Badrinath and MS Dhoni added 91 runs in 64 balls for the fourth wicket as Chennai Super Kings shrugged off a disastrous start to post 181 for four against Kings XI Punjab. Kings XI skipper Yuvraj Singh won the toss and put Super Kings in to bat and the move nearly paid off. The hosts yet again failed to get a good start, losing Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan in the very first over. Vidyut hit Sreesanth for two boundaries in the first over, but edged the fourth delivery to second slip where Mahela Jayawardene came up with a brilliant catch. In his next over, Sreesanth got rid of Stephen Fleming whose poor run in the tournament continued as he off-drove uppishly for Karan Goel to take a simple catch, reducing Super Kings to 20 for two. Thereafter, Badrinath (64 of 47 balls) and Suresh Raina retrieved the situation with some sensible batting to add 44 runs for the third wicket. Just as the pair was looking well entrenched, Raina top-edged a sweep off leg-spinner Piyush Chawla to Shaun Marsh. At 64 for three in the seventh over, the innings was poised on knife-edge when Dhoni (unbeaten 60 off 43 balls) joined Badrinath and immediately began to time his shots. Dhoni and Badrinath spared no bowler. The Chennai captain slammed Chawla for two consecutive sixes in his third over while Badrinath was severe on seamer James Hopes who went for a few boundaries. The pair raised the 100 of the innings in the 11th over with Yuvraj persisting with Chawla who was clearly being targeted. In fact, Chawla conceded 36 runs in his three overs before Yuvraj took him off the attack and brought back Irfan Pathan. Badrinath cut loose with two stunning sixes over long-on and midwicket as the 50 partnership between the duo was raised in 33 balls. Yuvraj then brought himself on in a desperate bid to break the partnership. However, neither batsman let up with Badrinath reaching his half-century off 33 balls. The hosts somewhat lost momentum when Badrinath, in a bid to quicken the pace, gave away his wicket, lofting VRV Singh to Yuvraj at mid-off in the 18th over. By then, Badrinath and Dhoni had added 91 off 64 balls for the fourth wicket. Badrinath's innings was studded with six boundaries and three over boundaries while Dhoni hit two fours and four sixes. For Kings XI, Sreesanth was the pick of the bowlers taking two wickets for 29 runs of his four overs while Singh and Chawla picked up wicket apiece.

Super Kings beat Kings XI by 18 runs

Lakshmipathy Balaji claimed first Indian Premier League hat-trick, as Chennai Super Kings beat Kings XI Punjab by 18 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Chennai Super Kings excelled with superb all-round display to record a comprehensive win over Kings XI Punjab. Earlier, Subramaniam Badrinath and MS Dhoni added 91 runs in 64 balls for the fourth wicket as Chennai Super Kings shrugged off a disastrous start to post 181 for four against Kings XI Punjab. Kings XI skipper Yuvraj Singh won the toss and put Super Kings in to bat and the move nearly paid off. The hosts yet again failed to get a good start, losing Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan in the very first over. Vidyut hit Sreesanth for two boundaries in the first over, but edged the fourth delivery to second slip where Mahela Jayawardene came up with a brilliant catch. In his next over, Sreesanth got rid of Stephen Fleming whose poor run in the tournament continued as he off-drove uppishly for Karan Goel to take a simple catch, reducing Super Kings to 20 for two. Thereafter, Badrinath (64 of 47 balls) and Suresh Raina retrieved the situation with some sensible batting to add 44 runs for the third wicket. Just as the pair was looking well entrenched, Raina top-edged a sweep off leg-spinner Piyush Chawla to Shaun Marsh. At 64 for three in the seventh over, the innings was poised on knife-edge when Dhoni (unbeaten 60 off 43 balls) joined Badrinath and immediately began to time his shots. Dhoni and Badrinath spared no bowler. The Chennai captain slammed Chawla for two consecutive sixes in his third over while Badrinath was severe on seamer James Hopes who went for a few boundaries. The pair raised the 100 of the innings in the 11th over with Yuvraj persisting with Chawla who was clearly being targeted. In fact, Chawla conceded 36 runs in his three overs before Yuvraj took him off the attack and brought back Irfan Pathan. Badrinath cut loose with two stunning sixes over long-on and midwicket as the 50 partnership between the duo was raised in 33 balls. Yuvraj then brought himself on in a desperate bid to break the partnership. However, neither batsman let up with Badrinath reaching his half-century off 33 balls. The hosts somewhat lost momentum when Badrinath, in a bid to quicken the pace, gave away his wicket, lofting VRV Singh to Yuvraj at mid-off in the 18th over. By then, Badrinath and Dhoni had added 91 off 64 balls for the fourth wicket. Badrinath's innings was studded with six boundaries and three over boundaries while Dhoni hit two fours and four sixes. For Kings XI, Sreesanth was the pick of the bowlers taking two wickets for 29 runs of his four overs while Singh and Chawla picked up wicket apiece.

Rajasthan canter to win over Hyderabad

A breezy 68 off only 37 deliveries by Yusuf Pathan saw Rajasthan Royals make short work of Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League match at the Sawai Mansingh Staduim in Jaipur on Friday night.
Chasing a paltry 141 for victory, the home team hit up the runs in 16 overs, finishing on 141 for the loss of two wickets.
The victory gave Rajasthan Royals their sixth victory in eight matches and put them on top of the table, with 12 points.
For the Hyderabad side, it was their sixth defeat in eight matches.
Rajasthan openers Graeme Smith and man of the match Pathan literally took the Deccan attack to the cleaners, putting on a partnership of 109 runs before the latter departed in the 13th over after hitting nine fours and two sixes.
And by the time Smith departed in the 16th over for a well-made 40 off 43 balls, with the score 133-2, it was all over for the visitors.
Earlier, Deccan Chargers failed to capitalise on a sparkling knock from Adam Gilchrist after being put in to bat.
They lost opener Herschelle Gibbs (19 off 20 balls) and Scott Styris (13 off 11) in quick succession, the former falling at 61, but that did not distract skipper Gilchrist, who played some electrifying strokes. He gathered 61 valuable runs off just 49 balls and laid a solid foundation for the team. His entertaining knock included nine fours and a six.
He was out in the 14th over while trying to slash a wide delivery from paceman Siddharth Trivedi but ending up edging it to wicketkeeper Mahesh Rawat.
The Chargers lost their way after the Aussie's dismissal as Shahid Afridi (1), Rohit Sharma (5) and Sanjay Bangar (3) were sent packing by a disciplined Royals' attack, which was aided by some fine fielding.
The visitors then lost two more wickets in D Ravi Teja 6) and R P Singh (2) cheaply, but Venugopal Rao (23 off 11) stayed at the other end and his late assault helped the side touch the 140 mark.
Rao hit three fours and a six in his cameo knock.
For the hosts, skipper Shane Warne was the pick of the bowlers, returning two for 20, while Trivedi was impressively economical, conceding only eight runs in his three overs.