Chennai Super Kings storm into the IPL Final

The punters had written them off. Everyone favoured Kings XI Punjab in the second semi-final of the IPL. But Dhoni's boys proved all wrong and beat the Kings XI Punjab for the third time in this tournament. With this fascinating 9-wicket victory, they stormed into the grand finale, which will be played in Mumbai tomorrow. The Chennai Super King will take on tournament favourite Rajasthan Royals in the final.

The victory target of 113 looked very easy for Super Kings, as they achieved it in just 14.5 overs. Raina remained unbeaten on 55, while Parthiv Patel made an unbeaten on 51. They added an unbeaten 102 for the second wicket. M Ntini was declared "Man of the Match". Hopefully, tomorrow's grand finale will have an exciting finish unlike the one-sided semi-finals.

Kings XI Punjab resort to self-destruction, Super Kings need 113 to reach the Final

In all probability, it is going to be another one-sided affair in the IPL semi-finals, as Kings XI Punjab produced their worst performance in a match that mattered the most for them. Marsh, Yuvraj and all other batsmen failed to deliver and surrendered meekly before the rejuvenated Super Kings led by M S Dhoni.

The Kings XI team, which looked well organized until the semi-final, made themselves a laughing stock before the millions of cricket fans. The batsmen did not co-operate with each other while taking runs and did a harakiri at numerous occasions. Their top-order batsmen Marsh, Yuvraj, Hopes, Sangakkara and others failed to wrong shot selections.

It was a complete mess on the field. The Kings XI batsmen resorted to self-destruction. At one stage, they were 45/6. But Powar and Mota guided the team to cross 100-mark. The Kings XI made 112/8 in 20 overs. Romesh Powar was the top scorer with an unbeaten 28. Wilkin Mota scored 25. Shaun Marsh scored 23. For Super Kings, Morkel, Gony and Ntini took 2 wickets each.

Kings XI vs Chennai Super Kings - Battle of Nerves

Both Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings prepare for the epic battle at Mumbai that will decide the second finalist of the IPL T20. Rajasthan Royals have already made to the grand finale after inflicting a humiliating 105-run victory on Delhi DareDevils.

The odds favor Kings XI Punjab, who are in superb form. Interestingly, Kings XI Punjab had lost both their league matches to Chennai Super Kings. That gives a glimmer of hope to Dhoni's boys ahead of their crucial encounter against Yuvraj's lions. For Kings XI, Shaun Marsh and S Sreesanth hold the key, while for Super Kings, Dhoni and Gony will have to take the responsibility. Hopefully, we won't have to watch a one-side match this time. Whoever wins, people want an exciting finish.

Ricky Ponting completes 10,000 runs in Test Cricket

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting became the 7th player in the history of test cricket to complete 10,000 runs or more. Ponting achieved the milestone during the second test match against West Indies at Antigua. Ponting joined the elite club of Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Waugh, Alan Border, Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid.

Rajasthan Royals demolish Delhi DareDevils to reach the IPL Final

The powerful Rajasthan Royals spoiled the DareDevils' party with a virtual demolition of their batting line-up. The match was expected to be a thriller. but it turned out to be a dampener for the Delhi DareDevils. Chasing a victory target of 193, they bowled out for a paltry 87 in 16.2 overs. No batsman including Sehwag, Gambhir and Dhawan could produce any resistance. Dilshan was the top scorer with 33.

The Rajasthan Royals won the match by 105 runs and entered the IPL final in style. For Royals, Shane Watson took 3 wickets. Munaf Patel too claimed 3 wickets. Warne took 2 wickets. Shane Watson was declared "Man of the Match". He is a strong contender for the "Player of the Tournament" award with more than 400 runs and 16 wickets in this IPL tournament.

1st Semi-final: Rajasthan Royals set a victory target of 193 for Delhi DareDevils

As expected, the battle between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi DareDevils intensified, as both teams tried to give their best shots in the first semi-final in Mumbai. DareDevils won the toss and elected to field first. But that could not prevent Rajasthan Royals batsmen from playing the shots with free hands. They put up 192/9 in 20 overs.

The score would have been much more, but thanks to a discipline bowling by Amit Mishra and Asif in the end, which prevented the Royals from crossing the 200-mark. For Royals, Smith scored 25, Asnodkar 39, Shane Watson 52 and Yusuf Pathan 45. For DareDevils, Maharoof took 3 wickets. Amit Mishra and YoMahesh took 2 wickets. The victory target of 193 is not easy for DareDevils, but if Gambhir and Sehwag hold on, they could make it either way.

Odds favour Rajasthan Royals, but Delhi DareDevils ready to cause upset

The odds clearly favor the Rajasthan Royals ahead of their semi-final clash with the Delhi DareDevils. However, the DareDevils can cause an upset if their in-form batsmen Gambhir and Sehwag fire on the D-day.

Rajasthan Royals, riding on high on the captaincy of Shane Warne and great contributions from players like Shane Watson, Graeme Smith and Yusuf Pathan, have emerged as the favourites to win the trophy. However, Delhi DareDevils too have match winners. If they manage to rise to the occasion, then there is no reason why they can't win this match against Rajasthan Royals.

ODI Team announced for Tri-Series in Bangladesh; Yusuf Pathan, Raina, P Ojha included

The Indian selectors finally announced a 15-member team for the upcoming tri-series in Bangladesh and Asia Cup in Pakistan. Players who excelled in the ongoing IPL, have been given top priority during the selection process. The team looks completely young and balanced. Yusuf Pathan, Pragyan Ojha, Piyush Chawla, Praveen Kumar and Suresh Raina have been included in the squad.

Irfan Pathan, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma and Robin Uthappa too got a chance. Dhoni will be the skipper of the team, while Yuvraj Singh has been named the vice-captain. Yusuf Pathan and Pragyan Ohja will make their debut in ODI.

The Team: MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, I Pathan, S Sreesanth, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla, RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha.

Sachin Tendulkar to miss Tri-Series and Asia Cup

The BCCI has formally announced that Sachin Tendulkar will be rested for the tri-series in Bangladesh and the forthcoming Asia Cup. The decision was taken not to risk Sachin's groin injury, which might aggravate if he continues to play in a hectic schedule. According to sources, pace bowler Zaheer Khan is also likely to miss the tri-series because he needs rest to heal from injuries.

Shaun Marsh scores maiden T20 Century, Kings XI beat Rajasthan Royals

It was the last league match of the IPL and Kings XI Punjab staked claim to the title with a comprhensive victory over the hot favorites Rajasthan Royals. Shane Warne rested himself for this match and handed over the captaincy to Shane Watson. Kings XI won the toss and elected to bat first. They really batted like kings and put up 221/2 in 20 overs. Shaun Marsh, now the leading run getter of the tournament, scored his maiden T20 century with a 69-ball 115. Hopes too scored 51. Skipper Yuvraj Singh blasted 49 off just 16 balls.

The target was never easy and Rajasthan Royals kept losing wickets, chasing it. They finally managed to score 180/7 in 20 overs. Neeraj Patel was the top scorer with 57, while Yusuf Pathan made 39. For Kings XI Punjab, Chawla took 3 wickets. Shaun Marsh was declared "Man of the Match".

Mumbai Indians end their IPL Campaign with a win over Royal Challengers Bangalore

The Mumbai Indians bowed out of the IPL, but in style with a 9-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore. They finished at the 5th position, just ahead of Kolkata Knight Riders. Royal Challengers Bangalore finished 7th. The Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to field first. Due to early shower, the match was reduced to 18 overs.

The Royal Challengers never looked in shape and could manage only 122/9 in 18 overs. Cameroon White scored 26, while Goswami made 20. For Mumbai Indians, Fernando took 4 wickets, while D Smith took 3 wickets.

Sanath Jayasuriya and Sachin Tendulkar made the task much easier for Mumbai Indians, as they reached the target in 16 overs. Jayasuriya scored 54, while Sachin remained unbeaten on 40. Fernando was declared "Man of the Match". Mumbai Indians had to blame themselves for not making it to semis (although they deserved it). They lost three close matches that were well within their control.

IPL Semi-finals: Delhi vs Rajasthan, Chennai vs Punjab

The IPL semi-final line up has been drawn. While Delhi DareDevils will take on Rajasthan Royals in the first semi-final, Chennai Super Kings will play Kings XI Punjab in the second semi-final. Rajasthan Royals looked a strong contender to win the IPL trophy. Kings XI Punjab too look solid. It is expected that both the team will play an exciting final. However, a major upset in the semi-finals cannot be ruled out.

Chennai Super Kings reach Semi-finals with a win over Deccan Chargers

The Hyderabad Deccan Chargers finished at the bottom of the IPL points table, while Chennai Super Kings became the fourth team to reach the semi-finals with a comprehensive 7-wicket victory over the Deccan Chargers. Mumbai Indians are out of the semi-final race now. the four teams that qualified for the semis are Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi DareDevils.

In today's crucial match, Chennai Super Kings beat Deccan Chargers by 7 wickets. Batting first, Deccan Chargers put up a meagre total of 147/8 in 20 overs. Venugopal Rao scored 46, while Teja made 40. For Chennai Super Kings, Balaji and Morkel took 2 wickets each. In reply, Chennai Super Kings reached the target in 19.2 overs. Raina remained unbeaten on 54, while Dhoni made 37. Suresh Raina was declared "Man of the Match".

Sensational win for Rajasthan Royals over Mumbai Indians, Delhi DareDevils reach Semifinals

It was a match that was under control of the Mumbai Indians until the 18th over. However, the last two overs changed the course of the game. Mumbai Indians lost the match on the last ball of the match yet again. The sensational win by Rajasthan Royals allowed Delhi DareDevils to reach the semi-finals. Although Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians will fight for the 4th spot in the semi-finals, it became tougher and tougher for Mumbai Indians. They are virtually out of the race unless any miracle happens.

Earlier, Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to field first. Mumbai Indians could manage 145/7 in 20 overs. The slowness of the wicket did not allow the batsmen to play their natural shots. They crossed 140-mark, thanks to the 25 runs conceded by Shane Watson in the final over. For Mumbai Indians, Jayasuriya scored 38, while Tendulkar made 30. Nayar scored 25. Takawale contributed an unbeaten 24 off 8 balls. For Rajasthan Royals, Tanvir took 4 wickets, while Trivedi took 2 wickets.

The victory target of 146 was not easy for Rajasthan Royals on this slow wicket. They lost five wickets with less than 80 runs on board. However, Neeraj Patel and R Jadeja took the game away from Mumbai Indians. Rajasthan Royals needed 32 runs from the last two overs. Both the batsmen held their nerves and ensured a 5-wicket win on the last ball. The Mumbai Indians were themselves to blame, as they failed to complete a win, despite having a clear advantage. Patel remained unbeaten on 40, while Jadeja scored an unbeaten 23. For Mumbai Indians, Fernando took 2 wickets. Tanvir was declared "Man of the Match".

Mohali SSP files complaint against Nes Wadia

In a surprising development, the Mohali SSP has filed a compliant against Nes Wadia, co-owner of the Kings XI Punjab franchise. The SSP has accused Nes Wadia of abusing him in public view. According to the SSP, Wadia charged the police of selling tickets in black and for allegedly stealing liquor and T-shirts after last match.

Ganguly shines, as Knight Riders salvage pride with a win over Kings XI Punjab

Never before, Sourav Ganguly showed so much aggression, fire and energy in T20. He was unstoppable and Kings XI bowlers were at his mercy. Ganguly's unbeaten 86 guided the Knight Riders to a stunning 3-wicket victory over the powerful Kings XI team. Batting first, Kings XI put up 174/6 in 20 overs. Sangakkara was the top scorer with 64. Marsh made 40, while Yuvraj scored 27. For Knight Riders, Gul took 4 wickets.

Chasing a victory target of 175, Kolkata Knight Riders lost 4 wickets with the scoreboard showing less than 100 runs on board. However, Ganguly held the front till the end. He wanted to sign off with a win, and he did it. Knight Riders reached the target in 19.4 overs. Besides Ganguly, Butt and Gul scored 27 runs each. For Kings XI, VRV Singh, Chawla and Sreesanth took 2 wickets each. Gul was declared "Man if the Match".

Royal Challengers beat depleted Deccan Chargers

The Deccan Chargers failed yet again even against poor team like Royal Challengers Bangalore. The Royal Challengers won the match by 5 wickets. Batting first, Deccan Chargers bowled out for 165 in 20 overs. Gibbs and Gilchrist scored 47 runs each. The Royal Challengers reached the target in 19 overs, with one over to spare. Kallis and Dravid scored 31 runs each. Misbah made 34, while Cameroon White remained unbeaten on 31. Akhil too remained not out on 27.

DLF IPL: Semi-final race is Wide Open

With Delhi DareDevils scoring an upset win over the Mumbai Indians, the semi-final race has once again intensified. Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab are already through to the semi-finals. Now Delhi DareDevils, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are vying for the last two spots. While Delhi DareDevils have 15 points from 14 matches, Chennai Super Kings have 14 from 13 matches. Mumbai Indians have 12 points from 12 matches.

If Chennai Super Kings win tomorrow's match (their last match), they will reach the semis. Then Delhi DareDevils will pray that Mumbai Indians lose both their remaining matches against Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

If Chennai Super Kings lose, Delhi DareDevils will automatically qualify for the semis. Then it will be contest between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to grab the last spot. Mumbai Indians will need to win both their matches to secure their place in the semi-finals. The race is interesting and exciting too.

Delhi DareDevils scores a narrow win over Mumbai Indians, keeps semi-finals hopes alive

It was a make or break for Delhi DareDevils and they did it. In their last IPL match, the Delhi DareDevils beat Mumbai Indians by 5 wickets and kept their semi-finals hopes alive. Mumbai Indians began their innings on an explosive note. But once Sachin and Jayasuriya departed, they found themselves on the back foot. Jayasuriya scored 66. Robin Uthappa batted superbly in the last 3 overs to take Mumbai Indians' total to 176/5 in 20 overs. He remained unbeaten on 46. YoMahesh took 4 wickets for DareDevils.

Although Sehwag and Gambhir departed early after some quick-fire runs, Manoj Tiwary and Dinesh Karthik played the innings of their life to see DareDevils through. Tiwary scored 36, while Dhawan contributed 27. Dinesh Karthik remained unbeaten on 56. Maharoof too contributed an unbeaten 2o. He was the hero in the last overs. Delhi DareDevils made 178/5 in 19.5 overs. For Mumbai Indians, D Smith took 2 wickets. Karthik was declared "Man of the Match".

Chennai Super Kings fought, but go down to Rajasthan Royals

Chennai Super Kings fought hard, but went down to Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs in the end. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals put up 211/5 in 20 overs. Graeme Smith scored 91, while Kamran Akmal made an unbeaten 53. Asnodkar contributed 41. For Super Kings, Morkel took 2 wickets.

Although the target was too big, Chennai Super Kings fought bravely. However, they lost the way in the last 4 overs and could manage 201/7 in 20 overs. Parthiv Patel scored 54, while Suresh Raina made 45. Morkel was the top scorer with 71. For Rajasthan Royals, Sohail Tanveer took 3 wickets, while Warne bagged 2 wickets.

Mumbai Indians file complaint against Suresh Shastri

Upset over some of the decisions made by the third umpire during the IPL match against Kings XI Punjab, the Mumbai Indians have lodged an official complaint against Suresh Shastri who officiated in that match as the third umpire. According to Mumbai Indians coach Lalchand Raput, the franchise owners have filed an official complaint.

The Mumbai Indians, which suffered a one-run defeat in that match, had at least three dubious decisions against them. Even Mumbai Indians skipper Sachin Tendulkar had expressed his displeasure over those decision at the post-match conference. Meanwhile, Suresh Shastri has defended himself, saying he acted as per the ICC law.

Kings XI Punjab beat Deccan Chargers in inconsequential match

The outcome of this match was not expected to change any permutations and combinations. While the Kings XI Punjab had already reached the semi-finals, the Deccan Chargers were out of the race. However, they played with determination and it turned out to be a good contest, though Kings XI Punjab yet again proved that they are a better side.

Kings XI won the toss and asked Deccan Charger to bat first. The Deccan Chargers put up 175/4 in 20 overs. Gilchrist and Rohit Sharma scored 50 each, while Gibbs made 44. Silva remained unbeaten on 23. Kings XI had it easy while chasing the score. Openers Shaun Marsh and Sangakkara put up 84 runs for the first wicket. Marsh scored 60, while Sangakkara made 50. Kings XI reached the target with 3 balls to spare. They won the match by 6 wickets. For Deccan Chargers, Ojha took 2 wickets.

Match between DareDevils and Knight Riders called off due to rain, Knight Riders knocked off Semifinal race

Heavy downpour and bad weather conditions forced the crucial match between the Delhi DareDevils and Kolkata Knight Riders to be called off. Both team shared 1 point each. With this, Kolkata Knight Riders are out of the semifinal race, whereas Delhi DareDevils, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will fight it out for the remaining two spots that are up for a grab. Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab have already reached the semifinals.

Racism Row in IPL: Cheergirls hit out at Organizers

Breaking News! The racism row again cropped up in Indian cricket. This time, the IPL cheerleaders of African-British origin have accused the IPL organizers of racial discrimination. They have alleged that they did not get a chance to perform because of their skin colour and preferences was given to the white cheerleaders. They even held a press conference to make their statements. The cheergirls demanded an apology and immediate payment, which was promised to them.

The allegations were made against the Mumbai-based event management company, Wizcrafft. However, Sabbas Joseph, Director of Wizcrafft, has dismissed the allegations outright, saying it was just a publicity stunt. The BCCI has promised to order an inquiry into the incident, if they receives a formal complaint from the cheerleaders.

Sachin Tendulkar unhappy with Third Umpire, Suresh Shastri defends himself

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar expressed his unhappiness over the performance of the third umpire after Mumbai Indians went down to Kings XI Punjab by 1 run yesterday. The umpire in question is Suresh Shastri. He ruled Kings XI batsman Luke Pomersbach not out when he looked short of his ground against a direct throw from Shaun Pollock. The third umpire wasn't convinced that the ball knocked off the bails. Pomersbach went on to score an unbeaten 79.

Another controversial decision was given during Mumbai Indians' innings. Dwayne Smith was given out, when it looked like he made it the crease. It was certainly a dubious decision. Smith was batting with aggression, when he was given out. Even the run-out decision against Chitnis in the last over looked controversial. Meanwhile, third umpire Suresh Shastri defended himself, saying he acted as per the ICC law 28.1.

Royal Challengers Bangalore win at last, beat Chennai Super Kings

The depleted Royal Challengers Bangalore managed to register a win at last, as they beat Chennai Super Kings by 14 runs in a low-scoring match. Batting first, the Royal Challengers put up only 126/8 in 20 overs. Dravid was the top scorer with 47. Praveen Kumar made 21. For Super Kings, Morkel took 4 wickets, while Gony took 2 wickets.

Chasing a modest target of 127 to win, Chennai Super Kings looked set to win, but lost the momentum at a later stage. They finally scored 112/8 in 20 overs, thus losing the match by 14 runs. Fleming was the top scorer with 45. Patel scored 24, while Raina remained unbeaten on 21. For RCB, Kumble took 3 wickets, while Steyn took 2 wickets.

Kings XI Punjab beat Mumbai Indians in a nail-biting finish

It was a sensational victory for Kings XI Punjab, as they beat Mumbai Indians by just 1 run. It was Yuvraj Singh all over, as he bowled and fielded superbly to see his team through. Five run-outs and some poor selections had a huge impact on the Mumbai Indians, as they threw the match, which was well within their reach.

Mumbai Indians won the toss and asked Kings XI Punjab to bat first. Riding on the half centuries of Marsh and Pomersbach, Kings XI piled up 189/4 in 20 overs. Marsh scored 81, while Pomersbach remained unbeaten on 79. For Mumbai Indians, Chitnis took 2 wickets.

Jayasuriya started the run chase on an aggressive note. But he fell at 20. D Smith too scored a quick-fire 20, but was run-out to a wrong call. Abhishek Nayar was out for 27. Sachin Tendulkar batted superbly, but he was run out on 65 when he looked solid. It was Sachin's first fifty in T20 and the IPL. Uthappa and Pollock disappointed with wrong shot selections. Sachin's dismissal was the turning point of the match.

Mumbai Indians needed 19 runs from the last over. VRV Singh's first ball went for a six and it was a no-ball. Now they needed 12 runs from six balls. The next ball was hit for a boundary. The Mumbai Indians needed only 8 runs from 5 balls. But the superb fielding from Kings XI Punjab made the difference. There were 3 run-outs in the last over. Mumbai Indians needed 2 runs from the last ball. But Yuvraj's diving throw denied them a chance to level the score and they lost the match by 1 run. They scored 188 in 20 overs. Yuvraj and Sressanth took 2 wickets each.

Rajasthan Royals unstoppable, beat Kolkata Knight Riders

Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals continued their dream run in the IPL, as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 6 wickets to extend their lead on the point table. The Kolkata Knight Riders put up only 147/8 in 20 overs. Ganguly was the top scorer with 32. D Das scored 31, while Salman Butt made 24. For Royals, Tanvir took 3 wickets, while Munaf took 2 wickets.

The target was not so big, but Royals lost Smith, Asnodkar and Watson cheaply. However, Yusuf Pathan and Kaif batted brilliantly to see their team through. They reached the target in just 16.3 overs. Yusuf Pathan remained unbeaten on 48. Kaif remained unbeaten on 34. Smith contributed 24. For Knight Riders, Gul took 2 wickets. Yusuf Pathan was declared "Man of the Match".

No Luck for Dravid's Men, Delhi DareDevils beat Royal Challengers Bangalore

There was no surprise, as the winner was predicted much before the match has begun. Royal Challengers Bangalore were not match to the marching DareDevils, as they went down by 5 wickets. It was RCB's 9th loss in 11 outings. Batting first, Royal Challengers scored only 154/7 in 20 overs. Goswami scored 52, while Kallis made 25. Misbah regained his form with an unbeaten 47. For DareDevils, McGrath and Maharoof took 2 wickets each.

Delhi DareDevils began the run chase on an aggressive note. Sehwag scored 47 off just 19 balls. Gambhir too made 39. Gambhir became the first batsman to score 500 runs in the ongoing IPL. Villiers too contributed 21. DareDevils reached the target with 10 balls to spare. They lost only 5 wickets in this process. Kumble took 2 wickets for the RCB. Sehwag was declared "Man of the Match".

ICC vs SRK Fallout: IPL Franchise Owners can enter Players' Dressing Room

The war of words between Kolkata Knight Riders franchise owner Shahrukh Khan and ICC, have forced the BCCI to take a fast decision on the issue of owners entering the players' dug-out during the matches. The IPL organizers have decided to issue an all are accreditation badge to one member of each of the eight IPL team franchises so that they get direct access to the team without any hassles. It will be issued only for this tournament.

The decision came in the wake of reports that Shahrukh Khan was not allowed to enter the players' dug-out by ICC's Anti-corruption Unit. Upset over the development, Shahrukh yesterday blasted the ICC, forcing the BCCI to take notice of this matter.

Carnival of Sports News #2

Greetings! Welcome to the 2nd edition of the Carnival of Sports News! We have selected only 8 posts for this edition. Here you go:

Vijay Menon presents IPL - The cricketing extravaganza posted at VJ's BLOGS.

Allie presents Greener Shoes, Greener Clothes, and Greener Players posted at Allie's Answers. Steve Nash, Nike & Adidas go green.

Cfgoulart presents Cheat Sheets, Rankings and Reviews posted at About Fantasy Football.

Sacred Hoops presents Basketball Rules Question posted at Sacred Hoops.

Push Up Coach presents Building Strength With Pushups posted at 1000 Push Ups. The many benefits gained from regularly doing push ups.

Don Juan presents Notre Dame Football News And Interviews - Should Notre Dame Join A Conference? posted at Notre Dame Football News. Commentary on whether or not Notre Dame should join a conference.

Timothy Moreland presents AL Awards Race May 13th posted at timmorelandonline. Current frontrunners for the American League Awards.

Michael presents The NFL Football Teams Most Likely to Have Players Arrested posted at Game Blog.

That concludes this edition. Next edition of this carnival will be hosted here on May 31, 2008. Submit your blog articles using our blog carnival submission form.

SRK barred from entereing the Dressing Room by ICC

Bollywood King and Kolkata Knight Riders franchise owner Shahrukh Khan was barred from sitting with players in the dressing room by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit. Shahrukh was angry and upset with the ICC over the fact, the officer-in-charge told him that his behaviour was not proper and he was seen hanging around the players.

The ICC Anti-Corruption Unit is monitoring the activities of the players and the support staff at the invitation of the BCCI. It has been reported that Kings XI Punjab franchise winner Preity Zinta too witnessed a similar situation earlier.

Kevin Pietersen to get $4 million contract to play in the IPL?

According to latest reports in the media circle, the most prolific ODI all-rounder Kevin Pietersen is all set to join the IPL next year. He reportedly got an offer of US$4 million for a three-year contract. Although the franchise's name was not disclosed, it is believed that Mukesh Ambani's Mumbai Indians team has made that lucrative offer.

Currently, Dhoni is the highest paid player in the IPL with $1.5 million. If Pietersen gets $4 million, he will be the highest paid player in the IPL. The UK media reports suggest that ECB has already given permission to Pietersen to play in the IPL.

Mumbai Indians beat Deccan Chargers, win sixth game in a row

Mumbai Indians registered their sixth consecutive win in the IPL, as they beat the Deccan Chargers by 25 runs. They are on the 4th spot on the point table and extend their lead over Delhi DareDevils and Kolkata Knight Riders.

Deccan Chargers won the match and invited Mumbai Indians to bat first. Despite Jayasuriya's explosive knock of 36, Mumbai Indian lost the momentum in the middle, but recovered well to finist at 178/7 in 20 overs. Tendulkar scored 23, while Nayaar made 38. Bravo contributed 30. For Deccan Chargers, RP Singh took 3 wickets, while Afridi and Venugopal took 2 wickets each.

The target was too hot to handle for the Deccan Chargers and they could score only 153/7 in 20 overs. Venugopal scored 57, while Teja made 37. For Mumbai Indians, Bravo took 3 wickets. Fernando too bowled well and bagged 2 wickets. Bravo was declared "Man of the Match". It was Bravo's last match in the IPL this season, as he will return home to play in the home series against Australia.

Chennai Super Kings beat Knight Riders by D/L Method

The sudden hailstorm and rain caused a major power failure at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata and stopped the game midway. Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders lost the match to Chennai Super Kings by 3 runs as per the D/L method. It was a huge disappointment for the Knight Riders, as they desperately needed a win here. With this win, Chennai Super Kings assured themselves a place in the semi-finals.

Earlier, Knight Riders won the toss and elected to bat first. They could score only 149/5 in 20 overs. Salman Butt scored 73, while D Das made 27. Ntini took 4 wickets including a broken hattrick, the third hattrick of the IPL. When rain stopped play, Chennai Super Kings were 55/0 in 8 overs. Fleming remained unbeaten on 32. Ntini was declared "Man of the Match".

Australian Media: Aussies not paid IPl Matches

In a sensational revelation, the Australian media reported that Australian players who played in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but returned after two weeks because of national commitments, have not been paid for their short stints yet. The report was confirmed by Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) chief Paul Marsh.

According to 'The Sun Herald', the franchise owners are not clearing the money despite several reminders. Initially, they were told that they would get the money in 1/2 weeks, but that never happened. The players who returned for national duty were Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich, Matthew Hayden, Andrew Symonds and many others. The IPL franchise owners have not come up with any statements so far.

Pictures of Dancing Cheerleaders in the IPL Cricket

The BCCI has introduced the Cheerleaders theme for the first time in Indian cricket. IPL Cheerleaders have taken the cricket world by storm by their dancing and joyful gestures. Some political and cultural organizations have protested against the use of Cheerleaders in public, terming them vulgar and obscene. There has been uproar in the Maharashtra assembly over the IPL Cheerleaders.

Despite the protests and criticism, the Cheerleaders are still displaying their dancing and entertaining skills in all IPL matches. We have taken some cool pictures of the IPL Cheerleaders on the field. Here you go:

WADA conducts Dope Test on IPL Players

According to latest reports, Switzerland-based WADA has conducted dope tests on a number of players in the IPL. The tests were conducted as per the rules prescribed by the ICC. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne and some other foreign players were subjected to dope test. Details of the results are still awaited. IPL Chairman Lalit Modi has confirmed that dope tests will be now held on a regular basis.

Kings XI Punjab beat Delhi DareDevils by D/L Method

Kings XI Punjab virtually assured themselves a berth in the semi-finals beat Delhi DareDevils by 6 runs as per the D/L method. Just one six off the last ball of the match before the rain stopped play, changed the fate of the game. Mahela Jayawardene pulled it off for Kings XI Punjab.

Batting first, Delhi DareDevils began on an explosive note. Both Gambhir and Sehwag batted superbly before Gambhir was out for 40. Delhi DareDevils were 94/1 in 8.1 overs when rain stopped play. The match was reduced to 11 overs each when the play resumed. The DareDevils lost the momentum during the break and managed to score only 118/4 in 20 overs. Sehwag remained unbeaten on 51. For Kings XI, Hopes and Powar took 2 wickets each.

Kings XI Punjab started the run chase on an aggressive note, but lost three quick wickets including that of Yuvraj who scored 23. However, Mahela Jaywardene and Pomersbach took the game away from the DareDevils. The added an unbeaten 63 runs off 23 balls. When rain stopped the play again, Kings XI were 94/3 in 8 overs. However, they were ahead of DareDevils by 6 runs as per the D/L method and won the match.Jyawardene remained unbeaten on 36, while Pomersbach was not out on 25. Jayawardene won the Man of the Match award for his match winning knock.

Rajasthan Royals beat Royal Challengers, reach Semi Finals

Rajasthan Royals officially became the first team in the IPL to reach the semi finals. They scored an easy 65-run win over the depleted Royal Challengers Bangalore. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals put up 197/1 in 20 overs. Graeme Smith remained unbeaten on 75, while Asnadkor made 50. Shane Watson remained unbeaten on 46.

Chasing a victory target of 198, Royal Challengers Bangalore continued their bad run in the tournament and could manage only 132/9 in 2o overs. Rahul Dravid scored a memorable innings, as he remained unbeaten on 75. He scored those runs from just 36 balls. Kallis scored 20. For Rajasthan Royals, Tanveer and Warne took 3 wickets each. Shane Warne is the leading wicket taker in the tournament with 14 wickets. Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan have taken 13 wickets each.

IPL Teams donates Rs. 6 Crore ($1.5 million) for Jaipur Blast Victims

In a noble gesture, the eight franchisee owners and sponsors of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have donated Rs. 6 crore ($1.5 million) to the Rajasthan CM's relief fund, which will be spent for the relief and rehabilitation of Jaipur blast victims.

The cheque was handed over by IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi to