C r i c H o t L i n e |
- Sachin Tendulkar joins Mumbai Indians after medical check-up
- Entertainment, entertainment, entertainment – at IPL 5 opener!
- India Vs South Africa Statistical Highlights one-off T20 Johannesburg 2012
- West Indies beat Australia by 14-runs in 2nd T20 to level series
- South Africa beat India by 11 runs in one-off T20 (D/L)
| Sachin Tendulkar joins Mumbai Indians after medical check-up Posted: 31 Mar 2012 07:15 AM PDT
The batsman was busy playing for the country in Australia and then in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh when the camp began and, after India’s early exit from the Dhaka four-nation tournament, went to London on a brief visit for medical consultation about his injured toe. Tendulkar, who achieved the unprecedented landmark of scoring 100 international hundreds, during the Asia Cup, will be spearheading MI’s bid to clinch the crown for the first time in the cash-rich T20 event, commencing on April 4.
MI’s campaign opener is scheduled against last year’s winners Chennai Super Kings, to be led by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The preparatory camp is set to conclude on Saturday. The MI squad and the support staff – including mentor cum bowling coach Shaun Pollock, advisor cum fielding coach Jonty Rhodes, head coach Robin Singh, assistant coach Paras Mhambrey and spin bowling coach Maninder Singh – are set to leave for Chennai on Sunday. © PTI  |
| Entertainment, entertainment, entertainment – at IPL 5 opener! Posted: 31 Mar 2012 07:11 AM PDT
If that is not enough, Bollywood stars Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and music band Colonial Cousins are geared up to set the stage afire. “There will be good things, lots of entertainment and cricket. It’s the first time that such a large-scale, separate concert is being organised for the IPL, so big things have been planned,” Wizcraft Entertainment director Sabbas Joseph said.
The performer line-up is impressive. “Amitabh Bachchan will be opening the night. He will render a poem written by Prasoon Joshi. And Salman Khan will give the show a fitting finale…all performers will bring something unique to the show,” said Joseph. Joshi says it was challenging to pen the verse. “The challenge before me was to write in verse about the spirit of cricket. The poetry captures this spirit and makes a commitment that whatever one may do in life, one would always want to be connected to the game of cricket,” he said. A huge highlight of the ceremony, to be held at the YMCA Grounds in Chennai, is pop icon Katy Perry. The singer, who tied the knot with now estranged husband Russell Brand, in India in 2010, returns to the country to give her maiden performance at the ceremony. She is set to enthrall the audience with her hits like “Fireworks” and “California Gurls”. “Katy will add a different flavour to the event. She is coming down April 2, but leaving almost in a jiffy after her performance,” said Joseph. Another highlight will be Big B – he returns to work after two abdominal surgeries earlier this year. The 69-year-old veteran has been home ever since his treatment, and looks forward to step out for the event. Contrary to recent media reports, Big B is unlikely to dance, clarifies Joseph. A rare sight would be dancing sensation Prabhu Deva on stage. Other attractions include performances by Bollywood beauties Priyanka and Kareena, whose performances have been choreographed by Shiamak Davar and his team. Stepping up the fervour will be music maestros Colonial Cousins, who will team up with international percussionist and composer DJ Ravi Drums and a group of talented percussionists known as First Project and local percussionists, d’Frens. “Whether it is international tracks, the ‘Dhinka chika’, southern tracks or the dances…the combination from across the country is aimed at entertainment and entertainment,” said Joseph, who says the performers have been chosen on the basis of their profile and passion for cricket. The fifth edition of IPL will be held during April 4-May 27. With nine teams and 76 games across 12 locations, it promises to be a treat for cricket fans. The captains of the nine participating teams will also be present at the opening ceremony, where they will take a pledge. The tickets for the star-studded opening night are priced at Rs.1,500. And, needless to say, the organisers are expecting a “full house”. © IANS  |
| India Vs South Africa Statistical Highlights one-off T20 Johannesburg 2012 Posted: 31 Mar 2012 04:03 AM PDT
Statistical highlights of the one-off Twenty20 match between India and South Africa here. # Gambhir (49 not out off 28 balls) has recorded his highest score against South Africa. # Gambhir’s strike rate of 175.00 is his second best in an innings, next only to the 211.53 (55 off 26 balls) against Sri Lanka at Nagpur on December 9, 2009. (minimum 40 runs) # Gambhir has averaged 125.00 in T20Is this year, aggregating 125 runs in three innings, twice not out — the strike rate being 122.54.
# Gambhir enjoys an excellent record in T20Is in South Africa — 276 runs in seven innings, including three fifties — his highest being 75 against Pakistan at Johannesburg on September 24, 2007. # With 746 runs at an average of 32.43 in 26 games, Gambhir has extended his record for the highest run-aggregate for India in T20Is. # Jacques Kallis and Colin Ingram (119) have set a South African partnership record for the second wicket in Twenty20 Internationals, obliterating the 111 between Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith against Australia at Johannesburg on February 24, 2006. # The 119-run partnership is the highest by any pair for the second wicket against India, outstripping the 97 between Kallis and Graeme Smith for South Africa at Gros Islet on May 2, 2010. # Suresh Raina (2/49), for the first time, has taken two wickets in an innings in T20Is. # Raina has conceded most runs in a T20I in South Africa-India games. Rory Kleinveldt had conceded 48 runs while taking two wickets at Gros Islet on May 2, 2010. # Raina became the first Indian bowler to concede 26 runs in an over in a T20I, outstripping the 25 conceded by Yuvraj Singh to New Zealand’s Jacob Oram and Craig McMillan at Johannesburg on September 16, 2007. # Twenty six runs made by Justin Ontong and Albie Morkel are the most in an over for South Africa in a T20I. # In South Africa’s innings, nine sixes were recorded, equalling their record against India in T20Is. In the Gros Islet T20I on May 2, 2010, they had registered nine sixes in their total of 172 for five. # Rohit Sharma is the first fielder to take three catches in an innings for India in T20Is. # Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir, with their 71-run unbroken partnership for the first wicket, have set an Indian record against South Africa in T20Is, surpassing the 48 between Gambhir and Rohit Sharma at Nottingham on June 16, 2009. # Uthappa (18 not out) has posted his highest innings against South Africa, bettering the 15 at Durban on September 20, 2007. # South Africa have registered their second highest total in Twenty20 Internationals – the highest is 241 for six against England at Centurion on November 15, 2009. # South Africa (219/4) have posted their highest total against India in Twenty20 Internationals. The said total is the highest by any team against India in T20Is, outstripping the 215 for five by Sri Lanka at Nagpur on December 9, 2009. # Four scores of 200 or more have been recorded against India in Twenty20 Internationals — two by Sri Lanka and one each by South Africa and England. # South Africa’s 11-run victory margin by D/L method is their narrowest over India in T20Is. They had won by 12 runs at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on June 16, 2009. # South Africa, overall, have won two and lost four matches against India in T20Is – success % 33.33. # Colin Ingram (78 off 50 balls) has recorded a career-best innings in Twenty20 Internationals — his first half-century, surpassing the 46 not out against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi on October 26, 2010. # Ingram’s brilliant match-winning knock is the highest by a South Africa against India in T20Is, surpassing the 73 by Jacques Kallis at Gros Islet on May 2, 2010. # Ingram has got the Man of the Match award for the first time in T20Is. # Richard Levi and Jacques Kallis have set a record for the first wicket (22) against India, bettering the 21 between Loots Bosman and Kallis at Gros Islet on May 2, 2010. # Jacques Kallis has recorded his second fifty in a row against India. In his first game against India at Gros Islet on May 2, 2010, he had recorded 73 off 54 balls. # Kallis is averaging 40.44 in a winning cause — 364 runs in ten matches, including three fifties. # Kallis’ second fifty against India is his fifth in T20Is. # Kallis has recorded consecutive fifties in T20Is for the first time — 53 against West Indies at North Sound on May 19, 2010 and 61 against India at Johannesburg on March 30, 2012. # Kallis’ brilliant 61 off 42 balls is his first fifty in four games at home in T20Is. He is the first South African to record two fifties against India in T20s. (PTI)  |
| West Indies beat Australia by 14-runs in 2nd T20 to level series Posted: 30 Mar 2012 09:56 PM PDT
Chasing a modest 161-run target, Australia were well-set at 75-2 at the halfway stage, but their chase slowed with off-break bowler Marlon Samuels taking three crucial wickets to dismiss skipper George Bailey (24), Mike Hussey (14) and Matthew Wade (17). Opener David Warner top-scored with a 43-ball 58 with five fours and three sixes. Seamer Fidel Edwards, who had dismissed Shane Watson for nought in the first over, returned to turn the screw by getting rid of Daniel Christian and Brett Lee with successive deliveries in the 19th over to finish with three for 23.
That left Australia seven wickets down and needing 19 off the final over, bowled by Dwayne Bravo. Kieron Pollard took a fine catch in the deep to dismiss David Hussey (19) off the fourth ball with 17 still needed and the game was up as Australia finished on 146 for nine. Bravo had also played a key role in the dismissal of dangerman Warner, running out the opener with a direct hit in the 13th over with the score on 98 for three. “It was a great start from the West Indies, I think we pulled it back to about par, 160, and I thought we were on course to knock it off,” said Bailey. “They put pressure on us. The wicket of David Warner was huge, run-outs change matches.” West Indies captain Darren Sammy admitted his team should have scored more. “We knew it was a 180-plus pitch. We tried Polly and myself up the order to try and get some momentum — that didn’t work but we kept going,” said Sammy. “The work we’ve been doing in the camp and throughout the series has been paying off and I want to ask the boys to keep doing that. We want to keep doing well in the Tests and hopefully continue the good results.” West Indies squandered a blistering start to be bowled out for just 160. After winning the toss, West Indies looked good for a huge score when they raced to 65-0 from six overs and 110-2 by the 10th. Openers Dwayne Smith and Johnson Charles got them off to a flying start. Charles made 37 off 21 balls with six fours and a six before he was first man out in the seventh over. Big-hitting Pollard, who had scored a maiden T20 fifty on Tuesday, was caught behind off Lee after making just one in the eighth over with the total on 76. Smith top-scored thanks to a 34-ball innings of 63, which featured six fours and four huge sixes, but once he was caught in the deep off slow bowler Xavier Doherty, the runs dried up. Bravo, with 23 off 24 balls, was the only other batsman to reach double figures as West Indies lost their last eight wickets for just 40 runs before they were bowled out with two balls to spare. Lee was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 3 for 23. The two sides, who also drew the one-day series 2-2, will now play a three-Test series beginning in Barbados on April 7. © AFP  |
| South Africa beat India by 11 runs in one-off T20 (D/L) Posted: 30 Mar 2012 09:51 PM PDT
Gambhir slammed 49 not out off 28 balls as India raced to 71 for no wicket in 7.5 overs in reply to South Africa’s 219 for four in 20 overs. But South Africa’s big total meant that India were 11 runs short of the Duckworth/Lewis par score when a thunderstorm broke over the ground and the match was halted. Jacques Kallis and Colin Ingram shared a rapid century partnership as South Africa posted a formidable total.
Kallis made 61 off 42 balls and the left-handed Ingram raced to 78 off 50 deliveries after South Africa were sent in to bat. The pair put on 119 of 80 balls for the second wicket. Indian captain MS Dhoni used eight bowlers but runs flowed as the batsmen took advantage of a good batting pitch, short boundaries and a fast outfield. Richard Levi gave the hosts a fast start, hitting four boundaries before being caught at slip for 19 off seven balls. The Kallis-Ingram stand enabled the later batsmen to go for their shots, with new cap Farhaan Behardien hitting an unbeaten 20 off 11 balls and Justin Ontong 22 off seven before Albie Morkel, coming in with only three balls remaining, hit Suresh Raina for two sixes and a four. The run feast continued when India started their innings, with Gambhir hitting seven fours and a six. But opening partner Robin Uthappa could only manage 18 off 19 balls, while South African opening bowler Lonwabo Tsotsobe conceded only 15 runs off three overs. The hastily-arranged match was billed as being an annual fixture for the Friendship Cup and a tribute to South African all-rounder Kallis, with profits going to the Jacques Kallis Foundation which provides scholarships for talented cricketers from under-privileged areas to attend good schools.  |
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