Oriental Insurance Company Sports & Recreational Club, powered by a brilliant all-round display by Vansh Devendra, who picked two wickets for 49 runs and scored a match-winning unbeaten 93, beat Crayon Software India CC by eight wickets in an ‘E’ Division first-round match of the MCA Corporate cricket tournament at National CC, Cross Maidan, recently. Also Read: Daruvala bags first points in Formula E Batting first, Crayon Software India CC managed to post 167 runs for seven off their 20 overs. Pramindra Singh top-scored with 55 runs. Besides Devendra’s 2-49, Santosh Suke (3-41) also bowled well. Oriental Insurance Company then easily chased down the target, reaching 171 for two in 19.5 overs. Devendra’s 49-ball knock contained six fours and seven sixes. Atharva Ghosalkar added 43. Brief scores Crayon Software India CC 167 for 7 in 20 overs (P Singh 55; S Suke 3-41, V Devendra 2-49) lost Oriental Insurance Company S&RC 171 for 2 in 20 overs (V Devendra 93*, A Ghosalkar 43) by eight wickets.
16 April,2024 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesSpinner Asha Sobhana and hard-hitting batter Sajana Sajeevan, who impressed in the recently held Women’s Premier League, on Monday earned their maiden call-ups to the Indian team for the five T20s against Bangladesh beginning April 28. Also Read: Gavaskar hails Underwood’s skill in tribute to late spin great However, it is learnt that Jemimah Rodrigues missed out as she got injured during the recent zonal competition. The team will be led by all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur and assumesmore significance as the T20 World Cup will also take place in Bangladesh later this year. All five matches will be played in Sylhet. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 April,2024 07:30 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesDerek Underwood, England’s best spinner in the post-World War II era, who gave a torrid time to the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, passed away at Kent on Monday. He was 78. Underwood, a practitioner of slow left-arm orthodox spin, was highly regarded by his contemporaries because of his pin-point accuracy, something which made him ‘Deadly’ on uncovered pitches of the 60s and 70s. Also Read: ‘Absolutely ordinary bowling and ordinary captaincy’ The Bromley-man had numbers to match his reputation too—297 wickets from 86 Tests, the most by an England spinner, and in a First-Class career that spanned 24 years he took 2,465 wickets. Gavaskar too had admitted Underwood’s grip on him. It was tough to face Underwood in any conditions. He was so accurate and bowled on the stumps. “Since he had this ability to bowl quick when he wanted, you had to be in position very early to play the shots. He was the toughest bowler I faced along with Andy Roberts,” Gavaskar had mentioned recently. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 April,2024 07:25 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIStar India all-rounder Hardik Pandya faced scathing criticism from prominent former players after Mumbai Indians’s (MI) fourth loss with the great Sunil Gavaskar slamming him for his “absolutely ordinary bowling and ordinary captaincy” so far. Booed and heckled by fans ever since he took over MI’s captaincy, Pandya found himself in the line of fire of the legendary Gavaskar and former England captain Kevin Pietersen after his team slumped to yet another defeat, this time to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Wankhede on Sunday night. Also Read: IPL 2024: Head's century, Cummins' 3 wickets helps SRH beat RCB by 25 runs It was the 26 runs that Pandya conceded in the final over with MS Dhoni going hammer and tongs, which proved to be decisive as CSK notched up a 20-run win over MI. “Oh, absolutely ordinary bowling, ordinary captaincy. They should have been restricted despite the fact that Ruturaj Gaikwad had batted so well along with Shivam Dube. I do believe that they should have been restricted to 185-190,” Gavaskar told Star Sports. “Probably the worst kind of bowling that I’ve seen for a long, long time. “It almost looks like I’ve had this embrace with my hero. I’ve got the kind of deliveries that he’s gonna hit for sixes. One six is fine. The next one is a length ball when you know this batter is hunting for a length ball that he wants to hit. “Third ball is again a full toss on the legs when you know he [Dhoni] is looking for a six.” Pandya finished with figures of 2-43 from his three overs. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 April,2024 07:20 AM IST | Mumbai | PTIWhen the most powerful batting line-up of the competition runs into the weakest bowling attack on the flattest of surfaces, the outcome is generally predictable. So it was at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday night as Sunrisers Hyderabad laid into Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s shell-shocked bowlers, muscling their way to 287 for three, the second highest total in all T20s. At the time of going to press, RCB were 122-5 in 10 overs. SRH had smashed 277 for three just last month, the highest total in IPL history. Coming into this game, it was on the cards that they could better that against an RCB line-up that had lost its last four matches and was low on confidence and morale. Also Read: IPL 2024: Rajasthan to take on Kolkata at the Eden Gardens Faf du Plessis must be ruing his decision to field first, a decision influenced by the ground’s reputation as a chasing venue. RCB rang in the changes, leaving out the underperforming Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj and handing a debut to Lockie Ferguson, the New Zealand quick. SRH took full toll of the RCB bowling. After a misleadingly quiet first over from offie Jacks that yielded only five, Abhishek Sharma watched from the best seat in the ground as Travis Head (102, 41b, 9x4, 8x6) got down to business. Fours and sixes flowed off his willow with astonishing regularity as the Aussie left-hander brought up the fourth fastest IPL century, in just 39 deliveries. While Head understandably took most of the accolades, dominating an opening stand of 108 with Abhishek, Heinrich Klaasen (67, 31b, 2x4, 7x6) played a gem of his own. Promoted to No. 3 to cash in on the spectacular opening salvo, the South African matched his Aussie partner stroke for stroke, including a monstrous 106-metre six off Ferguson over long-on that cleared the stadium. Aiden Markram and the ferocious Abdul Samad then applied the finishing touches, the latter needing a mere 10 balls for his unbeaten 37. RCB conceded 19 fours and 22 sixes, and their plight was best illustrated when Saurav Chauhan put down Samad at deep mid-wicket off the last ball of the innings. SRH blasted 82 in the last five, narrowly missing out on becoming only the second team in all T20s to touch 300, but hey, 287 isn’t too shabby, is it? Brief scoresSRH 287-3 in 20 overs (T Head 102, H Klaasen 67, A Samad 37*, A Sharma 34, A Markram 32*; L Ferguson 2-52) v RCB (scores incomplete)
16 April,2024 07:15 AM IST | Mumbai | R KaushikThe last time Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals met at the Eden Gardens, Yashasvi Jaiswal hammered the fastest fifty in IPL history en route to an unbeaten 47-ball 98 and the visitors scripted a comprehensive nine-wicket victory in less than 14 overs. But, then, the past doesn’t necessarily prompt the present as the Knights themselves proved here on Sunday with their first-ever victory over Lucknow Super Giants. When KKR and RR joust here on Tuesday, 22-year-old Jaiswal, somewhat off the boil this time, will still be a big threat but, then, the Royals of 2024 have been throwing challenges from many different directions. With KKR too in the midst of one of their best starts to an IPL, the top-of-the-table clash promises to be an intriguing one. Also Read: IPL 2024 | "I’m seeing an individual who’s working bloody hard": Pollard on Pandya On Tuesday, RR face a strong bowling unit that is beginning to come into its own. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy continue to spin their web while Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora and Andre Russell have been playing their part. On Sunday, Mitchell Starc finally found rhythm to add more venom to the attack. With Trent Boult firing for the Royals, the match presents a fine opportunity to savour the skills of two of the finest left-arm pacers in business. KKR’s ominous batting line-up too will be up against a fine attack. While pacers Kuldeep Sen and Avesh Khan have done well to complement Boult, in Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal the Royals have a potent spin combo. Parag pointed to the two sets of classy spinners. “It’s going to be a great battle from the 7th to 15th [overs] and I think that’s where the game is going to be made,” he said. The 22-year-old though couldn’t throw light on the fitness of Ashwin and Buttler, both having missed the previous match through “niggles”.
16 April,2024 07:10 AM IST | Kolkata | Arup ChatterjeeMumbai Indians (MI) batting coach Kieron Pollard defended skipper Hardik Pandya despite his poor show during the hosts’ 20-run defeat to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. It was a forgettable game for the all-rounder Pandya, who was smashed for 26 runs in the 20th over; 20 coming from the blade of former CSK captain MS Dhoni. The innings included a hat-trick of sixes as Pandya’s figures read 3-0-43-2. Chasing CSK’s 206-4, Pandya managed just two runs off six balls. Also Read: It’s all in the mind Kieron Pollard However, Pollard reckoned that Sunday’s loss was not caused only by Pandya’s failure. “You’re going to have those days. I’m sick and fed up of just looking to pinpoint individuals. Cricket is a team sport at the end of the day. He [Pandya] is a confident guy. In cricket, you have good and bad days. I’m seeing an individual who’s working bloody hard to continue his skill and to ply his trade,” Pollard said during the post-match press conference on Sunday. Pollard stressed that Pandya has an X-factor and hinted that he will be playing in the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies from June 1 to 29: “This is an individual who’s going to represent the country in less than six weeks’ time. We’ll all be cheering for him and want him to do well. “It’s high time that we try to encourage and stop nit-picking. He [Pandya] can bat, bowl and field. He has an X-factor about him. I hope he comes out on top. I’ll sit back and watch everyone sing his praises,” the Trinidadian remarked.
16 April,2024 07:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureChennai Super Kings bowling coach Eric Simons has no doubts whatsoever that former India and CSK captain MS Dhoni’s four-ball unbeaten 20 in the final over against Mumbai Indians, affected the hosts psychologically on Sunday. The knock boosted Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team to 206-4 at the Wankhede Stadium. “The psychological pressure that you put on the opposition when you go into the break is such an important thing. You go to the change room after an over like that and it gives you massive momentum. They were looking to restrict us under 200 and suddenly they were facing 206 with an over like that. Dhoni continues to amaze us,” Simons said during the post-match press conference on Sunday. Also Read: The price of passion! Eric Simons After Daryl Mitchell’s (14-ball 17) departure on the second ball of the 20th over, Dhoni smashed MI skipper and pacer Hardik Pandya (2-43) for three consecutive sixes and had two runs on the last ball to finish the over which was worth 26. MSD struggling with knee injury Simons, meanwhile, revealed that Dhoni has been struggling with a knee injury, but it didn’t affect his game. “Everyone else is more interested in his [Dhoni] injuries than he is. He’s one of the hardest men I’ve ever come across. I don’t even think we know to what extent he may or may not be in pain. He just carries on and does his thing. I’m sure there are some niggles. He just has that ability to ignore what it is and do what needs to be done,” Simons added. Dube threat Simons, a former South African cricketer, remarked that Shivam Dube, who scored a 38-ball unbeaten 66 with the help of 10 fours and two sixes, has the ability to scare opposing spinners. “When he [Dube] comes on, they [MI] take the spinners off and put the pacemen on. He has become more and more effective. But they didn’t bowl spin again in the rest of the game because he was at the wicket. “It’s about how you control the match and someone like him [Dube] can control it because they can’t bowl spin anymore. They don’t want to, they’re scared too. His ability to be effective against pace bowling has become a massive asset,” Simons said. Simons, a Team India bowling coach when Dhoni was captain of India, was full of praise for CSK’s Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who rattled MI with 4-28. “Matheesha will get a lot of the accolades and he deserves it because of the way he bowled and the breakthroughs he got. But those two gentlemen [pacers Tushar Deshpande and Shardul Thakur] did exceptionally well for us through that middle phase to push the rate out of reach of the Mumbai Indians,” Simons added.
16 April,2024 07:00 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
“Brother, the authorities have probably never met a person from the middle class, so they have no idea of how few of us attend cricket matches. I could afford prices at Wankhede in the 80s and early 90s with my pocket money. But my son now makes Rs 20,000 a month, he can barely afford to come into a Rs 15,000 game for that. Expensive tickets, followed by the additional costs (food and beverage)...they add up to make it a very expensive day out, brother (sic),” a distinct voice emerged as the murmur of the crowd swirled around while Mumbai Indians took the field for their sixth IPL game this year. “Beshaq, bhaisaab! (undoubtedly, brother) Cricket was religiously followed in our house too. I used to watch cricket a lot in my youth but have not been to a game for years. Recently with the success of this Indian team, I considered attending matches, but the ticket prices have changed my mind. I would have liked to take my son out for matches more often to introduce him to the nuances of this game, but it is too expensive in an era when we are all cutting expenditure,” remarked another. The IPL, with its electrifying matches, star-studded line-ups, and unparalleled entertainment, stands as a behemoth in the arena of cricket. However, amid the euphoria of the T20 league season, a contentious issue looms large: the staggering ticket prices. This linguistic exploration delves deep into the phenomenon of exorbitant ticket pricing, unravelling its intricacies, implications, and societal reverberations. Also Read: This month that year: A journey through time The genesis of the IPL can be traced back to its inception in 2008, envisioned as a revolutionary cricketing extravaganza, transcending boundaries and captivating audiences worldwide. Over the years, it has metamorphosed into a cultural phenomenon, blending cricket with elements of glamour and entertainment. Although often touted as cricket's carnival, the IPL continues to alienate a significant portion of cricket fans from experiencing the live-action firsthand. “40 saal se hun idhar. Gaane bajte hai, shor bahut hota hai, hum sunte sab hai lekin dekhe nahi kabhi. Hum toh mamooli logon mein se hai na, yehi kamayi pe chalti hai ghar. Mera natu bahut cricket ka shaukeen hai, bolta hai daddu le chalo mujhe match dekhna hai, Rohit Sharma ka bada fan hai woh. Lekin kya kare, hum jaiso ke liye kaha sochte hai sab (My shop has been here for four decades. The songs, cheers, chants, and sometimes even music or fireworks can be heard from here. But I’ve never seen what the inside of a stadium looks like. I come from a very humble background and I’m the sole earner. My grandson is very fond of cricket, he is very eager to come along. He is a big fan of Rohit Sharma. But it’s not for us, we can’t afford any of it),” Ramesh Katkar, a 48-year-old tea vendor outside the stadium, told Mid-Day while wiping away sweat with a towel hung around his shoulder. Not just the IPL, but the reality of ticket pricing, as had been the case for the ODI World Cup last year too, often erects barriers that prevent lower-income groups from partaking in this cultural extravaganza. Had they been financially accessible to these demographics, cricket would have stood to broaden its fan base and foster a deeper sense of community engagement today. Coming back to the IPL, its exorbitant ticket pricing is multifaceted, influenced by a myriad of factors ranging from demand-supply dynamics to commercial imperatives. The league, with its immense popularity and global viewership, commands a fervent fan base that spans across geographical boundaries. The sheer demand for its tickets, coupled with limited seating capacities at venues, creates a supply-demand imbalance, thereby inflating ticket prices to astronomical levels. As a consequence, cricket aficionados, often regarded as the lifeblood of the sport, find themselves disillusioned by the prohibitive costs associated with attending matches. The dichotomy between the league’s ethos of inclusivity and the reality of exclusionary ticket pricing only engenders a sense of discontentment among fans, thereby diluting its democratic appeal. Price of passion, what else!
15 April,2024 10:05 PM IST | Mumbai | Srijanee MajumdarAn explosive century by Travis Head and a half-century by Heinrich Klaasen were the highlights as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) posted 287/3, the highest total of the Indian Premier League (IPL) history in their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Bengaluru on Monday. SRH has broken their own record of 277 runs, which they posted against Mumbai Indians (MI) in this edition of the tournament itself. Put to bat first by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma wasted no time in taking RCB bowlers to attack. In the second over bowled by Reece Topley, the Englishman was smoked for two sixes, a four and overall, 20 runs by the duo. Though the next two overs saw SRH being a bit subdued, Head smashed Lockie Ferguson for two sixes, a four in the fifth over. 50 came up for SRH in 4.3 overs. 18 runs came off his over. The final over of the powerplay saw Yash Dayal being smashed all over the park for 20 runs, including two sixes and a four by Head. SRH was 76/0 in six overs, with Head (52*) reaching his fifty in 20 balls, with three fours and five sixes. At the other end, Abhishek was unbeaten at 23*. Also Read: IPL games in Dharamsala to be played on newly installed 'hybrid playing surface' The carnage continued in the next over as Will Jacks' spin became a victim of Head's clean-hitting, including two sixes and a four. 21 runs came from the seventh over. Travis Head 🙌From playing for RCB ➡️ Scoring 💯 against RCB #RCBvSRH #TATAIPL #IPLonJioCinema pic.twitter.com/1TDKCVU4Cj — JioCinema (@JioCinema) April 15, 2024 With a huge six over Vijaykumar Vyshak's head, SRH's 100 runs came in 7.1 overs. Topley ended the 108-run opening partnership, with Abhishek removed for 34 in 22 balls, with two fours and two sixes. Ferguson took the catch at deep backward square leg. SRH was 108/1 in 8.1 overs. Halfway through the innings, SRH was 128/1 in 10 overs, with Head (86*) being joined by the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen at number three. With two successive boundaries off Vyshak's deliveries, one through the backward square leg, SRH reached the 150-run mark in 11.2 overs. Two balls later, Head smashed Vyshak for a four over long on to reach his maiden IPL ton in 39 balls, with nine fours and two sixes. Klaasen and Head made their 50-run partnership in 23 balls. The 57-run partnership ended between the duo. Ferguson got his first wicket for RCB and skipper Faf Du Plessis took a catch at mid-on to remove Head for 102 in 41 balls, with nine fours and eight sixes. SRH is 165/2 in 12.3 overs. RCB had Mahipal Lomror bowl the 14th over and he went for 18 runs, including two sixes by Klaasen and some wide deliveries. Klaasen smashed Vyshak for two fours and a six in the next over, for a total 16 runs, to bring up SRH's 200-run mark in 15 overs. Klaasen also reached his third fifty of IPL 2024 in 23 balls, with two fours and five sixes. Ferguson ended his spell at 2/52, removing Klaasen for 66 in 31 balls, with two fours and seven sixes. Vyshak took the catch to remove Klaasen after he smashed two fours and seven sixes. SRH is 231/3 in 17 overs. Abdul Samad was out next to bat. He made an immediate impact by smashing Topley for three fours and two sixes in his over. SRH reached their 250-run mark in 18.3 overs. In the next over, SRH equalled their highest IPL total of 277 runs. SRH ended their innings at a massive 287/3, with Samad (37*) and Markram (32*) unbeaten. RCB bowlers leaked runs throughout the innings. Ferguson was the pick of the bowlers with 2/52. (With agency inputs)
15 April,2024 09:32 PM IST | Bengaluru | mid-day online correspondentThe idyllic Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium has become the first BCCI-accredited body to install state-of-the-art 'hybrid pitch' to host two IPL 2024 matches. "The hybrid track has been installed and the two IPL 2024 games will be played on newly installed surface," a HPCA official told PTI on conditions of anonymity. The Netherlands-based 'SISGrass', a part of the SIS Pitches group of companies, has been roped in for the first-ever hybrid pitch installation. According to a press release, "this cutting-edge technology will transform the game by providing a more durable, consistent, and high-performing playing surface." HPCA president RP Singh said, "The arrival of ground-breaking hybrid pitch technology in India signifies a game-changing moment for our national cricket." Paul Taylor, a former England cricketer and SIS's international cricket director said, ¿As we inject new and improved technological advancements into India's vibrant cricket ecosystem, we foresee a catalytic effect on its growth trajectory." "At SISGrass, and working with fine turf specialists Greater Ten, our delivery partner in India, we are committed to investing in this ecosystem by providing top-notch facilities such as hybrid pitches," he added. Also Read: Bumrah graces CSK inner sanctum for Dhoni encounter SIS forayed in India after the ICC allowed the use of hybrid surfaces for T20 and 50-over competitions. Following the success of installing hybrids across English cricket grounds, SIS decided to develop the technology in India. The surface contains a small percentage of polymer fibre with the natural turf inside cricket stadiums. This composition is believed to be more resilient to stresses created during play, while prolonging life of the pitch, guaranteeing an even bounce and easing pressure on groundstaff. The completed installations are still predominantly natural grass, with only five per cent polymer fibre used to ensure that the characteristics of an all-natural pitch are maintained. 'The Universal' machine, used in Dharamshala for the hybrid pitch, will be taken to Ahmedabad and Mumbai for creating further such pitches. It will remain in India for future projects. In the UK, hybrid pitches are approved for T20 and 50-over competitions and will also be used in the four-day County Championship matches this season. The Universal machine has been used to install SISGrass at various grounds in England such as Lord's, The Oval, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Trent Bridge. It must be noted that Dharamsala pitch and outfield came under scanner during the ODI World Cup last year and the entire playing surface was refurbished. (With agency inputs)
15 April,2024 09:23 PM IST | Dharamsala | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
