Page 372 - Sports

Great feeling to get across the line: Kohli

Skipper Virat Kohli was a relieved man after Royal Challengers finally snapped a six-match losing streak in this IPL with a eight wicket win over Kings XI Punjab here Saturday. Kohli (67) in company of AB de Villiers (59 not out) scripted a superb runchase, sharing a 85-run stand to lay the foundation, while Marcus Stoinis (28 off 16) played a crucial cameo as RCB overhauled the target of 174 with four balls to spare. "It is a great feeling to get across the line. Have been unlucky in couple of games. Won't say we've been unlucky in every game, but a couple of games we should've closed out before this," Kohli said. "After so many setbacks, the guys had desire. That's one word we spoke about." "We thought 190 will be par and to restrict them to 170 was a great effort. To pick up 4 wickets in 8 overs in the middle for 60 runs was a great effort." AB de Villiers, who was adjudged the Man of the match, said it was a long wait for the team. "Waited for a long time for this, so we're very ..

Kohli, de Villers guide RCB to first win of 2019

Bottom-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finally ended their winning draught in the ongoing season of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 as skipper Virat Kohli's scintillating 53-ball 67 followed by AB de Villiers (59* off 38) and Marcus Stoinis (28* off 16) fruitful knock guided them to a thumping eight-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium here on Saturday.

Kohli, de Villiers guide RCB to eight-wicket win over KXIP

Sensational fifties from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers overshadowed Chris Gayle's unbeaten 99 as Royal Challengers finally snapped a six-match losing streak this IPL season with a eight-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab here Saturday. Kohli (67) in company of AB de Villiers (59 not out) scripted a superb runchase, sharing a 85-run stand to lay the foundation. The India skipper blasted eight boundaries, while de Villiers clobbered two sixes and five hits across the rope in his 38-ball innings. Invited to bat, dashing West Indies opener Chris Gayle (99) carried his bat through with an unbeaten 99, studded with five sixes and as many as 10 hits to the fence to single-handedly anchor Punjab to 173 for four. Kohli and de Villiers then did bulk of the scoring and once the skipper was dismissed in the 16th over, Marcus Stoinis (28 off 16) played a crucial cameo to take the team through with four balls to spare. With this victory, RCB also avoided the ignominy of most successive losses for a ..

RCB beat KXIP by 8 wickets

Royal Challengers Bangalore finally tasted victory in this IPL season, notching up a eight-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab in an IPL game here Saturday. Invited to bat, Kings XI Punjab posted 173 for 4, riding on Chris Gayle's unbeaten 99 runs off 64 balls. RCB then returned to overhaul the target in 19.2 overs, courtesy fifties by Virat Kohli (67) and AB de Villers (59 not out). Brief Score: Kings XI Punjab: 173 for 4 in 20 overs (Chris Gayle 99; Y Chahal 2/33). Royal Challengers Bangalore: 174 for 2 in 19.2 overs (Virat Kohli 67; R Ashwin 1/30).

Jagadeesha Suchith replaces injured Harshal Patel in Delhi Capitals squad

Karnataka left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith was Saturday roped in by Delhi Capitals as a replacement for injured Harshal Patel for the remainder of the Indian Premier League. Patel had suffered a fracture in his right hand in the game against Kings XI Punjab on April 1 and was ruled out for 3-4 weeks. Suchith, who has represented Mumbai Indians in previous editions of the IPL, will now take Patel's place in the Delhi team. Delhi Capitals take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in their next IPL encounter at Hyderabad Sunday.

No IPL stars in West Indies ODI squad for Ireland tri-series

West Indies selectors named a 14-member squad for a tri-series in Ireland without their premier stars, currently plying their trade in the Indian Premier League. The likes of Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer and Alzarri Joseph will not be playing in the May 5-17 tournament where the two other teams are hosts Ireland and Bangladesh. While terming the tournament as a dress rehearsal, Cricket West Indies' (CWI) Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams made it clear that it will have no bearing on the final World Cup squad. "The selection panel consisted of interim Head Coach Floyd Reifer, Captain Jason Holder and interim Chairman of Selectors Robert Haynes," Jimmy Adams, director of cricket was quoted as saying in ICC website. "They have selected a squad to Ireland that allows a slightly wider pool of players to get 50-over experience in UK conditions which I think is very important. This is not the World Cup squad, as a number of players are not available for this series as they are ..

Gayle's 99 powers KXIP to 173/4 against RCB

Opener Chris Gayle missed out on his century by just one run but his valiant effort (99* off 64) helped Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) post a fighting 173/7 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the Punjab Cricket Association I.S. Bindra Stadium, here on Saturday.

Cologne Boxing World Cup: Meena Kumari clinches gold as Indian boxers finish with 5 medals

Meena Kumari Maisnam continued her fine run to win gold medal in the 54 kg at the Boxing World Cup in Cologne on Saturday. Sakshi (57kg) and Pwilao Basumatary (64kg) lost their final bouts and had to settle for the silver while Pinki Rani (51kg) and Parveen (60kg) won bronze as India finished with five medals. Meena, the 2014 Asian Championships bronze medallist with three National Championships titles to her credit, edged Thailand's Machai Bunyanut on points in the summit clash. She had earlier won the gold at the prestigious Strandja Cup. This was the only bout of the tournament for the Manipur pugilist as she had been directly placed in the final due to a smaller draw. Reigning youth World Champion Sakshi's brilliant run came to an end against two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist Michaela Walsh. The Irish stamped her authority in a commanding 5-0 performance, leaving no chance for the 18-year-old Indian youngster to make a comeback in her first elite international ...

Gayle powers KXIP to a 173-4 against RCB

Swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle missed a well-deserved century by a whisker, smashing an unbeaten 99 off 64 balls to power Kings XI Punjab to a 173 for four against Royal Challengers Bangalore in an IPL match here Saturday. The 39-year-old West Indian, who had suffered a back spasm after last match, carried his bat, recording his highest score of this IPL season blasting five sixes and as many as 10 hits to the fence to single-handedly anchor the Punjab innings. Invited to bat, Gayle stitched a 66-run opening stand off 38 balls with KL Rahul (18) and kept the scoreboard ticking even though he lost partners on the other end at regular intervals. RCB could have dismissed Gayle in the first over itself when he was hit on the leg by Umesh Yadav but Kohli didn't go for a DRS and the West Indian escaped. Gayle made RCB pay for the mistake as he hit a four and six off Umesh's next over, before smashing Navdeep Saini for a boundary. Rahul joined the party, sending Umesh for a couple of ...

Got guys to take pressure off Russell: Katich

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have players who can take the pressure off Andre Russell, doubtful for Sunday's crunch Indian Premier League game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), assistant coach Simon Katich has said.

KXIP post 173-4 against RCB in IPL

Invited to bat, Kings XI Punjab posted 173 for 4 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in an IPL match here Saturday. Chris Gayle missed a century by a whisker, blasting an unbeaten 99 runs off 64 balls to help the hosts amass a challenging score. Brief Score: Kings XI Punjab: 173 for 4 in 20 overs (Chris Gayle 99; Y Chahal 2/33).

Ishan Kishan defends expensive Alzarri Joseph

Mumbai Indians' keeper-batsman Ishan Kishan defended teammate Alzarri Joseph's indifferent performance against Rajasthan Royals after his brilliant IPL debut against Sunrisers Hyderabad, calling it a part and parcel of the game. Alzarri, who took a record 6 for 12 on his debut was hammered for 53 off three overs, primarily due to 28 runs conceded in the 13th over that changed the game. "It's part of game. The other day he took six wickets and helped defend a small total," said Kishan after MI went down by four wickets as RR chased down their total of 187 for five with four balls to spare. But Kishan conceded that the one over (13th) in which Antiguan Joseph conceded two sixes and four fours a total of 28 runs to RR's Buttler that turned the match around in winning team's favour. "It was an important over as Rajasthan went ahead then. But still he's a very good bowler and will make a strong come back," predicted Kishan in support of the young pacer. His woes didn't end as he then ...

Rohit wins Roland-Garros eSeries India-leg

Roland-Garros, BNP Paribas and BIGBEN on Saturday announced Rohit Thakur as the winner of second edition of India leg of the Roland-Garros eSeries, an e-sport competition played on the Tennis World Tour video game.

We've moved from the Dhoni incident: Hussey

Chennai Super Kings have moved on from the MS Dhoni controversy, said batting coach Mike Hussey while stressing that their decorated skipper is an asset for any team.

Need guys will take pressure off Russell: Katich

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have players who can take the pressure off Andre Russell who is doubtful for Sunday's crunch Indian Premier League (IPL) tie against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), assistant coach Simon Katich said on Saturday.

I-League decides to take Minerva owner Bajaj to Eithics Committee for social media 'outbursts'

The I-League Committee which met here Saturday "unanimously" decided to refer Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj's frequent "outbursts" on social media against All India Football Federation to the Ethics Committee. An AIFF official said that Bajaj's name was not taken but the members took the decision that a proposal for action regarding his constant social media criticism directed to the federation will be sent to the Ethics Committee. "There was a proposal from some members about these frequent outbursts against the federation on social media. The members did not take any name but it was clearly directed at Bajaj," a member who attended the meeting told PTI. "It was a unanimous decision and a proposal to take action for these outbursts will be sent to the Ethics Committee," he added. The Ethics Committee is headed by Amod Kanth. The I-League Committee meeting was held at the sidelines of the Super Cup summit clash between FC Goa and Chennaiyin FC on Saturday.

Simon Katich calls for better umpiring in IPL

Kolkata Knight Riders assistant coach Simon Katich became the latest to join the bandwagon of coaches and players, who feel that standard of umpiring in the current season has left a lot to be desired. Though Katich was not forthcoming, he pointed out the contentious decision which went in favour of Delhi Capitals' Shikhar Dhawan in Friday's match against KKR. The southpaw, who survived a review on 11, went on to seal the match for the Capitals with an unbeaten 97. "I don't want to get into trouble. I will give a stock standard answer: It's a tough job. Obviously last night, there was a contentious one (Dhawan) and unfortunately it didn't go away," Katich in a roundabout manner said what he intended to. The ongoing edition of the IPL has had quite a few umpiring controversies so far leading to top players like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli coming down heavily on the standard of umpiring. While Dhoni's latest conduct has not been above board, Katich was all praise for his ...

Poonacha, Humeira win in AITA tennis titles

Local girl Yubrani Banerjee failed to impress as she faltered in the women's singles final of the Central Excise Open AITA Men's & Women's National Ranking Tennis Tournament, at the synthetic courts of the Bengal Tennis Association Complex on Saturday.

Buttler shines in Royals' 4-wicket win over Mumbai

Rajasthan Royals finally managed to script their second victory of the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) as Jos Buttler clattered 89 off 43 balls before Shreyas Gopal (13 off 7) rescued his side with the bat to beat Mumbai Indians by four wickets in yet another edge-of-the-seat contest at the Wankhede Stadium, here on Saturday.

Bowling to Jos at the Royals practice has helped me improve: Kulkarni

Rajasthan Royals seamer Dhawal Kulkarni's biggest gain from this IPL has been bowling to teammate Jos Buttler at the nets which has helped him improve as a bowler. Buttler has been Royals' best player in the tournament so far and his 89 off 43 balls guided Royals to a four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in an IPL game on Saturday. "It is challenging to bowl (to Buttler in the nets) because he has got shots all over the ground but I take that as a challenge to improve my bowling," Kulkarni told reporters after the match. Terming Buttler as a "special player", Kulkarni said that the Englishman's consistency has been one of the positive aspects of the team. "Jos is a special player for our team and a knock like that, it changed the momentum of the game. And he is being doing that consistently from the last year. If you have seen he has done that for us earlier and this year also he is in a good form," he said. The best part is that Buttler because of his range is difficult to bowl in