1. Clinical KKR Rout Sunrisers Hyderabad By 35 Runs
Kolkata Knight Riders bounced back in the home leg in style by notching up a comprehensive 35-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the evening fixture on Monday.
Defending a fighting total of 167, KKR were given a rollicking start by their speedster Umesh Yadav, who castled dangerman David Warner (4) and Naman Ojha (0) in the first over, and the visitors failed to recover from the double blow to finish at 132 for nine.
The KKR spin duo of Brad Hogg (2/17) and Piyush Chawla (1/16) tightened the noose further around SRH, handing them their third defeat in as many outings at the Eden Gardens.
The defending champions next play Delhi Daredevils (May 7) and Kings XI Punjab (May 10) to conclude their home leg. SRH, on the other hand, remained on fifth position with eight points from nine matches.
2. Chennai Top Table After 24 Run Win Over Bangalore
A sensational bowling effort by Chennai Super Kings saw them defend a modest total as they crushed Royal Challengers Bangalore by 24 runs to regain their position at the top of the table on Monday.
Having posted a modest 148 for nine in 20 overs, CSK bowlers led by Ashish Nehra (3/19 in four overs) and Dwayne Bravo (2/19 in 3.4 overs) exhibited brilliant death over skills to bundle out RCB for 124 in 19.4 overs.
Such was the dominance of CSK bowlers at the back end of the innings that RCB lost as many as seven wickets for 27 runs in only 5.5 overs.
From a relatively comfortable 97 for three with another 52 runs to get, RCB’s slump started when Bravo effected a superb reflex run-out off his own bowling to get rid of opposition skipper Virat Kohli.
Once Kohli was gone, the procession started, with Karthik being snapped up in the deep off Nehra’s bowling in the 15th over. In his very next over, the veteran seamer removed Safaraz Khan (8) and Harshal Patel (0) to take his wickets tally to 17 in the tournament
On his part, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni read the pitch perfectly as he knew that it would slow down with passage of time and strokemaking would be extremely difficult in the second half. His intuition turned out to be spot on as his bowlers vindicated his decision.
3. Injured Anderson Rejoins MI Squad Ahead of Delhi Game
New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson joined the Mumbai Indians squad at its optional practice session here, ahead of their crucial IPL cricket game against Delhi Daredevils at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday.
Anderson, who was earlier said to be out of the IPL with a fractured left-hand finger, had returned home to have the injury assessed by the doctors before reaching here last night, according to the team’s spokesperson.
“He went back to New Zealand to undergo treatment for the injured finger. He returned to Mumbai last night and his fitness will now be assessed. His name had never been pulled out of the squad,” the spokesperson explained at the surprise development.
Anderson had scored a blistering 95 off just 44 balls last season to help MI make the play-off after a poor start during which they lost six games in a row. This season too MI have resurrected their campaign after losing four games in a row and later a fifth. Currently they are in seventh position, just above bottom-placed Kings XI Punjab, with four wins and eight points to their credit.
4. England’s Trott Ends International Career
England batsman Jonathan Trott has retired from international cricket with immediate effect after a disappointing tour of the West Indies, the 34-year-old said on Monday.
Trott only returned to the England side last month following an extended break from the game due to a stress-related illness but scored a meagre 72 runs, including three ducks, at an average of just 12 in the three-test series against West Indies.
“This was a tough decision but I don’t feel my game is at the level needed to play for England,” Trott said in an England and Wales Cricket Board statement.
“I was honoured to come back and play international cricket again and I’m disappointed it didn’t work out. I want to wish the lads all the very best for what will be an incredibly exciting summer,” he added.
5. Arsenal All But Seal Champions League Qualification
Arsenal all but sealed Champions League qualification for an 18th successive season after they eased past relegation-threatened Hull City 3-1 in the Premier League on Monday.
Alexis Sanchez’s deflected free-kick wrong-footed stranded keeper Steve Harper to hand Arsenal a 28th-minute opener before Aaron Ramsey doubled the advantage four minutes later when his shot was diverted into the net via a Hull defender.
Sanchez rounded Harper to add his second in first half stoppage time and, though they improved after the break, Hull’s solitary response came from Stephen Quinn’s 56th minute header.
Arsenal, in third, have 70 points from 34 matches and trail second-placed Manchester City, who have played a game more, on goal difference.
6. Murray Snaps Claycourt Jinx With First Title in Munich
Andy Murray’s preparations for the French Open gathered momentum as he claimed the first claycourt title of his career with a 7-6(4) 5-7 7-6(4) win over twice champion Philipp Kohlschreiber in the rain-delayed Munich Open final on Monday.
The 27-year-old Briton kept his cool in the final that was suspended after only 23 minutes on Sunday, winning the title in his maiden claycourt final appearance.
It was the world number three’s first title as a married man and under the guidance of new coach Jonas Bjorkman, who fired him on from the stands.
“This was my first final on clay and to come out and play a match like that, I am very pleased to have won,” Murray said in courtside interview.
Asked why it took so long for him to win a title on clay and why Britons had not won on the surface in decades, Murray quipped: “It means we’re not very good on clay.”
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