Nathan McCullum stars as New Zealand win opener

Nathan McCullum proved he can hit big sixes just as well as brother Brendon as New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by two wickets with a ball to spare in a thrilling World Twenty20 opener here Friday.

New Zealand, needing three runs to win with two balls to spare, saw McCullum, better known as an off-spinner, loft fast bowler Lasith Malinga for six over long-off.

Man-of-the match McCullum's superb shot saw New Zealand finish on 139 for eight in reply to Sri Lanka's 135 for six.

It capped a memorable day for McCullum, whose unbeaten 16 came off six balls with 13 of his runs, including a four and a six, coming in the last over.

"I can't hit them," said New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, run out in the last over giving McCullum the strike.

"It's easier for Nathan to do it. To hit a four and a six was quite amazing."

However, Vettori added: "We have to be a touch more aggressive. With our batting line-up going so deep we can take a few more risks."

Earlier, Nathan McCullum took the new ball - just as fellow Kiwi off-spinner Dipak Patel had done at the 1992 World Cup - and returned impressive figures of one wicket for 17 runs from his three overs.

By contrast younger brother Brendon, one of the world's most dangerous batsmen in this format, was out for nought when pulling Angelo Mathews to midwicket as New Zealand's run chase got off to the start all their fans would have feared.

Defeat for last year's losing finalists was tough on former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene who made a typically stylish 81 off 51 balls - but this time in his debut as an opener - including two sixes and eight fours.

Runs were hard to come by in this match, with the next best score on either side the 42 made by New Zealand opener Jesse Ryder.

Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat in humid conditions.

But the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan, player of the tournament at last year's World Twenty20 in England, and Sangakkara himself could only manage seven runs between them.

"We probably lost a bit of momentum in the first six (overs)," Sangakkara said. "That was vital to kick on. The backwards step we took in the first six stuck with us through the innings."

And he refused to blame Malings for the loss, saying: "He bowled brilliantly. He was unlucky to go for a boundary in that last over off his second ball."

Debutant Dinesh Chandimal helped Jayawardene revive the innings in a third-wicket stand of 59 before he was caught in the deep off Nathan McCullum with the total on 103 for three.

Jayawardene fell in the penultimate over and again Nathan McCullum was involved, taking the catch at deep mid-wicket off Tim Southee.

After Brendon McCullum's exit, New Zealand rebuilt their innings through a second-wicket stand of 62 between Ryder and Martin Guptill (19).

New Zealand fell behind the run-rate after Ryder was bowled by off-spin star Muttiah Muralitharan and they needed 20 off the last two overs.

Oram was bowled off the first ball of the 19th, by Chanaka Welegedara and next ball Gareth Hopkins was run out.

Come the last over, New Zealand needed 10 for victory.

Nathan McCullum took a single off Malinga's first ball and the bowler then missed an easy chance to run out Vettori off the next, with McCullum striking a boundary off the third delivery.

Vettori was run out off the fourth but McCullum was on strike.

West Indies hammer Ireland by 70 runs

PROVIDENCE: West Indies thrashed Ireland by 70 runs as the hosts got their World Twenty20 campaign off to a winning start under the floodlights on Saturday.


Qualifiers Ireland were bowled out for just 68, inside 17 overs, with man-of-the-match Darren Sammy taking three wickets for eight runs to add to the all-rounder's top score of 30 in West Indies' 138 for nine.

Ireland saw 17-year-old off-spinner George Dockrell take three for 16 after West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo, deputising for the injured Chris Gayle, won the toss and batted.

But their top order had no answer to fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, who sparked Ireland's collapse with three for 17.

Kemar Roach struck the first blow when he had Ireland captain William Porterfield caught at second slip by Sammy for four.

Sammy again showed safe hands when he caught Paul Stirling for naught off Rampaul in the next over and when Rampaul had Niall O'Brien caught behind for six, Ireland were 11 for three.

A rain break offered brief respite but Ireland were soon in more trouble at 16 for four when Alex Cusack edged to Sammy.

The all-rounder came on in the ninth over and any doubts about the man-of-the-match award were settled when he removed Kevin O'Brien first ball.

Sammy took a fourth catch to get rid of Gary Wilson and ended the match when he bowled Dockrell, in a stark reminder of cricket's highs and lows, for a duck.

Extras, with 19, was the best score of an innings where Wilson made 17.

The Netherlands got last year's World Twenty20 off to a shock start by beating England at Lord's and Ireland were dreaming of another giantkilling at the halfway stage.

Dockrell, a 17-year-old off-break bowler, struck twice in three balls to remove opener Andre Fletcher and senior batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan before having Narsingh Deonarine caught behind.

The West Indies, without captain and dynamic opener Gayle due to muscle stiffness, saw senior batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (14) fall first, immediately after striking two successive fours off Boyd Rankin.

It was a similar story for Bravo (18), who a ball after hitting Alex Cusack for six gave the Brisbane born all-rounder a return catch.

Dockrell then took centre stage, having Fletcher, opening in Gayle's place, caught for 19 at deep backward point.

And, two balls later, Dockrell struck again when Sarwan was caught for 24 to leave the West Indies 77 for four.

West Indies face England on Monday with Ireland up against the same opponents on Tuesday in the final Group D match.

TOI

Sri Lanka to bat against NZ in T20 WC opener

STAFF WRITER 22:7 HRS IST

Guyana (WI), Apr 30 (PTI) Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in the inaugural match of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup at the Providence Stadium here today.

Teams:

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (capt), Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins, Jacob Oram, Nathan McCullum, Shane Bond, Tim Southee.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Chanaka Welegedara.

Anand split points with Topalov, leads World C'ship

STAFF WRITER 23:9 HRS IST

Sofia (Bulgaria), Apr 30 (PTI) World champion Viswanathan Anand continued his fine performance and retained a full point lead over challenger Vaselin Topalov of Bulgaria after drawing the fifth game of the ongoing World Championship now underway here.

Anand, who had won the fourth game quite convincingly with white pieces to go one up in the 12-game series now also has the advantage of an extra white game in the remaining seven that puts Topalov under tremendous pressure.

Having learnt his lessons quite well after the disastrous loss in the first game when he played the sharp gruenfeld with black pieces, Anand stuck to the basics and yet again played the Slav defence in which Topalov could not find a defect for the second time running.

Major blow for Indian football

Major blow for Indian football

No Mahindra United from the next season

New Delhi, April 30: Indian football received a body blow on Friday with automobile giants Mahindras announcing the shutting down of their Mumbai-based 48-year-old football club Mahindra United from next season and that they will move on to develop the game at the grassroots level.

The shocking decision comes at a time when Mahindra U are placed second in the I-League and also have an outside chance of winning the title. Started in 1962, the club has been one of the best and has won all major Championships including the Durand Cup, National League, IFA Shield, Federation Cup, President’s Cup and the Super Cup. The team has been adjudged champions of the Mumbai Football League 15 times since 1971.

Dhoni’s army to take the new-comer seriously

Dhoni’s army to take the new-comer seriously

• India face unheralded Afghanistan at St lucia today •

ST LUCIA, April 30: Up against an unheralded Afghanistan in their tournament-opener, India will have to guard against complacency to ensure a flying start to their campaign in the T20 World Cup on Saturday.

Considering there is very little room for errors in the slam-bang format of the game, India would have to be at their best to avoid the ignominy of being destroyed by the minnows of international cricket.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has already warned his star-studded legion not to underestimate Afghanistan and teammate Yuvraj was also worried about the X-factor of their opponents, who have caught the imagination of the world over the last two years.

New Zealand open fight against Sri Lanka in World Twenty20

PROVIDENCE: Brendon McCullum's prowess as a Twenty20 batsman is well known but older brother Nathan could also have an important role to play in the upcoming World Twenty20.

The Black Caps open the competition against Sri Lanka on Friday and, with warm-up matches suggesting pitches will take spin, off-break bowler Nathan is set for some key overs in an attack where New Zealand captain and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has been the mainstay for several years now.

McCullum was given the new ball in New Zealand's 40-run warm-up win over Ireland on Tuesday, reviving memories of Martin Crowe's ploy of using off-spinner Dipak Patel at the start of the innings at the 1992 World Cup - a tactic that helped the Black Caps get to the last four of that event.

Against Ireland, McCullum took three wickets for 25 runs and Vettori, who went wicketless, said: "Nathan McCullum was outstanding with the ball. On a wicket like that you've got to be inch perfect because it's so slow."

The Black Caps' pace attack is led by fast bowler Shane Bond and it won't just be Kiwi fans who will be hoping the former policeman, whose career has been blighted by injuries, can come through this tournament unscathed.

New Zealand headed to the Caribbean with fitness doubts over several senior players but batsman Jesse Ryder suggested he was over the groin strain that forced his withdrawal from the Indian Premier League with a brisk 64 against the Irish.

Together with Brendon McCullum he forms an explosive opening partnership with McCullum posting an unbeaten 116, one short of Chris Gayle's world record, when New Zealand beat Australia in a Twenty20 match in February.

McCullum is one of the most dangerous batsmen around in this format and Vettori was in no doubt of his value to New Zealand.

"McCullum at the top of the order is the real key. If he has a good tournament I think the team will fire."

Sri Lanka, last year's losing finalists, appear to have one of the best balanced squads for this form of cricket with the pace of Lasith Malinga to the spin of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis posing problems for most batsmen.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, player of the tournament in England in 2009 and veteran Sanath Jayasuriya are just two of the island nation's batsmen capable of fast scoring.

The Sri Lankans lost by five wickets to South Africa in a warm-up match on Wednesday but did not have their strongest side out in a clash that, in any event, went to the last over.

Whether the fact that most of the squad have been taking part in the lucrative Indian Premier League will catch up with Sri Lanka, remains to be seen but conditions, at least, should hold no fears for a side who reached the final of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

At it was in Guyana where the unorthodox Malinga made history in 2007, taking four wickets in four balls against South Africa.

But former captain Mahela Jayawardene knows Sri Lanka, now led by the experienced and talented Kumar Sangakkara, could have had an easier opening fixture.

"New Zealand has got a really good all-round team which can be totally devastating," he said.

To back him up, New Zealand beat West Indies by seven runs in their second warm-up on Wednesday.

TOI

‘We cannot take Afghanistan lightly’

‘We cannot take Afghanistan lightly’

ST LUCIA, April 29: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday warned his team-mates against taking unheralded Afghanistan lightly in their Twenty20 World Cup opening match on Saturday, saying any slip-up against them can put his side out of contention for super eights.

“If you ask me, I would not consider our opening match against Afghanistan as a practice game. I don’t take my opponents lightly. At the end of the day you have to win whichever team you play,” said Dhoni, ruling out complacency in the Indian camp.

Modi entitled to a fair trial: I S Bindra

MOHALI, April 29: PCA chief I S Bindra on Thursday threw his weight behind embattled Lalit Modi, saying the suspended IPL Commissioner should be given a fair trial.

Modi is facing corruption charges and was served a show-cause notice by the Indian Cricket Board on April 25, the day season-III of the IPL came to an end.

Bindra, who is also ICC Principal advisor, said IPL owes its success to the marketing skills of Modi.

“It was due to the marketing genius of a maverick - Lalit Modi - that Indian cricket finally emerged as a colossus in the international firmament in terms of reach and financial clout. Indian cricket became the epicenter of world cricket and the envy of the cricketing fraternity during this key phase,” Bindra said in a statement.

Djokovic eases into Rome quarters

Djokovic eases into Rome quarters

ROME, April 29: World number two Novak Djokovic had few problems in disposing of Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the ATP Rome Masters 1000 on Thursday.

It was not always plain sailing for Djokovic as he was broken twice during the match but in the end he was never really under pressure as his opponent made twice as many unforced errors as him.

The 22-year-old Serbian has a good record here at the Foro Italico having won the tournament two years ago and reached the final last time out.

He was made to work considerably harder than his first round when he breezed through 6-1, 6-1 against Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in less than an hour. Bellucci, also 22, is at a career high 28 in the world and is the highest ranking Brazilian since former French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten was operating on the tour at his peak.

IPL semifinals moved to Navi Mumbai after blasts

STAFF WRITER 16:27 HRS IST

Mumbai, Apr 18 (PTI) Indian Premier League authorities today shifted both the IPL semifinals to Navi Mumbai following yesterday's twin blasts in Bangalore which was the original venue.

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi today said in a statement that even though the IPL security agency found the blasts of low-intensity, the authorities had no other way but to shift the matches to the DY Patil Stadium, which would also host the April 25 final.

"While reluctant to relocate the semifinals at such short notice, yesterday's incidents have made it clear that the current environment in Bangalore prevents us from continuing with our original plans," Modi said.

"The incidents were assessed by local police and the IPL's security agency as being of a minor nature but they have forced our hand.

Gul and Arafat out of Pakistan T20 WC squad

STAFF WRITER 17:43 HRS IST

Lahore, Apr 18 (PTI) Defending champions Pakistan today suffered a double blow when pacer Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat were ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies after failing to recover from injuries sustained during the ongoing preparatory camp here.

The selectors have recommended the names of Mohammad Sami and uncapped Mohammad Irfan as their replacements, however, a final decision would be taken by the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt.

Chief selector, Mohsin Khan told reporters here that both Gul and Arafat failed to clear the final fitness test today.

"We have recommended the names of fast bowlers Mohammad Sami and Mohammad Irfan as replacements for the injured players. We have picked Sami from the list of five reserves we had kept for the World Cup," he said.

Caribbean flavour at World T20

Caribbean flavour at World T20

MUMBAI, April 18: Having learned a bitter lesson in the 2007 ODI World Cup when the West Indian fans largely ignored the cricket carnival, the ICC now wants the Caribbean flavour out in full force for the upcoming World Twenty20 Championship.

The magic mantra devised by the world governing council for the game to attract the Calypso-loving cricket fans is to price the tickets at a reasonable level and allow the people to come in and watch the match with their musical instruments and other paraphernalia.

Party stands would offer a traditional area to watch the game, Caribbean style, while fans are also being encouraged to come dressed up carnival-style as part of the “Bring It” campaign.

“We want fans to bring it. Bring their voices, their loudest noisemakers and their most outrageous costumes and face paints to the ground and enjoy the atmosphere of the world-famous party stand,” ICC’s chief executive Haroon Lorgat said.

Nadal wins Monte Carlo Masters

Nadal wins Monte Carlo Masters

MONTE CARLO, April 18: World number three Rafael Nadal won the Monte Carlo Masters for a record sixth consecutive time with a 6-0 6-1 drubbing of fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the final on Sunday.

Nadal, who had not claimed an ATP title in the past 11 months, won his 32nd straight match in the glitzy principality with yet another stunning display of claycourt tennis.

Four-times French Open champion Nadal raced through the opening set as Verdasco, playing in his first Masters final, proved unable to live with him. (Agencies)

Gambhir half century powers Delhi to 6-wicket win

TAFF WRITER 23:31 HRS IST

R Eswar

Chennai, Apr 15 (PTI) Gautam Gambhir cracked an unbeaten 57 as Delhi Daredevils spanked Chennai Super Kings by six wickets in a low-scoring IPL match to virtually seal a semifinal berth here tonight.

Captain Gambhir led a remarkable recovery with a resolute batting display with Mithun Manhas (25 not out) after his side made a messy start in the run chase of 113 by losing their top three batsmen for just six runs in the second over.

The duo shared 75 runs from 70 balls for the unfinished fifth wicket as Delhi romped home with eight balls to spare and snap their three-match losing streak at M A Chidambaram Stadium.

I-T officials question Lalit Modi for 8 hrs over IPL deals

STAFF WRITER 5:38 HRS IST

Mumbai, Apr 16 (PTI) Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi was questioned for as long as eight hours over the financial dealings and share holding patterns of the cricketing body as Income Tax officials left his Worli-based office early today.

I-T officials visited IPL Head-Quarters at Wankhede Stadium as also Modi's office at Nirlon House in upmarket Worli, where they quizzed him from 7.15 pm to 3.20 am.

Modi, speaking to reporters later, said the I-T officials were visiting several places in the city in a bid to find out details of the bidding process and when he came to know of it, he invited them over to his office.

"They were given documentation details, they verified the documents and went through the entire process of bidding. We fully cooperated with them and provided them with all they required," the IPL Commissioner said.

Modi using unethical efforts to thwart Kochi IPL: Tharoor

Modi using unethical efforts to thwart Kochi IPL: Tharoor

New Delhi, April 13: Minister of State for External Affairs Minister Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday denied that he called up Indian Premier League (IPL) chief Lalit Modi requesting him not to reveal the name of the stakeholders of the consortium that won the franchise of the Kochi team.

Tharoor, who played the role of a mentor and helped the consortium bag the deal for Rs 1,530 crore, said in a statement that he had called up Modi to ask why he was further delaying the approval of the franchise when all the legal requirements had been fulfilled.

“Modi had held up approval by the IPL of the franchisee agreement earlier in the day by insisting on the reversal of a change in the document that he himself had earlier suggested. This change was made, the consortium members flew to Bangalore and met with Modi after that night’s IPL game for what they had been told would be a routine exercise.

Chhetri set to make official debut

Chhetri set to make official debut

NEW DELHI, April 13: Sunil Chhetri is all set to become the first Indian to play for a Major League Soccer side when he makes his official debut for Kansas City Wizards in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifier match against Colorado Rapids.

Chhetri is expected to play against the Rapids at the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus early morning on Wednesday (IST) after KC Wizards made official announcement that he has been added to the 24-man roster.

The diminutive Indian did not play in Wizards’ second MLS match against the Rapids on April 10 as he did not have his clearance papers from the United States Soccer Federation and the MLS.

Chhetri was pleased to see his name on the roster and said, “I’m very excited to be able to appear with the team. We have a good squad and I’m going to give my best to help us on the field.” (PTI)

Chhetri set to make official debut

Chhetri set to make official debut

NEW DELHI, April 13: Sunil Chhetri is all set to become the first Indian to play for a Major League Soccer side when he makes his official debut for Kansas City Wizards in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup qualifier match against Colorado Rapids.

Chhetri is expected to play against the Rapids at the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus early morning on Wednesday (IST) after KC Wizards made official announcement that he has been added to the 24-man roster.

The diminutive Indian did not play in Wizards’ second MLS match against the Rapids on April 10 as he did not have his clearance papers from the United States Soccer Federation and the MLS.

Chhetri was pleased to see his name on the roster and said, “I’m very excited to be able to appear with the team. We have a good squad and I’m going to give my best to help us on the field.” (PTI)

Chennai trounce Kolkata by 9 wickets

Chennai trounce Kolkata by 9 wickets

Chennai, April 13: Half-centuries by Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay and a three-wicket haul by R Ashwin helped Chennai steamroll Kolkata by nine wickets at the Chepauk today. After restricting the Knight Riders for just 139 runs, Chennai batsmen did not lose their momentum and easily reached the target. Mathew Hayden was the lone causuality. He failed to open his account but Raina (78) and Vijay (50) did not let any further damage to occur.

Earlier, spinner R Ashwin wreaked havoc with his sensational three-wicket spell. Ashwin’s devastating spell punctured Kolkata’s hopes of a good start in the make-or-break match after electing to bat at M A Chidambaram stadium here.

Kolkata lost four wickets at a score of 19 inside fifth over with Ashwin (3/16) coming up with a dream spell.

Chennai Super Kings beat KKR by nine wickets

STAFF WRITER 22:42 HRS IST

Chennai, Apr 13 (PTI) Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by nine wickets in their crucial IPL match at M A Chidambaram stadium here today.

Brief Scores:

Kolkata Knight Riders: 139 for 8 in 20 overs. (A Mathews 48, M Tiwary 27; R Ashiwn 3/16, D Bollinger 2/15).