Kings XI Punjab big beaten Mumbai Indians

Kings XI Punjab 163 for 8 (Marsh 43, Karthik 31, Munaf 5-21) beat Mumbai Indians 87 (Bhatt 4-22)

Mumbai Indians' inspiring run in the IPL was bring to a impolite halt by the Kings XI Punjab, who finished an forceful 76-run win in Mohali.

Mumbai had won six out of their seven preceding games, but were bundle out for 87 in 12.5 overs on Tuesday chasing 163.

Praveen Kumar's two for 19 and Bhargav Bhatt's four for 22 engineered the give way that saw six batsmen out for single figures.

Earlier, Shaun Marsh (43 off 34) and Dinesh Karthik (31) led Punjab's batting, but met fierce confrontation late on from Mumbai paceman Munaf Patel's figures of five for 21.

Despite charming the toss, Mumbai unsuccessful to capitalise on Patel's removal from office of Paul Valthaty (14) as Marsh and Adam Gilchrist (28) took Punjab to a healthy 86 in 10 overs.

Following Gilchrist's exit, Marsh sustained his inspiring strokeplay next to Karthik, and it needed an excellent catch from Kieron Pollard to send the Australian back.

Patel claim his third in the same over by dispatch David Hussey, as a outbreak of late wickets destined Punjab could only manage 20 off the last three overs.

Mumbai's batting, though, got off to a bad start as they were three down in 4.1 overs, with Kumar grab the key scalp of Sachin Tendulkar (six).

It only got not as good as as Andrew Symonds (eight) was run out in a mix-up with Ambati Rayudu (13), who then holed out to mid-on before Ryan Harris snap up Tirumalasetti Suman (four).

It prompted some desperate yet useless beating but Bhatt came to the fore to shut Mumbai out, first by bowling Harbhajan Singh (12), and rounding the tail up in the 13th over, remove Pollard (17), Dhawal Kulkarni (two), and Patel (nought).

Restricted Pune outplay colorless Deccan

Pune Warriors 137 for 4 (Pandey 49, Ganguly 32*) strike Deccan Chargers 136 for 8 (Marsh 4-25, Yuvraj 2-17) by six wickets


Deccan Chargers' coach Darren Lehmann on Tuesday slams his batsmen for "careless" batting in their six-wicket beat to Pune Warriors in the IPL.
Lehmann admits that his team was entirely outplayed by the visitors in all aspects of the game.

"Batting was poor, reckless. We were none for 50 in six overs and we might have got 150-160. All the credit be theoretical to be given to Pune, they bowled sensibly well. We had some silly shots in the middle and players of calibre be supposed to not have play like that," said Lehmann.

Deccan openers Shikhar Dhawan and Ravi Teja had raise a half-century place in six overs to set the tone for a competitive total.

But clever bowling coupled with some mindless batting by the home side helped the Warriors fight back as Mitchell Marsh produced a clinical performance with the ball to limit Deccan to 136 for eight.

Lehmann also implicit at some major change in the side for the remaining matches.

"Change of team gives some additional guys a chance. We will clearly go for a change. We are out of the opposition and we will change the team to give the others a chance.

"They are training very hard at the back the scenes. At the end of the day, you have got to pick the best team but we will give possibility to the other guys as well," he said.

Dilshan to leave IPL at afterward date


Having originally careful leaving the IPL on Tuesday to join the England-bound team, the newly-appointed Sri Lanka captain is established to play in Bangalore's match next to Rajasthan on Wednesday.

The Lankan dasher, along with Chris Gayle, has been active in giving his side great starts. His volatile batting is an asset that the Vettori-led Royal Challengers would want to keep for as long as possible.

Dilshan was supposedly keen to travel to England near the beginning to be there before the first tour game on May 14 to create a bond with the team as some of the senior players are joining late. Though, Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori said the Sri Lankan opener would take the field next to Rajasthan Royals.

"I thought he is leave-taking before this match (for Sri Lanka's tour of England later this month) but he would be accessible for the match next to the Royals's match so any question of replace him does not arise," Vettori said.

Gayle's doorway has ended us dreadful


Having registered five wins on the jog with Chris Gayle playing an important role, Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori recognized that the West Indian has distorted their fortunes.

"We had in progress poorly, losing three breach games but with Gayle coming in and his opening partnerships with (Tillakaratne) Dilshan, we have been able to put force on the resistance. Gayle has been in wonderful form and has bowled well too," said Vettori at the match-eve press conference.

Gayle has shattered rival bowling attack with utter scorn with his power-hitting on more than one time in the event. He has helped the team post big scores. However, Vettori disagree that he has protected the bowlers: "We were out for 120 and the bowlers were tested in that match. In fact, they are experienced in every match because of shorter boundaries and flat wickets."

Defensive Indian pace lead Zaheer Khan, whose performance has been below par in IPL 4 so far, the Bangalore captain said "he bowls inexpensively in the last overs".

"He is a key bowler for us and swings the match for us against Pune Warriors. He bowls efficiently in the last overs and he and I bear the force of the attack," said the Kiwi.

On his team's chances of attainment the play-offs, Vettori said RCB could reach the knock-out stage but need to get better their fielding: "With four games outstanding, three victories can push us to top two. The current form is pleasing but we need to get better on our fielding."

"It was field which had cost us the initial matches but with our batting and bowling coming good, the self-assurance has trickled down to field too, which has better," said Vettori.

He added: "It is an significant match and we need to win next to Rajasthan Royals to combine our position," said Vettori."

Toughest day of my cricketing job Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly said it was the toughest day of his career and he come into the match with zero-confidence.



The former India captain Sourav Ganguly was the cynosure of all eyes on Tuesday as he scored a brave run-a-ball 32 not out lace with a six and three boundary to help Warriors strike Chargers by six wickets at Rajiv Gandhi stadium at Uppal.

"I said it's almost certainly the toughest day of my career. I have not selected a cricket bat for five months. I come into this game with zero-confidence," said Ganguly after the match.

Ganguly approved onward the good work done by the openers Jesse Ryder (35) and Manish Pandey (49) as the experienced person left-hander help the Warriors chase down the unassuming target of 137 runs with 10 balls to spare by investment one end as three wickets fell on the other side.

"It feels good (to score some runs). I haven't played for a long time and wanted some hits in the middle. It does about anticipate which I haven't done for a while," he added.

The 38-year-old knowledgeable activist proved a point or two to those who unobserved him during IPL auction in January in the match that generate welfare among cricket fans in expectation of his rejoinder in the profitable Twenty20 league.

Ganguly said he was not ready for the game beside Mumbai Indians on May 4 after Warriors rope him in as a stand-in for injured Ashish Nehra.

"I wasn't ready for the game on May 4th next to Mumbai. I miss the game next to Mohali also as I sought after to be get ready."