CLT20: Mumbai pip T&T in last ball thriller

Bangalore: Ambati Rayudu scored a cautious 36 to help Mumbai Indians register a thrilling one-wicket win over Trinidad and Tobago in their Pool A Champions League Twenty20 match at Bengaluru. Chasing a score of only 99 runs, Mumbai Indians sealed the match in the last ball with only one wicket in hand. Rayudu hit three boundaries in his innings of 35 off balls to help Mumbai chase down the target on the last bal of their quota of overs.

Despite facing a relatively small run chase, the Indians collapsed to a total of just 33-5 before Ambati Rayudu and Lasith Malinga (15) lead IPL franchises fight back to set up a thrilling fashion. With 11 runs needed off the final over the Mumbai looked on course for victory when Malinga dispatched Sherwin Ganga (0-31) second delivery for a six straight down the ground. With the pressure mounting Malinga and Rayudu were then both run out, before Yuzvendra Chahal (2) came to the crease and scored the two winning runs from the final ball of an amazing game. Ravi Rampaul took three and Sunil Narine took two as T&T fought back after they were bowled out for 98 in 16.2 overs. Earlier Harbhajan Singh produced an impressive spell of three wickets to help Mumbai Indians bundle out Trinidad and Tobago for a paltry 98. Harbhajan picked the wickets of Denesh Ramdin (0), Darren Bravo (18) and Sherwin Ganga (2). Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga also chipped in with two wickets for 22 runs, while Abu Nechim, James Franklin and Kieron Pollard too accounted for one wicket each to help their team's cause. Jason Mohammad top scored with a 27-ball 23 for Trinidad and Tobago, studded with a four and a six. Electing to bat, the Caribbean outfit looked set for a blazing start with opener Adrian Barath (11), who was in a punishing mood from the word Go, blasting a couple of fours in the first over off Malinga. However, the Sri Lankan pacer came back in his second over and uprooted his stumps with a beautiful yorker to deal the first blow. Simmons hit a six and 2 fours in his 18-ball 21 before getting run out as his foot was on the line but he didn't ground the bat when the bails were removed by Mumbai wicket-keeper Ambati Rayudu. Bravo, blasted a couple of sixes to help them reach their first fifty. But Franklin removed Darren Ganga at the other end with Rajagopal Sathish taking a good catch as the visitors slipped to 57 for 3 in seven overs. Thereafter it was left for Harbhajan to continue the damage as he struck thrice in his next three overs to reduce the visitors to 78 for six in 12 overs. Once the top and middle order collapsed, the Caribbean outfit never really recovered with wickets falling in quick succession.

i never said that sachin was scared of me, says shoaib

New Delhi: In an exclusive interview with NDTV, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has defended his controversial autobiography 'Controversially Yours' and explained what he really meant by saying that Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid lacked the ability to finish a game. Here are some excerpts:

On 2006 Faisalabad Test: Sachin was scared You have good days and bad days... I got hit by Sachin for 6. No big deal. On that particular day I didn't think he was comfortable. You have to read my book to know what I meant. Whatever I felt I said it. Not going to be justified not reading my book and making comments. Picking up a few lines and putting in headlines. If I had to get attention and create controversies I would have released the book a month ago and kept sending feelers to get attention. What I meant to say was something else... you have to read the book to understand. On Dravid & Sachin - not match winners People need to read book to understand what I meant with what I said at that period of time. Rahul and Sachin's achievements are there for everyone to see. Sachin has over 18,000 runs and is about get 100 centuries... cannot say he is not a good cricketer or that he is scared. What I felt at that moment on that day is what I have written. Read book... don't pick up lines and write. On his bad days against Sachin and Dravid In Multan (2004), I had to field for day and a half... legs were jammed... I couldn't walk... had so much knee pain throughout my career. That Test match was difficult...Sehwag had a perfect scenario before him... slow track... smashed around the park... I insisted to Pakistan curator and Board to make fast, lively pitches... ball should carry. If you do that, we had a better chance to win the Test series. Is the controversy created to sell the book? I have seen enough fame around the world. I am not going to pinpoint Sachin, Dravid, Ponting etc... don't want to create controversy to sell my book. I am a firm believeer in God. Anyone who has got respect, I have respected. You are creating controversy not anyone else. You have to understand the facts, the figures and the timings. You have to understand the time that I come from. I don't need to clarify things but I would never do anything to create controversy to sell my book. My story is there, I have opened my heart out so read my book. On Shah Rukh Khan, IPL I never said SRK cheated me or that Sachin was scared... It is just a few things that I felt at the time. IPL was a fantastic moment in my life - that I was loved by so many Bengalis... they even came to drop me to my room. SRK never betrayed me... always took care of me.. Whenever I came to India there was so much love... so much fan following... Please read the book. To understand where I come from. It is not about a few lines. SRK has taken care of me - taking me to his home, made sure media didn't trouble me. I left ICL - didn't want to leave my country by playing ICL... had a huge offer, huge chunk of money. But I wanted to play for Pakistan that's why I chose IPL. My only difference with SRK and Sourav - I told Sourav that I'm not comfortable with the money. Sourav told me that you were not bid for so this is the best price we can get for you, we will make it up later, Lalit Modi has promised it blah blah... those promises are the ones I have written about - not cheated or betrayed... just written about the incident. On Shoaib Akhtar loving himself When you're down and out you like to meet yourself again and again - whether you do the right or wrong things. Best realisation is when you try to become a better person and try to improve. Every passing moment is a chance to turn it all around. We never had a father figure. People are quoting from my book saying Wasim destroyed my career - all I said was that he did not want to play me... did not want to play me because he wanted to go along with same combo he was playing before. I was a young guy - I didn't know what to feel at that moment... just wrote what I felt then. Don't mix up the stroies or create a clash. 1999 Eden Gardens Test, walking up to Sachin Sachin didn't know anything about me did he? So I just walked up to him and said - you'll get to know me. It was just a joke. He wouldn't remember that. I probably looked like an extra in the team. Sachin was great... I just said - Hi, I'm Shoaib and he just looked at me and was like whatever. Sachin's always been great - in what he has done for the game and what he has achieved.. what he has done for world cricket. I can't compare myself to Sachin... I'm nothing great. What I honestly felt, I have written that.

Shane Watson has criticised Cricket Australia in his new book

Shane Watson, the Australia vice-captain, has criticised Cricket Australia and the selectors for contributing to a "growing sense of panic" among the players in the lead-up to the Ashes series in 2010-11.

Australia were comprehensively beaten 3-1 in the Ashes, their first series defeat to England at home since 1986-87, prompting the Argus review and the subsequent changes adopted by board. Watson lashed out at the decision to announce a provisional squad of 17, 10 days before the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. ''I felt there was a growing sense of panic all over the place which, to be honest, wasn't helped by Cricket Australia announcing a bigger than usual Ashes squad," Watson wrote in his book Watto, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald. "I don't know why the squad was named that early; there was still one more round of first-class games as well as the Australia A game against England to be completed … there was a sense of panic … and that spread throughout the team.'' The chopping and changing of bowlers during the Test series meant "they were absolutely sh*****g themselves every time they went out to bowl, because bowlers are the first ones to get dropped when things go wrong. "Our batters … were failing throughout and nothing happened." Since the Ashes defeat, Australian cricket has undergone significant changes, with coach Tim Nielsen and chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch stepping down.

Shane Watson: Australia bowlers were s***ing themselves in Ashes v England

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has offered a fascinating insight into his national team's mindset during last winter's Ashes defeat to England, suggesting the side's bowlers were 's***ing themselves'.

The Baggy Green were outplayed by Andrew Strauss' men in the series, going down to a 3-1 defeat – the first time they had lost the urn on home soil since 1986/87. Watson, now Australia's vice-captain, has used his new book Watto – quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald – to launch a damning verdict on the campaign. He lambasted selectors and governing body Cricket Australia for creating a sense of panic in the dressing room before the series had even started by naming a large squad much earlier than usual. 'I don't know why the squad was named that early. There was still one more round of first-class games as well as the Australia A game against England to be completed … there was a sense of panic,' Watson stated. He went on to add that constant changing of the bowling line-up left the individuals involved 'absolutely s***ing themselves' when they came to bowl, while batsmen continued to struggle without losing their places. Since losing the Ashes, Australia coach Tim Nielsen, chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch and former captain Ricky Ponting have all resigned.

Malinga powers Mumbai to a shock win over Chennai

Chennai: Lasith Malinga emerged an unlikely hero as a truncated Mumbai Indians snatched a thrilling three-wicket win over title holders Chennai Super Kings in the Nokia Champions League T20 tournament, here on Saturday. Scorecard A few lusty blows in the death overs by Malinga, who scored an 18-ball 37 not out, swept Mumbai Indians to a memorable victory that ended the Super Kings' unbeaten run at Chepauk. Replying to Super Kings' challenging total of 158 for four, courtesy a classic 81 by opener Michael Hussey, the Mumbai Indians, without eight regulars and struggling at 106 for seven in the 16th over, came through in the 20th with Malinga and skipper Harbhajan Singh (19 not out) adding 53 runs in 4.4 overs. Mumbai needed 25 off the last two overs and Malinga ensured they got those runs to script a believe-it-or-not win. Going into the final over, Mumbai needed 12 and a boundary off the fourth delivery by skipper Harbhajan Singh off Doug Bollinger tied the scores and then he scampered for a single off the fifth delivery to take his team over the line. Until the Malinga-Harbhajan partnership, Mumbai were never really in the hunt after they allowed Super Kings to race away in the second half of their innings. The hosts, who were 67 for two after 10 overs, got out of the jail with a late blitz, including 12 off the 18th over bowled by Malinga. Mumbai Indians began their chase promisingly with Aiden Blizzard and Davy Jacobs scoring at a good clip but when Ravichandran Ashwin broke the partnership, it triggered a dramatic collapse as Mumbai lost wickets in a hurry. Ashwin lured Jacobs out of the crease and had him stumped by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni; Suresh Raina, replacing Ashwin, bowled Blizzard and in the next over, Dwayne Bravo had Ambatti Rayudu caught behind as Mumbai slid to 57 for three. Raina struck again by foxing Tirumalasetti Suman who fell to another stumping by Dhoni. It brought together two power-hitters, Andrew Symonds and Kieron Pollard, but the expected fireworks did not come about as Bravo had an out-of-sorts Symonds caught in the deep. With half the side dismissed for just 63 by the 10 over, it was all over bar the shouting although big Kieron Pollard briefly threatened to perform magic, but top-edged a pull shot to be caught behind. Malinga then struck a few lusty blows to bring Mumbai Indians close to an improbable win that was eventually achieved with a ball to spare. Earlier, the Super Kings innings was mostly about Hussey who showcased his batting versatility in no uncertain manner with a truly magnificent innings that underlined the touch and form he is in.

In fact, Hussey paced his innings quite beautifully and only sacrificed his wicket at the fag end when he tried to accelerate further. But until then, he dominated the proceedings with a mix of delicate shots and power-packed hits. Malinga provided Mumbai Indians a great start when he knocked out Murali Vijay with a near-perfect yorker, but was taken off the attack to be preserved for the death overs. It provided some reprieve for the Super Kings whose No.3 Raina survived a couple of uncomfortable moments facing Malinga before unleashing a few fine shots before departing following a freak incident. Raina missed a shot off Kieron Pollard and wicketkeeper Jacobs fumbled with a stumping. However, the ball hit the stumper's pads and rolled on to the wickets and Raina was caught just outside the crease. The Super Kings innings somewhat lost its steam at this juncture with Subramaniam Badrinath unable to get cracking and it was not until his dismissal in the 16th over and the advent of Dhoni did the pace pick up noticeably. While Hussey duly reached his half-century and then perished in the 19th over, Dhoni delivered a few hefty blows to ensure Super Kings a fighting total.

Has the Champions League progressed since 2009?

Two years ago, the Champions League Twenty20 launched with a match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and South Africa's Cape Cobras. Walking into the Chinnaswamy Stadium an hour before that game, you were greeted by a packed and partying crowd. A nifty laser show followed by an on-field opening ceremony headlined by Shaggy left the fans pumped for the match. This time, though, walking in an hour early you were greeted by rows of empty seats. There was the incongruous sight of rapper Jay Sean belting out his hits from a stage near the North Stand when the actual stars, the players of the two teams, went through their fielding drills and warm-up sessions in the middle. Some of the cheerleaders were gyrating in front of barely populated stands. Just outside the stadium, you met touts trying to dispose of complimentary tickets for below the marked price. Was this all that could be mustered despite arguably Bollywood's biggest name, Shah Rukh Khan, spearheading a massive marketing campaign, despite the full-page newspapers ads pitting "Bengaluru v the world"? Still, there were mitigating factors. The Bangalore turn-out in 2009 was because the IPL got rolling at the Chinnaswamy in 2008 with a crowd-pleasing opening ceremony and Brendon McCullum's barely believable 158 not out. After that audiences tapered at matches across venues. Also, during this year's opening match, the crowd slowly built-up through the evening, and by the start of the chase at least 60% of the stadium was occupied, a very decent turn-out by CLT20 standards. Many turned up though they were barely aware of the opposition. One twenty-something admitted he couldn't name anyone from the Warriors squad, while his friend didn't even know any of the Royal Challengers' players. "I don't follow much cricket," she said, though she seemed excited about going to the game with a gang of her friends. Whether this is good for the tournament or not is a conundrum for the organisers.

Those who came were determined to have a good time. Face-painters did brisk business outside the stadium, plenty of people turned up in the distinctive red-and-gold jerseys, there were loads of Royal Challengers' flags being waved and even before the game began, chants of "RCB, RCB" rang round the stadium. The bugle, that old favourite, continued to bring loud cheers even when trumpeted at the oddest of times, such as after Chris Gayle harmlessly left the first ball of the match. A newer gimmick, fireworks after every wicket or six, also entertained initially - someone seemed to have hit the mute button at the Chinnaswamy when local boy Mayank Agarwal was dismissed for a duck in the first over, but the noise was back as the crowd took in the pyrotechnic display to mark the dismissal. By the time the chase began, the Mexican wave made its appearance as the fans rejoiced the big-hitting cameos from several of the home side's stars. The opening match had several things to please the cricket fan. The boundary ropes were not pulled in to allow cheap sixes, a common practice during the IPL. It might have been a different result if the organisers had given in to the temptation to shorten the boundary. Would Mohammad Kaif have got to the ball quicker from long-on on the final delivery, which could have resulted in a game-tying run-out? Nine of the wickets in the match were catches in the deep - how many would have sailed over for six? Another plus is that there are only five sponsor logos on the outfield, about half the IPL norm. The tournament has evolved in the two years since it began, but Friday's game had some uncanny resemblances to the 2009 season-starter. Even then the Royal Challengers thought they had put enough runs on the board against a South African franchise. Even then it came down to more than a run-a-ball in the final over of the chase. Even then the fancied Royal Challengers lost, and the celebratory atmosphere enveloping the stadium for much of the match vanished.

Free spirit Bopara taking one step at a time

Ravi Bopara insists he has learnt from his mistakes and will not get carried away by his man-of-the-match performance against West Indies. Bopara's 4 for 10 was England's best figures in Twenty20 cricket as they crushed West Indies by ten wickets at The Oval, with openers Craig Kieswetter and Alex Hales chasing down the target of 125 with 26 balls to spare.

Bopara is flying high after his best international one-day performance against India, but the Essex allrounder is refusing to rest on his laurels, having paid the price for over-confidence back in 2009 when he struggled for form after three consecutive Test centuries against the West Indies. "I definitely feel more of an England player, especially over the last month," Bopara said. "This month has been very good for me and I played with quite a free spirit in the one-dayers against India. "I said to myself 'back yourself' and I'm glad it's come off. Long may it continue, but you can never bank on being around. I just want to take one step at a time and not get too far ahead of myself, because that happened when I got those three hundreds in a row. "I got a bit ahead of myself then, saying 'in next five games I want five more hundreds, I want to make it eight in a row'. When you get above your station that's when you fall quite hard."