Hyderabad, May 16: Deccan Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist criticised the Delhi Daredevils for their pacer Mohammad Asif’s off-and-on presence on the field during Thursday’s IPL match even as his counterpart Virender Sehwag claimed it was within the rules. Gilchrist said it baffled him to see Asif bowling, going out before returning again to bowl. Shoaib Malik fielded for Asif, while Delhi already had a substitute fielder in Ab de Villiers for Gautam Gambhir who had injured his knee while batting.

"Players being allowed to bowl an over then walk off the field, have a substitute fielder come on then walk back on to the field, bowl an over and then go off again is a cycle which I don’t believe is in the spirit of the game," Gilchrist told this newspaper on Friday. "I was told that it was within the laws of the game and that there was not much anyone could do. But I believe if you are fit enough to bowl, you should be fit enough to field and take part in the game. It was a bit frustrating," he added.

Also, "Asif bowled with tape around fingers on his bowling hand which is not allowed according to the rules," Gilchrist observed. Asif’s was not the only issue. "Gautam Gambhir was also not fielding, having taken a blow when he was batting, which allowed them (Delhi) to have two of the best fieldsmen in the world as substitutes, who had a hand in crucial dismissals," Gilchrist said.

Gilchrist made it clear that "It’s not an excuse to why we lost. Delhi played better and were able to get the win." "But the captains had signed an agreement at the start of the tournament about the spirit of cricket. And I think that when things like these are exploited, the cricket agreement doesn’t weigh much."

The Chargers captain said he addressed the issue with the match referee, Clive Lloyd, after the game. "I just took it upon myself to go to the match referee after the game. He was very understanding of my concern and has taken it on board. He has noted down the concern. However, we as a team are not lodging an official complaint or trying to take it any further... we just expressed our concern with the match referee," the Australian said.

Sehwag on his part, said his side was playing by the rules. "I think if umpires did not have any problems, Gilchrist too should not have any. The rulebook says a bowler can go out as many times as needed in case of external injury. Asif was injured while fielding," Sehwag said.

Scorecard

Kolkata Knight Riders
Batsman how out runs balls 4s 6s
Butt  c Tendulkar b Pollock  13  13  1  1
Chopra  run out (Uthappa/Pollock)  1  4  0  0
Ganguly  c Takawale b Thornely  15  20  2  0
Hussey  c Takawale b Pollock  2  7  0  0
Hafeez  c Uthappa b Pollock  5  11  1  0
Saha  c Tendulkar b Bravo  1  6  0  0
Shukla  b Raje  0  4  0  0
Agarkar  c Tendulkar b Bravo  15  14  2  0
Akhtar  c Tendulkar b Raje  2  7  0  0
Ishant  c & b Thornely  4  5  1  0
Dinda  not out  1  1  0  0
Extras: (lb 2, w 6)     8
Total (in 15.2 overs):    67
FoW:  1-16 (Salman Butt, 2.5 ov), 2-16 (Chopra, 2.6 ov), 3-21 (Hussey, 4.2 ov), 4-28 (Mohammad Hafeez, 6.4 ov), 5-29 (Saha, 7.5 ov), 6-35 (Shukla, 9.1 ov), 7-55 (Ganguly, 12.4 ov), 8-60 (Agarkar, 13.4 ov), 9-65 (Sharma, 14.3 ov), 10-67 (Shoaib Akhtar, 15.2 ov)

Bowling O M R W (E)
Pollock  4  0  12  3  (1w)
Nehra  3  0  17  0  (3w)
Bravo  3  1  13  2  (1w)
Raje  2.2  0  16  2  
Thornely  3  0  7  2 (1w)

Delhi Daredevils
Batsman how out runs balls 4s 6s
Jayasuriya  not out  48  17  7  3
Tendulkar  c Saha b Akhtar  0  3  0  0
Uthappa  c Ganguly b Ishant  9  8  2  0
Thornely  not out  1  6  0  0
Extras (w 4, nb 1, lb 5)     10
Total (in 5.3 overs):               68/2
FoW: 1-6 (Tendulkar, 0.5 ov), 2-48 (Uthappa, 3.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W (E)
Akhtar  2  0  29  1  (1w)
Ishant  2.3  0  29  1  (1nb, 1w)
Agarkar  1  0  5  0  (2w)

New Delhi, May 16: Adam Gilchrist is not the one to lose his temper so easily. But he made an exception to his own rule, reproaching Virender Sehwag for his use of substitute fielders during the Delhi Daredevils-Deccan Chargers face-off on Thursday.

A visibly irate Gilchrist said it was beyond him why the Daredevils skipper could use Mohammed Asif while bowling, but not while fielding. The Pakistan pacer bowled two overs and then went out off before returning again to bowl his final two overs.

Shoaib Malik fielded for Asif, while Delhi already had Ab de Villiers substituting for Gautam Gambhir who had injured his knee while batting. The two fielders ended up taking four catches, including those of Shahid Afridi, Scott Styris and Venugopal Rao — all crucial dismissals and at key points of the close match.

Afridi was in the zone, leaving the hosts punch drunk with his maniacal hitting. The Chargers had galloped to 71/1 by the end of the powerplays. His slice in the seventh over was latched onto by de Villiers who ran backwards and took it over his shoulder.

The South African’s second catch to dismiss Styris was even better. He timed his dive perfectly to hold on to a well-judged effort at long on.

Sehwag, though, defended his move and threw the rulebook at Glichrist when queried. Viru explained that Asif had split the webbing in his right hand while fielding and he did not want to unnecessarily aggravate it. But the damage had already been done.

Jaipur, May 16: For a team that has lost more matches than the top two put together, the Royal Challengers will surely be grappling with motivation. Making up the rear of the points table, the Challengers are up against the form team of the tournament, Rajasthan Royals, who, not surprisingly, are the table toppers.

With five matches to go, the Challengers are definitely going through the motions; even given a miracle, it’s unlikely that the Bangalore team will find a berth in the semifinals of the Indian Premier League. To just go out and play without the least bit of motivation is the worst thing that can happen to a team and unfortunately, the Challengers are faced with that situation.

The crux of the problem has been the constant chopping and changing of their personnel in search of that futile, winning combination. Sadly for Rahul Dravid, nothing seems to have worked. Having initially struggled with the Twenty20 format, these days, it appears as if the captain is the saving grace for the team.

It’s true that the Challengers are desperately looking for a potent opening pair, but having said that, a mere opening partnership alone will not fetch wins.

Contrast this with the Royals, who under Shane Warne, have gelled as a unit and uncorked some unbelievable performances along the way with seven wins from nine games. Warne, basically, has trusted his instincts and the team has more than stood up for the count. Also, with a genuine leader in the Aussie, the young Royals team has come up with an inspired show and matched it with their intensity on the field.

Yet, given the circumstances, the Royals may just be missing the edge in their game on Saturday. Following the shocking bomb blasts, it was mentioned in some quarters that Warne, Shane Watson and Graeme Smith wanted to get out of the country. One couldn’t begrudge them if they did so, but credit to them that they stayed back.

Though it has been generally agreed that the show must go on, the players may not be mentally ready for the challenge and the fear factor may just take away the competitive spirit. Though the Bangalore team opted for a net session late in the afternoon having arrived only in the morning, it was apparent that it was but a half-hearted effort.

As far as the Royals were concerned, they didn’t even come close to that as a few players hadn’t yet returned from Goa.

The Royals, who have gone on from strength to strength, have played exceptionally well and with Yusuf Pathan blazing away at the top, things have become much easier for them.

Even so, their formula for success has been to adhere to the plans in a format which is a known heart-breaker of all strategies.

Smart, thinking cricket has been their plus point and with a captain who thinks on his feet, the Royals have embraced a cloak of supremacy.

Mumbai, May 16: If Sachin won’t, Sanath will. Mumbai went silent for a minute as hometown hero Sachin Tendulkar walked back within four minutes of his arrival at the crease. The master blaster’s duck was the only glitch in Mumbai Indians’ perfect finish, as they crushed Kolkata Knight Riders to register a thrilling eight-wicket win at the Wankhede here on Friday.

If T20 is the shortest version of the game, the day’s match can be labeled a movie trailor. Action-packed, high on drama, it was an instant thrill for the cricket-crazy public of Mumbai. The opponents were overpowered in 5.3 overs, the home team making a mockery of the meager target of 67.

Sanath Jayasuriya was in blistering form once again. If the Sri Lankan’s 114 not out against the Chennai Super Kings a day before was a purist’s delight, his quickfire, unbeaten 48 (17 balls, 6x4, 3x6) on the day were enough to put the best of bowlers to shame. The Sri Lankan toyed with the pace of Shoaib Akhtar and Ishant Sharma, who had identical figures of 1/29 at the end of the minuscule innings.

The Matera Marauder batted effortlessly and the silken touch was there for all to see. His two magnificent sixes off Akhtar in the third over were a delight as Shoaib conceded 23 runs.

The Marauder finished the only way he knew, hitting two fours and a six in Ishant Sharma’s second over to bring up the Indians’ fifth win in a row.

Earlier, Shaun Pollock, Dwayne Bravo and Domnic Thornely wreaked havoc to leave the Knight Riders in shambles. Coming after a stupendous win against the Delhi Daredevils, the visitors cut out a sorry figure as they fell to the lowest score that the league has seen so far. Sticking to a good line and length, the Pollock-Bravo duo induced deadly blows right from the word go. The Knight Riders folded up for 67 in 15.2 overs.

Not the best of batting sides, the Knight Riders were exposed on a wicket that assisted seam movement.

The batsmen failed to apply themselves and departed as soon as they came, evoking huge cheers from the home crowd who celebrated each wicket. The usually chirpy Shah Rukh Khan, Knight Riders’ team owner, also settled down after a while.

For Kolkata, skipper Sourav Ganguly (15, 20 balls, 2x4) spent the maximum time (5o minutes) in the middle. Ironically, the skipper did not have much to show when he departed in the 15th over, Bravo’s offcutter bringing an end to his sluggish innings.

The rout started when Pakistan opener Salman Butt — who hit the only six of the Kolkatan innings — misjudged a full length delivery from Pollock. At slip, Tendulkar made no mistake scalping the first wicket for the team.

There was further agony in store as Aakash Chopra ran himself out on the very next ball going for a non-existent single.

Pollock, in particular, was unplayable. The South African exuded class to finish with figures of 3/12. He accounted for the prized scalps of Butt, dangerman David Hussey and Mohammad Hafeez.

Jaipur, May 16: On form, it makes for the most lop-sided clash, but given the circumstances, even current leaders Rajasthan Royals may not be in the best frame of mind. Even a binding force like cricket will need to work its magic if it is to heal the wounds of the people in this city. This is easier said than done: it’s a bit strange that a place devastated by terrorism just a few days ago might even turn to cricket, but then, sport unlike life, offers second chances. Even for non-performers.

Given the backdrop of the situation where so many lives were lost in the heinous bomb blasts on Tuesday, it’s surprising that the IPL authorities decided to go ahead with the Challengers Royals game. In such situations, even cricket takes a back seat, but by opting to stick to schedule rather than be bullied by the forces of terror, the IPL has indeed sent a strong message: we will not buckle under.

Whether the players are up to it is the million-dollar question; both teams stayed away from the Pink City as long as possible and arrived only on Friday. But some of the Royals team members including skipper Shane Warne were to arrive from Goa only in the evening. While the Challengers had stayed put in Delhi, the Royals, taking a break, were left too stunned to even think of coming back from Goa. But Lalit Modi, being Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman and the host of the local association, didn’t want to lose a chance to show to the world that he is made of sterner stuff.

A city, which is slowly limping back to normalcy may not readily embrace Saturday’s match, but given the passion for cricket and the manner in which the sport brings together people in our country, it may not be surprising if the SMS Stadium does give them a bit of relief in this grave moment of tragedy. Having said that, Modi should not be too shocked if the locals decide to give the match short-shrift.

It’s a classic Catch-22 situation. By opting to go ahead with the game, the IPL may have hurt the sentiments of those who lost their near and dear ones in the tragedy, but had they decided to shift the venue, they could have even been termed cowardly. While it does take a toll on the cricketers, and players from Australia and South Africa have time and again voiced their concerns about playing in such places, too much is at stake for the authorities to give it a miss.

New Delhi, May 16: Pushed to the brink, the Delhi Daredevils have clawed their way back into contention with a win at last against a beleaguered Deccan Chargers side, but they are still not out of the woods.

The fight for the semifinal is heating up with every game with both Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders very much in the race. The Daredevils are in fifth place with five wins from ten matches, splitting the two teams in the points tally.

Saturday’s showdown against overwhelming favourites Kings XI Punjab at the Feroze Shah Kotla will therefore be of added significance. Knight Riders and the Mumbai outfit are looking to up the ante, with the coming of Shoaib Akhtar and Sachin Tendulkar in their ranks. Another slip for Delhi now and their chances will take a nosedive.

To add to their woes is their skipper Virender Sehwag’s appalling form. The law of averages seems to have finally caught up with the dashing opener who was on a hot streak in the early stages of the tournament.

He has been to unable to open his account in the last two innings. The Twenty20 format suits him the best and a ‘Sehwag Special’ is always round the corner. At the moment, though, his batting seems error prone. That apart, the Daredevils though, would gain much confidence with their batting success on Thursday night.

The consistent Gautam Gambhir kept the orange cap to himself with another blazing innings, Shikhar Dhwan notched up his fourth IPL fifty while the middle-order, for the first time, didn’t let the side down. On the bowling front too, the Hayana leg-spinner Amit Mishra has solved Sehwag’s dilemma of relying on part-timers to deliver four key overs.

Gambhir’s injury to his right toe will be a cause of concern. He was out of the field against the Chargers nursing his injury, but is expected to play on Saturday.

The side seems to have got finally their bearing right, but their true test of character will be against the Yuvraj Singh-led team that are looking unstoppable. They beat Delhi the last time the two teams met and that too at a stage when the latter were enjoying their best run.

Almost every player has exploded into action whenever the side gets into trouble.

Delhi will best served, if they do not overlook how Yuvraj and Simon Katich tore apart their bowling attack with their power-hitting more than a fortnight ago.

Sehwag knows his team will have to put their best foot forward. "At this stage, all the matches are challenging for us. Kings XI have been on a roll but however good you maybe, someone will come and beat you hands down. Our bowlers have done well throughout.

Our batting was not doing well, but it clicked against Chargers. The batsmen will have to continue the good work. Maybe we’ll do it tomorrow also."

Jaipur, May 16: "We are not performing well but we have not left trying. Everything is going bad for us. But one game can bring in the requisite momentum," Royal Challengers batsman Misbah-ul Haq said on the eve of their match against Rajasthan Royals here on Friday.

Asked whether corporates added to the pressure, Misbah said, "These things happen when a team is losing. Everyone criticises you when you lose.

"I agree with what (Anil) Kumble feels that this is the time when the team needs support.

"I think when the management gets angry with the captain or for that matter on the players, it just shows their frustration. I think at this point the management and players need to back each other and only then can fortunes change," he added.

Misbah, who has scored just 32 runs from three matches, was upbeat about the Jaipur pitch offering batsman some advantage.

"The wicket looks good. It is a flat track and will have some good bounce that will help batsman easily play their favourite shots," he said.

Meanwhile, the home side who have six successive wins, had to face questions about security after the serial blasts rocked the city on Tuesday, prompting players like Shane Warne and Shane Watson to ponder over their future here, in Jaipur.

Ravi ShastriIt’s an intriguing match for Delhi Daredevils against Mohali’s Kings XI Punjab on Saturday. At the risk of annoying Delhi’s fans, and I am no less, they are arguably up against the one of the best sides of the IPL.

Shaun Marsh is among the top-run-scorers after having played a mere five games! James Hopes, the two Sri Lankans — I expect Kumar Sangakkara to be back in the fray — the sweet poison of Piyush Chawla and the Irfan-Sreesanth duo, again the leading wicket-takers of the competition, all suggest to an extremely powerful side. And we haven’t counted on Yuvraj Singh yet.

Yuvraj perhaps will fire now. He can’t be down for too long. Now that icons are stepping out of their dens — Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Shoaib Akhtar and Sanath Jayasuriya et al — the Mohali captain is like a coiled cobra ready to spread it’s hoods. If he can inspire confidence, you will see Marsh and Co. play with still greater freedom in the coming matches. It’s a frightening prospect for other teams.

Fortunately for Delhi, the match is in their own home ground. They tend to score heavily at the Kotla. The top three can truly hurt the opposition.

As I said in my previous column, Delhi are just about getting their mix right. They have cricketers who can bowl and bat effectively, a trait they share, although to a lesser degree, with Mohali. Farvez Maharoof and Tillekratne Dilshan are dangerous men in a short format.

I also found the fielding of Ab de Villiers, as also the two catches in the deep by Shoaib Malik, as outstanding efforts.

Both are overseas cricketers and were not playing the Thursday’s game. Yet they gave of their best which suggests the team spirit is running just fine amongst Daredevils.

I also would love to watch Piyush Chawla and Amit Mishra square off against each other. Both are leg-spinners and promise a great deal for Indian cricket. They are quite similar in methods — both are short, have deadly variations, pick wickets in the middle overs and importantly have a big heart. A skipper can bank on them to bowl, if required, the last over. They also are extremely dangerous with the bat.

London, May 16: Ryan Sidebottom turned in a miserly spell of four wickets for five runs in 10.1 overs on Friday as New Zealand were bowled out for 277 on the second day of the first Test here at Lord’s. But considering New Zealand had been 104/5, in overcast, seam-bowler friendly conditions after losing the toss, it was a fine recovery.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori did his best to keep England at bay with 48 before he was the last man out, bowled by Sidebottom. Vettori’s innings supplemented wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum’s excellent run-a-ball 97 which began New Zealand’s fightback on Thursday.

England were 26 without loss when bad light forced an early tea. Andrew Strauss was nine not out and Alastair Cook 16 not out. Earlier, Sidebottom returned innings figures of 4/55 runs in 28.2 overs. The Nottinghamshire left-arm quick’s haul was all the more impressive as he didn’t take a wicket until his 24th over. Vettori, primarily a left-arm spinner, has won himself a deserved reputation as one of the best no. 8 batsmen currently in world cricket. New Zealand’s enduringly fragile top-order has often left the 28-year-old having to bat his side out of trouble.

And on Friday, Vettori proved a thorn in the side of England’s bowlers.

Vettori, however, guided his side nearer 300 with three well-struck fours in as many balls off James Anderson. He was in sight of his 17th Test fifty when, three balls after stoppage for bad light, Vettori was bowled by Sidebottom. (AFP)

Scores: New Zealand 277 (McCullum 97, Vettori 48, Sidebottom 4/55, Anderson 3/66, Broad 2/85) vs England 26/0 (Strauss batting 9, Cook batting 16)

Lausanne, May 16: South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius won an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday that could pave the way for an historic participation in the Beijing Olympics. The disabled 21-year-old sprinter runs on specially adapted carbon fibre blades after having his legs amputated below the knee when he was 11 months old because he was born without fibula bones in his legs.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had banned the 400m runner from all competitions involving able-bodied athletes because of claims that the artificial legs he uses give him an unfair advantage. However, CAS ruled on Friday against the IAAF decision, adding: "... it is revoked with immediate effect and the athlete is eligible to compete in IAAF events while wearing the Ossur Cheetah Flex Foot Prosthetics, as used in the scientific tests requested by the IAAF and presented as an exhibit at the CAS hearing." The decision is a huge boost to Pistorius’ bid to compete in the able-bodied events in Beijing. However, to do so the South African now has to overcome the minimum Olympic qualifying time of 45.95sec, or 45.55 if another South African runs less than 45.95. Pistorius’ personal record is 46.46. Pistorius, who has an 11-month-old baby, has, thanks to his prosthetics, won Paralympic titles and challenged the times set by top-level able-bodied athletes.

However, a scientific investigation into his springy prosthetics carried out by the Institute of Biomechanics at Cologne University last November found that they gave him a clear competitive edge over such athletes. Pistorius lodged an appeal with CAS in February.

And CAS’s three-man panel decided that the IAAF, which claimed that Pistorius benefited from a ‘technical device’, did not prove that claim to a sufficient extent. 

Chennai, May 16: Inspirational stories are the lifeblood of sports. There are pioneering champions who are significant beyond their sporting achievements. Is Muhammad Ali just a former world heavyweight champion? Ali is what he is today — an icon — because of the way he fought outside the ring. Similarly, Jesse Owens wasn’t just an athlete who won four gold medals at the same Olympics. More important than his gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics were the circumstances under which he emerged victorious. Talk about triumph in the face of adversity. The list of inspirational sportspersons is long with ‘Flying Housewife’ Fanny Blankers-Koen, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane and Billie Jean King figuring prominently on it.

But South African swimmer Natalie du Toit’s awesome story takes some beating. Even as her countryman Oscar Pistorius, the double amputee who uses carbon-fibre blades, was battling to overturn a ban by the International Association of Athletics Federations to run alongside able-bodied athletes, Natalie has qualified for the Beijing Olympics. By finishing fourth in the 10-km open-water world championship, Natalie has booked a berth in the mega event. What is so special about the 24-year-old Cape Town native as the swimming world is stunned by her achievement? She lost one of the key parts of a swimmer in a road accident seven years ago: the left leg. Natalie’s unflinching faith in her abilities has clinched the South African a dream ticket, for which an almighty struggle ensues even among able-bodied swimmers.

Natalie was in Hyderabad in 2003 for the first Afro-Asian Games. And her presence in the Andhra Pradesh capital was the brightest part of an otherwise ill-advised inter-continental gala. Read on to delve deeper into the way Natalie turned the tide instead of sitting at home, cursing her fate.

When a car knocked down Natalie in February 2001, the result was devastating — she lost her left leg. But the automobile couldn’t crush Natalie’s dreams. She not only pulled herself up from that blow, she also started competing, unbelievably, with able-bodied swimmers. Natalie participated in three events — 200, 400, 800m freestyle — at the Hyderabad Games.

She was very particular during the Afro-Asian Games not to see her life to be told in a sentimental way. Wallowing in self-pity was the last thing on Natalie’s mind. "I hate negative stories woven around me. I firmly believe that everything in the world happens with a reason. Though the accident made me think "Why me?" on a few occasions, I wish to carry on as a normal person," she had said.

The fateful day was fresh in her memory. "I was riding a motorcycle to my school near Cape Town before I was knocked down by a speeding car. I was fully conscious through the next week when doctors tried to save my leg. It was painful to go through that as a 17-year-old," the gritty girl had recollected.

What followed was a saga of courage. "I started off as an all-round swimmer. After the amputation, I had to concentrate on freestyle in which one can compete without a powerful kick," she added.

Natalie’s aquatic journey began as a 15-year-old in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games. She was the South African 400m medley champion then. Prior to the Games, she was dubbed as a "wonder kid ready to take the swimming world by storm." But the accident shattered her career. The 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games was a watershed event for Natalie. Apart from participating in the open category 800m freestyle final, she broke the 50m and the 100m world records in the disabled section. Later, she was chosen as the best athlete of the meet ahead of Ian Thorpe. "It was an unforgettable day for me as I received the award from the Queen. Support from my coaches, family members and South African people made my achievement possible. In fact, I felt like the whole world was supporting me at that time."

Cyclist Lance Armstrong, she had said, was her hero. "The way he excelled after undergoing chemotherapy was amazing. He disproved people who thought that a cancer survivor would never compete in the Tour de France," she added.

The vivacious athlete had told this correspondent in Hyderabad that she was interested in cloning research. Surely making a clone with her never-say-die spirit is impossible.