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 Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia during the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore. While the franchises have donated Rs 50 lakh each, the five sponsors DLF Ltd, Vodafone, Citibank, Kingfisher and Hero Honda have contributed Rs.40 lakh each.

Jaipur turns a Fortress ahead of IPL Match

The recent bomb blasts have shaken the Rajasthan Players from within. Royal Challengers may take advantage of the situation, as Shane Warne and Co. do not seem in a right frame of mind to play today's match. Heavy security arrangements have been made in Jaipur ahead of today's IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore. The city has turned a fortress with security personnel guarding all major places and establishments.

Several security rings have been formed around the players. South African Shaun Dippenaar will oversee the security arrangements in and around the stadium. IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi has cleared the list of people who will enter the South Block of the stadium. According to sources, there were only a few buyers for today's match and most people preferred to watch the match on TV. The IPL organizers have decided not to showcase the cheerleaders for today's match, as a mark of respect to the blast victims.

Row over Syringes found in Shoaib's Bag in Pakistan, BCCI to conduct dope test on IPL Players

The BCCI has woken up the reports of use of drugs by some cricket players, currently playing in the IPL. IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi announced that random dope tests will be conducted on players. The decision came in the wake reports published in Pakistani newspaper 'Nation' that Shoaib Akhtar was questioned about a dozens of empty syringes found in his baggage prior to leaving for Mumbai at the Karachi airport.

Shoaib Akhtar apparently clarified that he was a diabetic and carry the syringes to take insulin. The Pakistan Cricket Board has played down the incident and ruled out taking any action against the fast bowler. The Kolkata Kinght Riders, fumed over the reports, is considering legal action against the Pakistani Media.

Knight Riders slumped to the lowest score of IPL, Mumbai Indians win in 6th Over

Mumbai Indians produced a terrific all-round performance on the field to inflict a humiliating defeat on the Kolkata Knight Riders. Batting first, Kolkata Knight Riders slumped to the lowest score of the IPL, as they bundled out for 67 in 15.2 overs. Ganguly and Agarkar made 15 runs each. For Mumbai Indians, Pollock took 3 wickets, while Teja and Bravo took 2 wickets each.

The victory target looked ridiculous when a player like Jayasruiya is on top form. Jayasuriya continued from where he left against the DareDevils. He remained unbeaten on 48 off 17 balls, as Mumbai Indians reached the target in just 5.3 overs. They took only 33 balls and 40 minutes to win the match.

Sachin Tendulkar fell to Shoaib Akhtar for a duck, but Knight Riders could stop the Mumbai Indians from registering a 8-wicket victory and moving to the 4th spot in IPL points table with their 5th consecutive win. Shaun Pollock was declared "Man of the Match".

Amit Mishra takes hattrick, as Delhi DareDevils beat Deccan Chargers

Delhi DareDevils took a step further towards a semi-final berth, as they scored an emphatic 12-run victory over the Deccan Chargers in a crucial IPl match. Batting first, DareDevils scored 194/4 in 20 overs. Gambhir again produced a great innings of 79, while Shikhar Dhawan remained unbeaten on 68. For Deccan Chargers, P Ojha took 2 wickets.

Chasing a victory target of 195, the Deccan Chargers started well, but lost their momentum. They finally managed to score 182/9 in overs. That was not enough and they lost the match by 12 runs. Rohit Sharma made 35, while Venugopal Rao scored 34. Afridi and Styris contributed 33 and 29 respectively. For DareDevils, Amit Mishra took 5 wickets. He took the second hattrick of the IPL by removing Teja, Ojha and RP Singh in the final over when DareDevils required 15 runs to win the match from 6 balls. Maharoof and McGrath took 2 wickets each.

Australian Players feel 'uncomfortable' after Jaipur Blast

Australian players including Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne are reportedly feeling 'uncomfortable' after the recent serial blasts in Jaipur that claimed more than 60 lives. Many foreign players are worried, as they will have to play most of their remaining matches in Jaipur. However, BCCI has assured the players of adequate security.

According to IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, players have been assured and they would play in all matches without any further concern. However, Modi admitted that they looked a bit shaky after the incident. He dismissed the media reports that Shane Warne, Shane Watson and Graeme Smith have decided to pull out of the IPL. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals team manager Darren Berry has expressed grave concerns over the security aftermath blasts.

High security arrangements have been made for the future matches of the IPL in Jaipur. No bags, bottles and lighters will be allowed into the stadium. The spectators will be frisked at all entry and exit points of the stadium. The players will be completely cordoned off by security personnel.

Sachin back, Jayasuriya scores Century, Mumbai Indians trounce Chennai Super Kings

Sanath Jayasuriya regained his magical batting skills when he got a chance to open the innings with Sachin Tendulkar for the first time in the IPL. While Sachin batted cautiously with accurate shot selections, Jayasuriya was unstoppable. He batted with fire and flame, as Mumbai Indians scored 78/0 in first six overs. Dhoni and his men had no answers for Jayasuriya. Both batsmen added 82 runs for the first wicket. Sachin could score only 12 off 16 balls.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to field first. Chennai Super Kings lost quick wickets and were 48/4 at one stage. However, Badrinath and Dhoni scored 71 runs in the last five overs to taker the score to 156/6 in 20 overs. Badrinath was the top scorer with 53. Dhoni remained unbeaten on 43. Fleming contributed 26. For Mumbai Indians, Kulkarni took 3 wickets, while Bravo picked up 2 wickets.

The victory target 157 looked so easy that Mumbai Indians achieved it in just 13.5 overs, losing just 1 wicket. Mumbai Indians won the match by 9 wickets. With this win, they are now back in contention for a semi-final berth. For Mumbai Indians, Jayasuriya remained unbeaten on 114 off 48 balls (9 boundaries and 11 sixes). Obviously, he was declared "Man of the Match".

Breaking News! Harbhajan Singh banned for 5 ODIs

Breaking News! India's problem child Harbhajan Singh has been banned for five ODIs by the disciplinary committee of the BCCI. The committee took this decision after studying the report submitted by Advocate Sudhir Nanavati. The three-member committee comprised of Sharad Pawar, Shashank Manohar and Chirayu Amin found Harbhajan guilty of Level 3.2 offence. If Harbhajan repeats the mistake in future, he will be handed over a life ban.

Harbhajan was already banned for 11 IPL matches and lost the contract money (Rs 2.70 crore). He was also fined 100% match fee for that particular match. Harbhajan will be forced to sit out of India’s tour to Bangladesh as well as two matches of the upcoming Asia Cup. Hopefully, he will come back as a gentleman.

Shoaib Akhtar sets IPL on Fire on debut, Knight Riders beat DareDevils

There was a long wait for Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhtar and he finally arrived with a bang. His debut match in the IPL turned out to be a dream match. Shoaib wrecked the strong batting line-up of Delhi DareDevils with a devastating spell. He removed Sehwag, Gambhir, De Villiers and Shikhar Dhawan within the first five overs. The DareDevils never recovered from that early shock and finally went down to Kolkata Knight Riders by 23 runs.

Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and elected to bat first. They put up only 133/6 in 20 overs. Salman Butt was the top scorer with 48. D Hussey scored 31. For DareDevils, Maharoof and Yo Mahesh took 2 wickets each.

After losing 5 wickets within 7 overs, the DareDevils fought hard to bounce back, but in vain. They finally bowled out for 110 in 17.5 overs. The Knight Riders won the match by 23 runs. Dilshan scored 25, while Amit Mishra made 31. For Knight Riders, Shoaib took 4 wickets, while L R Shukla took 3 wickets. Shoaib Akhtar was declared "Man of the Match".

SRK dumps 5 Players from Kolkata Knight Riders Team

Now, it has become Cricket vs Corporate! After Mallya's outburst against Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Rahul Dravid, Kolkata Knight Riders franchise owner Shahrukh Khan has dumped 5 players - Ranadeb Bose, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sourasish Lahiri, Yashpal Singh and Hokkaido from the team. These five players have not yet gotten a chance to feature in the 14-member squad.

According to sources, these five players have been asked to leave the hotel where Knight Riders team was staying. The players felt betrayed and humiliated at this sudden development. It is believed that Shahrukh has taken this decision in order to cut costs after not-so-good performance of his team in the ongoing IPL.

Breaking News! Marlon Samuels banned for 2 years

Breaking News! West Indies cricketer Marlon Samuels has been banned for 2 years by the West Indies cricket board for allegedly providing information to a bookie in Nagpur during their last tour to India. He was found guilty on one of the two charges levelled against him.

Sources: Advocate Nanavati may let off Harbhajan

BCCI-appointed commissioner Sudhir Nanavati submitted his report on Harbhajan - Sreesanth controversy to the board today. According to media reports, Nanavati let off Harbhajan without any additional punishment. He found Harbhajan guilty of level 4 offence. Nanavati also said that 11-match IPL ban was enough for Harbhajan and no additional punishment was required. However, veracity of this news is yet to be established.

The Nanavati report also dismissed the earlier suggestions that Harbhajan's attack on Sreesanth was premeditated. It also confirmed that there was no provocation from Sreesanth. Details of the reports may be made public by the BCCI soon. According to the BCCI officials, a disciplinary committee will study Nanavati's report and take a final decision as per the ICC Code of Conduct. However, the board will take cognizance of the 11-match IPL ban imposed on Harbhajan.

Dravid's Test Squad lose again, Kings XI beat Royal Challengers by 9 wickets

The body language of Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Rahul Dravid and his players revealed it all. They yet again played like a test team and went down to Kings XI Punjab without a fight. Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss, elected to bat first and managed to score only 143/8 in 20 overs. Boucher was the top scorer with 39. Dravid made 29. Misbah and Virat Kohli scored 21 each. For Kings XI, Sreesanth took 3 wickets, while Chawla took 2 wickets.

It was an easy target for Kings XI Punjab. The latest sensation Shaun Marsh, son of former Australian great Jeff Marsh, again batted superbly and remained unbeaten on 74. They reached the target in just 15.4 overs, losing just one wicket. Hopes scored 27, while Pomersbach remained not out on 34.

Sachin Tendulkar declared fit to play against Super Kings

Great news for the cricket lovers! After missing out 7 IPL matches because of a groin injury, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is all set to make his IPL debut against Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings. Sachin was declared fit just an hour ago. Sachin's presence will boost the morale of Mumbai Indians that seem to found the winning touch, winning three out of their seven encounters.

Blame Game begins within Royal Challengers, Mallya takes on Dravid

The Royal Challengers Bangalore owner Vijay Mallya has taken on skipper Rahul Dravid and sacked CEO Charu Sharma over the team's poor performance in the ongoing IPL. Mallya went to the extent of blaming Dravid for the poor composition of the team, which has no Twenty20 specialists. Instead, it turned out to be test squad. Mallya regretted for being absent during the selection process. He also said that trusting Charu and Dravid on the team selection was the biggest mistake.

Mallya said that he had a seprate list of players, but Dravid and Charu Sharma prevailed on him to get their own set of players. Mallya also took the credit for bringing in Misbah-ul Haq despite objections from Dravid and Charu Sharma. Meanwhile, sacked CEO Charu Sharma backed Rahul Dravid, saying he had enormous experience in playing cricket. He also denied any role in the selection of the team and said he just backed his captain, coach and senior players.

Women's Asia Cup: Fourth Successive Title for India

The Indian Women's cricket team won their 4th successive Asia Cup crown, by beating Sri Lanka by 177 runs in the final in Kurunega, Sri Lanka. Batting first, India piled up 260/7 in 50 overs. Asha Rawat scored 97, while skipper Mithali Raj made 66. Rumeli Dhar too contributed 50. For Sri Lanka, skipper Siriwardene took 4 wickets.

In reply, Sri Lanka batted very poorly and bundled out for 83 in 35.2 overs. Only Siriwardene and Chamari reached double figure. Chamari was the top scorer with 23. For India, Neetu David and Seema took 3 wickets each. Rumeli Dhar was named the woman of the tournament. It could be recalled that Jhulan Goswami became the 4th Indian bowler to complete 100 ODI wickets in Women's cricket earlier in the tournament.

BCCI President Sharad Pawar congratulated the team and announced a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh (US$12,000) each for the victorious players.

Shane Watson powered Rajasthan Royals win over Delhi DareDevils

A powerful all-round performance by Shane Watson helped Rajasthan Royals beat Delhi DareDevils by 3 wickets. Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to field first. Delhi DareDevils managed to put up only 156/7 in 20 overs, thanks to a disciplined bowling by Royals. They could reach 150, only because of 27 runs conceded by Shane Warne in the penultimate over. Gambhir made 31, while Villiers contributed 20. Maharoof scored a quick-fire 39*. Shane Watson, Trivedi and Mascarenhas took 2 wickets each.

Although Rajsthan Royals lost a few wickets in the beginning and then at a later stage, Shane Watson scored 74. Smith too contributed 24. Rajasthan Royals made 159/7 in 19.1 overs. For DareDevils, Amit Mishra took 2 wickets. Shane Watson was declared "Man of the Match". Rajasthan Royals became the first team to enter the semi-finals of the ongoing IPL.

There was a controversy over Shane Watson's run-out decision. TV replays showed that Shane Watson was out, but umpire Steve Davis refused to refer it to the third umpire. Delhi DareDevils skipper Virender Sehwag argued with umpires Rudy Kortzen and Steve Davis for a few minutes and finally it was referred to the third umpire, who ruled Watson out. Sehwag could be in trouble for arguing with the umpires although he was fully justified in his argument.

Ganguly shines, Knight Riders beat Deccan Chargers

Sourav Ganguly took the game away from the Deccan Chargers with his blazing knock of 91 and superb bowling performance. Batting first, the Kolkata Knight Riders put up 204/4 in 20 overs. Sourav Ganguly scored a brilliant 91, while D Hussey remained unbeaten on 57. Chopra scored 24. It rained boundaries and sixes when Ganguly and Hussey were batting.

Chasing a victory target of 205, Deccan Chargers found it too hot to handle. Only Venugopal Rao showed resistance and fought till the end. The Deccan Chargers managed to score 181/7 in 20 overs, thus losing by 23 runs. Venugopal Rao remained unbeaten on 71. Rohit Sharma scored 33. Gilchrist contributed 24. For Knight Riders, Dinda took 3 wickets, while Ganguly took 2 wickets. Ganguly was declared 'Man of the Match' for his all-round performance.

Top 50+ Cricket Blogs on the Web

Greetings! We have come up with the 500th post on Cricket Buzz today. The journey has not been so long, but Cricket Buzz has witnessed significant growth over the past few months. Some of our articles such as "Ten Most "Hilarious" Sledging incidents in World Cricket" and "Harbhajan slaps Sreesanth, apologises" have been widely read by thousands of people across the globe.

Interestingly, Cricket Buzz was the first to break the "slapgate" story on the web. It was not a single instance and we have been consistently doing this. We thank our readers for being with us through thick and thin. Cricket Buzz also reported about the financial tips and news received by Indian cricketers after the T20 World Cup win in South Africa. It became necessary for the cricketers, as they won huge cash bonanza from several quarters.

To mark this occasion, we have come up with a list of 50+ top cricket blogs on web, in order to help our readers to find a better place to read. Earlier, we had listed 51 cricket blogs. But later our readers pointed us towards some important blogs we missed. The list goes on.. Although there are around 100 cricket blogs on the web, we have selected the top ones based on their Google PR, popularity and quality. The listing is not based on their individual ranks, as they are randomly selected. Here you go:

1. The Corridor

2. The Googly

3. Lantern Books

4. Cricket Blog

5. Fox Sports Cricket Blog

6. Miss Field's Cricket Blog

7. The West Indies Cricket Blog

8. Six & Out

9. i3j3Cricket

10. Line and Length

11. A Cricketing View

12. Converseon Affiliates

13. normblog

14. Grandstand: cricket

15. Stick Cricket

16. 99.94

17. Justine Larbalestier

18. Cricket 24x7 - All the cricket

19. Rain, No play

20. Kenya Cricket

21. Nasir M. Khan's Cricket Blog

22. Z-score’s Cricket Stats Blog

23. The Cricket Watcher's Journal

24. Cricket News

25. Cricket Now!

26. King Cricket

27. Spun Out

28. South African Cricket

29. The Scribbler

30. Are you a left-arm Chinaman?

31. Cricket Fever - It’s All About Live Cricket

32. Well Pitched

33. Different Shades of Green

34. Eye on Cricket

35. John Cheeran

36. Making Sense of Cricket

37. Just another Silly Point

38. Line & Length

39. The Cricket Log

40. Cricket With Balls

41. Not Just Cricket

42. Harrowdrive.com

43. Prepaid Reviews

44. STUmpcam

45. TheTwenty20 Cricket Blog

46. Sharing some Simple but Straight Points

47. Cricket = Action = Art

48. Cricket and All That

49. Cricket Etcetera

50. Cricket's Outside Edge - A World Cricket Blog

51. Island Express

52. Cricket Haven

53. Pappus' plane - Cricket Stats

54. Sportolysis

55. Outside The Line

56. Cricket Blog

57. Doosra

58. Naked Cricket

59. Cow Corner

Ponting takes on Harbhajan, says he has been unmasked

Even as former Australian cricketer and Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne appealed to forgive Harbhajan Singh, as he has already pleaded guilty, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting took a dig at the spinner, saying he has been 'unmasked' after the attack on his own teammate S Sreesanth.

"The (slapping) incident was him dealing with a guy that he has probably played 20 Tests with," Ponting was quoted as saying in The Herald Sun. "After this latest issue in India, I think people should be making their own judgments about Harbhajan. He has again done something wrong", said Ponting.

It could be recalled that after allegedly making a racial slur against Andrew Symonds, Harbhajan Singh was earlier banned for three tests. However, later he was cleared of the racism charges and was fined a mere 50 percent match fee. It was then alleged that BCCI and Cricket Australia brokered a deal to ensure a lesser punishment for Harbhajan Singh.

Balaji takes first IPL Hattrick, Chennai Super Kings beat Kings XI Punjab

Laxmipati Balaji took the first hattrick of the IPL, as Chennai Super Kings beat Kings XI Punjab by 18 runs. Kings XI won the match and elected to field first. Chennai Super Kings batted brilliantly and put up 181/4 in 20 overs. Badrinath scored 64, while Dhoni remained unbeaten on 60. Raina contributed 26. For Kings XI, Sreesanth took 2 wickets.

Chasing a victory target of 182, Kings XI lost crucial wickets in the beginning and then in the middle. Shaun Marsh yet again batted superbly and scored 58. Sarwan contributed 20. When the stakes were down, Irfan Pathan and P Chawla tried their best to reach the target. But Laxmipati Balaji again did the trick and stopped them in the way.

Balaji took a hattrick in the final over, removing Pathan, Chawla and VRV Singh. Kings XI Punjab managed to score 163/9 in 20 overs, thus losing the match by 18 runs. Pathan scored 40. Balaji, who took 5/24 in 4 overs, was declared "Man of the Match".

Rajasthan Royals demolish Deccan Chargers by 8 wickets

After losing to Mumbai Indians a few days back, Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals bounced back in style with a comprehensive 8-wicket victory over depleted Deccan Chargers. Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to field first. Deccan Chargers managed to score only 140/8 in 20 overs. Gilchrist was the top scorer with 61. Venugopal Rao remained unbeaten on 23. For Rajasthan Royals, Shane Warne took 2 wickets.

The victory target did not even bother the Rajasthan Royals for a while and they achieved the target in just 16 overs, losing only 2 wickets in the process. Yusuf Pathan scored his third half century in the IPL. He scored 68. Graeme Smith too scored 40. With this easy victory, Rajasthan Royals again moved to the top of IPL table.

Harbhajan, Sreesanth appreared before Nanavati, Ban on Harbhajan likely

Advocate Sudhir Nanavati has completed the hearing into Harbhajan - Sreesanth slapgate issue. Both Harbhajan and Sreesanth appeared before Mr. Nanavati in Ahmedabad today. He also met umpire Ameesh Saheba, match referee Farokh Engineer, Mumbai Indians coach Lalchand Rajput and others. Advocate Nanavati will submit his report to BCCI on May 12, 2008.

Today, Nanavati held a meeting with Harbhajan for around 90 minutes. The entire proceeding was video-recorded. Harbhajan tried his best to convince Mr. Nanavati on his stand. Mr. Nanavati also held a separate meeting with S Sreesanth for 30 minutes. If the indications are true, Harbhajan is likely to get further punishment from the BCCI. A 10-match ban for International matches and 15 - 20% fine on his annual contract cannot be ruled out.

Harbhajan Singh not only was banned for 11 IPL matches, but also lost around Rs. 3 crore of his IPL contract money. It is very unlikely that any IPL team will prefer to choose him in the next season, as nobody wants to invite controversy and conflict.

Kolkata Knight Riders prevailed over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a cliffhanger

It was not a high scoring match, but it provided wholesome entertainment to the crowd. A close match, which was ultimately won by Kolkata Knight Riders. Royal Challengers Bangalore fought bravely, but lost yet again. In a rain-interrupted match, Kolkata Knight Riders batted first and put up 129/7 in 16 overs. Hussey scored 27, while Ganguly made 20. For Royal Challengers, Steyn tool 3 wickets.

Chasing a victory target of 130, Royal Challengers started on a slow pace. When the stakes were down, Boucher batted aggressively, but failed to see his team through. Royal Challengers finished at 124/4, thus losing the match by just 5 runs. Boucher remained unbeaten on 50. Cameroon White scored 30, while Arun Kumar contributed 22.

Chennai Super Kings beat Delhi DareDevils in a thrilling encounter

Chennai Super Kings shot into the top of the IPL point table again, as they beat Delhi DareDevils by 4 wickets. Batting first, Delhi Devils piled up 187/5 in 20 overs. Gambhir scored 80, while S Dhawan made 59. Sehwag scored 23. Balaji and Morkel took 2 wickets each.

In reply, Chennai Super Kings batted aggressively from the very beginning. Although they lost crucial wickets in the middle, the Super Kings held on to their nerves, and won in the last ball of the match. They made 188/6 in 20 overs. The winning run was in fact a catch, but it was dropped by the fielder and Super Kings won. Fleming made 44, while Vidyut scored 40. Morkel contributed 30. Skipper Dhoni made 33. Sangwan and Yo Mahesh took 2 wickets each.

Sunil Gavaskar quits as Chairman of ICC's Cricket Committee

Breaking News! Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has quit as the Chairman of ICC's Cricket Committee. A tug-of-war was going on between Gavaskar and the ICC over his dual role as the ICC official and an independent commentator and columnist. Gavaskar had criticized the Australia and England Boards as well as the Australian cricketers after the racism row involving Harbhajan and Symonds in Australia.

The ICC had taken a strong exception to Gavaskar's comments and asked him to explain his position. Gavaskar's exit from the ICC was almost certain, as the ICC did not want him to continue as a Commentator and Columnist while holding the ICC post.

Rajasthan Royals fumble against Mumbai Indians, lose by 7 wickets

Rajasthan Royals, the leader of the IPL point table, fumbled against a rejuvenated Mumbai Indians side and lost by 7 wickets. Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to field first. Sachin Tendulkar was ruled out again due to injury. At one stage, the Rajsthan Royals were 79/3 in 10 overs. However, their batsmen failed to handle the Mumbai Indians bowling attack and bowled out for a paltry 103 in 16.2 overs.

For Rajasthan Royals, Asnodkar scored 39, while Watson made 32. For Mumbai Indians, Nehra continued his good form and took 3 wickets. Kulkarni, Bravo and Raje took 2 wickets each. Mumbai Indians needed only 104 to win the match. And they did it in 15.1 overs, losing just 3 wickets. Takawale made 27, while Robin Uthappa remained unbeaten on 34. For Rajasthan Royals, Watson took 3 wickets. Ashish Nehra was declared "Man of the Match".

Nanavati talks tough, Harbhajan appeals for Mercy

Advocate Sudhir Nanavati, who is appointed as the commissioner to probe the slapgate involving Harbhajan Singh and S Sreesanth, talked tough after watching the video footage. He was literally shocked to see the footage, which clearly showed that Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth without any provocation. While talking to media, Advocate Nanavati revealed that the entire incident looked pre-mediated, rather than spontaneous.

It was also reported in the media that Mumbai Indians coach Lalchand Rajput kept laughing from behind, while Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth. Harbhajan not only slapped Sreesanth, but also bumped on him and hurled abuse. Sreesanth was about to retaliate, but was held back by his team mates and guards.

Even though Harbhajan Singh has made a desperate appeal to BCCI for one last chance, Advocate Nanavati is expected to recommend stricter punishment for the spinner. He may get a 10 - 12 international match ban and hefty fine. Sudhir Nanavati will submit his report to BCCI on Monday.

Vijay Mallya cracks whip, sacks Royal Challgers CEO Charu Sharma

Vijay Mallya, upset over the dismal performance of Royal Challengers Bangalore team, cracked the whip and reportedly removed CEO Charu Sharma. Brijesh Patel has been appointed as the new CEO of Royal Challengers. According to reports, coach Venkatesh Prasad is also likely to get a boot soon. Dravid's Royal Challengers have disappointed everyone with their below par performance.

People have termed the team as a Test Squad and Dravid's captaincy has come under scanner. Mallya is expected to drop some players and replace them with a new set of players in order to revive the fortune of the team in the IPL.

Deccan Chargers bounce back with a win over Chennai Super Kings

The Hyderabad Deccan Chargers, without the service of skipper VVS Laxman, made a great come back in the IPL. After losing four matches in a row, the Hyderabad Deccan Chargers finally bounced back with a comprehensive 7-wicket victory over Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings.

Gilchrist won the toss and elected to field first. The Deccan Chargers bowlers succeeded in restricting the Super Kings batsmen to 144/7 in 20 overs. Raina scored 32, while Morkel remained unbeaten on 29. Dhoni contributed 23. For Chargers, RP Singh took 2 wickets.

Stand-by skipper lead his team from the front and scored 54 off 36 balls to write the script for a victory. The Deccan Chargers reached the target in 18 overs. Besides Gilchrist, Styris too batted well and scored 36. Rohit Sharma made 23, while Afridi remained unbeaten on 20. It was Chennai Super Kings' 4th successive loss in the IPL.

Kings XI Punjab continue the winning streak, beat Royal Challengers

Opener Shaun Marsh again did well with the bat, but the bowlers set the stage for an easy win for Kings XI Punjab over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Kings XI won the toss and sent Royal Challengers to bat first. Royal Challengers batsmen failed miserably and the entire team bowled out for 126 in 19.2 overs. Dravid was the top-scorer with 66. Kohli made 31. For Kings XI, Chawla took 3 wickets, while Sreesanth took 2 wickets.

In reply, Kings XI had it easy. Opener Shaun Marsh scored 39, while Sarwan made 31. Kings XI reached the target in 18.2 overs, losing just 4 wickets. They won the match by 6 wickets. For Royal Challengers, Zaheer Khan and Praveen Kumar took 2 wickets each.

PCB relents, drops defamation case against Shoaib

After suspending the ban on Shoaib Akhtar for a month and allowing him to play in the IPL, the PCB has taken a step further and decided not to go with the defamation case against the speedster. The back-door diplomacy may bring more good news for Shoaib Akhtar in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhtar has arrived in India today. He joined the Kolkata Knight Riders team and is expected to play in the next match. The Kolkata Knight Riders, which already lost 4 successive matches in a row, got a moral booster with the arrival of Shoaib Akhtar.

Rajasthan Royals unstoppable, beat Chennai Super Kings

After Sohail Tanvir's record-breaking six-wicket haul restricted the Chennai Super Kings at 109, it was the turn of the batsmen to complete the formality. The Rajasthan Royals did it in style. They reached the target in only 14.2 overs, losing just 2 wickets, thus winning the match by 8 wickets.

For Rajasthan Royals, Graeme Smith remained unbeaten on 35, while Asnodkar made 32. Sohail Tanvir was declared 'Man of the Match'. Rajasthan Royals now leads the DLF IPL points table.

Sohail Tanvir takes first-ever 6-wicket Haul in T20

Pakistani bowler Sohail Tanvir made history, when he took the first-ever six-wicket haul in T20 cricket. Tanvir achieved the milestone against Chennai Super Kings, playing for Rajasthan Royals. Tanvir finished 6/14 from 4 overs.

Chennai Super Kings bowled out for a paltry 109 in 19 overs. A Morkel was the top scorer with 42. Raina contributed 22. It was a splendid performance by the Rajasthan Royals, who are on a roll in the ongoing IPL.

Carnival of Sports News #1

Greetings! Welcome to the first edition of the Carnival of Sports News. We have selected 6 posts for this edition. Here you go:

Shan Siddiqi presents The Plight of the Expatriated Sports Fanatic Globally Rational posted at Globally Rational. Shan says, "The story of when I migrated to the US as a child and found that my cricket obsession, which was my only tool for social contact, was unheard of here."

Water presents Scott Martin- What's he gonna do? posted at Northwest Indiana Basketball.

Mark Montgomery presents Division I vs. Division III: Sports as a Job, or Scholar-Athlete? posted at Great College Advice.

Kurt presents Sean Sexton Interview posted at BMXunion.com 2008. Learn more about Sean.

Frederic Premji presents 9 Great Reasons Why You Should Bike posted at BlogMotivation.com. Great article pointing important reasons why everyone should bike.

Leslie Carbone presents Don Gillis, R.I.P. posted at Leslie Carbone.

That concludes this edition. Next edition of this carnival will be hosted here on May 17, 2008. Submit your blog articles using our blog carnival submission form.

Mumbai Indians bounce back, beat Delhi DareDevils

Mumbai Indians, even without Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh, bounced back in the IPL, with an emphatic 29-run victory over Delhi DareDevils. They outsmarted the DareDevils in all departments of the game. Batting first, the Mumbai Indians scored 162/8 in 20 overs. Jayasuriya made 34, while Pollock contributed 33. Thornely and Uthappa contributed 30 and 22 respectively. For DareDevils, Yo Mahesh took 3 wickets.

Chasing a victory target of 163, DareDevils lost in-form Gambhir and S Dhawan cheaply. Although Sehwag scored 40 off 20 balls, other batsmen failed to rise to the occasions and the entire team bundled out for 133 in 18.4 overs. Villiers made 21, while Karthik and S Malik contributed 28 and 24 respectively. For Mumbai Indians, Nehra took 3 wickets, while Pollock and Kulkarni took 2 wickets each.

Shoaib to play in IPL, as PCB suspends ban for one month

The hectic back-door diplomatic talks between the BCCI and PCB finally brought some good news for speedster Shoaib Akhtar. The Appellate Tribunal suspended the 5-year ban imposed on Shoaib Akhtar for one month. The case will be taken up again on June 3.

The suspension of the ban means Shoaib now can play in the IPL. He was signed by SRK's Kolkata Knight Riders. Shoaib's presence is expected to boost the morale of Knight Riders, that lost their fourth successive match yesterday.

Kings XI Punjab beat Kolkata Knight Riders in a Thriller

Irfan Pathan and S Sressanth produced great bowling display to help Kings XI Punjab score a narrow 9-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in a crucial IPL match. It was the fourth successive loss for the Knight Riders. King XI Punjab put up 178/6 in 20 overs. Shaun Marsh scored 40 off 32 balls. Sangakkara scored 28, while Irfan Pathan remained unbeaten on 24. Chawla too remained not out on 21 off 7 balls. For Knight Riders, Gul took 2 wickets.

In reply, Kolkata Knight Riders kept losing wickets very fast and were 50/5 at one stage. David Hussey and Prashant Saha fought well, but that was not enough. The Knight Riders managed to score 168/6 in 20 overs. Hussey scored 71, while Prashant Saha remained unbeaten on 59. For Kings XI, Sreesanth and Pathan took 2 wickets each. Irfan Pathan was declared 'Man of the Match'.

Dramatic win for Royal Challengers over Deccan Chargers

In a closely fought low-scoring match, Deccan Chargers looked set to win the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, but finally fell short by 3 runs. Deccan Chargers Hyderabad won the toss and elected to field first. They managed to score only 156/8 in 20 overs. Jaffer scored 44, while Kohli made 38. Rahul Dravid contributed 26. For Deccan Chargers, RP Singh bagged three wickets, while P Ojha got two wickets.

In reply, Deccan Chargers started well, with both Laxman and Rohit Sharma completing their half centuries. However, they lost the way in the last 3 overs. They could score only 153/6 in 20 overs. Laxman scored 52, while Rohit Sharma made 57. For Royal Challengers, Praveen Kumar took 3 wickets, while Zaheer Khan took 2 wickets.

Sehwag, Gambhir script DareDevil's win over Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings, the only unbeaten team in the IPL so far, finally gave in to the cracking batting performance by Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Without the service of Hayden and Mike Hussey, Chennai Super Kings' batting line-up did not look solid and they managed to score only 169/6 in 20 overs. Vidut scored 54, while Dhoni made 32. Morkel contributed 28.

When Sehwag and Gambhir are in top form, a target of 169 looks very ordinary. They added 115 runs for the first wicket and scripted a special victory of Dhoni's Super Kings. Sehwag scored 71, while Gambhir made 50. De Villiers remained unbeaten on 26. Delhi DareDevils scored 172/2 in 19 overs, thus winning the match by 8 wickets. Sehwag was declared 'Man of the Match'.

High Drama in IPL, Ganguly, Warne fined, Umpire Pratap Kumar suspended

The Ganguly-Warne conflict took a dramatic turn with the BCCI deciding to crack the whip. While Shane Warne was fined 10% of his match fee for criticizing the match officials publicly, Sourav Ganguly was fined 10% of his match fee for showing dissent.

Umpire Pratap Kumar too came under BCCI hammer. He was suspended for one match for failing to report to his fellow on-field umpire about the controversial catch taken by Graeme Smith. He had instead referred the catch to third umpire who ruled him not out.

Rajasthan Royals not to lodge complaint against Ganguly

After unnecessarily dragging over a non-issue, Rajasthan Royals skipper Shane Warne finally backed down and decided not to lodge a formal complaint against Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Sourav Ganguly over the 'catch' controversy. The decision was taken at the team meeting in Jaipur. Earlier, Warne had indicated that he would file a complaint against Sourav Ganguly.

There was a war of words between Warne and Ganguly in the media. However, the issue seems to be resolved now, after Rajasthan Royals decided not to pursue the matter further. It's a good sign for cricket and the IPL.

Ganguly hits back at Shane Warne

A few hours after Shane Warne questioned Sourav Ganguly's sportsmanship over the catch picked up by Graeme Smith during an IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, Sourav Ganguly hit back saying Warne should look at what he has done all his life (cricket career). "I have better things to do than sorting out this issue with Warne", said Ganguly. Claiming a dropped catch also was not in the right spirit of the game, he quipped.

Meanwhile, South African skipper and Rajasthan Royals player Graeme Smith lashed out at Sourav Ganguly. "Sourav was a touch out of the line in his behaviour. It was a clean catch and TV replays proved it. I knew the rules very well", said Smith. Meanwhile, Shane Warne has decided to lodge a formal complaint against Sourav Ganguly.

Easy win for Kings XI Punjab, Deccan Chargers beaten

Kings XI Punjab registered an easy victory over Hyderabad Deccan Chargers in the IPL encounter at Mohali. Deccan Chargers could put up only 164/8 in 20 overs, thanks to an unbeaten 76 by Rohit Sharma. VVS Laxman scored 48. For Kings XI, Chawla took 3 wickets, while Pathan took 2 wickets.

Kings XI never had any difficulty in chasing the total, as they reached the target in 18.5 overs. S Marsh led from the front and remained unbeaten on 84. Mahela Jayawardene too remained not out on 45. Marsh was declared as 'Man of the Match'.

Warne questions Ganguly's Sportsmanship, Gul too takes a swipe on sourav

Sourav Ganguly found himself in a tight spot after Kolkata Knight Riders lost their IPL match against Rajasthan Royals. He came under severe criticism from the opposition skipper Shane Warne and his own team mate Umar Gul. Warne slammed Ganguly and questioned his sportsmanship in the game. Warne was upset, as Ganguly took his own time to come to bat in the middle.

"I told him, the game is not about you", said Warne. Warne also criticized Ganguly for questioning the catch taken by Graeme Smith, which was ultimately referred to third umpire, who ruled Ganguly not out due to lack of conclusive footage. "I was extremely disappointed with Sourav Ganguly", said Warne.

Warne also accused Ganguly of not playing in the right spirit of the game. Sourav Ganguly also came under criticism from his own team mate Umar Gul. At the post-match press conference, Gul said Ganguly does not have enough experience in the T20 format and falters on many occasions as a captain. He also advised Ganguly to learn from his mistakes.

Rajasthan Royals beat Kolkata Knight Riders

It was an easy victory for Rajasthan Royals, as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 45 runs in an IPL match. With Shoaib Akhtar banned from playing and Ponting and McCullum left for home, Kolkata Knight Riders proved to be no match for Shane Warne's Royals. Electing to bat, Rajasthan Royals made 196/7 in 20 overs. Asnodkar scored 60, while Yusuf Pathan made 55. R Jadeja contributed 33. For Knight Riders, Umar Gul took 3 wickets.

In reply, Kolkata Knight Riders fought when Ganguly and D Hussey were in the middle. Once they departed, the team gave in and bundled out for 151 in 20 overs. Ganguly scored 51, while Hussey scored 42. For Rajasthan Royals, Watson, Trivedi and Tanvir took 2 wickets each. Rajasthan Royals had started their IPL campaign on a disastrous note by losing the first match. But now they have won all their next four matches.