Birmingham, Jul 4 (Cricket News) India pacer Mohammed Siraj says it is imperative for a bowler to have patience when a batter goes hammer and tongs, like Jonny Bairstow did during England's first innings on the third day of the ongoing rescheduled fifth Test here.

Bairstow (106 off 140 balls) blazed his way to a century on Sunday, his third in successive Tests this summer, to help England post 284 in their first innings in reply to India's 416.

Attack was the best defence for Bairstow in the later part of his innings as he hit 14 boundaries and two sixes during his entertaining knock.

But, Siraj (4/66), leading wicket-taker in the match so far for the visitors, said the Indian bowlers were unruffled by Bairstow's onslaught.

"As bowlers, we had to just keep patience. Bairstow is in form and he has been continuously playing attacking batting since the New Zealand series. So we were aware his confidence was high," Siraj said after the third day's play on Sunday.

"Our plan was simple, stick to our basics. We just kept believing in our ability, no matter what he did, it was a matter of one ball - be it an inswinger or seaming in off the pitch.

"In England, it is common to beat a batter multiple times, you just need to be patient and concentrate on your process," he added.

Siraj said the Indian bowlers did their homework and had a fair bit of idea about English batters' weak points.

"When we saw the New Zealand series, we realised that our every bowler is 140-plus and they (New Zealand bowlers) didn't have that," Siraj said.

"We had that ability and we also had played against England last year. So that was our plus point, as were aware of their weak points and that is why we got the success.

India were 125 for three in their second innings, taking an overall lead of 257 so far.

And Siraj feels it would be difficult for English batters to chase down anything above 350 in the second innings at Edgbaston.

"In the first innings, the pitch was helpful to begin with, but after that it became flatter subsequently. So our only plan was to hit consistently in one area. If we took it easy, then we would end up leaking runs," he said.

"The ball also kept low. So it will be beneficial for us in the second innings." At stumps on day three, Cheteshwar Pujara was batting on 50 in the company of Rishabh Pant (30 batting).

"He (Pujara) is a warrior. In Australia, he did it and here also, he is doing the job. Whenever the team requires, he always stands up. When the tough situation arises, he is always there to do the job.

"Exactly, bowling to him is difficult, he does not attack much and just keeps on leaving balls so that can get irritating in the nets," Siraj said. Talking about stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, the pacer from Hyderabad said: "As a player and as a captain, he has been the same. He is always supportive and is always there to help me out.

"Whenever I do wrong, he tries to make me understand what to bowl in certain situations." 

Also Read : All-round Harshal stars in India's 10-run victory over Northamptonshire

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) Denver Nuggets have extended the reigning MVP Nikola Jokic’s contract for five years on a contract which makes the Serbian recipient of the largest and most expensive contract in the history of the NBA. The team signed Nikola Jokic on a five-year extension worth $264 million. His contract begins in the 2023-24 NBA season and will continue through 2027-28 when Jokic has the option where he could earn roughly $60 million. The Serbian star has undergone a meteoric rise in his seven NBA seasons with the Nuggets.

He came into the league in 2012 and became an All-Star in his fourth season and since then he has stayed at that level. He has gone on to win the MVP trophy in each of the last two seasons after averaging 26.4 points in 2020-21 and 27.1 points this past season. This season he won MVP votes that haven't exactly been close; Jokic was atop roughly 75% of the ballots cast for that award over the last two seasons. The 27-year-old is coming off one of his finest seasons and created a new category as he became the first NBA player to eclipse 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season. Jokic also averaged 13.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists for a Denver team that was missing two stars in Jamal Murray (ACL recovery) and Michael Porter Jr. (back).

Jokic helped the Nuggets to a 48-34 record and the No. 6 seed in the West, where they eventually lost to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors in the first round. The organization has undergone extensive changes since the end of the season, with the departure of the president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, to the Timberwolves. Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth, who orchestrated a trade that sent guards Will Barton and Monte Morris to the Wizards for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith. The team also traded away JaMychal Green and a 2027 protected first-round Draft pick to Oklahoma City for Peyton Watson and two future second-round picks. Provided everyone’s healthy, it means a starting five of Murray, Caldwell-Pope, Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Porter could well be on the cards. 

Also read: Kevin Durant requested a trade out of the Brooklyn Nets
 

(Basketball news) Kevin Durant has reportedly requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, according to Shams Charania. It was reported the Phoenix Suns are among Durant's "preferred' landing spots, while the Miami Heat were also mentioned earlier in the week as a potential trade destination. Adrian Wojnarowski also added that despite those teams being mentioned on Durant's list, the Nets "plan to move Durant where they can get the best possible deal."

The decision comes after teammate Kyrie Irving announced he would opt into the final year of his contract with the Nets, which was worth $37 million. Shams Charania also noted Irving wanted to "fulfill his four-year commitment" before being a free agent next year. According to the reports, Durant and Irving had no contact with Sean Marks who is the General manager of the Nets, after the opt-in, and there was a "sense of inevitability" that Durant would eventually ask for a trade. The superstar reportedly requested the trade directly from team governor Joe Tsai. .

Durant's contract runs till 2025-26 season after agreeing to a four-year, $194 million extension last season. Although he signed a contract extension with the Nets, there was still uncertainty about his future this offseason because of the horrendous season they had where they got thumped by the Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Irving was also potentially looking for a new home after hardly featuring for the Nets last season. Wojnarowski has reported that Irving created a list of teams for a possible sign-and-trade, with the Los Angeles Lakers named as his top destination. Durant on the other hand was monitoring the situation and "considering options with his future,"

The 33-year-old is apparently now ready to move on, which could lead to one of the biggest blockbuster trades in NBA history. Durant has 12 All-Star appearances, four scoring titles, one MVP, two NBA titles and two Finals MVP awards. He is an elite offensive weapon 15 years into his career, averaging 29.9 points per game last season, which was tied for second in the NBA scoring charts. The forward also added 7.4 rebounds and a career-high 6.4 assists per game in 2021-22 NBA season

For any team it would require a significant return to land Kevin Durant, but a trade would legitimately shake up the dynamics of the NBA next season. The former Texas star initially joined the Nets in 2019 alongside Irving, but the duo hasn’t found any success with the Nets as  many anticipated the duo to win numerous Championships. In three years, the team had just one playoff series win, while this playoffs series they were swept out of the first round by the Boston Celtics. Durant and Irving played only 17 games together in 2021-22 and 27 games in 2020-21. Durant had missed all of 2019-20 while recovering from an Achilles injury.

Also read: Kyrie decides to exercise $37 million option to stay with the Nets
 

(Football news) LOSC Lille have confirmed that they have appointed former AS Roma boss Paulo Fonseca as their new manager on a two year contract. This comes after the club and Jocelyn Gourvennec agreed to part ways two weeks ago, after less than a year since they had appointed him. 

Following their 2020/21 Ligue 1 title win under Christophe Galtier, a lot was expected from LOSC Lille this season but due to their financial issues combined with the fact that they had to sell players saw the club really struggle in Ligue 1. Not only that, their title winning coach Galtier left for OGC Nice and his replacement Jocelyn Gourvennec, struggled to keep up with the club’s expectations. So much so, that the defending Ligue 1 champions failed to finish even in the European spots, finishing in tenth place on the table. Off the field issues saw Gourvennec leave the club earlier this month and Lille since then have moved and replaced him with former AS Roma boss Paulo Fonseca. The club confirmed that Fonseca has signed a two year contract with the club and is bringing three new coaches to the club with him.

Fonseca was a former central defender who began his career as a player in his native country, for fourteen years, before hanging up his boots in 2005. Since then, his coaching career has been taken notice of. After starting out coaching the youth team of Estrela Amadora, he managed a number of lesser Portuguese teams. Before that he achieved a marvellous feat during the 2012-2013 season with Pacos Ferreira, finishing 3rd in the Portuguese league ahead of the likes of Sporting and Braga. He subsequently helped his club qualify for the Champions League for the first time in Pacos Ferreira’s history. After a failed coaching stint in Porto, he bounced back with Braga to win the Portuguese Cup.

In 2016, he joined Shakhtar Donetsk and built a squad with many Brazilians which was an added benefit as he is Portuguese. He was a profitable choice for both parties. The Ukrainian club achieved the league and cup double during his three seasons in charge of the team, while he mostly made a name for himself on the European scene at the same time. In Rome, Fonseca had a mixed record as in his first season, the Giallorossi finished in fifth place in the Serie A. The following season (2021) they were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Europa League by Manchester United but he was sacked for a poor finish in the league. 

A statement released by the club read “LOSC today formalises the arrival of Paulo Fonseca as head coach. The Portuguese technician (49), who worked for FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and AS Roma, signed a two-year contract today with the Lille club. LOSC are pleased to be able to begin their collaboration with their new coach, who arrives accompanied by Tiago Leal (assistant coach), Paulo Mourão (assistant coach in charge of physical preparation) and António Ferreira (assistant coach in charge of goalkeepers). Already present at the club, Jorge Maciel also composes the staff of Paulo Fonseca, as assistant coach. A new page is being written. We wish it long and full of success.”

Also read: Matthijs de Ligt issues transfer request to leave Juventus

(Football news) Former Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has rejoined Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense on Monday on a free transfer. The 37-year-old said that he will retire when his current deal expires at the end of 2024. He will be eligible to play in the Brazilian league after July 18, when Brazil's transfer window officially reopens. Athletico coach and former Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari pushed for his signing. Fernandinho’s last match for City was on May 22, which they won 3-2 against Aston Villa as he went on to win his fifth English Premier League title since he joined the club in 2013.

Fernandinho played for Athletico from 2002-05 before he left for Shakhtar Donetsk, where he was one of the Brazilian stars of the team for eight seasons. His best days came at Man City, where he was one of the most trusted players of coach Pep Guardiola. Fernandinho has also played for Brazil in two World Cups, both ending in disappointment for him. He was one of the most criticized players in the 7-1 hammering by Germany in the 2014 semifinals and then went on to score an own goal in the 2-1 quarterfinals loss to Belgium in 2019. The only major trophy he has won was the Copa America in 2019.

Athletico is currently fourth in the Brazilian championship after 14 matches. The team is also in the knockout stage of the Copa Libertadores. Fernandinho was born in Curitiba, as he began his career at Athletico as a teenager in 2002 before he moved to Ukraine to join Shaktar in 2005. In Donetsk he won six Ukrainian league titles, four Ukrainian cups and the UEFA Cup in 2009. Fernandinho caught the eye of a lot of scouts as City brought him to the club in 2013. By then he was already a Brazil international and currently has gone on to win more than 50 caps for Brazil.  When he was at City he won five Premier League titles, the FA Cup, six League Cups.

In April he shocked his manager Pep Guardiola when he announced he is leaving Man City during a pre-match press conference ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Atletico Madrid. He had said he was desperate for his children to see him play in his native country. Guardiola supported his decision and then described Fernandinho as "an incredible player." Athletico are currently fourth in the Brazilian league and are through to the last 16 of the Copa Libertadores, where they will play Paraguay's Libertad as he hopes to win South America’s most prestigious tournament for his boyhood club

"No doubt this is a personal wish, wearing the Athletico shirt again. I will finish my career having played for three clubs only; two in Europe and one in Brazil," Fernandinho said at a news conference in Curitiba.

Also read: Chelsea agree £65m deal with Leeds United for star winger Raphinha
 

Kuala Lumpur, Jun 29 (Badminton News) Two stalwarts of Indian women's badminton, PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, suffered contrasting fates at the Malaysia Open Super 750 tournament with the former progressing to the second round and the latter bowing out after losing her opener here on Wednesday.

Sindhu, a former world champion, dished out a fine performance to outwit Thailand's world number 10 Pornpawee Chochuwong 21-13 21-17, but London Olympics bronze medallist Saina went down fighting against American Iris Wang, ranked 33rd in the world, 11-21 17-21 in 37 minutes.

Former Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap also made a positive return from injury as he prevailed 21-12 21-17 over Korea's Heo Kwang Hee to advance to the second round in men's singles.

Sindhu, seeded seventh, will next face Phittayaporn Chaiwan, a 21-year-old from Thailand who held the number one ranking in world junior ranking and also was part of the bronze medal-winning team at the Uber Cup in Bangkok.

Kashyap, ranked world number 39, will meet Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who had won the German Open Super 300 in March.

B Sumeeth Reddy and Ashwini Ponnappa, who will be leading India's charge at the Commonwealth Games, couldn't get past world number 21 pairing of Robin Tabeling and Selena Piek of the Netherlands.

The Indian duo lost 15-21 21-19 17-21 after a 52-minute battle.

Sindhu enjoys a 5-3 head-to-head record against Chochuwong, having won the last time they met, at the 2021 World Championship, and the Indian looked in good touch against the Thai, who struggled with her lengths and finishing strokes.

The match started with the duo playing at a good pace but it was Sindhu who dictated terms with her better court coverage. Chochuwong matched Sindhu in the rallies but faltered in her finishing.

The result was Sindhu led throughout the first game after securing a 4-1 advantage early on. A tight net shot earned her a four-point cushion at the break. Sindhu's front court play was more polished than her rival and she used the smashes and attacking returns to good effect whenever there was an opportunity.

Sindhu extended her lead to 16-11 before producing an over-the-head return to grab seven game points and converted it with a smash.

After the change of sides, Chochuwong started with two net errors before pouncing on some weak returns from Sindhu to lead 4-2. The Thai player kept gathering points with Sindhu also committing errors at the net or going wide.

It was one such long return from Sindhu which handed Chochuwong a three-point advantage at the break.

Chochuwong quickly moved to 16-10 with the help of two precise returns on both sides and Sindhu also miscued her shots.

But the Indian then scripted a phenomenal recovery with a five-point burst with her rival falling into a heap of unforced errors.

With the Thai going long again, Sindhu levelled the score at 17-17 and then moved to the lead with yet another shot from Chochuwong getting buried at the nets.

With the shuttle sailing out twice again, Sindhu grabbed three match points and sealed it comfortably. 

Also Read : HS Prannoy advances, Praneeth, Sameer Verma exit Malaysia Open

News Source : PTI

Kuala Lumpur, Jun 28 (Badminton News) India's HS Prannoy faced stiff resistance before prevailing against local hero Daren Liew as the Indian shuttler progressed to the men's singles second round of the Malaysia Open, here on Tuesday.

A former top-10 player, Prannoy, who had reached the semifinals of Indonesia Open Super 1000 earlier this month, emerged a 21-14 17-21 21-18 winner in 62 minutes.

The 29-year-old from Kerala, ranked 21st currently, will face fourth seeded Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei next at the Super 750 badminton tournament.

Prannoy's win brought some cheers to the Indian camp after B Sai Praneeth and Sameer Verma made early exits.

While Praneeth went down to world number six Anthony Sinisuka Ginting of Indonesia, Sameer lost to world number 8 Jonatan Christie, also from Indonesia.

The 30-year-old Praneeth, currently ranked world number 19, lost 15-21 21-19 9-21 to Ginting in a 50-minute men's single match.

This was eight meeting between the two players with the Indonesian now leading the head-to-head record 5-3. They last played at the 2020 Asian Team championships where Ginting won the contest after Praneeth retired due to an injury.

Sameer, who is making a comeback from injury, fought for 49 minutes before losing 14-21 21-13 7-21 in another match.

In doubles, women's pairing of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy also bowed out of the tournament after losing 15-21 11-21 to Japanese duo of Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida, seeded sixth.

Prannoy was slow off the mark but opened up a healthy 11-7 lead at the break. His strokes penetrated the defence of his opponent, who looked little passive as Prannoy was rewarded for his alertness and better control in the rallies.

The Indian kept putting the shuttles on the right areas and with Liew making some uncharacteristic errors meant Prannoy's lead was not threatened.

In the end, it was another return at the baseline which gave Prannoy the bragging rights.

After the change of sides, Liew took a 7-4 advantage with Prannoy going to the nets repeatedly. The Indian soon turned the tide with his smashes on his rival's forehand. After the break, Prannoy tried to play at a good pace but a series of unforced errors, mainly at the net, handed four game points to Liew and he sealed it with a smash.

In the decider, Prannoy moved up 6-3 but Liew again clawed his way back with three points, including an excruciating rally which left Prannoy flat on the ground.

The duo played with electrifying pace and Prannoy managed to eke out a three point cushion at the interval.

The second half of the decider was a roller-coaster ride as Liew kept breathing down Prannoy's neck but the Indian ensured he had the last laugh, sealing the contest with another powerful smash which Liew sent wide. 

Also Read : Indian shuttlers B Sai Praneeth, Sameer Verma lose in Malaysia Open

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) Kyrie Irving has decided to exercise his $36.9 million option in his four contract next season and will remain with the Brooklyn Nets for the time being after being linked to join the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign in trade. The seven-time All-Star averaged 27.4 points and 5.8 assists this past season for the Nets, with whom he has already spent the last three seasons. He's about to enter the final season in a four-year of his major $137 million deal with Brooklyn.

Irving had until Wednesday to inform the Nets about his decision but he ultimately opted to stay and take the money. For the time being it closes one element of the ongoing saga regarding his future, which has been one of the biggest stories as the league prepares for Free Agency on Thursday. However, he may not be a free agent but Irving could still have his contract extended before free agency begins. The Nets could still trade him and in fact, many teams might be more interested in a deal now since Irving is on an expiring contract.

He only appeared in 29 regular-season games this past season, largely because of his decision to not be vaccinated. That made him ineligible to play in Brooklyn, until he was allotted an exemption to the New York City's vaccine protocols. Irving, after the Nets were swept by Boston in the first round, said that he planned on remaining in Brooklyn. He even talked about him and Kevin Durant managing the franchise along with general manager Sean Marks and owner Joe Tsai. Marks later made it clear about Irving's future as they would have to involve discussions about being more available to the team, and he also added that he could not come to an agreement on a long-term extension that could have seen Irving paid an additional $185 million over four years.

Last season the Nets looked on track to reach their first Conference Finals before Irving sprained his ankle in Game 4 of the East semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks, who rallied on and went on to win the series in seven games. The Nets returned this past season thinking that their title core of Irving, Durant and James Harden might go on to win the NBA Championship but it didn't work out anywhere near as planned. Irving wasn't with the team for the majority of the season and Harden ultimately got traded to Philadelphia. The Nets needed to play the play-in tournament just to make the playoffs, and Nets then got humiliated by the eventual Eastern Conference champions, Celtics.

Durant and Irving have always been close friends as they came to the Nets together in July 2019. Durant signed his extension last summer, but Irving did not. Durant is also thinking about his future at Brooklyn but with Irving back in the mix, and with Ben Simmons, who hasn’t played at all this season is now set to team up alongside Irving and Durant this coming season, Brooklyn could quickly return to contender status if these three superstars can figure out a way to play. Or else both Kevin Durnat and Kyrie Irving will hand in trade requests.

Also read: NBA: John Wall is set to join the Los Angeles Clippers

(Basketball news) The NBA welcomed its newest rookies to the league on Thursday night during the 2022 draft from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. There were some surprising selections with Orlando Magic acquiring Paolo Banchero as the top pick. While Jabari Smith of Auburn, who was widely expected to go as the first pick, but he was picked up at No. 3 spot by the Houston Rockets.

Draft night also experienced some trades as the Oklahoma City Thunder made a trade with the New York Knicks for the No. 11 pick and Ousmane Dieng for three future conditional first-round picks. In another draft-day trade, it saw the Detroit Pistons acquire No. 13 pick Jalen Duren and Knicks veteran point guard Kemba Walker in what was a three-team deal. The 76ers reportedly moved Danny Green and the No. 23 pick to the Grizzlies as part of a trade to acquire De’Anthony Melton, which indirectly strengthened their back court

1. Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero, Duke

The Magic need some help on the offensive end, their team finished last season 28th in field goal percentage, 28th in free throws, 27th in offensive rebounding percentage and 23rd in turnovers. Paolo Banchero is a player who brings all these skills to the table and he can add versatility to the Magic’s offense with his physical attributes. He can pass, handle the ball, drive to the basket and finish with some solid footwork. In this draft he was easily the most NBA-ready player among the top five projected picks. Banchero stands at 6ft 10, he averaged 17.2 points on 47.8% shooting from the field, in addition to 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in his only season at Duke and was coached by the legendary Mike Krzyzewski’ in his final season in charge..

2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga

Holmgren has immense potential to become an NBA All star with an impressive all-around skill set for a modern NBA big man nowadays. With his elite rim protection and shot-blocking, he fills an immediate deficiency in the Thunder squad; he acts as an interior defender. He has a versatile offensive game and has shown the NBA scouts that he can handle the ball pretty well, and also shoot from the three point line. Holmgren will need to add strength to reach his peak on offense, but the Thunder can give him time to develop behind their franchise players Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey.

3. Houston Rockets: Jabari Smith, Auburn

Jabari Smith was widely expected to be the No. 1 pick but instead was selected by the Houston Rockets at 3. He had only worked out for the Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the recent tryouts. This season at the NCAA tournament, Smith averaged 42% on his 3-pointers (5.5 attempts), which could make him at the Rockets. At his size, he is difficult to defend and was subsequently the best defender at Auburn this season.

4. Sacramento Kings: Keegan Murray, Iowa

With the Sacramento Kings already having a point guard in place with De’Aaron Fox, the Kings bypassed Jaden Ivey and picked up Keegan Murray as he is an efficient wing scorer.  Murray, who improved significantly from his freshman to sophomore seasons, averaged 23.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 55% from the field and 39.8% on 3-pointers. Murray at the age of 21, is the oldest player to get drafted this year and could have an immediate impact for Sacramento be off the bench or in the playing 5. Like Banchero, Murray is also a NBA-ready player

5. Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey, Purdue

Jaden Ivey only worked out for the Pistons and Magic in the tryouts. He uses his speed to get past the defenders, any NBA defender will have a  hard time slowing Ivey down in transition. He can explode into the lane similar to Ja Morant and has a similar playing style like him. He is the son of Niele Ivey, the women’s basketball coach at Notre Dame and a former women’s college champion herself. 

The list of first rounds picks are:

1. Magic: Paolo Banchero
2. Thunder: Chet Holmgren
3. Rockets: Jabari Smith Jr.
4. Kings: Keegan Murray
5. Pistons: Jaden Ivey
6. Pacers: Benedict Mathurin
7. Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe
8. Pelicans (from Lakers): Dyson Daniels
9. Spurs: Jeremy Sochan
10. Wizards: Johnny Davis
11. Thunder (from Knicks): Ousmane Dieng
12. Thunder (from Clippers): Jalen Williams
13. Pistons (from Hornets): Jalen Duren
14. Cavaliers: Ochai Agbaji
15. Hornets (from Pelicans): Mark Williams
16. Hawks: AJ Griffin
17. Rockets (from Nets): Tari Eason
18. Bulls: Dalen Terry
19. Grizzlies (from Timberwolves): Jake LaRavia
20. Spurs (from Raptors): Malaki Branham
21. Nuggets: Christian Braun
22. Timberwolves (from Grizzlies): Walker Kessler
23. Grizzlies (from 76ers): David Roddy
24. Bucks: MarJon Beauchamp
25. Spurs (from Celtics): Blake Wesley
26. Timberwolves (from Mavericks): Wendell Moore Jr.
27. Heat: Nikola Jović
28. Warriors: Patrick Baldwin Jr.
29. Rockets (from Grizzlies): TyTy Washington Jr.
30. Nuggets (from Suns): Peyton Watson

Also read: Golden State Warriors clinch their 4th NBA Championship in 8 years

Bengaluru, Jun 23 (Cricket News) Sarfaraz Khan completed his transformation from Mumbai cricket's resident 'enfant terrible' to 'Man Friday' with a superb hundred that kept his side ahead against Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy final, here on Thursday.

Courtesy Sarfaraz's fourth hundred of the season – 134 off 243 balls -- the 41-time champions managed a fighting 374 in their first innings after beginning the day at 248 for five.

But Madhya Pradesh won't be too unhappy as they finished the second day at 123 for one with Yash Dubey (44 batting) and Shubham Sharma (41 batting) adding 76 runs for the unbroken second wicket.

The day belonged to none other than Sarfaraz, who has now scored an astounding 937 runs in Ranji Trophy in just six games and could make it 1000 for the season if Mumbai bat again in this match.

His innings had 13 boundaries and two huge sixes --- one over square leg off left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya and one down the ground off off-spinner Saransh Jain.

But what stood out was how he managed the innings after Shams Mulani was trapped leg before by Gourav Yadav (4/106) in the opening over of the second day.

His batting with the tail showed his new-found maturity, which is proving to be a boon for Mumbai cricket. He chose loose deliveries for boundary, forcing MP captain Aditya Shrivastava to open the field.

The manner in which Sarfaraz has turned a corner since the 2019-20 season (928 runs back then) is phenomenal as he had disciplinary issues early in his career, which also forced him to leave Mumbai for a season.

With father Naushad Khan, who also doubles up as his coach, making him play 400 balls (nearly 67 overs including nets and knocking) a day at practice, Sarfaraz 2.0 is a battle-hardened man, the ‘khadoos street fighter’ that any captain would want to go to a war with.

Once he reached his fifty, he touched the lion's crest on his jersey, gesturing 'Don't worry, I am going nowhere'.

His batting isn't as pleasing to the eye as Prithvi Shaw's but highly effective. His batting is assuring. He knows how to score those runs on a track that is largely two-paced and in overcast conditions with the ball doing a fair bit.

When MP skipper spread the field to stop boundaries, he still found his way to play the controlled square cut off seamer Anubhav Agarwal, which bisected the two fielders stationed at deep extra cover and deep point to the fence.

Having entered '90s, he played a typical T20 scoop over keeper's head while being partially blindsided and completely off-balance.

It was a sight worth capturing.

At 97, MP skipper Shrivastava put all his fielders at the boundary line with two standing at long-on and long-off.

The ploy wasn't good enough to stop Sarfaraz as he thumped one over bowler’s head which went to the boundary.

The celebration was a war cry and a thigh thump. There were tears of relief that he shed having accomplished what he had set out to do.

The Indian Test team’s middle-order is still jam-packed but the manner in which Sarfaraz is batting, to put it in head coach Rahul Dravid’s words, he is not just knocking but banging the selection door down.

Sarfaraz was involved in four small, but very effective, partnerships which could prove to be decisive if the match turns out to be an affair of one innings.

He added 40 for seventh wicket with Tanush Kotian (15), 26 for the eighth wicket with Dhawal Kulkarni (1), 39 for the ninth with Tushar Deshpande (6) and another 21 priceless runs for the final wicket with Mohit Avasthi (7).

By the time, he became Mumbai's last batter to be dismissed, he had ensured that the total is good enough for his bowlers to defend.

But there are ominous signs as MP batters have looked solid so far and Mumbai's bowling line-up hasn't made much of an impact, save Tushar Deshpande's delivery that straightened to find Himanshu Mantri's (31) pads. 

Also Read : 1st T20: Clinical India choke Sri Lanka, take 1-0 lead

News Source : PTI

Leicester, Jun 20 (Cricket News) Indian cricketers, including skipper Rohit Sharma and opener Shubman Gill, on Monday hit the nets here ahead of the rescheduled fifth and final Test against England, starting in Birmingham on July 1.

Rohit and Gill are likely to open the innings for India in the Test and the duo got into the groove as they looked to sharpen their skills during the practice session at the Leicestershire County Ground.

Rohit, who was rested for the T20I series against South Africa at home, defended few deliveries on the front foot, while also playing the pull shots against the short balls. Gill, too, looked to work on his game during the batting session.

India will be based here for a week and play Leicestershire in a four-day warm-up match from June 24.

The duo of Rohit and KL Rahul had played a pivotal role in India securing a 2-1 lead in the Test series in Engand last year before the final match was abandoned owing to a COVID-19 outbreak.

Rahul, however, will miss the tour this time because of a groin injury, which had also ruled him out of the series against South Africa. His absence opened the door for Gill to open for India.

Rohit had amassed 368 runs in 4 Tests, including a hundred and two fifties, while Rahul racked up 315 runs, comprising a hundred and a half-century.

Gill had played a crucial role in India's historic Test series win on Australian soil in 2020-21 and will be keen to make a mark in the UK after returning to the squad following last year's series against New Zealand.

It will also be the first time that Rohit will be leading the team in Test cricket overseas.

England, led by Ben Stokes, have been in sensational form, having recently won 2-0 against reigning World Test Championship winners New Zealand.

India's tour of England also comprises three T20Is and as many ODIs, and the visitors will play two warm-up matches against Derbyshire and Northamptonshire before the white-ball series.

Indian players such as Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jedaja, who were not part of the South Africa series, had their first training session in England last week. 

Also Read : Karthik opens up lot of options going into World T20: Dravid

News Source : PTI

(Cricket news) According to various reports KL Rahul has been ruled out of the Edgbaston Test against England. Rahul got injured in training before the T20I series against South Africa and was subsequently ruled out of it. He has now failed to recover in time for the Test and is now on his way to Germany to complete his recovery. Rahul's absence is a massive blow to the team and the batter himself. There has been no official announcement from BCCI and hence it is unclear whether a replacement will be sent to England.

The news is absolutely devastating for KL Rahul, whose Test career had been miraculously recovered. Rahul had a stint as India's first choice Test opener but was dropped after a run of bad performances. He was later brought back into the side as a middle order batter in the 2020/21 border gavaskar trophy. When India had all the middle order batters injured, Rahul was supposed to step in but he too got injured in the nets. When he returned to the Test side for the England tour, a bit of luck went his way. Shubman Gill who was the first choice opener back then got injured. He was supposed to be replaced by Mayank Agarwal but the opener suffered concussion after being hit on the helmet in the nets. 

Rahul who was preparing as a middle order batter was asked to open the batting once again. Along with Rohit Sharma he formed an excellent opening pair that performed exceedingly well.  Rahul scored a match-winning century at Lords which earned him a player of the match award. Rahul then went on to score a century in South Africa and also captained the side in Virat Kohli's absence. Now with this injury he might have given a chance to Shubman Gill to try and reclaim his spot. Mayank Agarwal is not a part of the team due to his inconsistencies but he will be a candidate to replace Rahul as India have only two openers in the squad now.

As for the Indian team, they had a very strong opening combination in Rahul and Rohit, one which had success in English conditions. Shubman Gill had an incredible start to his Test career in Australia but since then has dipped in form. Now he has an incredible opportunity to try and regain his spot as Rohit Sharma's opening partner even though his future may be in the middle order. There will also be extra pressure on Rohit Sharma to sort of take control whenever he opens the batting with Gill.

Also read: India look to level series and complete comeback against South Africa

Rajkot, Jun 16 (Cricket News) South African speedster Anrich Nortje says he remains a work in progress and is constantly trying to find the 'missing ingredient' in his bowling after coming back from a long injury lay-off.

Nortje was out of action for six months after the T20 World Cup last year. He had bowled exceptionally well in the 2020-2021 IPL season before being sidelined due to a stress fracture.

Alongside Kagiso Rabada, Nortje formed arguably the most potent fast bowling pairing in the IPL.

Delhi Capitals chose to retain him ahead of Rabada but when he made a comeback to this year’s IPL, Nortje was not the same bowler.

“I am still not there. I am still working on it, still trying to find one or two things. Body wise I am still not 100 percent, slowly building it up. I would probably rate myself from where I was at the end of IPL last year and start of T20 World Cup. Still trying to get there,” said Nortje here on Thursday.

Nortje was putting in the hard yards ahead of the fourth T20 International against India. He bowled at the centre wicket for a while alongside Dwaine Pretorius and spinner Tabraiz Shamsi.

So, what exactly is missing from his bowling? “If I knew exactly what it was, I would have done it (laughs). It is going to be a minor adjustment. I generally keep it simple. I am working on something at this stage and we will see how it goes.

“It is not like it is completely out of shape. It is about small margins for me and I would like to get back to where I was,” said the 28-year-old.

Nortje said injury has taught him a valuable lesson.

“It was hard (the comeback phase) because some of the stuff is limited. Some of the bowling is limited. You can’t go out and bowl 8 to 9 overs every day. It has been a good challenge and will help in the future if there are any niggles or injuries going forward,” he said.

Like India’s Umran Malik, who is yet to get a game in the series, Nortje built his reputation by bowling in excess of 150kmph regularly. He also held the fastest delivery record in the IPL for a while but this season Lockie Ferguson raised the bar with a 157.3 kmph scorcher.

When asked about the ‘pace’ war, Nortje said he is not in the race with Malik or any other fast bowler.

“Malik is a good bowler and a very fast bowler. He has shown that on the field. If he goes faster, good for him, if I go, faster good for me. It is not about bowling fast, it is about winning games,” said Nortje.

Will Quinton de Kock be back? --------------------------------- Star opener Quinton de Kock has not played since the series opener in Delhi due to a wrist injury and South Africa rely heavily on him. He was present at the nets on Thursday, raising hopes of his return but Nortje did not reveal much.

“I am not sure but he is practising. Good to see he is practising. Probably we will find out tonight or tomorrow morning,” Nortje added.

He is also relieved that international teams are finally doing away with bio-bubbles after two years.

“It is a relief to be honest not that we have gone out of the hotel much. It doesn’t feel that we are in grade one where we are told every single minute of the day,” he said.

South Africa lost the third game after two big wins. Nortje said his team will be treating the fourth T20I as a ‘final’. 

Also Read : Squad announced for Ireland Men's T20Is against India at Malahide

News Source : PTI

Chennai, Jun 14 (Football News) Two-time Indian Super League champions Chennaiyin FC on Tuesday roped in former German footballer Thomas Brdaric as the team's new head coach ahead of the upcoming season.

Brdaric, who has represented the German national team, winning eight caps and scoring once, also had various spells as coach in Germany's lower leagues, including VfL Wolfsburg's U-21 team.

He replaces former India international Syed Sabir Pasha, who was the interim head coach after Bozidar Bandovic was sacked mid-season following a poor run in ISL 2021-22 season.

The 47-year old Brdaric, who had turned out for various clubs across Germany, led KF Vllazania to the Albanian Cup in two successive seasons (2020-21 and 2021-22) in his most recent spell as coach.

"Honestly, I am looking forward to this incredible journey. This will be a great experience and a challenge where we will push further as one team," Brdaric said in a statement issued by the club.

"This is not my first time outside of Germany, therefore I am aware of most circumstances and I am ready to move forward with Chennaiyin FC. I can't wait to get started." In 75 games as head coach, Brdaric has a record of 50 wins and 15 draws.

As a player, Brdaric turned out for various clubs across Germany in the Bundesliga, including VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96 and VfL Wolfsburg.

His most successful spell, though, came at Bayer Leverkusen, where he helped the team finish runners-up at the UEFA Champions League and the DFB Pokal in 2002.

He was part of the German national squad that finished third in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup tournament. Brdaric primarily played as a forward, scoring 102 goals in 342 career appearances. 

Also Read : Manor Solomon joins Fulham from Shakhtar Donetsk

News Source : PTI

(Football news) Fulham are close to making their first major signing this transfer window as  Manor Solomon from Shakhtar Donetsk is close to joining them. The club have been in talks with the 22-year-old winger for quite some time and the move hit an impasse in recent weeks. However, according to reports the talks have now progressed again, with Solomon very close to joining newly-promoted side Fulham for a fee around €7 million (£5.98 million).

The Israel international had attracted interest from multiple clubs around the world, including Torino and Club Bruges, but his first choice was always Fulham. Solomon has ampel Champions League experience, he has also has 30 appearances for Israel, scoring six goals. This season he scored four times for Shakhtar in 16 league appearances before the Ukrainian Premier League was stopped by the Russian invasion. In 2020-21, Solomon came into the limelight when he scored twice in the Champions League in two group stage games against Real Madrid, while in 2019 he scored against Manchester City to earn his side a well deserved  1-1 draw at the same stage.

Solomon is poised to become Fulham's first signing of the summer after their deal with Thomas Strakosha failed because of his high wage demands. Losing Fabio Carvalho to Liverpool was the main reason behind recruiting Solomon to replace him, who will have been of the utmost importance at Craven Cottage next season. The bid to sign Solomon is certainly a step in the right direction and an ideal replacement for Carvalho as he can play in behind the striker as a number 10 or out on the left-wing. Fulham fans will be hoping that he can adjust to English football quickly and hit the ground running for Silva’s side.

Solomon may not be quite as much of a goal threat as Carvalho with a record of 22 goals in 106 games. However, he has plenty of experience playing against big oppositions at the top level, having sustained his place in the Israel squad since earning his first call-up in 2018 and has played a number of games in the Champions League for Shakhtar. Not only that, but the fact that he is only 22 makes the deal even better for Fulham. The Championship winners are reportedly in talks to sign Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno who has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates. Fulham are in the market for a striker and are battling West Ham United for the signing of Watford’s Emmanuel Dennis.

Also read: Sadio Mane agrees personal terms with Bayern Munich
 

Representing Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy and Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League, 23 year old Jasmer Dhankhar is aiming high and working even harder to achieve his dreams. In this exclusive interview, the cricketer speaks about his journey so far, the toughest batter in the LSG team, experiences so far, preparations for the Ranji Trophy, cricketing idols and his future goals.

Q1) When did your journey with cricket start and how has it been so far?

I used to play cricket ever since I was a little kid on the road with my friends and my brothers. I was interested in cricket from my childhood and when I realised that I play better than most kids I decided to try and pursue it professionally. I wouldn't say that the journey was easy but I feel blessed at the position I am playing the Ranji trophy and being a part of the IPL.

Q2) Who is the toughest batter to bowl to in the Lucknow Super Giants nets and why?

I think the toughest to bowl to was Evin Lewis because he is a left hander and has a lot of power. He has the gift of timing as well but these are the kind of challenges I enjoy. I love to bowl against difficult batters and I always want to get them out. My mindset is always positive in such things.

Q3) How was your experience with LSG? Which player have you learned the most from?

Usually when you go into a new dressing room there is a feeling of awkwardness but with LSG I never felt that. I got to learn a lot of things from KL Rahul, Krunal Pandya, Evin Lewis, Marcus Stoinis and our bowling coach Narendra Hirwani.

Also read: Long jump sensation Jeswin Aldrin aims to become the best in the world

Q4) How are preparations going for the Ranji trophy semi finals and what are your expectations from the game?

Our preparations have been going well as the team is young but we are hungry to train even harder, putting in the effort and we are all showing character. We proved to the world that we belong on this stage and showed them that we can dominate in all formats. Since the start of the season we had all the focus on our team and most importantly we backed our own strengths which has been the main focus mostly.

Q5) Who was your cricketing idol growing up and what did you like about him?

Since I am a leg spinner, I used to idolise Shane Warne growing up. I was a big fan of his leg spin and I used to watch all his videos and try to implement the variations he used to use. Mostly I used to notice his leadership skills and his attitude on the pitch.

Q6) What are your future goals and ambitions? How do you plan to achieve them?

My future plan is to represent India and establish myself as a regular player in the Indian squad and then help my country lift the World Cup. I feel as a player you have to keep growing and adapting, that has always been my focus. For me, I should be able to give my 100% in every practice session and with my commitment I will hopefully progress forward.

Cuttack, Jun 11 (Cricket News) Accidental captain Rishabh Pant will expect an improved showing from the India bowlers as he plots a comeback against a marauding South Africa in the second T20 of the five-match series here on Sunday.

Leading India for the first time ever, Pant had to swallow a bitter pill when David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen shot down an imposing 212 with utmost nonchalance to go up 1-0 in the series.

The southpaw also had a forgettable Indian Premier League where he failed to lead Delhi Capitals to the playoffs.

Seen as a future white-ball captain, Pant's stakes have suddenly come down post-IPL and that has coincided with the resurgence of Hardik Pandya.

Returning to full fitness, the pace bowling all-rounder took the IPL by storm not only by his form but by pulling off a coup as he led Gujarat Titans to the title in their debut season.

Amid the growing chorus of 'Hardik Pandya -- the next white-ball captain of India', Pant will be under scrutiny again as he masterminds a comeback.

It may still be early days for Pant the leader, but his body language never stood out and he looked under pressure on his captaincy debut. He also made a debatable decision to underbowl the IPL Purple Cap winner Yuzvendra Chahal, fresh from claiming 27 wickets for runners-up Rajasthan Royals. At Kotla, the leggie bowled only two full overs.

As for Pandya, fresh after his historic success with GT, continued from where he left in the IPL.

Pandya, who last played for India in November last year in the 2021 T20 World Cup, dazzled with the bat with a 31 not out from 12 balls to prop the total past 200.

But he failed to impress with the bowl and leaked 18 runs in his only over. The big headache for Pant would be the bowling department where he would have to make a call between Arshdeep Singh and pace gun Umran Malik.

While the batting looks in perfect shape, the new-look pace department looked flat in the series opener.

Seniormost Bhuvneshwar Kumar did not look the same and leaked runs in the death overs, while Harshal Patel too was taken to cleaners.

Youngster Avesh Khan too failed to impress though he was the most economical among the trio.

With the duo of Arshdeep and Malik trying hard to impress at the nets with their pace and accuracy it is likely that one among the duo may be well set for a debut on Saturday.

It would not be an easy task as another slip-up would mean the Pant-led side would have the difficult task of winning three in a row.

Fresh from their individual players' success in the IPL, the Proteas are finding themselves at 'home'.

In the form of his life, Miller who scored 481 runs at 68.71 in the IPL to play a key role in GT's triumph, has started in ominous fashion and looked unstoppable both against spin and pace at Kotla.

Quinton de Kock failed to convert his start but the Lucknow Super Giants batter also scored a bagful of runs (508) in the IPL and he would look to make it count here.

With Van der Dussen also striking it rich, the trio will form the batting backbone, while the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje would look to stop the Indians.

Teams (from) India: Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer,Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Marco Jansen.

Match starts at 7pm IST. 

Also Read : India look to level series against South Africa in Cuttack

News Source : PTI

(Cricket news) India are back in international cricket action as they take on South Africa in a 5 match T20I series. The first match will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. It will pretty much be a second string Indian side with a lot of 3 format players missing. KL Rahul was initially named as captain but an injury has ruled him out of the series. Kuldeep Yadav who was also a part of the squad was ruled out of the series after suffering an injury in the nets. India have a chance to win their 13th consecutive T20 international which will be a world record.

India's possible playing XI:

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Bench: Deepak Hooda, Venkatesh Iyer, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi 

As of now no replacements have been named for the injured KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav. Gaikwad and Kishan will be the front runners for the opening spot while Venkatesh Iyer is also another option. Despite getting called up it is difficult to see Arshdeep and Malik get an opportunity straight away. The return of Pandya and Karthik will be very interesting to see. 

South Africa possible playing XI:

Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (C), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje

Bench: Heinrich Klaasen, Lungi Ngidi, Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius, Tristan Stubbs

The conditions will mean that Lungi Ngidi will have to miss out. The choice between Dwaine Pretorius and Marco Jansen will be very difficult but the latter's superior bowling ability edges it ever so slightly. Miller and de Kock have been in incredible form throughout the IPL and the pair will be key for the Proteas. The spin duo Shamsi and Maharaj will have to play exceptionally well if their team is to win.

India are by no means full strength but it is still a very strong side filled with match winners. The men in blue will be looking for revenge after their disastrous performance in South Africa last year. Both Rahul Dravid and Rishabh Pant have emphasised that it will be difficult to give every single player an opportunity to all the players but fans will be hoping to see a few new faces. For South Africa it will be an opportunity to get the better of India in all 3 formats as they defeated India in Tests and ODIs earlier this year. 

Also read: Mithali Raj retires and leaves behind an unparalleled legacy

New Delhi, Jun 8 (Cricket News) Handed the leadership of the Indian team just a day before the five-match T20I series against South Africa, newly appointed captain Rishabh Pant said he will be taking up the responsibility with his chin up.

Pant, who was the designated vice-captain for the home series against South Africa, was handed the captaincy after skipper KL Rahul was ruled out a day before the first game due to a right groin injury. Regular skipper Rohit Sharma is being rested for the series.

"It’s a very good feeling although it didn’t come in good circumstances. The news just came in for me as well an hour back so I’m also processing it,” Pant said on the eve of the first match.

"I haven’t even digested the information yet. It is a great feeling getting this opportunity, especially in my hometown,” the Delhi cricketer said.

Pant has led the IPL side Delhi Capitals for two seasons. In the just-concluded edition of the league, Pant experimented with his batting position.

Asked if he will continue shuffling his batting order, he said, “My batting order will depend on the conditions. In these conditions, we can't have a floating batting line because we play spinners day in and day out.

“But if we need a floating batting line up we will have it,“ he added.

“As a captain, it will help me a lot. When you keep doing the same things over a period of time you tend to improve and keep learning from it and I think that will help me." The 24-year-old feels the DC captaincy stint in the IPL will help him in the series against South Africa.

“Captaining DC will help me a lot. I'm someone who learns from mistakes." Left-arm pinner Kuldeep Yadav has also been ruled out after he was hit on his right hand while batting in the nets on Tuesday.

“Not much will change in the batting order as KL was to open. There will be one change. We don’t have a lot of openers so you can guess what that will be.” With the T20 World Cup in mind, Pant said a lot of changes can be expected in the Indian side.

“As a team, we have thought about certain goals that we want to achieve as a team. We are continuously working on them. We are thinking about the World Cup. In the coming days, you’ll see a lot of changes." The youngster is delighted to be working with head coach Rahul Dravid closely once again.

"It’s is the best thing to have him around. I have worked with him during the U-19 days, with India and the IPL also. So there is a lot of experience there. Lots of learning from him like how to conduct yourself on and off the field, game tactics.” 

Also Read : Nortje is a big player for us, we expect him to perform accordingly: Bavuma

News Source : PTI

Jakarta, Jun 8 (Badminton News) Top Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen recorded contrasting victories to make a positive start to their respective women's and men's singles campaign at the USD 360,000 Indonesia Masters Super 500 tournament here on Wednesday.

While world championship bronze medallist Sen, seeded seventh, outwitted Denmark's Hans-Kristian Solberg Vittinghus 21-10 21-18, two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu had to toil hard to get the better off Line Christophersen of Denmark 18-21 21-15 21-11 in a 51-minute match.

Sen will face Denmark's Rasmus Gemke next, while Sindhu plays Indonesia's Gregoria Mariska Tunjung.

In other results, Aakarshi Kashyap went down 12-21 11-21 to USA's Beiwen Zhang in under 30 minutes to bow out of the competition.

On a comeback trail after recovering from an injury, Sameer Verma couldn't put his best foot forward, losing 17-21 15-21 to Indonesia's Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo.

The mixed pairing of Ishaan Bhatnagar and Tanisha Crasto produced a gallant fight before losing 14-21 21-16 12-21 to fourth seeds Praveen Jordan and Melati Daeva Oktavianti of Indonesia in an opening round match.

Sindhu, a former world champion, came into the match with a 3-0 head-to-head record against Line but she blew a 11-9 advantage to lose the opening game, primarily due to her unforced errors.

In the second game too, Sindhu squandered a 3-0 lead but Line too couldn't grab the opportunity.

The Danish world number 22 played some superb cross-court smashes but errors put paid to her hopes. She missed the lines far too many times and also found the nets a lot to undo all her good work.

A wide shot from Sindhu helped Line to grab a slender 11-10 lead but she again went long as the Indian established a three-point cushion and extended it to 17-12 after an enthralling rally.

Sindhu kept things tight and eventually roared back into the contest after wasting three game points.

In the decider, Line was 4-1 up but it went up in smoke, partially due to her unforced errors. Sindhu too tightened the screws as she kept a grip on the rallies to move to 11-7 at the final break.

Sindhu kept pushing the shuttle at the baseline and didn't allow her rival to come near the net. Eventually the Indian moved to 11 match points with a precise return at the back and sealed it when Line went to net again. 

Also Read : Saina Nehwal, Parupalli Kashyap pull out of Indonesia Open

News Source : PTI

(Football news) Udinese winger Gerard Deulofeu is very close to signing for Napoli. Deulofeu has reportedly agreed personal terms with Napoli, with a salary of  €2 million net per season plus bonuses. The Spaniard has a contract with Udinese until 2024 but they are looking to cash in on him now with Napoli negotiating the transfer fee with his parent club who are looking for an estimated €16m.

The former Barcelona winger joined Udinese last year after leaving Watford permanently and last season he scored 13 goals in 34 Serie A matches which helped Udinese to finish in 12th which was subsequently the joint-best finish for the club in the last nine seasons. Reports claim that Deulofeu has been flattered by the interest from Napoli and his interest is deterring the Spaniard from a move to England, where West Ham were interested in him but having spent the last two campaigns in the Serie A, he preferred to stay in Italy. Deulofeu’s excellent campaign this season in front of the goal was his best season  in the league since playing for Barcelona’s B team, having mixed scoring success in England while playing for Everton and Watford.

The Spainard first came to England when he left Barcelona on loan for the 2013/14 season and moved to Goodison Park on a season-long deal. In his first loan period with Everton, he scored four times in 29 games. After a season-long loan with Sevilla, Everton eventually signed Deulofeu permanently, and he went on to play 46 more times for the Toffees, scoring four goals for them. Deulofeu then briefly left Everton on loan to play for AC Milan before he permanently  returned to Barcelona for a season. Watford then signed the winger on loan for the 2017/18 campaign, before re-signing him permanently after that for the next two seasons.

With Watford he showcased his talent as he helped them reach the FA Cup final in the 2018/19 season. He then left on loan to Udinese for a season, when the Hornets suffered relegation from the Premier League, he left them and joined Udinese permanently. While West Ham were said to be interested in but are set to miss out Deulofeu to Napoli this summer. Leo østigård is also set to join from Brighton for a reported fee of 3 million. Last season, the central midfielder played 15 games for Genoa and impressed a lot of the big clubs in Italy as the likes of Napoli and Lazio took interest in him. His performance helped get his first cap for Norway as he is currently in the Norway UEFA Nations league squad. 

Also read: Fikayo Tomori is set to sign a contract extension with AC Milan
 

Alur (Karnataka), Jun 6 (Cricket News) Fast bowlers Anubhav Agarwal and Puneet Datey scalped three wickets apiece to help Madhya Pradesh bundle out Punjab for 219 on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match, here on Monday.

Opting to bat, Punjab, who banked on their young core to deliver against Madhya Pradesh, found themselves in a spot of bother from the onset at the Alur Cricket Stadium.

Punjab did not have the ideal start, losing Shubman Gill (9) cheaply to Datey. Punjab skipper Abhishek Sharma (47) and Anmolpreet Singh (47) put on 81 runs for the second wicket to steady the ship.

But Datey struck again removing the well-set Sharma in the 24th over, after which things started to go awry for the 1992 Ranji Trophy winners.

Wickets kept tumbling like a pack of cards, as from 98 for 2, Punjab slumped to 166 for 6.

With their back against the wall, Sanvir Singh and wicketkeeper-batter Anmol Malhotra played patient knocks of 41 and 27 respectively to save Punjab from humiliation.

But their resistance was short-lived as Madhya Pradesh bowlers continued to make inroads.

Agarwal accounted for the wickets of Mandeep Singh and Sanvir. Datey and Agarwal returned with figures of 3/48 and 3/36 respectively.

Off-spinner Saransh Jain (2/45) also chipped in with two wickets.

In reply, Madhya Pradesh were five for no loss.

Brief Scores: Punjab: 219 all out in 71.3 overs (Abhishek Sharma 47, Anmolpreet Singh 47; Puneet Datey 3/48, Anubhav Agarwal 3/36).

Madhya Pradesh: 5 for no loss in 1 over. 

Also Read : Arshdeep hones yorker skills, looks better than Umran at nets

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Jun 6 (Cricket News) Umran Malik got an extended spell during India's first training session, but it was his colleague Arshdeep Singh who looked way more impressive at the nets, which included honing of his yorker skills.

However, both the juniors might have to wait for their turn with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan ahead in the pack.

If push comes to shove, Arshdeep looks a better bet than Umran.

The Indian team's evening session under Rahul Dravid and Paras Mhambrey was as intense as it could get.

While Umran, the toast of the nation for his express pace, bowled as quick as he can, Rishabh Pant didn't leave any opportunity to smash him with equal ferocity.

The faster he unleashed his thunderbolts, the more ferocious was Pant's intent with the willow.

Young Arshdeep first bowled a short spell and then had a session under bowling coach Mhambrey, when he was seen practicing the blockhole deliveries.

Mhambrey kept a baseball mitt (gloves) on the front crease, exactly on middle stump line for the yorker on middle stump and an energy drink bottle around tramline for the wide yorker.

Arshdeep was supposed to hit the two 'props' as part of match simulation.

"Theek hai? (alright)," he would ask Mhambrey who would tell him to focus more on line than length.

So who was the better bowler of the two? Arshdeep certainly looked to possess multi-dimensional skill sets compared to the Jammu speedster.

Another aspect indicating that the Punjab player could be slightly ahead of Umran is the training time.

Normally, fast bowlers in extreme conditions don't go all out in training sessions and just try to bowl enough to hit the rhythm.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who will lead the pack, bowled for hardly 15 minutes.

Similarly, Harshal Patel, who is also a certainty was rested on the day along with two sure-shot first XI candidates, Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik Pandya.

Before the match, the ones who bowl more at the nets are the ones who are likely to be benched.

DK trains lap scoop Dinesh Karthik might not be a certainty going into the first game with Pant being deputy to KL Rahul but his short net session was entertaining.

At 36, Karthik knows what he needs to practice and thus asked the throwdown experts Nuwan, Daya and Raghu to provide him with deliveries that allows him to play lap scoop and reverse lap scoop over short fine and short third man fielder.

According to the DDCA groundsmen, there will be dew post 8pm but like other times, the team didn't practice with wet balls. 

Also Read : Pretorius wants to inculcate Dhoni's calmness and self-belief

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Bengaluru, Jun 6 (Cricket News) Young Sudip Gharami finally did justice to his talent with maiden first class hundred that steered Bengal to a commanding 310 for one against Jharkhand on the first day of Ranji Trophy quarter-final, here Monday.

Jharkhand's pedestrian effort with the ball also helped Bengal's cause as Gharami, who had a highest score of 27 in his four previous appearances, showed fine temperament and impressive technique en route his unbeaten 106-run knock that came off 204 balls with 13 fours and a six.

The stylish Anushtup Majumdar (85 batting, 139 balls) also played attractive shots as they added 178 runs for the unbroken second-wicket stand.

While Gharami was methodical in his stroke-play, Majumdar's batted with utter disdain for rival bowlers as his innings could be called a highlight package of "pull-shots".

The Jharkhand attack was also hamstrung when Rahul Shukla sustained an injury while fielding just before the second new ball was taken.

Bengal were inflicting the similar kind of ignominy that Jharkhand had inflicted on Nagaland when they made a mockery of a contest in the pre quarter-finals by scoring 880 runs.

Skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran (65) and Abhishek Raman (41 retd hurt) laid the foundation by blunting the new ball attack and then on a good batting surface, it was all about punishing the loose deliveries.

Gharami comes of age ------------------------ In the past two seasons, good things were heard about Gharami, who had made his debut during the 2020 Ranji Trophy finals against Saurashtra but appeared shaky during that high-profile game.

Head coach Arun Lal, who has seen the 23-year-old as a teenager at his own cricket academy, always had faith in his talent and that shone through on the day.

"He was once rejected from district age-group team because the authorities had problems with me. I remember when he was a teenager, he would accompany me to various coaching centres across districts for a net session as clubs wouldn't enrol him," Gharami's childhood coach Debesh Chakraborty told PTI. "Once Arun saw him (Gharami), he gave the boy chance to have a place to practice permanently." "Once, a club told us that we need to come at 5:30 am in the morning and we will get two hours to have nets till 7:30 am before their boys turn up for training. I would arrange for four net bowlers who would bowl to Sudip. This Ranji century is an ode to his struggles," said Chakraborty, known as one-stop solution for any cricketer wanting to get match practice.

A fine back-foot player, Gharami prefers the on-side more and the drives and the pulls that he executed against Jharkhand was indicative that he was confident about his scoring areas.

To help his cause, all the Jharkhand pacers bowled either short on both sides of the wicket or bowled wide outside the off-stump.

Against quality spinners like Shahbaz Nadeem (0/61) and Anukul Roy, Gharami used his feet well and would time and again come down the track and drive on either side of the wicket.

Even in his 90s, there was no nervousness as he flicked Sushant Mishra (1/75) to reach 99 and then completed his hundred.

Gharami's father was once a daily contract labourer and to ensure that his son is never deprived of anything, worked his way up and is now a labour contractor.

"They weren't well off at one stage but over the past few years, they have moved up the ladder. His father is doing well and Sudip, apart from playing first-class, plays for CAB's top club East Bengal. But Sudip isn't money-minded and that has helped him as cricketer," the coach said.

Brief Scores: Bengal 310/1 (Sudip Gharami 106 batting, Anushtup Majumdar 85 bating, Abhimanyu Easwaran 65;Sushant Mishra 1/75) vs Jharkhand. 

Also Read : UAE's ILT20 to be held from Jan 6 to Feb 12, 2023; Reliance, KKR, GMR, Adani own 4 out of 6 teams

News Source : PTI

Almaty, Jun 3 (PTI) Sakshi Malik's struggles were nowhere to be seen as a fearless and aggressive Rio Olympics bronze medallist grabbed her first international gold medal in almost five years at the UWW Ranking Series event here on Friday.

India's Mansi and Divya Kakran too earned top of the podium finishes.

But the day belonged to Sakshi, who has been struggling till the recent CWG trials.

She was consistently losing to young Sonam Malik in the 62kg category and even missed qualification for the Tokyo Games but looked completely transformed on Friday as she fought her bouts with tremendous confidence.

She began with a win by technical superiority against Kazakhstan's Irina Kuznetsova and followed that up with another big 9-3 win over Uzbekistan's Rushana Abdirasulova.

As Mongolia's Tserenchimed Sukhee forfeited her semifinal, Sakshi entered the final, where she pinned Kuznetsova while leading 7-4, beating the home wrestler for a second time in the day.

Sakshi stood out with her double leg attacks and agility, hardly giving breathing pace to her opponents. Even when her rival won a challenge to take 5-3 lead, Sakshi was not perturbed and won in an emphatic fashion.

The last time she won a gold was in 2017 Commonwealth Championship even as she won two bronze medals at the Asian Championships in 2020 and 2022.

Also winning the gold was Mansi (57kg), who won her final bout 3-0 against Kazakshtan's Emma Tissina, who hardly made a move. Mansi got push out points as mostly the two wresters were involved in standing wrestling.

Divya won two of her bouts by 'fall' -- against Mongolia's Delgermaa Enkhsaikhan and Kazakhstan's Albina Kairgeldinova -- but lost the final bout 10-14 to Mongolia's Bolortungalag Zorigt in the four-wrestler 68kg category.

Zorigt also finished with two wins and a defeat (against Delgermaa) but since Divya had more convincing results, she was declared winner.

India now have won four medals with Greco Roman wrestler Neeraj winning a bronze in 63kg category on Thursday. PTI AT AT KHS KHS

(Football news) Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 at the Stade de France to become the European champions for the 14th time in their History. Los Blancos had a very different road to the final which was filled with drama, emotions and most of all sensational grit. They started off with a 1-0 win at San Siro but then faced a shock 1-2 defeat at the Bernabeu against FC Sheriff. The defeat against the newcomers caused a blip in their season but things turned around. Madrid recovered well by winning 2 games against Shakhtar Donetsk before beating Sheriff away and Inter at home. 

In the round of 16, Real Madrid put in one of their worst performances at Parc de Princes but only lost 1-0 to PSG. It looked like they did not deserve to even be in the UCL knockouts. In the return leg Madrid were 1-0 down at half time and needed 2 goals to equalise. Karim Benzema scored a dramatic hat-trick to mark one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the competition. In the quarter finals, Madrid won 3-1 at the Stamford Bridge against Chelsea thanks to another hat-trick by Karim Benzema. In the return leg however, they blew the lead and were trailing 4-3 on aggregate to Chelsea at the Bernabeu. With 10 minutes to go, Luka Modric played one of the best passes of the UCL season to set up Rodrygo who equalised. Real Madrid won in extra time as Karim Benzema scored once again.

It looked like Real Madrid had played two of the most dramatic UCL ties of all time but the semi final against Manchester City was something else. In the first leg the blues were far better throughout the 90 minutes but they could only manage to win 4-3. Manchester City had a two goal lead 3 times but kept on losing it. The 2nd leg at the Bernabeu was a cagey affair at first but Manchester City scored in the 73rd minute after which Real Madrid looked down and out needing two goals. They didn't even have a single shot on target until the 90th minute when substitute Rodrygo scored twice to send the game to extra time. Benzema scored another penalty in extra time to send Real Madrid to the final.

The final was another game where the entire world seemed to count out Real Madrid before the match. Liverpool dominated the majority of the game, the first half especially was total carnage but it remained goalless. Benzema scored just before half time but it was controversially disallowed. That goal sort of changed the momentum a little as Real Madrid started mounting more attacks in the 2nd half. Vinicius Jr scored the only goal of the game in the 59th minute which was set up by Fede Valverde. Liverpool had plenty of chances to equalise but Thibaut Courtois was steady as a rock. The Belgian made 9 saves which was most by any keeper in a UCL final since 2004. He was given the man of the match award for his incredible performance. 

Real Madrid's Champions League campaign has been incredible and arguably the toughest of all time. Karim Benzema finished as the top goalscorer and also equaled Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 10 goals in a single UCL knockouts campaign. Thibaut Courtois's 59 saves in the campaign were the most since 2012. Vinicius Jr had the joint most assists with 6 to go with 4 goals. The old guards in midfield Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric had another fantastic season which ended up being their 4th trophy as a trio. Youngsters Rodryo, Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde delivered when it mattered the most throughout the tournament. 9 Real Madrid players namely Marcelo, Nacho, Dani Carvajal, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, Isco and Gareth Bale equalised Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 5 trophies in the UCL era. The demands of the club is such that president Florentino Perez the very next day said "Now we go for the 15th UCL trophy next year".

Also read: Paolo Maldini calls Rafael Leao untouchable amid Real Madrid interest

Ahmedabad, May 28 (Cricket News) The risk-free tactic used by opposition batters has helped Rashid Khan deploy a defensive game-plan of trying to hold one end up while allowing the bowler at the other end go for the kill.

In his fifth IPL season, Rashid is no longer an unknown quantity and the batters across franchises are trying to see off his overs while trying to go after other bowlers in Gujarat Titans line-up.

While an economy rate of 6.73 in 15 games is very impressive, Rashid is currently ninth in the overall list with 18 wickets.

"My mindset wasn't any different in play-offs. The energy and the thought process is the same throughout. But teams are playing it safe against me. So, I am trying to keep it tight and that increases the chance of picking up wickets by the bowler at the other end," the Afghan spinner said ahead of Sunday's final.

For him, hitting one particular area is key.

"Irrespective of whether it is a league game or knockouts, my mindset is to bowl in a certain area and I don't try anything differently. My objective is to build pressure," Rashid said at the pre-final press conference.

Evolving as a batter ----------------------- Rashid has shown that he is no mug with the bat with nine sixes and a strike-rate of 206 plus in this season. Having developed a second skill obviously boosted his confidence and especially after contributing in finishing a couple of close games this season.

"I batted a bit higher than where I was batting before. The other thing is the confidence. It is given by the coaching staff, captain and all the players. They believed I will be able to perform. That is the kind of energy you need as a player and that has been given to me," he said.

He in fact practises a lot at the nets.

"There are more batting practice sessions for me, batting more than before and the belief that everyone has on me, that this guy can deliver and score some runs for the team, crucial runs.

"I always had that belief that I can score those 20-25 runs for the team at the end, if the team needs," he added.

All praise for 'Killer Miller' ---------------------------- Rashid also praised his team-mate David Miller, stating that he makes the job of the top-order easy.

"Having David, someone who’s in form in the middle, making scores, makes the job of top order easy. Numbers 4, 5 and 6 are important in T20 and once you have them in form, it does help to win games and doesn't matter whatever the target is.

"They have scored without any fear, especially when you look at the game against CSK (Chennai Super Kings), the kind of innings David played, he showed his class," Rashid signed off. 

Also Read : Change in mindset against spinners key to IPL 2022 success: Miller

News Source : PTI

Ahmedabad, May 28 (Cricket News) A change in mindset while facing spinners has played a big part in his success in the ongoing Indian Premier League, believes Gujarat Titans batter David Miller.

Miller has been the second highest run-scorer for GT with 449 runs from 15 matches, with an unbeaten 94 being his highest score. Skipper Hardik Pandya leads the chart with 453 runs from 14 games.

And the South African said the hardwork he had put in at the nets paid rich dividends.

"It has been a good season for me against spin. It has been something that I have worked hard on. I have never really felt that I struggled against spin, but it is an area I had to improve," Miller said during the pre-match press conference ahead of their IPL final against Rajasthan Royals here on Sunday.

"...I have changed my mindset against spin. I have changed one or two things. I feel like it is just about making sure, especially in T20 cricket, that I am looking to score every ball.

"If there is a bad ball at least I am in a good position to put it away. It creates a bit of pressure on the bowler. So that is one of the things mentally I have tried to improve," he added.

Miller said playing all the matches for GT has been a confidence booster for him.

"This season (I am) batting a bit higher. I am batting at five. I have managed to bat from the start of the season and play all the games, so it has been enjoyable that I am not in and out (of the team).

"I have managed to build something the whole season and keep my confidence growing," he said.

"I have been backed all the way. Playing all the games allows a player to settle down and really not worry about selection. I am loving being part of this successful team," added Miller, who has been playing in the IPL for 12 years.

He attributed GT's success in its debut season to collective effort.

"It has obviously been a really good season. But for me the standout has been Rahul Tewatia. Someone like (Mohammed) Shami has bowled incredibly well this season. He has put us in good positions in the powerplay. "It is tough to single out players. A lot of guys have put their hands up throughout the competition and that has contributed to a lot of wins," he said.

Miller was also effusive in his praise for opener Wriddhiman Saha. "He (Saha) is almost like a pillar of strength. I played with him for many years at Kings XI (Punjab Kings) and he is the one who doesn't complain, doesn't speak much but gets on with the job.

"The contributions that he has made has been extremely good upfront. He has set the tone, scoring a lot of boundaries in the powerplay, really getting us to good starts. He has had an incredible season and hopefully he tops with one more extremely good game," Miller signed off. 

Also Read : This is different Virat, one who has made more mistakes in one season than his entire career: Sehwag

News Source : PTI

Pune, May 27 (Cricket News) Mahendra Singh Dhoni's World Cup winning six resides in India's collective consciousness and it was a shot that changed a lot of lives, including that of little-known Solapur athlete Kiran Navgire.

And so, athletics' loss became cricket's gain as the former Maharashtra state level athlete decided that there is no fun if she can't tonk the ball like her "idol".

Eleven years later, at 28, Navgire, who plays domestic cricket for Nagaland, has found instant stardom, with some of the most powerful blows that one has ever seen from an Indian batter.

In her very second big stage game in the Women's T20 Challenger, the right-handed Navgire hit the fastest fifty for her team Velocity and her 34-ball-69 will certainly be remembered for a long time, especially the five sixes.

"I really feel good when I hit sixes and whenever I practise in the nets. I practice hitting sixes, I follow Dhoni sir and I love finishing like him, hitting big sixes," Navgire told her teammate Yastika Bhatia during an interaction for bcci.tv.

For her, Dhoni's unbeaten 91 against Sri Lanka made her set new goals as she concentrated more on athletics, kho-kho, kabaddi during her formative years while helping out her father in family farm in Solapur district's Mire village.

"I watched the 2011 World Cup final and Dhoni sir's winning sixer is something that impressed me and remained imprinted in my head. That six inspired me and I always feel that in every match, I can hit a six like that,' said the stockily built Navgire, who was a state level shot-putter.

On Thursday, Velocity skipper Deepti Sharma sent her up the order at No. 3 and Navgire didn't disappoint anyone, taking international bowlers like Poonam Yadav, Salma Khatun and Rajeshwari Gayakwad to the cleaners.

"I dont like playing dot balls and want to score something off every ball and hence I got a good score," her answers were as uncomplicated as her lofted hits.

"In domestic cricket, I hadn't batted up the order but I had a good season there and had some good scores. My game revolves around my power hitting ability and if it's in my arc, I send it out of the park and if there are good balls, I like to rotate strikes playing singles and doubles," Navgire said.

She admitted that she was a bit nervous at the start but coach Devika Palshikar's sound advice did help a lot.

"Initially, I was a bit nervous bit then everything settled down. The captain (Deepti) and teammates gave me lot of confidence. Coach Devika ma'am said 'you don't need to look at the bowler but at the ball and I did just that," she added. 

Also Read : Trailblazers beat Velocity by 16 runs in Women's T20 Challenge

News Source : PTI

Mumbai, May 23 (Cricket News) Delighted to earn a maiden national call-up, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh said bowling to the big-hitting Punjab Kings batters in the nets helped him perfect his yorkers.

The 23-year-old, who has impressed one and all with his death over bowling this season, ended his IPL campaign with 10 wickets and an economy rate of 7.70.

His ability to bowl the change-ups along with wide yorkers and deliveries in the block-hole earned him a place in the squad for the home series against South Africa next month.

Arshdeep got to know the good news on his way to Punjab's last league stage match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.

"I got to know just before the match, in the bus that I have got selected in the Indian team. Because the match was going on I didn't feel much," Arshdeep told teammate Harpreet Brar after Punjab Kings' five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

"It will sink in slowly. It is a special moment. I feel lucky and grateful would like to continue like this," he added.

The youngster, who served as a net bowlers for the Indian team in an away series against Sri Lanka last year, said bowling to world-class batters, including Jonny Bairstow, Shikhar Dhawan and Liam Livingstone, in the Punjab Kings nets session helped him perfect his craft.

"Credit goes to management. They got such batters in the team that the only option to stop them in the nets was by bowling yorkers. And that improved my ability to bowl yorkers." 

Also Read : Takeaways from India's squad for T20I series against South Africa

News Source : PTI

Pune, May 22 (Cricket News) Star India opener Smriti Mandhana on Sunday said she has been working on her T20 game and looking to play more strokes, keeping in mind the number of shortest format matches scheduled in the next 12 months.

"Personally I have been working on my T20 cricket since we have lot of T20s to play this year. So, trying to play little bit more shots then I used to playing," she said.

Mandhana will be leading the defending champions Trailblazers at the Women's T20 Challenge, scheduled to be held from May 23 to 28 at the MCA Stadium here.

"We had a good T20 domestic season, so just looking to continue with this tournament. I'm not thinking about how I will be going about it but I will just try to enjoy as much as I can," she said.

Talking about her side's opening match against Supernovas on Monday, Mandhana said the spin duo of Sophie Ecclestone and Alana King will pose a challenge but they have their own plans in place.

"...we have our strategies ready, they have a good bowling unit especially the spin line up with Sophie (Ecclestone) and (Alana) King." Asked if there is any pressure going into the tournament as the defending champions, Mandhana said: "Not really, it is a pretty short tournament. You always get a new team, so definitely not thinking about it and putting unnecessary pressure on ourself, but yeah it would be good to defend the title." Mandhana also was effusive in her praise for Maharashtra's unheralded pacer Shraddha Pokharkar, who is one of the new talents in her squad. "I think three or four years back I saw Shradda (Pokharkar), I always thought she has good potential and now when I saw her one month back, she was brilliant in nets.

"She hits good length and she has a good height, so it is not easy to hit her length. She has a great slower one which is a really big weapon when you play T20, so looking forward to see how she progresses further." Good platform for Mansi to get back to India team: Harmanpreet ======================================= Supernovas captain Harmanpreet Kaur feels the Women's T20 Challenge will serve as a good platform for seamer Manshi Joshi to prove herself and earn her place back in the Indian team.

The 28-year-old Joshi from Punjab, who had missed the 2020 edition of the tournament after testing positive for COVID-19, has last played for India in March last year.

Joshi played three WODIs against South Africa at home but didn't find a place in the series against England and Australia and also missed out of a spot in India's World Cup squad.

"Last time, unfortunately, she didn't get a chance to play but this time she did well in domestic season and now in the net sessions also she was looking really nice. It is a great opportunity for her," Harmanpreet said during a virtual press-conference.

"For a long time she was not part of Indian side and now if she gets a chance, it is a great platform where you can perform and gates are open for Indian team.

"I am actually very positive the way she is bowling at the net, I hope she will get a chance to play and prove herself." Harmanpreet said Supernovas have a very "balanced" side.

"We do have a few new faces in our side and we try our best to bond and though giving opportunities to all is not possible but still we will try to give as much as possible.

"We have a good team and I am really looking forward to a positive season." Australian spinner of Anglo-Indian descent, Alan King will be part of the Supernovas and Harmanpreet said she has discussed with her about her plans in the tournament.

"I did discuss with her about her bowling plans, where she is comfortable in bowling. She is someone who has done well during the world cup and even before that.

"It is a great positive for us having someone like her and I am very happy that she is open to ideas. She is ready to bowl before and after the powerplay, so it gave me a lot of confidence. I can use her where ever the team requires her." 

Also Read : I did decently despite injuries hampering me, says SRH stand-in skipper Bhuvneshwar Kumar

News Source : PTI

Mumbai, May 20 (Cricket News) A prolonged bad patch can really dent someone's confidence and it is only human that Virat Kohli also desperately sought some luck which hasn't gone his way of late, said Royal Challengers Bangalore Director of Cricket Mike Hesson.

Kohli finally showed glimpses of his old self with a chiselled 73 in a successful run-chase which kept RCB in the equation for a play-off berth.

After having found 13 different ways to get dismissed, Kohli had some rub of the green going his way and it was because he never stopped working hard, opined Hesson.

"The fact that he (Virat) was working so hard in the nets and trying to find rhythm away from the playing games, away from the contest, allowed him to keep that confidence up," Hesson said at post-match post-conference.

But having been dismissed cheaply in 12 out of 13 games, it is only human to feel a bit of pressure, feels Hesson.

"But no doubt when you go through a patch like that - he is only human, you know then you do start to just having doubts and wonder when your luck is going to turn. So look, a little-bit of luck tonight but he's certainly earned it throughout this IPL," Hesson said.

While RCB are on the edge and might lose out on a top four spot if Delhi Capitals happen to beat Mumbai Indians on Saturday, Hesson was delighted with Kohli's performance.

"Look, I am absolutely delighted. Just shows like, (in) any team if you get the top-order firing and (have) a player like Virat, then it makes the rest of the chase a lot easier.

"And obviously chasing scores here has not been our forte so far in this IPL. We have been able to defend scores, but haven't been able to chase," Hesson explained why it had been a tough ride for the RCB.

"We know Virat is the chase-master and he set the tone again today. It was a crucial game for us and the big players stood up. We know when Virat is in that frame of mind, good luck (to the opposition), because he can take the game away from anyone," he added.

Before the game against Gujarat, Kohli was going through a lean phase, but Hesson said there was no set pattern for his dismissals. "It started in Pune and then from that point on, he got run-out a couple of times. Obviously, the one that went off the hip – he (Virat) pretty much found each and every way to get out. So he is right there, there certainly wasn't a pattern to those dismissals," elaborated Hesson. 

Also Read : Kohli, du Plessis shine as RCB beat GT by 8 wickets to stay alive in play-off race

News Source : PTI

Mumbai, May 16 (Cricket News) Explosive Mumbai Indians batter Tim David on Monday said that he felt that their season only started once they won their first game in the IPL after eight straight defeats.

MI are still last among 10 teams but David has contributed in all three wins so far with his lusty hitting at the back-end.

"Kind of felt like the season didn't really start for us till we got that first win. Since then, we have played some really good cricket," David said on the eve of the team's penultimate league game against Sunrisers Hyderabad to be played at the Wankhede stadium on Tuesday.

"We have won three of our last four games and there has been a good feeling in the team," David added.

On personal front, picking his skipper Rohit Sharma's brains was helpful.

"Obviously, Rohit's played a lot of cricket, so it is about trying to gain some of his experiences, staying calm, things that work in Indian conditions, and how we want to play as a team together.

"It's been a good experience to share the dressing room with him and hopefully, it can continue," maintained David, who has 106 runs from six IPL games.

Six hitting at the death is a specific skill and the Singapore man of Australian origin spends hours honing his big-hitting skills.

"I spend a lot of my time in the nets trying to hit sixes. I think it's about putting pressure on the bowler and recognizing the right situations when you can try that in a game.

"There might be different pitches, or grounds that suit power-hitting off particular bowlers. You have got to pick those moments, and also you have got to be aware that it's not going to come off all the time, and batting in the middle-order can be risky," reckoned the 26-year-old.

According to David, it was all about going into the games with a clear mind.

"And then once, it is all mental. I think it is the same for all batters. You have got to go in with a clear mind. If you don't, if you are carrying things into the game, you can get a patchy performance.

"So it is about trying to get into that state where you can try and be as consistent as possible mentally.

"And then if you trust your process, and stick to it, then that will most often bring the best results," he signed off. 

Also Read : India White win Divyang Wheelchair Premier League 2022

News Source : PTI

London, May 11 (Cricket News) Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan wishes to have focus and concentration levels of his County teammate Cheteshwar Pujara as he looks to improve as a red-ball cricketer.

Pujara has made a strong case for a Test comeback with two hundreds and as many double hundreds in his campaign for Sussex in County Championship Division 2.

The Indo-Pak pairing had shared a 154-run stand against Durham earlier this month and they playing for the same team has also attracted a lot of positive attention on social media.

Rizwan, who was named the ICC Player of the Year for 2021, rates Pakistan's Younis Khan and Fawad Alam very highly when it comes to batting with unwavering concentration but he has now added Pujara to the list.

"...As far as myself and Pujara are concerned, I didn't feel anything strange (on the lines of India-Pakistan rivalry).

"And hopefully, if you ask him, his answer will be the same as mine. Although I do share a laugh with him and tease him (laughs) and everyone in the team knows this," Rizwan told Cricwick when asked about the time spend with the India veteran.

Heaping praise on Pujara, Rizwan said: "He is a very nice and loving guy. And his concentration and focus too... If you get a chance to learn something, you should do it.

"In terms of concentration levels and I told this to the coaches here too. In my whole career, the players with most focus, concentration are Younis bhai, Fawad Alam and his (Pujara's).

"Pujara is second on my list and Fawad Alam on three in terms of pure concentration and focus. I rate these three players very highly." Regular white-ball cricket can affect your discipline in the longer-format and Rizwan said advice from Pujara helped him on that front.

"...in terms of the focus and concentration levels, there is a time when that starts dropping low ... I will try to figure how these three players have so intense focus and concentration. I keep on talking with Younis bhai, I couldn't talk much with Fawad recently on this.

"And with Pujara, I had a chat with him after I got out early. He told me a few things and one of them was to play close to the body. And as everyone knows, we have been playing white-ball cricket consistently over the past few years and play a bit away from our body." Rizwan said "in white-ball, you don't play very close to your body since the ball doesn't swing or seam as much." "So early on here, I played away from my body and got out twice in a similar way," he said.

"Then I went over to meet him in the nets and I remember him saying that when we play in Asia, we force the ball to play the drive. Here, we don't need to do that. And we need to play close to the body. So these are the things which he told me and whatever he learned from me, he can tell (laughs)." 

Also Read : We just wanted to be ruthless during games and relax after that, says GT skipper Hardik

News Source : PTI

Pune, May 8 (Cricket News) Kolkata Knight Riders were found wanting on more than one front, but head coach Brendon McCullum singled out their struggles in the power play, as a disappointing IPL campaign neared its end.

Former champions KKR suffered their seventh defeat on Saturday night, a 75-run drubbing by Lucknow Super Giants here.

"We struggled in the power play which has been a frustration for us throughout the season," McCullum said, adding that the team needs to find a way to be more aggressive without losing wickets in the first six overs.

The Shreyas Iyer-led side now finds itself on the brink of elimination.

"We've been good throughout the middle phase and not too bad at the death," McCullum said at the post match press conference.

"But in the power play we've been a little stuck and we've to find a method to not lose many wickets and also throw a few punches and get a few boundaries," he reiterated.

KKR have used several opening combinations this season but failed to find the one that clicks. Their openers have not been able to give kind of starts required for teams to win matches.

"If you look around other teams at the top of the table, one of their opening batters is also one of their highest run-scorers. It's an area we haven't been able to settle. Unfortunately, some of the guys haven't been in the form that they would have liked to.

"That happens, sometimes. In a quick tournament, you do have to sometimes change personnel. It's been a little frustrating. But the guys have been working really hard, it hasn't necessarily worked out for us but can't fault their effort." Taking about the chopping and changing of the playing XI throughout the season, the New Zealander said: "Few changes were forced upon us with overseas players joining in late in the tournament plus a couple of injuries and loss of form.

"It's not always easy but we need to find a method to deal with the attacks that come to us." KKR retained Venkatesh Iyer ahead of the auction but the all-rounder, who enjoyed a breakout last season, struggled to put up good performances with the bat and ball and was eventually dropped from the side.

"He did not get as many runs as he would have liked to. We were forced into a situation where we had to look for other options. That's disappointing for someone who has represented India in the last 7-8 months on the back of what was a very good IPL last time in the UAE.

"That's a little bit of frustrating for him as well. He is working hard at the nets, trying to get his form back. That will certainly be a consideration. He is certainly not out of contention for the games to come." McCullum feels teams have done their homework on the all-rounder and figured out how to play him.

"It's Venky's second year. Teams do a little bit more homework, it's been historically the case in this tournament even in international cricket.

"It's an opportunity for Venkatesh to work on his game and improve, to come back stronger.

"He is a real talent, has got a good head on his shoulders. I know he is determined to take that next step and start to perform more regularly," McCullum added. 

Also Read : Didn't get the respect I deserved, wasn't treated properly: Gayle on opting out of IPL-15

News Source : PTI

Mumbai, May 7 (Cricket News) Rajasthan Royals batter Shimron Hetmyer on Saturday attributed his team's batting depth being the reason for a clinically successful chase of 190 against Punjab Kings in an IPL match on Saturday.

On a difficult-looking pitch, Rajasthan Royals got off to a flier after Jos Buttler made a quick 16-ball 30 before Yashasvi Jaiswal laid a solid platform with his spectacular 41-ball 68 as they scripted a six-wicket win with two balls to spare.

"Chasing a tall 190 really shows that we have a lot of depth in our batting. There's a lot of belief in each and every player. We are making sure we keep believing that we could do it," the West Indies batter said.

Jaiswal departed in the 15th over with just 49 needed from 35 balls as Hetmyer played the role of a finisher in his 16-ball 31.

"This year, I'm really taking as much time as I possibly can. In the past couple of years, I just didn't really give myself that much of a chance. this time, I'm just giving myself at least 5-6 balls and then just go from there. So far it's been working," the 25-year-old said after finishing the game for his side.

He was also all praise for the 20-year-old promising opener Jaiswal who laid a perfect foundation with his 41-ball 68 in his comeback match.

"His (Jaiswal) knock was brilliant. I'm really happy to see him get some runs, just go out there and express himself. It was one of the best knocks that I've seen in a while. It was lovely to look at, I'm really, really happy for me," he said.

It was the 20-year-old's sheer dominance against the experienced Punjab attack that really stood out.

"Jaiswal is lovely to look at. He's really working hard in the nets, just to get a chance and express himself the way he did, I'm really loss for words," he said. 

Also Read : Delhi Capitals aim to solve opening conundrum against Chennai Super Kings

News Source : PTI

(Football news) The final of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League final is all set. It will be a replay of the 2018 final as Real Madrid will take on Liverpool at the Stade de France. This will be the 3rd time that the two European giants will be facing each other in the UCL final. Liverpool had won the first one in 1981 while Madrid were victorious in 2018. This time around the stakes will be as high as ever as Liverpool could potentially be hunting for a quadruple while Real Madrid will be looking for a double. The two teams squared off in a two legged quarter final last season which Madrid won comfortably.

Liverpool had the perfect group stage in the UCL this season. In a group of Porto, AC Milan and Atlético Madrid; the Merseyside club won all 6 games, scoring 17 and conceding only 6. Liverpool rarely lose at Anfield but winning the 3 away games was an incredible achievement. Jurgen Klopp's team was in control of the games in what was a tricky group. In the Round of 16, Liverpool beat Inter Milan 2-0 at the San Siro in the first leg. In the 2nd leg they went 1-0 down before Alexis Sanchez was controversially sent off. Jurgen Klopp's men got a little lucky in that particular game as Inter were playing really well but the game ended with Liverpool 2-1 up on aggregate. In the quarter finals, Liverpool got a 6-4 victory over Benfica. The semi final was a tricky one as they defeated Villarreal 2-0 at Anfield. In the return leg away from home, Liverpool conceded two goals before half time. Villarreal did the unthinkable but in the 2nd half Liverpool took control and scored 3 goals to progress to the final.

Real Madrid had a very different road to the final. Los Blancos started off with a 1-0 win at San Siro but then faced a shock 1-2 defeat at the Bernabeu against FC Sheriff. The Merengues recovered well by winning 2 games against Shakhtar Donetsk before beating Sheriff away and Inter at home. In the round of 16, Real Madrid put in one of their worst performances at Parc de Princes but only lost 1-0 to PSG. In the return leg Madrid were 1-0 down at half time and needed 2 goals to equalise. Karim Benzema scored a dramatic hat-trick to mark one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the competition. In the quarter finals, Madrid won 3-1 at the Stamford Bridge against Chelsea thanks to another Benzema hat-trick but then blew the lead as they trailed 4-3 on aggregate to Chelsea at the Bernabeu. With 10 minutes to go, Luka Modric played one of the best passes of all time to set up Rodrygo who equalised. Real Madrid won in extra time as Karim Benzema scored again.

It looked like Real Madrid had played two of the most dramatic UCL ties of all time but the semi final was something else. In the first leg Manchester City were far the better team but won only 4-3. Manchester City had a two goal lead 3 times but kept on losing it. The 2nd leg at the Bernabeu was a cagey affair at first but Manchester City scored in the 73rd minute after which Real Madrid looked down and out needing two goals. They didn't even have a single shot on target until the 90th minute when substitute Rodrygo scored twice to send the game to extra time. Benzema won and scored a penalty to send Real Madrid to the final.

The journey of both the teams has been different. Liverpool have had a couple of tricky situations but Real Madrid have been put through the works in all their knockout games. Liverpool haven't been challenged enough in the competition. All 3 of Real Madrid's incredible victories have come at the Bernabeu which has some magic in it. The crowd just like the players never give up and the welcome that the players get before the match sets the tone. The final will be at a neutral venue which changes things a little bit. Real Madrid have the confidence of beating 3 of the best teams in the world. Los Blancos have already wrapped up the league while Liverpool are still in an intense title race with Manchester City. The final without a doubt will be a cracking battle in Paris.

Also read: Does the English media watch football with blinkers?

Mumbai, Apr 28 (Cricket News) Bengaluru will host the Ranji Trophy knock-out matches, starting with the quarterfinals, from June 4 with the final set to be played from June 20.

The league stage of the Ranji Trophy was played before the start of the ongoing IPL and the BCCI had said that the knock-outs would be played after the lucrative T20 league.

PTI is in possession of the Ranji Trophy knock-out schedule.

It is understood that there will be no compulsory quarantine for the players but bio-bubble will be maintained. The teams and the players will have to submit a negative RT-PCR report on their arrival to the venue.

The four quarterfinals will be played from June 4-8. Bengal will take on Jharkhand in the first quarterfinal.

Fourty-one-time Ranji champions Mumbai are up against Uttarakhand while Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh will square off in the third quarterfinal.

The fourth quarterfinal will be played between Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.

The two semifinals will be played from June 12 to 16, while the summit clash of the prestigious domestic championship will be played from June 20.

The Schedule: Quarterfinals: June 4-8 First Quarterfinal: Bengal vs Jharkhand Second Quarterfinal: Mumbai vs Uttarakhand Third Quarterfinal: Karnataka vs Uttar Pradesh Fourth Quarterfinal: Punjab vs Madhya Pradesh Semifinals: June 12-16 Final: June 20-24. 

Also Read : Making of Umran Malik: First coach Manhas remembers 17-year-old terrorising Ranji batters at nets

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Apr 28 (Cricket News) It was business as usual for coach Randhir Singh Manhas during a winter day in 2017 when a 17-year-old boy walked up to him during a net session at the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu's Nawabad Area.

"Sir, kya aap mujhe ball daalne dengey? (Could you allow me to bowl)," Manhas remembered the short and stout boy's request while senior state team batter Jatin Wadhawan was having a knock at the nets.

"What's your name?" "Umran Malik," replied the boy, who had dropped in at the net session without bowling spikes.

Manhas obliged but till date, he has failed to figure out whether it was his gut feel or just wanting to be indulgent with a young boy, that made him agree to the request. He had a bowler short at the nets, though.

Whatever it was, Manhas' role in giving a precocious talent wings to fly is beyond doubt.

The seeds of the express pace deliveries that Umran is hurling at the best of batters under intense pressure on a platform like the IPL, were sown that very day at the MA Stadium.

It was the birth of Umran Malik, the fastest bowler in the history of Indian cricket, who has made heads turn with 15 wickets in just eight games in this edition of the T20 league.

"On that day, he was very quick for a 17-year-old as Jatin, who was a first-class player was hurried by him.

"In my mind, I knew that the kid was special and my views were seconded by our senior team pacer Ram Dayal, who had then just reached the ground and saw him bowl. Ram told me that this boy had bright future," Manhas, the coach of the Jammu District Cricket Council said.

Umran is not a product of the system but despite the system, and his rise can be attributed to that.

He didn't receive any structured coaching till the age of 17, never played with a leather ball, and all he did was to play in the 'Mohalla' tennis ball tourneys, from which any teenager could earn anything between Rs 500 to Rs 3000 per match depending on the reputation.

Hailing from a middle-class family in Jammu's Gujjar Nagar, his father, who runs his own fruit shop in the local market, initially wanted him to focus on studies, but later, along with his wife, encouraged him to take up professional cricket.

Having impressed the coach, Umran was asked to enrol in the academy but Manhas recollected that in the initial days in 2017-18, he was never a regular.

"He would come one day and then remain absent for the next few days. We had to tell him that he needs to be disciplined about training as he cannot let the opportunities go abegging.

"I told him, 'listen Umran, the day you play at the national level, you won't have to look back. So be serious'. I sent him for -19 trials, where he borrowed bowling spikes and bowled. He was picked for Cooch Behar Trophy but got only one match, and that too, a rain-truncated one against Odisha.

"But those who watched him told me that the keeper was standing a good 35 yards behind the stumps, something that doesn't happen a lot at U-19 level," said the coach, who is a storehouse of anecdotes.

One of his favourite stories is the one where the Assam Ranji team, coached by former keeper Ajay Ratra, had come to Jammu for an away game.

"Umran was at the stadium that day and Assam team needed net bowlers for practice. Ajay asked Umran that if he would like to bowl at the nets. Umran agreed immediately but after 15 minutes, the Assam coach asked Umran to stop. Reason? His men had a match to play and didn't want them to get hurt," Manhas laughed.

In fact, Ratra was surprised that Umran wasn't playing Ranji Trophy back then.

The sandy banks of River Tawi and strongly built lower body ------------------------------------------------------------------ One of the greatest pacers of all time, the legendary Andy Roberts, in various interviews have laid out one basic ground rule about a fast bowler's physique.

"You bowl fast not just because you have strong upper body but because you have strong legs that help in building the rhythm," Roberts had once said.

In the case of Umran, one would be surprised to know that before he entered the Sunrisers Hyderabad fold, he had never been a part of any systematic gym sessions but still had a rock like lower body.

"His house is near river Tawi and the adjoining area of the river bank is primarily sandy. Umran grew up running on sandy fields and playing cricket all his formative years. That has led to a very strong lower body. You won't find many guys who at 17 had such fabulous body structure and in-built strength without any gym training," Manhas said.

As far as his yorkers are concerned, credit goes to tennis ball cricket where a fast one aimed at the base of the stumps, is often the go-to delivery for a pacer.

Jasprit Bumrah mastered it from tennis ball cricket, and so has Umran.

Samad: A friend in need is a friend indeed ---------------------------------------------- The Jammu and Kashmir teams over the years have bene dominated by cricketers from the valley but in the case of Umran, it wasn't the cricketing establishment but a friend and a fellow competitor, who showed him the first staircase towards stardom.

It was his friend Abdul Samad, who is also a part of SRH.

"It was Samad, who would record his bowling videos and mail them to VVS Laxman sir and Tom Moody in June 2020, when only a few people were training post the first lockdown. Sunrisers liked his videos and the rest, as they say, is history." Umran went to the UAE in 2020 as a net bowler and was performing the same duties in 2021, before T Natarajan's injury opened the doors for him, and his consistent 150 click bowling forced the selectors to make him a net bowler for the last T20 World Cup.

Now, things are happening too fast for Umran but Manhas is confident that he will adapt to the changes in life and the focus will remain on cricket and donning the India colours.

"He is learning a lot from the likes of Dale Steyn and I believe as he plays at the highest level, he will just keep on improving." If life is a beautiful dream, Umran Malik is living it. 

Also Read : Mumbai Indians rope in Kumar Kartikeya Singh for injured Arshad Khan

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) Miami Heat progressed to the next round of the playoffs after they beat the Atlanta Hawks 97-94. For the Heats, Victor Oladipo scored 23 points, Bam Adebayo added 20 points and 11 rebounds as Tyler Herro scored 16, Max Strus scored 15 and Caleb Martin added 10 points. For the Hawks, Young went 2 for 12 from the floor, scoring just 11 points. De'Andre Hunter scored 35 points, while  Kevin Huerter and Danilo Gallinari got 12 apiece. With this result the Heat’s win the series 4-1 to become the second team to reach the 2nd round of playoffs.

''The biggest thing about this game was our defense,'' Adebayo said.

''They're a good defensive team,'' Young said. ''Their team is more of a system than who they have on their team. No matter who they have out there, they can play. ... And when they've got a guy that they're targeting and trying to take away, they do a really good job of doing that.''

''They are a hell of a team,'' Hawks coach Nate McMillan said. ''Those guys compete every second that they're out on the floor and I have a great deal of respect for how they play.'

''We're all committed to the same goal,'' Strus said.

''I thought it was fitting that we had to get this game with a stop at the end,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

The Phoenix Suns took the lead in the 7 game series against the New Orleans Pelicans as they beat them 112-97 in game number 5. For the Suns, Bridges scored 31 points and blocked four shots in arguably the best game of this pro career as Chris Paul added 22 points and 11 assists, bouncing back from a subpar performance in Game 4. Deandre Ayton added 19 points and nine rebounds. For the Pelicans, Brandon Ingram scored 22 points and CJ McCollum added 21 for New Orleans, which was hurt by a slow start and 15 turnovers. With this result the Suns are just a win away from securing this series and progressing into the next round of playoffs as they are 3-2 up currently in the series.

''I'm ready to play tomorrow,'' Bridges said with a big grin at the postgame news conference. ''I'm energized, my teammates keep me going. I'm itching my knee right now, talking about it. I'm ready, I love being out there with my teammates. They're my best friends, it makes it way easier.''

''I just thought that we made some timely mistakes, starting with the turnovers,'' Pelicans coach Willie Green said. ''Fifteen turnovers for 23 points, that fuels their team and that fuels their transition opportunities. That is an area where we know we have to be better.''

''He doesn't miss games, he guards the best players every night and then he has 31,'' Paul said

''We have to change the way we start a game and come out with energy,'' Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas said. ''If we didn't have that struggle in the first half, it would have been a different game.

The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 111-110 to take the lead in the series 3-2. For the Grizzlies, Morant scored the last 13 points for Memphis, and his layup with a second left capped the Grizzlies' big rally from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to edge the Minnesota Timberwolves as Morant finished with 30 and had 13 rebounds and nine assists. Desmond Bane added 25 points, and Brandon Clarke had 21 off the bench for Memphis, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 12 before fouling out. For the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns led the Timberwolves with 28 points and 12 rebounds. Anthony Edwards had 22, and D'Angelo Russell added 12 and Taurean Prince 10.

''Go get a bucket. Ja,'' Morant said of the game-winning play’

''Obviously, he had a brilliant fourth quarter,'' Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said.

''It's a tough pill to swallow,'' Towns said. ''You feel like you got it after all the mistakes made and everything like that. We hit a big 3 to tie the game up with 4 seconds (left). You feel good. You feel good about going into overtime and having a chance to win the game. Just a learning experience.''

''Thank God that you're as good as you are because we had just fought so hard,'' Clarke said. ''And hit a really tough 3. And I was just like, it's fine, though, because we got 12 and we got a player that can make a really, really big-time finish. And I was like, `Yeah, thank God that we got you, man.'''

Also read: NBA: Celtics eliminate the Nets as Raptors make a comeback
 

(Basketball news) The Boston Celtics produced a clinical performance to sweep the series 4-0 as they beat Brooklyn 116-112 in game number 4. For the Celtics, Tatum scored 29 points, Jaylen Brown had 22 and the Celtics completed a four-game sweep as Marcus Smart added 20 points and 11 assists. For the Nets, Durant had 39 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as Nic Claxton scored 13 points, Kyrie finished with 20 and Seth Curry 23 points. Now the Celtics will face the winners of the Bucks vs Bulls in the second round of the playoffs.

''Couldn't believe it at all, but I think that's what we're built for,'' Tatum said.

''It's funny to us, because we don't duck and dodge anybody,'' Smart said. ''We knew what we were going to come in here and do.''

''A lot of stuff that may factor into why we lost, but they were just a better team,'' Durant said.

The Toronto Raptors after going down 3-0 in the series have made a magnificent comeback to win game 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers 103-88. For the Raptors, Pascal Siakam had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Precious Achiuwa scored 17 as OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. each scored 16 points. For the Sixers, Embiid had 20 points and 11 rebounds playing with a thumb injury. Harden scored 15 points on 4-of-11 shooting. With this result both teams head to Toronto to play the crucial game 6.

''I was terrible defensively,'' Embiid said. ''There's really no explanation. I've just got to play with more energy, move my feet better. I've just got to be better.''

''We always kind of figure it out,'' Siakam said

''We never brought the fight to them at the beginning of the game, really,'' 76ers forward Tobias Harris said.

''They were the tougher team all night, they were more physical all night,'' Rivers said. ''I don't think it was the second quarter. I thought it was throughout the game.''

''Not exactly the way we would draw it up, but we're happy to still be playing,'' Nurse said.

The Dallas Mavericks took the lead in the series against the Utah Jazz as Luka Doncic powered them to a 102-77 victory over them. For the Mavericks, Luka Doncic had 33 points and 13 rebounds as Jalen Brunson, who carried most of the offensive load for them when Doncic was sidelined, scored 24 points. Finney-Smith added 13, and Dwight Powell got the crowd going early with all eight of his points on 4-of-4 shooting in the first quarter. For the Jazz, Jordan Clarkson scored 20 points and Rudy Gobert added 17 points and 11 rebounds in the lowest-scoring game for the Jazz since they lost by 50 at Dallas (118-68) on Nov. 14, 2018.. With this result they head to Utah to play the 6th game of the series.

For his second game, it looks like he's been playing this whole series,'' coach Jason Kidd said. ''His conditioning, his effort on the defensive end. As we talk about rebounding, he's one of the best for us and he did that tonight.''

''They've scrambled extremely hard,'' said Mitchell, who is shooting 20% from 3-point range after being well over 40% the past two playoff years. ''It's a lot to continuously run teams off the line, and they've done a good job of it. They've made us uncomfortable.''

''It was nothing,'' Doncic said. ''It's playoffs, man. There's always going to be attention, but it was nothing. I tried to dunk it. Wasn't successful. These things happen in the playoffs.''

“I don't even remember that,'' Finney-Smith said before smiling. ''I don't even remember last year. Nah, but we put ourselves in a great spot. We've just got to handle our business in Utah.''

Also read: NBA: Nuggets make a comeback as Pelicans level the series

Navi Mumbai, Apr 22 (Cricket News) Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has backed out-of-form openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, saying a turn around is certainly possible and he would be concerned only if the duo was not hitting the ball well.

Rohit Sharma hasn't been his usual self, the destructive batter that used to pummel the opposition attacks to submission.

Rohit, who could not open his account against CSK on Thursday night, has managed only 114 runs from seven innings this season.

"It has been up and down. To be honest, Ishan batted really well in the first couple of games, and then a bit of a slide. Ro (Rohit) has been hitting the ball really well, he gets good starts, 15-20 runs, looking good and then not being able to convert," Jayawardene said after his team went down by three-wickets to Chennai Super Kings.

Ditto has been the case of Ishan Kishan, whom Mumbai bought for Rs 15.25 crore, making him the highest buy of this year’s auction.

But the left-handed batter, who also perished on zero against CSK, has managed only 191 runs from seven games.

"When that happens, and when you get out early, you feel that nothing is going your way. I have been a batsman (and) that is part and parcel but I will be concerned if they are not hitting the ball well or if they don’t have that confidence, but both of them have been batting well out there in the middle as well in the nets,” added the former Sri Lankan batting great.

He said it was necessary to back their abilities and if the two work hard and go through the processes, a turnaround was on the cards.

"You need to back the ability, the confidence, these are the guys who have played a lot of IPL cricket, understand what needs to be done and just need to get in, work hard, go through the process and it will turn around,” the Mumbai Indians coach added.

Mumbai are winless this season so far, having suffered seven defeats on the trot. 

Also Read : Like old times, Dhoni scripts thrilling last ball win for Chennai Super Kings

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Boston Celtics took a 2-0 lead in the playoff series as they beat the Brooklyn Nets 114-107. For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown scored 22 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter as Jayson Tatum added 19 points for Boston, which held Durant without a basket in the second half. Al Horford had 16 points, Daniel Theis scored 15 and Payton Pritchard had eight of his 10 in the final period. For the Nets, Durant finished with 27 points but struggled from the field for the second straight game, shooting 4 of 17 as Irving had just 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting a day after being fined $50,000 for directing obscene gestures and profane language. Bruce Brown finished with 23 points and Seth Curry added 16. With this result the Celtics will travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets twice in the Barclays Arena.

''This was old-fashioned. old-school playoff game,'' Tatum said. ''You just have to grind it out. That's what we did... we just just stuck with it. Proud of the guys and how we kept responding all game.''

“They're doing a good job trying to cut off my scoring, limit my shot making,'' Durant said. ''It's on me to figure it out.''

''They took the lead and they never looked back in that fourth quarter,'' Irving said. ''We don't really have time to be disappointed, to hold our heads. This is part of playoff basketball.''

“I think we did that,'' Udoka said. ''We want to make him work defensively and offensively, have bodies on him the whole time and try to wear him down.''

''I think our intensity dropped a little bit in the second half. We also didn't convert,'' Nets coach Steve Nash said. ''We had opportunities, we didn't convert.''

The Chicago Bulls made a staggering comeback against the third seed Milwaukee Bucks as they beat them 114-110. For the Bulls, DeRozan scored a career playoff-high 41 points as Nikola Vucevic added 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Zach LaVine had 20 points as the sixth-seeded Bulls beat the third-seeded Bucks for just the second time in their last 19 meetings. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the scoring with 33 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists. Antetokounmpo increased his career postseason point total to 1,715 to overtake Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1,692) for the most in Bucks history as Brook Lopez had 25 points for the Bucks. Middleton scored 18 and Holiday 15. With this result the Bucks travel to Chicago for two games as the series is finally poised at 1-1.

''No matter what you did in the regular season, this is a brand new start and new mindset,'' DeRozan said. ''You could see it in all the guys. It doesn't matter if we've lost 20 times to those guys. This is an opportunity for us to compete. We've got to take advantage of it.''

''He's always been positive and he knows the type of team that we are and how resilient we are,'' Bucks guard Jrue Holiday said. ''We just want him to get back as quickly as possible and be healthy so he can come out here and help us win games.''

''We expected those guys to make a run,'' Vucevic said. ''They're a championship team for a reason. They've been there before, so we expected them to make a run.''

''I do think that playing some of these higher-level teams at the end of the year has maybe kind of hardened us, helped us grow,'' Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. ''It's helped us get better. It's helped us be able to have that kind of mentality that we've got to move on to the next play. I think at times this year when we played against good teams, when it started to go a little bit the other direction, we didn't have enough in us to get it back going in our direction.''

The Philadelphia 76ers have one step in the second round of the playoffs after their overtime 104-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors. For the Sixers, Embiid made a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left in overtime to give the 76ers their third straight victory as he scored 33 points and 13 rebounds. James Harden had 19 points and 10 assists before fouling out in the closing seconds of regulation as Tyrese Maxey scored 19 points and Tobias Harris had 11 points and 12 rebounds. For the Raptors, Anunoby scored 26 points, Gary Trent Jr. had a playoff-high 24, and Precious Achiuwa had 20 as Pascal Siakam and VanVleet each had 12 points. VanVleet shot 3 for 13, going 2 for 10 from 3-point range. Now the Sixers have a chance to wrap the series on Saturday in Toronto after taking a 3-0 lead in the series.

“Great play call,'' Embiid said. ''Tobias set an amazing screen, Danny threw a great pass. All I had to do was finish, and I'm glad I did.

''For him, that's a high-percentage shot, especially on that wing,'' Harris said of Embiid's decisive basket. ''We got the ball to our best player, somebody who makes plays, makes shots.''

''We've been watching his skill set all year long and how great he's been,'' Harden said. ''Tonight was no different. He did all the right things, and when it was time for him to finish the game off, he did that.''

''There's no room to look around and feel sorry for ourselves,'' VanVleet said. ''We did a lot of good things tonight, we played a lot of minutes of great basketball and we're going to have to do it again.''

Also read: NBA: Pelicans make a comeback as Heat's win against the Hawks
 

(Basketball news) The Boston Celtics won their first match 115 - 114 against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the NBA playoffs. For the Celtics, Tatum scored 31 points, the last two on the first buzzer-beater of his career as it was Boston's first buzzer beater in the postseason since Paul Pierce in 2010 against the Heat. Brown added 23 points as Horford had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Smart finished with 20 points, including four 3-pointers. For the Nets, Kyrie Irving finished with 39 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter as Durant added 23 points but shot just 9 of 24. With this result the Celtics take a 1-0 lead in the series as they play their next match on Wednesday.

''When he took that dribble we just kind of made eye contact. He made a great pass,'' Tatum said. ''It doesn't get any better than that. A buzzer-beater in a playoff game at home.''

I've always been told you have more time than you realise you have,'' Smart said. ''I was about to throw it to Al (Horford) off the dribble and I saw JT cut at the last minute.''

''I think that's kind of a microcosm for our season, guys moving the ball being unselfish,'' coach Ime Udoka said.

“They did a good job of forcing me away, then helping in the paint. I just got to be more fundamental in my moves,'' said Durant . ''I feel like some shots went in and out for me.''

The top seed in the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns made easy work of the New Orleans Pelicans as they won 110-99. For the Suns, Paul scored 19 of his 30 points during a brilliant fourth-quarter scoring display as Deandre Ayton was particularly dominant on the defensive end with four blocks, and had 21 points and nine rebounds and Booker finished with 25 points. For the Pelicans, CJ McCollum led the scoring with 25 points, but struggled with his shooting much of the night as he finished 9 of 25 from the field. Valanciunas added 18 points and 25 rebounds as Brandon Ingram scored 18 points. With this result the Suns take the lead in the series as they play their second in Phoenix tomorrow.

''Classic Chris,'' Suns coach Monty Williams said.

''It's just reading the game,'' Paul said. ''We watch games all day, every day. We got to watch all the games yesterday. We watched the games today. We know in the playoffs, teams aren't going to lay down.''

''That man's a true competitor, a true winner,'' Suns guard Devin Booker said. ''He wants it that bad. You can see it in his demeanour, you can see it in his walk. It shouldn't surprise anybody. He's built for these moments.''

''We figured out a way to play,'' Pelicans forward Larry Nance Jr. said. ''This is the playoffs and there are going to be ebbs and flows, ups and downs. We are in a chess match now.''
The Milwaukee Bucks started their title defence in emphatic fashion as they won 93-86 against the Chicago Bulls. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 points and 16 rebounds as Brook Lopez scored 18 points, Holiday had 15, Khris Middleton had 11 and Bobby Portis added 10. Portis also had 12 rebounds. For the Bulls, DeMar DeRozan scored 18 points but shot 6 of 25 as Vucevic had 24 points and 17 rebounds but shot 9 of 27. LaVine had 18 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 6 of 19. With this result the Bucks took a 1-0 lead in the series as they both will face each other on Wednesday in Milwaukee.

''We've got to win the ugly games,'' said Jrue Holiday, whose 3-pointer with 5:03 left put the Bucks ahead for good. ''I feel like today was ugly. It was a battle and it was tough, but it was an ugly one.''

''I thought it was a good shot,'' LaVine said. ''We were down three. I got a really clean look.''

''Every shot I took tonight felt good,'' said DeMar DeRozan, ''I guarantee you that me, Zach and Vooch (Nikola Vucevic) aren't going to miss that many shots again.''

''The whole team was kind of out of rhythm,'' said Antetokounmpo, who didn't score in the fourth quarter while dealing with foul trouble. ''We weren't able to find one another as easy as we usually find one another and make shots. We missed a bunch of open shots today. Usually we make those and we get energy.''

Also read: NBA: Hawks and Pelicans make the final playoff berth
 

(Basketball news) The New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs 113-103 and they will now face the Los Angeles Clippers for the 8th seed in the Western Conference standings. For the Pelicans, McCollum scored 27 of his 32 points in the first half as Jonas Valanciunas added 22 points and 14 rebounds as the Pelicans' stars delivered under pressure as New Orleans played their first postseason game since 2018. For the Spurs, Devin Vassell led the scoring with 23 points and Dejounte Murray had 16 points. Now the Pelicans have to beat the Los Angeles Clippers if they are to qualify for the Western conference playoffs.

''You have to take the good and bad and learn from it,'' Murray said. ''We had guys not shoot well, starting with myself. They were physical. I ain't making no excuses.''

''He was great,'' Pelicans coach Willie Green said of McCollum. ''He set the tone early. He understood the moment, and it sort of calmed the rest of the guys down. We just got the ball to him and he made play after play, score after score, and then the rest of the guys that just started to feed off CJ.''

''I was just trying to be locked in and aggressive early,'' McCollum said. ''The playoffs is a lot of antics, a lot of momentum plays, a lot of back and forth. You've got to be stable and mentally locked in to withstand a certain level of (chaos). . There's going to be a lot of winning in our future.''

''The three best players for New Orleans all played great, and if that happens, you're going to lose,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of his team's inability to contain McCollum, Ingram and Valanciunas. ''We stayed in it and got back in it, but then we made the same mistakes as we did in the first three quarters - non physical defense.''

''We're just playing for each other,'' Valanciunas said of combining for 81 points with McCollum and Ingram. ''When things struggle, we need somebody to slow the game down, which (CJ) does. Next step is on Friday.''

The Atlanta Hawks beat the Charlotte Hornets 132-103 and now face the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern conference. For Hawks, Hunter finished with 22 points, while Danilo Gallinari added 18 and Clint Capela 15 as Kevin Huerter and Bogdanovic chipped in with 13 apiece. Trae Young bounced back from a sluggish start to score 24 points and led his side to a resounding victory. For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball led scoring with 26 points on 7-of-25 shooting and Terry Rozier managed 21 points as it wasn’t enough to get that elusive victory. Last year’s conference finalist will look to get that last 8th spot in the Eastern Conference by beating the young Cavs side.

''We're definitely confident right now,'' Hunter said. ''But we've got a lot more work to do. We're not satisfied yet.''
''It's great for my team,''' said Young, who had 11 assists. ''If you can make two guys guard you, it only opens up the floor for everybody else. I have to embrace 

James Borrego called it another step forward for a rebuilding team. ''A lot of good things have happened for this franchise based on where we're at today compared to where we were two or three years ago,''

Also read: Nets beat the Cavs in the play in tournament to qualify for the playoffs

Tomorrow’s matches in the play-in tournament:

• Cavs vs Hawks
• Clippers vs Pelicans

(Basketball news) The Brooklyn Nets qualified for the playoffs after they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the play-in tournament 115-108. For the Nets, Kyrie Irving had 34 points and 12 assists, Kevin Durant added 25 points and 11 assists, and the Nets took the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. For the Cavs, Darius Garland scored 34 points as Rookie Evan Mobley scored 19 points and Love had 14 points and 13 rebounds.The Cavaliers remained without All-Star center Jarrett Allen because of a broken finger. After this victory the Nets face a monumental task against in form Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Cavs get one more chance to secure a playoff position when they face the winners of Hawks vs Hornets on 15th April.

''I know that team very well and they know us very well and it'll be a back and forth,'' said Irving, a former Celtics guard, ''and once you throw that ball in the air, you're going to really see some spectacular basketball.''

“You can't give a team like Brooklyn that has championship aspirations and players who have won championships a 22-point lead,'' Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. ''Again, give our guys credit for getting back in it. But that's damn near impossible to overcome.''

''I always say about Kyrie in a March Madness, one-game type of situation, he's a tough guy to bet against,'' former Cavs teammate Kevin Love said. ''Again, seen this movie before but still - I think that there's just times where he comes out and plays out of his mind and that's why he's a future Hall of Famer. So you just kind of have to tip your hat to him. He hit some really tough, contested shots today.''

The Minnesota Timberwolves also secured the 7th spot in the Western conference and qualified for the playoffs after beating the La Clippers 109-104. For the Timberwolves, Edwards and Russell combined for 59 points as both came through with a steady stream of clutch plays. Edwards scored 30 points with five 3-pointers and Russell had 29 points and six assists to send the Wolves to the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference and a first-round matchup with Memphis. For the Clippers, Paul George finished with 34 points after shooting 2 for 10 in the first half as Reggie Jackson scored 17 points and Norman Powell finished with 16 points. The Clippers have a second chance to make the playoffs with a home game on Friday for the No. 8 seed against either New Orleans or San Antonio. 

''The game had to go in a different direction,'' coach Chris Finch said. ''That's why you have a team, because a lot of other people step up.''

''Just utilizing what we have,'' Russell said. ''We've got a lot of pieces that complement each other.''

''I took what the game gave me. That's what they gave me. They were scared to guard me, and I took advantage of that,'' Edwards said.
''I'm one of the best defensive guys on earth, and no one can guard him,'' said Beverley, who was in tears during the spirited celebration afterward as Edwards hopped up on the scorer's table.’’

''They played a lot better without KAT on the floor,'' Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. ''They got into us defensively. They switched on a lot more stuff. I just didn't think we made the right plays.''

Also read: The regular season is over as Bulls secured the last playoff berth

The other matches in the play-in tournament are:

• Hawks vs Hornets
• Spurs vs Pelicans
   

(Basketball news) The Chicago Bulls clinched the last playoff position as they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-120. For the Bulls, Troy Brown Jr. added 17 points and 11 rebounds as Patrick Williams scored a career-high 35 points and Ayo Dosunmu had 26 points in a season-high 45 minutes. For the Wolves, Nathan Knight had 17 points and eight rebounds and Jaylen Nowell added 15 points. With this result the Bulls secured 6th place in the Eastern Conference standings as they will face the No. 3 seed Milwaukee in the first round. Chicago, which has returned to the playoffs after a four-year absence, shared the East's best record with Miami at the All-Star break they fell off the pace and too many inconsistencies in their performances dropped them to 6th in the standings.

''We have to maintain a high level of competitive fight. They're champions for a reason,'' coach Billy Donovan said. ''They're battle-tested.''

''It's a good first step. This needs to be the foundation of what we're trying to build, and regardless of what happens from here, we've got a lot of things that we've learned,'' coach Chris Finch said.

''I was running a lot of things at him tonight to try to get him to be like that,'' Donovan said. ''He took it upon himself to do the things that he did, even randomly.'

The Lakers finished off their season with a consolation victory over the Denver Nuggets 146-141 after overtime. For the Lakers, Malik Monk had a career-best 41 points and Austin Reaves set career highs with 31 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists as Wenyen Gabriel had 14 points and 10 rebounds. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook did not play the last match as this was also Frank Vogel’s last game in charge, he leaves the golden and purple after 3 seasons and won an NBA championship in 2020. For the Nuggets, Markus Howard had a career-high 25 points and Bryn Forbes scored 24 . With this result the Nuggets face the Golden State warriors in the first round of playoff matches.

''My reaction is I haven't been told (anything) and I'm going to enjoy tonight's game,'' Vogel said when asked about the report. ''Celebrate what these young guys did in terms of scratching and clawing and getting back in this game. We'll deal with tomorrow tomorrow.''

''He gave me a chance,'' Monk said. ''This was the only team that called me in the offseason. I have nothing bad to say about him. All praise goes to him. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have a chance to play basketball. I probably wouldn't be here, so kudos to Frank.''

''This is real basketball,'' Denver's DeMarcus Cousins said. ''This is when talent has to come out. The regular season is one thing, you kind of go through the motions to get through it and be successful.''

Season's over, no one got hurt tonight,'' Malone said. ''We'll focus on moving forward and preparing for Golden State.''

The other results were:

• Cavs 133 - 115 Bucks
• Rockets 114 - 130 Hawks
• Nets 134 - 126 Pacers
• Hornets 124 - 108 Wizards
• 76ers 118 - 106 Pistons
• Magic 125 - 111 Heat
• Knicks 105 - Raptors
• Grizzlies 110 - 139 Celtics
• Timberwolves 120 - 124 Bulls
• Pelicans 107 - 128 Warriors
• Suns 109 - 116 Kings
• Trail Blazers 80 - 111 Jazz
• Clippers 138 - 88 Thunder
• Mavericks 130 - 120 Spurs

Also read: LA Lakers sack head coach Frank Vogel after missing out on play-offs
 

(Cricket news) Gujarat Titans got their third consecutive victory over the Punjab Kings in dramatic fashion as Rahul Tewatia hammered two sixes of the last two balls to lead his side to a very dramatic victory. Hardik Pandya won the toss and unsurprisingly chose to bowl first as they made two changes bringing in Sai Sudarshan and Darshan Nalkande in place of Vijay Shankar and the injured Varun Aaron. On the other hand, Mayank Agarwal handed Jonny Bairstow his PBKS debut in place of Bhanuka Rajapaksa.

In the first innings, England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, who was the costliest foreign player this season made full use of a lucky catch which Hardik Pandya caught but was unfortunately touching the boundary ropes, to smash a second consecutive half century and help Punjab Kings post 189/9. Livingston smashed 64 off just 27 balls to score the bulk of the runs for them as he shared 52 runs partnership for the third wicket with opener Shikhar Dhawan (35) to revive the Punjab innings after they were 43 for 2 after the powerplay. Rashid Khan had a field day against the Punjab batsmans as he picked up three wickets and conceded only 27 runs. Darshan Nalkande had a good IPL debut as he finished with figures of 2/37.

In reply, Gujarat Titans had a poor start as they lost Matthew Wade early on but Shubam Gill and debutant Sai Sudharsan shared a 101 partnership to stabilise the innings, Surdharsan made a nice 35 off 30 balls to support Gill who was smacking the ball all around the park and it looked like GT would chase the target quite easily. The decisive moment came in the match when Rahul Chahar got Sudharsan in the 15th over as the scoring rate was brought down and put the opposition under pressure. In the penultimate over the pressure showed as Shubam Gill just missed out on a terrific century by 4 runs. The Titans needed 19 off the last over and all hopes of a victory were dashed when Hardik Pandya was run out on the first ball by Bairstow, but in stepped Rahul Tewatia to hit two massive sixes to edge out a victory from the clutches of a defeat. 

Pandya after the unlikely victory said: "The kind of ups and downs happen, I think I have now become used to it. It was a Kings' game; some sympathy for them losing this. Gill has been telling everybody that he is there. A lot of credit goes to Sai as well. Body is coping all right; I am getting tired obviously. As the games come, I'll be getting better."

Shubman Gill after his motm performance said, “It is important to keep the scoreboard ticking. It is important to hit those gaps because this outfield is rapid. It is just about execution. It was just one of those days where I was hitting the ball well and finding the gaps as well. I am hitting the ball hard, trust me. I am doing my level best to hit it hard, it might not look that way. As an opener, I have to bat through the innings, so that it is easier for the big-hitters to hit it in the end. Instead of not thinking in the nets, I try and work and reduce my dot balls as much as possible. Not sure about the celebrations now, it takes us one hour to reach the hotel”

Also read: CSK and SRH look for their first victory in match no 17

(Basketball news) Denver Nuggets sealed the last playoff place as they beat the Memphis Grizzlies 122-109. For the Nuggets, Jokic became the first player in NBA history with 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season as he finished the night with 35 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and five steals and Aaron Gordon added 22 points. For the Grizzlies, Desmond Bane had 14 points as both Dillon Brooks and Zaire Williams finished with 12 points each. With this result, the Denver Nuggets clinched a fourth consecutive playoff berth as their current record stands at 48-33 and clinched the last playoff berth in 6th in the Western Conference standings.

“Dude is really great at basketball,'' teammate Bones Hyland said

''The MVP isn't even a competition,'' Nuggets coach Michael Malone declared afterward. ''There's other great players. I'm not saying they're not great players. But what Nikola Jokic has done this year - with this team - everything we've had to go through, is just incredible.

''I think we've been playing good basketball, even the other night against Utah. Tonight, we just didn't have it,'' Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said.

''We threw a lot at him,'' Jenkins said. ''He's the MVP for a reason. He's nearly impossible to guard. He's going to beat you from inside, outside, playmaking. He played at a really high level tonight.''

''My first thought was Steve Nash in that playoff series and they couldn't stop the bleeding,'' Malone said. ''And I'm saying, `Of all games, Nikola gets a very non-malicious elbow, an inadvertent elbow to the head and he's bleeding.'

''Like, get a staple gun out here,'' Malone said. ''And it finally stopped and Nikola put on another MVP performance.''

The Milwaukee Bucks sealed second place in the Eastern Conference standings as they beat the in-form Boston Celtics 127-121. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday each scored 29 points as Khris Middleton had 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds and Bobby Portis scored 17 points and Brook Lopez had 15. For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown had a triple double with 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as Marcus Smart shot 7 of 12 on 3-point attempts and scored 29 points, while Daniel Theis had 22 points and Derrick White added 19 points. With this result, The Bucks (50-30) moved a half-game ahead of the Celtics (50-31) and a full game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers (49-31), who lost their recent match as Miami Heat sealed top spot in the Eastern Conference standings. 

''It would be a lot easier if we don't wait until the last quarter or last couple of minutes to get stops, but it happens,'' said Milwaukee's Khris Middleton ''No matter how the game's going, I just love the way we keep competing.''

''We've seen that growth from (Brown) this year,'' Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. ''With certain guys out, he had the ball more and had to make those plays.''

''I guess I just got lucky, really,'' Holiday said. ''I left it short and it came back to me

''Surgery can be season-ending, so you don't want to do that,'' Hill said after the Bucks' Thursday morning shootaround. ''You want to figure out how I can manage to get back out with the guys. It feels a lot better now. I'm just trying to give it everything I have.''

Also read: NBA: Mavericks secured a playoff berth as Clippers beat the Suns

The other results are:

• Hornets 128 - 101 Magic
• Raptors 119 - 114 76ers
• Pelicans 127 - 94 Trail Blazers
• Timberwolves 127 - 121 Spurs
• Warriors 128 - 112 Lakers

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Wizards vs Knicks
• Pistons vs Bucks
• Nets vs Cavs
• Raptors vs Rockets
• Bulls vs Hornets
• Heat vs Hawks
• Mavericks vs Trail Blazers
• Jazz vs Suns
• Lakers vs Thunder
• 76ers vs Pacers
   

(Basketball news) Mavericks secured a playoff berth after they beat the Detroit Pistons 131-113. For the Mavericks, Luka Doncic had 26 points, 14 assists and eight rebounds, Jalen Brunson had 24 points as they reached 50 wins this season. For the Pistons, Rookie of the Year candidate Cade Cunningham had 25 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. With this result the Mavericks moved 20 games above .500 for the first time since 2011, when they went on to win the NBA title. The Dallas Mavericks are going to earn home-court advantage in the playoffs, for the first time since Kidd was playing during championship season. Their current record stands at 50-30 and are currently 4th in the Western Conference standings with two games to go.

''It's a great accomplishment,'' coach Jason Kidd said. ''The guys in that locker room can't take that lightly because it's not easy to do.''

“I think it's pretty impressive,'' Doncic said. ''We started the season kind of slow. I'm proud of how we played and hopefully we get to 52 (wins).''

''That's going to be a top team in the West,'' Casey said. ''I wanted them to feel it and experience it.''

''They do a great job of spreading out and making 3-point shots,'' Casey said. ''You make one mistake and they make you pay. They're a great offensive team, exactly what we want to be in terms of moving the basketball and knocking down 3s,''

The Los Angeles Clippers won against a rested Phoenix Suns 113-109. For the Clippers it was a welcome return for Paul George and Norman Powell after being out of the majority of the season. Norman Powell scored 24 points and Paul George added 19 points as Ivica Zubac had 13 points and 11 rebounds. For the Suns, they were without Devin Booker and Chris Paul and fellow starters Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder as the second unit played, Ish Wainwright scored a career-high 20 points, Aaron Holiday added 16 points and Bismack Biyombo had 14 points and 12 rebounds. The only starter in double figures was Payne with 13 points. With this result, the Clippers have secured the 8th place in the standings with a record of 40-40.

''You can never relax in the NBA,'' Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. ''The players are too good, the coaches are too good, and as soon as you let your guard down things like this can happen.''

''It's a great lesson for our team and any kid watching, you just play it out,'' Suns coach Monty Williams said. ''We just stayed with it and had that Suns grit.''

''When you have games like this, you find out who that guy is that you may be able to throw into a big game,'' Williams said. ''You build that confidence in games like this.''

''Playing with PG still didn't seem real to me,'' Powell said. ''I looked up to him growing up. Early on in my career he gave me some words of encouragement that stuck with me.''

''We just tried to play off one another,'' George said. ''The biggest thing for me was playing off the ball and letting Norm get comfortable. He's a big-time playmaker and scorer off the ball.''

Also read: NBA: The Heats thrash the Hornets while Lakers get eliminated

The other results were:

• Nets 110 - 98 Knicks
• Bulls 94 - 117 Celtics
• Hawks 118 - 103 Wizards
• Jazz 137 - 101 Thunder

Tomorrow’s fixture are:

• Hornets vs Magic
• Bucks vs Celtics
• Raptors vs 76ers
• Pelicans vs Trail Blazers
• Timberwolves vs Spurs
• Nuggets vs Grizzlies
• Warriors vs Lakers
   

Pune, Apr 6 (Cricket News) Regarded as one of the world's finest pacers, Pat Cummins said he was more surprised than anyone else after his IPL record-equalling fastest fifty in Kolkata Knight Riders' five-wicket win over Mumbai Indians here on Wednesday.

Cummins reached his half century in just 14 balls, same as KL Rahul, to help KKR chase down MI's total of 161 with four overs to spare.

"I probably think I'm most surprised by that innings. I'm glad that it came off. I was thinking of having a swing if it was in my area. Wasn't trying to overthink it," Cummins said at the post-match press presentation ceremony.

The Australian added, "Very satisfying to do it on my first game this season. Was just trying to pepper the shorter boundary. The hard thing after a big auction is that there are a lot of changes from last year. It's a good mix of talent out there and quite relaxed with the boys." It was unbelievable stuff from Cummins as KKR, needing 35 from 30 balls, got them all in just six deliveries with the Australian Test captain hitting six sixes and four boundaries in his 15-ball 56, leaving his skipper Shreyas Iyer as well as rival captain Rohit Sharma stunned.

"Extraordinary! I couldn't believe the way he (Cummins) was hitting the ball. Because yesterday in the nets, he was getting bowled now and then, I was batting in the nets beside him then," Iyer said.

Venkatesh Iyer batted through the KKR innings to remain not out on 50 off 41 balls.

"During the timeout, the plan was for Venky to drop anchor and tell Pat to just swing at everything because that's what he was doing before too. When I went into bat, I told him to just time the ball because he was overhitting the ball a bit.

"We have to take responsibility as top order batters. All of us have the ability to hit the ball long. In the powerplay both innings, the pitch was quite the same. After the powerplay, it got a lot easier I guess," Iyer added.

Veteran Kieron Pollard complemented Suryakumar Yadav's brisk half-century by smashing 23 runs in the last over to propel MI after KKR kept things tight for a major part of their innings.

After an 83-run fourth-wicket stand between Suryakumar Yadav (52) and Tilak Varma (38 not out), Pollard (22 not out) hit Cummins for three sixes to end MI's innings on a high, which eventually proved to be too less for KKR.

Rohit said Cummins' onslaught will be hard to digest.

"Never expected him to come and play like that! Lot of credit to him for the way he played. With the bat we didn't start well. Over the last four overs, to get 160-plus was a great effort...

"We had the game until the 15th over, but the way Cummins played... We thought we could have them. But this will be hard to digest - the way it turned out to be in the last few overs. There is a lot of hard work we need to put in," Rohit said. 

Also Read : Cummins equals record for fastest IPL fifty as KKR beat MI by 5 wickets

News Source : PTI

Chennai, Apr 6 (Basketball News) Defending champions Punjab suffered a 84-101 defeat at the hands of Services in a second round match of the men's event in the 71st Senior National Basketball Championship here on Wednesday.

In another upset result, Uttarakhand defeated a strong Indian Railways team 101-92 with Vishesh Bhriguvanshi leading the way with 48 points.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu men beat Haryana 75-48 in a Group F match.

RESULTS -- Men's Group E: Services 101 (Akhilesh Kumar 29, Gaurav Chandel 26, Nikhil Kumar 20) beat Punjab 84 (Amjyot Singh 33, Kanwar Gurbal Singh Sandhu 17).

Kerala 81 (Antony Johnson 27, Sajin Mathem 15) beat Karnataka 71 (Shashank Raj 21, Pratyanshu Tomar 20).

Group F: Uttarakhand 101 (Vishesh Bhriguvanshi 48, Prashant Rawat 21) beat Indian Railways 92 (Santhosh Mani 19, Anto Bethel 19, Kamran 18).

Tamil Nadu 75 (Muin Bek 19, Aravind Kumar 11) beat Haryana 48 (Sunil Rathee 14).

Group G: Uttar Pradesh 77 (Harsh Dagar 18, Vishalkumar Gupta 16) beat Telangana 69 (A Vijay 23).

Women's Group E: Indian Railways 94 (Vaishnavi Yadav 20, Sruthi Arvind 12) beat Madhya Pradesh 38 (Priya Sharma 12). Kerala 63 (Stephy Nelson 16, Minnu Maria 13) beat Tamil Nadu 49 (J Ishwarya 13).

Group F: Punjab 72 (Kavya Singh 21) beat Assam 37 (Reena Patel 11). Telangana 90 (Aswathy S Thampi 21, Priyanka 23) beat Karnataka 53 (Mohanbala 10).

Group G: Maharashtra 75 (Sakshi Pandey 36, Suzzane Pinto 14) beat Uttar Pradesh 66 (Barkha Sonkar 26).

Group H: Rajasthan 78 (Kavita P 39) beat Odisha (Lipramayee Satapathy 36). 

Also Read : NBA: The Heats thrash the Hornets while Lakers get eliminated

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Miami Heat virtually sealed the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings after their resounding 144-115 victory over the Hornets. For the Heats, Tyler Herro scored 35 points off the bench, Jimmy Butler added 27 points, Bam Adebayo had 22 and Duncan Robinson broke out of a recent scoring slump with 21 points. Herro was 8 of 14 from behind the arc and tied Dwyane Wade's single-game record for points by a Heat reserve. For the Hornets, Miles Bridges scored 29 points and LaMelo Ball finished with 18 points and 14 assists. With this result the Miami Heat moved closer to clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a record of 52-28.

“Role and involvement and everything has looked different night to night,'' said Robinson, now on Miami's second unit. ''That's what you get when you play on a good team with a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things. For me, it's just about wrapping my mind around that.”

''I have to give credit to my teammates. They trust me to have the ball in my hands and let me be myself,'' Herro said. ''I couldn't do it without them. Another good win for us and just getting ready for the playoffs.''

''I'm kind of surprised, a different sense of urgency, but we have to fix it next game,'' Bridges said. ''We have to get better. Around this time if you don't have a sense of urgency, you shouldn't be playing. We just have to fix that.''

“The ball was moving, guys were helping each other get shots,'' Miami assistant Quinn said. ''It really was a team effort offensively.''

The Los Angeles Lakers’ disappointing season finally came to an end when they lost 121-110 against the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers have potentially five future Hall of Famers on their roster - James, Davis, Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard and still couldn't find a way to make the playoffs, which will disappoint the fans all over the world as the Lakers franchise will need introspect and make a lot of changes next season. On the other hand, Booker scored 32 points to lead the Suns to their franchise-record 63rd victory as Ayton had 22 points for Phoenix, and avoided its first three-game losing streak of the season. For the Lakers, Russell Westbrook scored 28 points while Anthony Davis added 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Suns extended their record to 63-16, which is subsequently the best in the league.

''Tonight is unbelievably special for so many people,'' Suns coach Monty Williams said. ''Not just the organization, but the people in the city, who have basically birthed the Suns. Everywhere I go, people say the Suns are their baby.

''All I could do in the last five seconds of the game is tell everybody how much I appreciate them,'' Suns forward Deandre Ayton said. ''And there's a lot more to go. But on this team, we celebrate everything.''

''We fell short. We were eliminated tonight,'' Frank Vogel said. ''I can say it has not been due to lack of effort. We have all put in the work. Our guys stayed fighting right until the end. We brought integrity to the process. We just fell short though a disjointed season.''

''Some things we could control, some things we couldn't,'' Anthony said. ''It is nothing more than we just didn't get it done. We can't make excuses; we just didn't get it done

Also read: NBA: Lakers lose their 6th straight game, 76ers clinch playoff place

The other results were:

• Pacers 122 - 131 76ers
• Magic 120 - 115 Cavs
• Raptors 118 - 108 Hawks
• Nets 118 - 105 Rockets
• Thunder 98 - 94 TrailBlazers
• Bulls 106 - 127 Bucks
• Timberwolves 114 - 132 Wizards
• Nuggets 97 - 116 Spurs
• Jazz 121 - 115 Grizzlies
• Kings 109 - 123 Pelicans

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Pistons vs Mavericks
• Knicks vs Nets
• Bulls vs Celtics
• Hawks vs Wizards
• Jazz vs Thunder
• Clippers vs Suns
   

(Cricket news) Ahead of a busy summer campaign against a number of the world’s top sides, Ireland Women’s head coach Ed Joyce will be taking the senior performance squad to Spain for an intensive weeks’ warm weather training camp from 21-27 April 2022. The performance squad will train at the Desert Springs Cricket Ground, in Almeria, as they build up to a summer of cricket that will feature fixtures against South Africa, Pakistan and the newly-crowned ICC Women’s World Cup winners, Australia.

Nineteen players (with the exception of Eimear Richardson who is in New Zealand) will travel to the camp for the week for sessions covering technical skills, bowling and batting, strength and conditioning, and both individual and group activities.

Speaking ahead of the trip, head coach Ed Joyce said: “We haven’t played a game or trained on grass wickets since the World Cup qualifiers in late 2021, so this is an opportunity to get outside in sunny weather (hopefully) and get some realistic skills work in before the Super Series starts in May, and South Africa visit in June. We are bringing the entire Performance Squad, minus Eimear Richardson, so we will be able to have a mix of nets and centre wicket/practice matches on the trip.

“A large part of the trip is just getting the winter out of the legs and being used to playing on grass again. We are also working on lots of specific things with the batting, bowling and fielding group which we can continue. These include practising against high-pace for our batters, variations for our seamers, and specific types of catching and throwing for the fielding group.

“The players have worked incredibly hard all winter on all aspects of their game, especially on fielding where we have utilised the indoor 4G surface at the IRFU HP Centre in the Sport Ireland Campus. I’m really happy with the attitude, commitment, and improvements that we’ve made. This camp will be an opportunity to further hone these skills on grass leading into a very exciting 2022 summer.”

And has the recent ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand provided any insights for upcoming opponents?

“We all watched a lot of the World Cup. The games were incredibly close, it was a fantastic spectacle. Some of the catching was brilliant, and we are trying to improve this area of our game. It’s been noticeable how the teams with faster bowlers have used the short ball, so we need to prepare for that to some degree. We are also aware that our batters need to be able to manipulate spinners for singles to a greater skill level than we possibly showed last year.

“It has been very useful to see the teams that we will play this season in Ireland in action too. Our conditions here mightn’t be the same as in New Zealand at the World Cup, but we can still see how teams like to operate and get some useful information that way.”

Training camp squad

Laura Delany, Shauna Kavanagh, Sophie MacMahon, Cara Murray, Celeste Raack, Mary Waldron, Ava Canning, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Gaby Lewis, Louise Little, Jane Maguire, Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell. Rachel Delaney, Sarah Forbes, Hannah Little, Kate McEvoy.

Coaching and support staff: Ed Joyce, Glenn Querl, Beth Healy, Greg Hollins, Catherine Simpson, Jay Shelat

Also read: Dinesh Karthik, Shabaz Ahmed lead RCB to stellar chase against RR

Mumbai, Apr 5 (Cricket News) Rishabh Pant says the tour of Australia in 2020-21 is the "turning point of my life" as he helped India save one game and win another despite taking painkiller injection after struggling to hold the bat.

The 24-year-old Pant played two of his greatest knocks in the last two Tests in Sydney and Brisbane as an injury-ravaged Indian team recorded an incredible come-from-behind Test series triumph.

However, all was not well with Pant prior to that as the swashbuckling keeper-batter was dropped from India's limited-overs set-up before the 2019 ODI World Cup.

Speaking to Indian women's team cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues on Dream11's YouTube channel, Pant recalled how he stopped talking to everyone after being dropped from the squad.

"I was not talking to anyone, not even family or friends. I needed my own space. I just wanted to give my 200 percent each and every day." Describing that as the lowest point of his life, Pant said: "I was thinking 'what's going to happen now'. I was like 22-23. That was one of the lowest points of my life -- mentally. I was thinking about 'what now'.

"Suddenly everything had stopped -- you're dropped from two formats. The noise was becoming bigger and bigger. Everyone kept telling me, 'it's not possible'. But at the same time, I was just sitting there alone, thinking what I can do as an individual." The player, who later managed to turn things around, added on his low phase, "The only thought going through my mind was, you keep putting your hard work each and every day no matter what happens. you give your 200 per cent. we'll take the result, whatever happens.

"I was just telling myself, there's no choice but to do it. I had to make India win." Pant was the leading run-scorer in India's 2-1 win over Australia, scoring 274 runs in five innings at an average of 68.50.

This was after an injury to Wriddhiman Saha in the nightmarish pink-ball Adelaide Test paved the way for Pant's return to the playing XI.

Pant, who sat out the first practice match due to a stiff neck, suffered an unbearable bruised elbow while batting on day three of the third Test in Sydney, where his 97 saved the game for India.

"I took the painkiller injection during the game, went to the nets and I was trying to hold the bat but it was painful.

"I was perplexed and also afraid after getting hit. After this there's Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood and they would be bowling a lot faster," he recalled.

But he said things settled down after he started taking on the Australian bowlers while chasing 400 on the last day.

"Rahane got out before lunch and I got tense. I went inside, I couldn't get my way, pressure was building, the Aussies were sledging and because they were up in the game and they wanted to win.

"Then it was my threshold, mid-on was up and he bowled me there and I hit him over mid-on for a boundary. Next ball he bowled there, after a few overs, and I hit him for a six.

"Next over the long on was back and I was playing my normal game and I was getting runs.

"Suddenly the momentum of the match changed and we were in a position to win the match. And slowly, my pain started lessening because I was concentrating entirely on every ball and so the focus on the pain went away," he said about his knock.

"I was feeling bad -- not for missing my hundred but for not being able to win the match for India from there. Then Ashwin and Vihari took blows all over the body and saved the match. It was one of the turning points of the series for us and for myself also. Gabba happened next," Pant signed off.

After beginning the season with a victory over Mumbai Indians, the Pant-led Delhi Capitals will take on Lucknow Super Giants in Mumbai on Thursday. 

Also Read : Mitahli slips, Mandhana rises in ICC Women's ODI batters rankings

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Los Angeles season went from bad to worse as they lost 129-118 against the Denver Nuggets, a loss which has ultimately seen them drop out of the play in position as well. For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic had 38 points, 18 rebounds and six assists as Will Barton scored 25 points and Aaron Gordon added 24 points and eight rebounds. For the Lakers, Anthony Davis had 28 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as Russell Westbrook added 27 points and Carmelo Anthony had 17. LeBron James was out of this match with a sprained left ankle. With this result the Nuggets have almost sealed their playoff berth as their record stands at 47-32 and currently are 5th in the Western Conference standings.

''Very satisfying, knowing the situation, four games to go (when) you've got people right behind you, pushing you,'' Denver coach Michael Malone said. ''This was an important road win. We've been a great road team all regular season long. ... When it mattered most, we were able to get stops.''

''I think it's a really important win for us,'' Jokic said. ''I'm just glad that we're winning. If we're playing bad and we're winning, that's the most important thing. I think it was really collective play that we did together, but hopefully we can keep it up to separate further and be even better.''

''We don't worry about the math,'' coach Frank Vogel said. ''We worry about the next game. Learn the lessons from this game, take them to the next game and hopefully get a win against Phoenix (on Tuesday).''

''We didn't expect to only have 21 games together, but that's been all year,'' Davis said. ''The times we were together, we looked good. . That being said, we still have enough (players) to play a basketball game. We will continue to fight this way, give ourselves a chance and see what happens.''

The Philadelphia 76ers secured a playoff position as they won 112-108 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the Sixers, Embiid scored 44 points and made 20 trips to the free throw line and added 17 rebounds and James Harden had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in his second triple-double with Philadelphia. For the Cavs, Darius Garland scored 23 and Caris LeVert and Lamar Stevens had 18 apiece. With this result the Sixers improved their record to 48-30 and currently stand 4th in the Western Conference and as for the Cavs they stayed in 7th with a record of 43-36.

''That game was taken from us,'' Bickerstaff said. ''We deserved to win it.''

''If it happens, great,'' he said of winning his first MVP. ''If it doesn't, I don't know what I have to do. I'll feel like they hate me. I feel like the standard for guys in Philly or for me is different than everyone else.''

''The one thing you can't defend is the free throw line and that's absurd,'' Bickerstaff said, referring to the Sixers' 42 attempted foul shots. ''Our guys deserved way better than they got tonight.

''They're great players and they understand how to play through the rules,'' he said of Philly's All-Stars. ''They know how to manipulate the rules. This is no knock or disrespect to those guys. But the game has to be consistent on both ends of the floor. We were searching for that consistency and we never found it.''

''I get to witness his greatness every night,'' Harden said. ''Obviously, his offensive numbers tonight are self-explanatory. Defensively, he was very active blocking shots, changing shots and clogging the paint up was key.''

Also read: NBA: Bucks edge out the Nets as Lakers drop to 11th in the west

The other results were:

• Pacers 117 - 121 Pistons
• Magic 88 - 118 Knicks
• Raptors 109 - 114 Heat
• Thunder 117 - 96 Suns
• Spurs 113 - 92 Trail Blazers
• Rockets 132 - 139 Timberwolves
• Kings 90 - 109 Warriors
• Clippers 119 - 100 Pelicans

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Pacers vs 76ers
• Magic vs Cavs
• Raptors vs Hawks
• Heat vs Hornets
• Nets vs Rockets
• Thunder vs Trail Blazers
• Bulls vs Bucks
• Timberwolves vs Wizards
• Nuggets vs Spurs
• Jazz vs Grizzlies
• Kings vs Pelicans
• Suns vs Lakers
   

Navi Mumbai, Apr 4 (Cricket News) Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul wants his batters to put pressure on the opposition by playing aggressive but risk-free cricket, look for the fours and sixes, but "choose smart shots".

Rahul's team's earned its second successive win in the IPL-15 here on Monday, beating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 12 runs.

Having scored 169 for seven after a disastrous start, LSG stopped SRH at 157 for nine.

Winning games likes these will give a lot of confidence to LSG, and Rahul touched upon that at the post-match presentation.

"What's pleasing is that we've found a way to stay in the game and give ourselves a good chance of winning. We did that again today," Rahul said.

While pacer Avesh Khan (4/24) shone bright with the ball, Rahul and Deepak Hooda did the bulk of scoring for LSG.

"Not ideal to lose three wickets early, but we need to give ourselves a little time since we bat deep and we have power at the death. That's something we need to learn as a batting group - how to play risk-free cricket while looking for fours.

"But with the ball we've been brilliant in all three games. We don't chat so much in the middle. As opening batsmen, you give yourselves a couple of balls and if the wicket is good then both openers have to go." Rahul said the addition of all-rounder Jason Holder has bolstered the team.

"We have that extra batter with Jason coming in, so the plan is to put pressure on the opposition. That's the body language we want to carry. To go out there and not only hit boundaries and sixes, but choose smart shots.

"If we lost wickets early, we need to quickly assess the situation and see what the target should be. Quinton and Lewis wanted to put pressure on Washington, but it didn't come off." On Hooda, the captain said, "I've been playing with Hooda for last 3-4 seasons, he doesn't come out of the nets. Don't really need to do so much nets when you're batting so well, but he never comes out of the nets.

"He had to wait for his chance, he's using that, and now is becoming someone you can rely on, in the middle order." SRH skipper Kane Williamson said his team will "reflect on the small margins" and look at the positives from the outing, which was comparatively better than their heavy defeat against Rajasthan Royals.

"Much better performance from the last outing. Our powerplay bowling was good with three wickets," said Williamson, whose bowlers had LSG reeling at 27 for three after opting to field first.

He added, "If only we could break the next partnership but credit to Deepak Hooda and KL Rahul. That was the difference to take them to 170. There were glimpses where we put ourselves in positions to get over the line with the bat, but wasn't good enough.

"It was a good surface. We knew if we can get some good partnerships, there was enough power in the hut. We'll reflect on the small margins and look at the positives. I think the guys with the bowling roles were good. Some key death overs from us too." This was SRH's second loss on the trot.

"A few ones and a few twos and the chase would've taken a different shape. The game is a game of small margins but we don't want to get too far ahead and try to look back on those good bits." 

Also Read : Avesh bowls brilliant 18th over as Lucknow Super Giants beat SRH by 12 runs

News Source : PTI

Mumbai, Apr 4 (Cricket News) Seasoned Rajasthan Royals opening batter Jos Buttler feels team-mate Prasidh Krishna has the attributes of becoming a successful fast bowler and foresees the youngster playing for India in all three formats.

Krishna, who made his ODI debut last March, has given a good account of himself in the past year. He troubled the West Indies with his disconcerting pace and bounce while also doing well for his previous IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders.

"He has some pace in the nets and skills, he's got all the attributes to be a very successful fast bowler for India in all formats of the game. I see him playing red ball cricket for India as well," Buttler said at the pre-match conference ahead of Rajasthan's clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday.

The flamboyant opener feels the team is benefitting from the "invaluable experience" of veterans Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Trent Boult in crunch situations.

"Their experience is really invaluable. Having those guys is fantastic, we have lots of experience to draw from. Against Mumbai the game was in the balance and we needed wickets, Ashwin came up with a fantastic wicket and then Yuzi got two in two. Those guys are top performers and they know how to get things done," he added.

Talking about Sanju Samson, Buttler said the skipper has matured as a player since they first started playing together.

"Not many changes (since Sanju became captain). That is one of the greatest attribute any leader has to have -- being yourself, being authentic.

"Sanju definelty has that. He's game has matured, cricket has matured, he's a older and wiser than when we first started. We are enjoying playing under his leadership, he makes a great environment. He's a fun guy who has respect from the entire group." Dew has been playing a major role in the outcome of the matches with teams opting to chase after winning toss.

"The dew is something we can't control but we can practice with the wet ball and get used to it. Same for the fielding, put to in a some water and practice your catching cause the dew is playing a big factor and we need to adapt to it as quickly as possible."

Also Read : SRH look for their first win against LSG in match no 12

News Source : PTI

Mumbai, Apr 3 (Cricket News) Chennai Super Kings skipper Ravindra Jadeja wants his team to find ways to come back stronger even as he defended opener Ruturaj Gaikwad's poor form after his team's third successive defeat in the IPL.

After having lost to Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Supergiants in the first two games, CSK on Sunday suffered a 54-run loss to Punjab Kings.

"I think we lost too many wickets in the powerplay and didn't find momentum from ball one. We need to find a way to come back stronger," Jadeja said after the match.

Asked if he has concerns about Ruturaj Gaikwad's form, the skipper said: "No, we need to give him [Gaikwad] confidence as we all know he's a very good player. I'm sure he will come good." He also praised Shivam Dube, who has now scored back-to-back fifties.

"Dube has been batting well and I think keeping him in a good frame of mind is the key. We will try our best to work hard and come back stronger." I had no advice for Liam Livingstone, said Agarwal ------------------------------------------------- An ecstatic Mayank Agarwal was all praise for his teammates after a clinical show.

"I said nothing to Livingstone. Everyone holds their breath when he's batting," Agarwal said.

He also lavished praise on Vaibhav Arora who got two wickets for 21 runs.

"Vaibhav was with us a couple of years back and we saw the talent. KKR picked him up, but we wanted him because he's something different." Agarwal attributed Anil Kumble's eye for talent in finding Jitesh Sharma.

"With Jitesh, Anil bhai had seen him at Mumbai Indians. He has great intent and he's a fantastic keeper. The standout thing about him is his attitude. We will definitely look to play hard, positive cricket. We have to be emotionally intelligent if it doesn't come off," he said.

I play my own way, says Livingstone ----------------------------------------- Punjab Kings' costliest buy Liam Livingstone was happy with his 32-ball-60 and said that he has his own way of playing.

"I've been swinging hard, so nice to get it off the middle today. But it was all about the seamers. I play my own way and I struggled a bit with Rajasthan as well. Hopefully, this will bring some confidence." About his wickets, Livingstone said: "Bowling is something I really enjoy and I keep practicing. Hopefully, I'll come more and more into the game. I also bat in the nets with Odean Smith," he said. 

Also Read : Dashing Livingstone, rookie Arora star in Punjab Kings' 54-run win against CSK

News Source : PTI

Chennai, Apr 3 (Basketball News) Defending champions Punjab got off their campaign in the men's section in the 71st Senior National Basketball Championship with a 105-69 win over Gujarat in Group A of the preliminary round here on Sunday.

For Punjab, Amyjot Singh led the way with 27 points while Princepal Singh had 15 points and Kanwar GS Sandhu contributed 14 points.

Host Tamil Nadu started with a 85-47 win over Delhi in Group C with captain Muin Beik (15 points) leading the way.

In Group B, Karnataka quelled the challenge of Services, posting a 117-76 win with Anil Kumar BK (28 points), Arvind (25) and Pratyanshu Tomar (21) being the main contributors.

In the women's section, a strong Indian Railways team got off to a strong start with a 100-62 win over Tamil Nadu in Group A.

Results: Men: Group A: Punjab 105 (Amyjot Singh 27, Navkarman Singh 12, Kanwar GS Sandhu 14, Amrit Pal Singh 10, Princepal Singh 15) beat Gujarat 69 (Sahaj Patel 11, Kuldeep Tamiliya (C) 12, Kasi Rajan 13).

Group C: Tamil Nadu 85 (Muin Beik 15) beat Delhi 47.

Group D: Haryana 76 (Lalit 29, Sunil Rathee 19) beat Madhya Pradesh 62 (Vishwajeet Choudhary 19, Prakash Mishra 17).

Women: Group A: Indian Railways 100 (Sruthi Arvind 21, Niam Doma Bhutiya 14) beat Tamil Nadu 62 (Ashmitha 14, J Ishwarya 10).

Kerala 62 (Seekala 12, Kavitha Jose 11) beat Uttar Pradesh 41 (Barkha Sonkar 18).

Punjab 67 (Rithika 20, Kanishka Dhir 14) beat Rajasthan 48 (Nisha Sharma 29, Ankita Kumari 14). 

Also Read : NBA: Bucks edge out the Nets as Lakers drop to 11th in the west

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Apr 1 (Cricket News) Rashid Khan has a fast bowler's mindset in a spinner's body with an uncompromising attitude when it comes to ripping his googlies and leg-breaks off the surface at nearly 100 kmph.

At 23, the Afghan spinner is the most sought-after T20 freelancer on the global league circuit with 436 wickets in 312 games.

Having started the season with an impressive 1/27 for Gujarat Titans, Rashid is extremely hopeful that he can replicate his Sunrisers Hyderabad form for the Hardik Pandya-led franchise.

So is Rashid an aggressive fast bowler or 'scientist' ready to pull off new tricks? "I am a spin-fast bowler because of the pace at which I bowl. It is very hard to spin the ball at that pace and for that I think that it requires a different kind of skill-set," Rashid told PTI in an exclusive interview. "The speed at which I bowl is somewhere between 96 kmph to 100 kmph. It is hard to generate turn at that pace but I would rather bowl at that speed than bring it down to 70 to 75 kmph.

"I have always been a big fan of bowling quick leg spin. I have just been trying different experiments with my bowling in the nets and it's really helping," he added.

I am not conventional wrist spinner, 'mystery' is in consistency ====================================== The term 'mystery spinner' is a loosely used jargon to describe any slow bowler that batters find difficult to read over a consistent period of time.

"I don't always consider myself a leg-spinner because, spinners use a lot of wrists and I don't use my wrists that much. I just use top of my fingers and so I am a finger spinner as well in that sense," he said.

The 'mystery' comes from consistency of being able to hit the right length which can sow seeds of doubts in a batter's minds.

"It's all about, being more consistent with line and length and whatever you are bowling -- be it flipper or leg-break. As long as you have the good control over your skills and can bowl in right areas, it doesn't matter, if there is an element of mystery or not.

"If you hit the perfect length time and again, anyone can become a mystery bowler. My length on which I have worked hard makes me different from other leg-spinners." For Rashid what has stood out for him is having that mindset where he is ready to deliver for the team in any given situation.

"Consistency is in having that kind of mindset. Yes, that I am capable of delivering it in every stage and hardwork and belief in skill sets is something I have always had," he said.

Learn from greats as much as you can: my advice to Gurbaz, Noor ========================================= It's not just Rashid himself but rising Afghan stars like keeper-opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and spinner Noor Ahmed who are also part of Gujarat Titans set-up.

"It's a huge opportunity for both of them. I already had that discussion with them when we were playing for Afghanistan. What mindset you need to have for a big event, you need to remain fully prepared, very strong mentally.

"Two months is a long time to learn from every coach. My advice to them is simple -- never think about result, it's all about process," he said.

Wankhede provides the kind of bounce you need as spinner ================================== With 55 out of 70 matches in Mumbai, Rashid feels the conditions there are conducive for spinners of his type.

"The bounce is more compared to other venues but we still need to bring our A game. It's always good for spinners in Mumbai but you do need to bring your own skill-sets," he said.

Don't know what future holds but I would love to play more Tests ======================================== Since Afghanistan's introduction to Test cricket in 2018, Rashid has played only five Tests, in which he has 34 wickets.

With Afghanistan not playing too many Tests, will Rashid be content, if after 15 years, he retires just as the "world's greatest ever T20 bowler"? "Fifteen years is a long time. You don't know where and how you will end up. Life is so unpredictable that you never know what's going to happen the next moment.

"I never had that kind of set goals for myself even for next three to five years. I always know that on a given day, I need to perform," he said.

As far as Afghanistan's lack of Test match exposure is concerned, Rashid hopes that in another five years, things change.

"It is bad luck that we don't play a lot of longer format games which I would have liked to play. That's something I hope that in another five years, it changes. "So that I will be at least able to play five to 10 Test matches a year for Afghanistan," he concluded. 

Also Read : We can definitely beat Aussies on our day: Ecclestone ahead of World Cup final

News Source : PTI

(Football news) After 6 months of very little game time at Real Madrid, Gareth Bale turned up for Wales' World Cup qualifier play off against Austria. The winger scored twice to ensure that Wales made it to the final playoff where they will be one step away from making it to the World Cup for only the 2nd time ever. Their final game will be later this year against the winner of Ukraine and Scotland.

Bale's Real Madrid contract runs out at the end of the season and it is more clear than ever that Los Blancos are not going to renew his deal. His agent has come out and said that the player hasn't decided about his future yet. Reports suggest that Bale's future depends on Wales' World Cup qualification. The rumours are that Bale will retire from all forms of football if Wales don't qualify for the World Cup and if they do, he will sign a short term contract with another club. The clubs the Welshman is being linked to are Newcastle United and Cardiff City. 

It will be a sad day if Bale has to retire at the age of just 32. He has certainly been the best Welsh player of all time and probably the best British player in terms of collective accomplishments. He has been a legend at Real Madrid who has always delivered in big matches and played a major role in their success. He has also been a game changer for Wales starring in two Euro campaigns and is also one step away from taking them to the World Cup. Bale has done all this and more despite being troubled with injuries. 

Carlo Ancelotti may look at Bale's performance against Austria and give him a chance to replicate that with Real Madrid. If a player like Bale's calibre is available for selection then Ancelotti might as well use him. Los Blancos have a cramped up schedule coming as they are fighting for the La Liga and the UCL title. It will be an abrupt and strange end to a magnificent career if Bale does decide to hang up his boots after the end of the season.

Also read: Real Madrid close in on Shakhtar Donetsk right-back Vinicius Tobias

(Basketball news) The Milwaukee Bucks edged out the Brooklyn Nets as they beat them 120-119 in overtime. For the Bucks, Antetokounmpo had 44 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. Jrue Holiday added 19 points and Khris Middleton had 16 before being ejected as Giannis became the all time leading scorer for the Bucks. For the Nets, Kevin Durant had 26 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds but missed a 3-pointer that would have won it. Kyrie Irving scored 25 points and Bruce Brown had 23. With this result the Bucks moved up to 2nd in the Eastern Conference table as they are only one victory away from getting the top spot in the standings, their current record stands at 48-28.

''When I'm done we can talk about it, but now there's no time,'' Antetokoumpo said, looking ahead to Friday's game against the Clippers. ''There's things that have to be done.''

''We just fight, compete, compete and know that obviously it helps to have that big fellow on your team that can literally break a game open for you and make plays,'' Bucks swingman Wesley Matthews said.

''It was just one of those games that got funky at the end, but we've just got to finish it out in regulation,'' Irving said.

''I'm not averse to seeing how they're doing and where they're at, but it's not something that I'm, like I said the other day, refreshing my feed daily,'' Nash said.

''I think it's in a good place,'' Budenholzer said. ''I don't think it's anything that we're concerned about, but there's a daily attention and effort that it takes from the sports performance team and him and what he does to be his best. It's impressive.''

The Los Angeles Lakers lost their fifth straight match and dropped down to 11th in the standings meaning that they are out of the play in positions also as they lost 122-109 against the Utah Jazz. For the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell scored 29 points and Rudy Gobert had 25 points and 17 rebounds as Jordan Clarkson scored 19 points, Mike Conley added 18 and Bojan Bogdanovic 11 in his return from injury. For the Lakers, Russell Westbrook scored 24 points and Dwight Howard had 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers, who were without LeBron James (ankle sprain) and Anthony Davis (foot sprain). With this result the Utah Jazz improved their record to 46-31 and stayed in 5th in the Western Conference standings.

''It was huge to get a win,'' Mitchell said. ''The negativity and the losses and all that pressure was more external, but it was not an ideal time to have a five-game losing streak. So it's nice to celebrate this one tonight.''

''We were finding guys, making the right reads, getting switches, being able to break down the defense, get in the paint and make the extra pass,'' Mitchell said of the Jazz offense returning to its efficient ways with 51 percent shooting and only eight turnovers.
''I know how important these games are down the stretch. I just wanted to get my body and my mind prepared for tonight. Felt really good out there. Just a little bit hurt about not winning the game,'' Howard said.

''For me, personally, it's a big adjustment. You don't know who's playing and who's out. Who's starting and who's not. Something I'm not accustomed to. But like I said, I make no excuses. I own whatever it is, play whoever is playing and try to make the best out of it,'' Westbrook said.

''I really like the way we were able to re-focus together and reconnect. We did a good job closing . and that's big for us,'' Gobert said.

Also read: NBA: Phoenix Suns beat the Warriors and the Heat also win

The other results were:

• Pistons 102 - 94 76ers
• Hawks 131 - 107 Cavs
• Bulls 135 - 130 Clippers

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Wizards vs Mavericks
• Magic vs Raptors
• Celtics vs Pacers
• Thunder vs Pistons
• Rockets vs Kings
• Grizzlies vs Suns
• Bucks vs Clippers
• Spurs vs Trail Blazers
• Nuggets vs Timberwolves
• Lakers vs Pelicans
• 76ers vs Hornets
• Knicks vs Cavs
   

(Football news) Bayern face a tough away test against Freiburg as they look to extend their lead and win their record 10th consecutive Bundesliga crown. The two teams with the best defensive records this season will lock horns as Bayern have conceded only 28 goals so far, on the other hand Freiburg have let in 29 and both sides have also kept an equal number of clean sheets in the league with nine. Freiburg's hopes of making their first-ever Champions League appearance are still alive, despite playing out a goalless draw with bottom club Furth. 

A comfortable 4-0 success against Union Berlin was their 20th league victory of the season as star striker Robert Lewandowski netted a brace in that game to take his Bundesliga tally to 31 goals from just 27 matches. While Bayern will have one eye on next week's Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash against Villarreal, they will have to now turn their attention to Freiburg, a side against whom they have an impressive goalscoring record, as they have scored in each of their previous 17 meetings, scoring at least twice in the last 12 matches.

For Bayern Munich, Niklas Sule (hamstring) and Alphonso Davies (heart condition) have both returned to light training but won’t be ready for Freiburg. Leon Goretzka (knee) and Benjamin Pavard (COVID-19) have also and will be assessed ahead of kickoff to see if they are fit to play. For Freiburg, Nicolas Hofler, Philipp Lienhart and Jeong Woo-yeong are all doubtful after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.

Dortmund take on high flying RB Leipzig knowing that anything less than a victory would mean that their title challenge will be all but over. BVB have won four of their last five league games on home soil and scored 17 goals in the process, while Leipzig are on a golden run, having won each of their last three away matches in the league and also finding the net 13 times during this run. Dortmund have recently lacked a clinical edge in front of the goal as they have scored only four goals in as many matches and only managed to get narrow 1-0 victories. To put matters into context, the last time that BVB failed to score more than once in four successive league fixtures was back in 2014

The return of star striker Erling Braut Haaland to full fitness should act as a massive boost because he will provide Marco Rose's men with a much-needed attacking threat in the final third. The Norway international has scored more goals for Dortmund against RB Leipzig (six) across all competitions than against any other team, in the last three matches against Leipzig, he has scored a brace. Last week's point against Freiburg helped Domenico Tedesco's side extend their unbeaten run across all competitions to nine matches and has also kept them in the hunt for the last Champions league spot as Frieburg are ahead just on goal difference.

Leipzig's impressive form has seen them get 23 league points since the turn of the year, more than any other team in the Bundesliga this season. They were seemingly at risk of failing to qualify for Europe after their rocky start to the season, but since the arrival of Tedesco, they are now in a strong position to finish in the top 4. For Dortmund, Thomas Meunier (hamstring), Felix Passlack (muscle) and Mateu Morey (ACL) are all ruled out with injuries. Nico Schulz (muscle), Youssoufa Moukoko (hamstring), Steffen Tigges (ankle) and Marcel Schmelzer (ACL) are also sidelined due to injury, though Mahmoud Dahoud is available. For Leipzig, they will be without forward Yussuf Poulsen, who is suffering with a groin injury, while defender Lukas Klostermann (muscle) and backup goalkeeper Philipp Tschauner (illness) are also sidelined.

Also read: Real Madrid close in on Shakhtar Donetsk right-back Vinicius Tobias

The other fixtures are:

• Union Berlin vs FC Koln
• Arminia vs VFB Stuttgart
• Hoffenheim vs VFL Bochum
• Leverkusen vs Hertha
• Frankfurt vs Furth
• Augsburg vs Wolfsburg
• Monchengladbach vs Mainz
   

(Football news) Massimiliano Allegri in a recent interview stated that he had signed a deal with Real Madrid before this season but later retracted and joined Juventus so that he could live close to his son who lives in Turin. Presumably it was after that when Florentino Perez agreed a deal to bring back Carlo Ancelotti. 

Real Madrid were in a difficult situation after Zinedine Zidane had left the club after a trophyless season. Carlo Ancelotti couldn't have been the club's fortune and Allegri was definitely ahead of him in the pecking order. Allegri then re-joined Juventus where he is doing a decent job in a rebuilding phase. Real Madrid on the other hand are having a decent season where they are comfortable on the top of the La Liga table and are also in the UCL quarter finals. Los Blancos also won the Spanish Super Cup earlier this year. 

Carlo Ancelotti has come under scrutiny for his tactics and his refusal to rotate the players despite having an aging squad. Allegri unlike Ancelotti is definitely the go to guy to rebuild a squad as he did that twice at Juventus and is in the process to do it thrice. Under Allegri, Real Madrid may not be in the position they are right now but he would've definitely given some players a lot more chances to replace the old guards. There are already doubts if Ancelotti should continue at Real Madrid next season which is proof that Allegri would've been the better choice.

Ancelotti’s biggest contribution for Real Madrid is getting the best out of Vinicius Jr. The winger has improved tremendously under the Italian manager. The question is if that would have happened under Allegri and no one can know for sure which makes Ancelotti's appointment which was certainly a short term fix worth it. Ancelotti could change his ideology a little and start rotating and using the rest of his squad more which will solve many problems. Real Madrid fans can only imagine what it would've been to see Massimiliano Allegri at the Santiago Bernabeu home dugout.

Also read: Real Madrid close in on Shakhtar Donetsk right-back Vinicius Tobias

(Basketball news) The Phoenix Suns produced a clinical performance as they beat the Golden State Warriors 107-103. For the Suns, Chris Paul finished with 15 points and eight assists, Mikal Bridges and Devin Booker both scored 22 points as Deandre Ayton added 16 points and 16 rebounds, The Suns matched the franchise record with 62 wins for their 9th straight victory this season. For the Warriors, Jordan Poole scored a season-best 38 points to match his career high and also contributed nine rebounds and seven assists, Klay Thompson finished with 13 points as he shot just 5 for 21 and missed nine of his 10 3-point attempts in Golden State's fourth straight loss, seventh in eight and third in a row at Chase Center. With this result the Suns extended their record to 62-14 and sit at the top of the Western Conference standings.

''That's who we are. We are a work team. Even though the studies show that lifting after a game helps with recovery, I think they really enjoy being around each other and they enjoy the work,'' coach Monty Williams said. ''... As I've said before, our guys are chasing something. When you're chasing something, you don't want to get to whatever you're chasing and not be ready.''

''We felt like we've been there before,'' Paul said of the atmosphere. ''Obviously this is an exciting environment playing in here, the crowd going crazy and all that but we've been playing a ton of games like that.''

''The tough part about Jordan is he's learning how to play like Steph,'' Williams said before the game.

''Draymond took a step tonight,'' Kerr said of the improvements on both ends.

The Miami Heat reclaimed their top spot in Eastern Conference standings when they defeated the Boston Celtics 106-98. For the Heat, Jimmy Butler scored 24 points, Kyle Lowry added 23  as Bam Adebayo finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds. For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown led the team with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Jayson Tatum added 23 points and six assists. With this result the Miami Heat clinched a playoff place and also reclaimed the top spot with a record of 49-28 as the Celtics moved down to 4th in the standings with a record of 47-30, the Eastern Conference is very open at the moment as the Bucks, 76ers, Heat and Celtics are fighting it out for that elusive top spot.

''I think we did a good job of just communicating and being there for each other,'' Lowry said.

''It's a good thing for us to learn from,'' Tatum said. ''The season is not decided today. We've still got games to play, playoffs. So, we'll be good.''

''We've gotten a lot better at knowing where the ball has to go,'' Butler said. ''Putting everybody in the position that they need to be in to be successful.''

''That's why I like going through all these kind of games during the regular season,'' Spoelstra said. ''We had our share of challenges going down the stretch. But what I love about this group is we come in the next day, work at it and really try to get better. Those experiences make you stronger.''

Also read: NBA: Nets win while Mavericks inch closer to securing a playoff place

The other results were:

• Pacers 118 - 125 Nuggets
• Cavs 112 - 120 Mavericks
• Wizards 127 - 110 Magic
• Raptors 125 - 102 Timberwolves
• Knicks 114 - 125 Hornets
• Rockets 118 - 121 Kings
• Thunder 118 - 136 Hawks 
• Spurs 111 - 112 Grizzlies
• Trail Blazers 107 - 117 Pelicans

Tomorrow's matches are:

• Pistons vs 76ers
• Nets vs Bucks
• Hawks vs Cavs
• Bulls vs Clippers
• Jazz vs Lakers
   

Kalyani (WB), Mar 31 (Football News) NEROCA FC will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run in the I-League when they face Churchill Brothers at the Kalyani Stadium here on Friday.

The Orange Brigade has put in some strong performances since the beginning of the campaign and a scrappy win against the young Indian Arrows puts them in fourth position in the league.

"In the last match we had some changes because of the injuries but we played a solid match against the Indian Arrows. We improved our defence line and we tried to keep the ball as much as we could," said head coach W. Khogen Singh.

Talking about the injuries the coach said,"Sergio Mendigutxia is back from the injury and he will be available for the upcoming match, whereas Juan Mera is still injured and could be sidelined for the next 2-3 matches." On the other hand, Churchill Brothers after an inspiring draw against Sreenidi Deccan will be looking to bounce back with a win.

"For me, it is a very important project because I have the responsibility to bring back the club where it belongs, to the top," newly-appointed coach Antonio Rueda Fernández said.

"I know it will be a difficult task, as all the teams in the league are very good but we have great players in our squad who can help us to win the games," he said.

High-flying Sreenidi Deccan FC and bottom-placed Kenkre FC will clash in another match at the Naihati Stadium.

Sreenidi are unbeaten in the last five games, and in third place. They were, however, held to a 1-1 draw by Churchill, ending their three-game winning run.

“There are still things we can do better. We want to improve our finishing and our defensive phases. But of course we’re in a good position in the table in our first season, which isn’t easy,” said coach Fernando Santiago Varela.

Kenkre sit last in the table with just two points after seven games, but they’ve started to find some solidity in defence, letting in just two goals in their last three games.

“It’s important for us to be in control of the game throughout the 90 minutes. We want to improve our attack and capitalise on our chances,” said coach Akhil Kothari.

In the third game of the day, former winners Aizawl FC take on defending champions Gokulam Kerala FC.

The Malabarians are coming into the match after back-to-back draws, while Aizawl FC are looking confident having won three of their last four matches.

“We have started picking up points. It looks much better. I am happy with the performance. However, we want to control the game more and we are creating chances but we need to convert them," Aizawl FC head coach Yan Law said.

“We have done our homework. We know what we need to do." Gokulam Kerala FC head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese wants to rectify the mistakes from the previous matches.

“We tried to understand where we need to improve in the coming matches. We need to do more in pressing and wing play.

"Players have to work hard and keep focus during tough situations. It’s always a good opportunity to rectify mistakes after a draw,” said Annese. 

Also Read : Real Madrid close in on Shakhtar Donetsk right-back Vinicius Tobias

News Source : PTI

(Football news) Real Madrid are closing in on 18-year old Brazilian Vinicius Tobias. He is currently under contract with Shakhtar Donetsk and plays right back. According to FIFA rules about players playing for Ukrainian clubs, Tobias can join Real Madrid for free and straight away. The player wouldn't have to wait until next season to join the club.

The right back situation is very interesting at Real Madrid. Dani Carvajal, the first choice right back, is injury prone and inconsistent. Lucas Vazquez is good to cover for him but is a natural winger. Nacho is another player who can play there but is often required to cover at left back. Carvajal has been a legend at Real Madrid and despite recent tough times the club has decided to back him. Real Madrid have been linked with right backs like Pedro Porro and Reece James but selling Carvajal has never even been rumoured.

Vinicius Tobias will most likely play for the Castilla team and will be asked to train with the first team once in a while. Alvaro Odriozola will be returning to Madrid after his loan period to add to the mix. If Tobias does impress in Madrid, he may be asked to stay and may even be called up for some games. The likelihood is that Los Blancos will send him on loan next season and then potentially get some money to make profit out of him. The Brazilian is one to look for the future but at the current stage at Real Madrid there looks to be no place for him. Even next season 2 of Real Madrid's 3 available right backs will have to be sold for him to be promoted to the first team. 

Also read: Barcelona Femení defeat Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League

(Basketball news) Brooklyn Nets went back to winning ways after they won 130-123 against the Detroit Pistons. For the Nets, Kevin Durant scored 41 points he connected on 14 of 23 shots, 4 of 6 from 3-point range and all nine of his foul shots while adding 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks as Kyrie Irving added 24 points in his second home appearance since New York exempted the vaccine rule and Drummond added 14 points and 13 rebounds. For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham led the scoring with 34 points. Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey each had 15. With this result the Nets improved their record to 40-36 and are currently 8th in the Eastern Conference standings.

''I want to get better shots sometimes, but like a couple of them are like, `I'm hot, let me risk it,''' Durant said. ''I was just trying to get the best shots that I could. Sometimes it might be over a guy in the lane, but I feel like that's open and I have to keep knocking them down.''

''We can't hang our hat on the second half, we have to play a complete game,'' Drummond said. ''It's never going to be easy to make that turn against great teams. Not that the Pistons aren't a great team. They played a great game, but we just turned it up in the second half.''

''We're going to have to make our staple as a team on the defensive end, because if we're going back and forth in a shooting contest, obviously we'll still be in the game but can lead to mistakes on our end,'' Irving said.

''I know their record isn't good, but they still have pros over there,'' Durant added. ''They still made shots early and gained confidence as a team. This was a good test for us.''

The Dallas Mavericks are close to securing a playoff place after a 128-110 victory over the struggling Lakers. For the Mavericks, Luka Doncic scored 34 points in a triple-double as he finished with 12 rebounds and 12 assists and Reggie Bullock scored 17 points as he was 5 of 8 from 3. For the Lakers, Malik Monk scored 28 points and Russell Westbrook had 25 which dropped to their third straight defeat for their fifth losing streak this season as they steadily slid away from .500. With this result the Mavericks have virtually secured a place in the NBA playoffs as their current record stands at 47-29 and are just one victory away from overtaking the Warriors in third place in the Western Conference standings.  

''With those guys out, we're at a talent deficit, so the focus and execution has to make up for it,'' Vogel said. ''This is just the latest dose of adversity that this year's team has faced. When you lose 'Bron, OK, you have to adjust yet again throughout a season of setbacks.''

''We respect who they are,'' Dallas coach Jason Kidd. ''They're dangerous. (Monk) played well. Russ played well. We took care of business from the start. I think those guys set the tone. Three great quarters of basketball.''

Also read: NBA: Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies are emerging as dark horse

The other results were:

• Wizards 94 - 107 Bulls
• 76ers 116 - 118 Bucks
• Clippers 121 - 115 Jazz

Tomorrow’s matches are:

• Pacers vs Nuggets
• Cavs vs Mavericks
• Wizards vs Magic
• Raptors vs Timberwolves
• Celtics vs Heat
• Knicks vs Hornets
• Rockets vs Kings
• Thunder vs Hawks
• Spurs vs Grizzlies
• Warriors vs Suns
• Trail Blazers vs Pelicans
   

(Basketball news) When the season had started everyone believed that the either the Nets or Lakers were the favourites for the NBA title but 3/4 of the season is done with the Boston Celtics and the Memphis Grizzlies having put themselves as out right contenders to not only win their respective conference but also have a shot at the NBA title this season.

Heading into the playoffs, the Celtics are in terrific form as they have won nine of their last 10 games to shoot up themselves right at the top of the Eastern Conference standings (tied with the second place Miami Heat) and have suddenly emerged as a genuine title contender, particularly in a more open Eastern Conference, and a realistic pathway to the finals. Jayson Tatum has been playing at an MVP level over the span of three months and holds the key to Boston’s playoff fortunes. Ime Udoka’s team faces Utah, Miami, Chicago, Milwaukee and Memphis in one of the tougher runs and need to win all of their matches at home if they are to keep the top spot. Along with Jason Tatum Udoka has found the perfect role for Jaylen Brown who is also having a terrific season for the second most successful franchise in the NBA

Memphis is the real deal and has every reason to be confident about claiming second seed in the West and have hopes of actually clinching the Western Conference. Winning five of their last six games, the Grizzlies have secured a playoff spot and have most likely secured the second place also in the standings as they are about to face a tough run home including games against Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Golden State, Phoenix, Utah, Denver and Boston. It might see the Grizzlies drop to the third seed but a lot would have to go wrong. If they can knock off some of the big dogs, they will take that confidence and have every reason to be bullish about their playoff fortunes.

Jason Tatum has been quietly doing his business game in game out as he’s putting up magical numbers which has elevated him the MVP standings also, although he won’t be winning the MVP trophy this year but the last couple of months he has been playing like one. Since the All-Star break, Tatum has lifted his scoring average from 25.7 points to 32.1 on 50.7% from the field and 43.8% from long range to go with 7.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists on the way to becoming the league’s current total plus-minus leader.

“Hopefully next year, I can start off like that,” Tatum said, “Then, I can be in that conversation if we keep winning like this. But I don’t know. I guess I just had to get my legs under me. It’s just that time of the year. It’s time to get ready for the playoffs. We all just turn it up a notch.”

If it's Jason Tatum leading the Celtics from the front the same can be said about Ja Morant. The second year rookie has been playing a perennial all star, all year round and he also could have been in the MVP race but an unfortunate injury has dropped him out of the reckoning. His early season form set a bench mark of the others in the team as even without Ja the Grizzlies over the last 20 games have an unbelievable record of 18-2. Ja before his injury was averaging a staggering 27.6 points, 6.7 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. He is set to be fit for the playoffs as Grizzlies will certainly be the dark horses in a packed Eastern Conference

Also read: Lakers and Warriors both lose as LeBron crossed the 37k points mark

New Delhi, Mar 29 (Cricket News) Sachin Tendulkar has paid rich tribute to the late Shane Warne, calling him a "fierce competitor", against whom he always had to prepare differently as the Australian spin legend was good in playing mind games and gave nothing away with his body language.

One of the all-time greats of the game, Warne died at the age of 52 due to a suspected heart attack in Thailand on March 4.

"My first proper series against Shane Warne was in 1998 in India and everyone tagged that series as Tendulkar versus Shane Warne clash. And to remind people that it's not Tendulkar versus Shane but it is India vs. Australia. But such was the following," Tendulkar said.

"That kind of following is going to put you under pressure. When you are playing a world class bowler like him, you just can't turn up and hope that things are going to be okay.

"So I had to prepare properly, not just out being there at the nets but when you're sitting in the room, you have to be a step ahead of him, what he would be thinking because he was extremely good in putting pressure and playing mind games and trying to plan your dismissal." Tendulkar had many fierce battles with Warne and the 1998 series in India will remain a part of cricketing folklore.

"It didn't matter, you looked at his body language. One didn't know whether Warne had picked up four wickets, five wickets or he was bowling wicketless. Every delivery that he bowled, he was a fierce competitor.

"So even if you're facing the second last over of the day, one had to keep their eyes open, because he was always up to something and trying to figure out how could he dismissed." Tendulkar said "there were number of good spinners, but Shane was different".

"One of those very few bowlers against whom you couldn't hit the ball on the rise. He was someone if you did not get to the pitch of the ball, there was no way one was expected to go and drive on the rise," he said.

"That was his class the way he got the ball to drift and that can only happen if you have strong shoulders and you're giving it a rip, the ball drifts down the leg and then spinning away from you.

"I had to also practice because till then nobody had bowled round the wicket in the rough, trying to get you out. It was usually bowled to keep things under control. If the batter was scoring runs, to kind of slow him down.

"But Shane was actually looking to get the batter out, so one had to prepare the defensive and attacking options." West Indies batting great Brain Lara also hailed Warne as the "most potent player" for Australia, who sealed his place "in the upper echelons of world cricket" with his performances in the Ashes series, which included the ball of the century that he bowled to England's Mike Gatting in 1993.

"I grew up in a country where spin bowling dominated. The lower part of the Caribbean, Trinidad, Guyana, we played spin very well. And Warne posed a lot of trouble for a lot of other players. I found myself winning a lot of those battles, but he never gave up," he said.

"He always produced that miracle delivery the one that you didn't know was coming. So I always had my eyes open for Warne throughout my career. He was just a tremendous bowler, bowling in an attack which had awesome fast bowlers." Condoling his death, Lara said: "He was huge, such a legend, such a king, someone who I felt was, you know, gigantic when it comes in the world of sport, and it's unfortunate what has happened, it's very sad. He has a very young families, his parents still alive. It's a weird feeling that he's gone..." Remembering his last meeting with Warne in 2021, Tendulkar said: "After the last IPL, I went to spend some time in London where we got in touch. There was never a dull moment. He was full of entertainment, full of jokes and you know those battles those mini competitions.

"I realised that it was not just about spin, the swing also came naturally to him. He was a good golfer. I hate saying he was a good golfer because it's hard to accept what has happened and for us he will continue to live in our hearts.

"...He had this tremendous attitude towards life. Always positive and always welcoming. It's really hard to accept that he is no more among us..." 

Also Read : Would be very emotional thinking about de Villiers if we win IPL: Kohli

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Lakers' struggles continued as they lost 116-108 against the New Orleans Pelicans, LeBron became only the second man to reach 37,000 points in NBA history. For the Pelicans, Ingram scored 26 in his return from a 10-game absence as Murphy, who was drafted 17th overall in last year's draft, scored all of his 21 points in the second half and Jones, a second-round draft choice, had 16 points and a career-high six steals. For the Lakers, LeBron James hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 39 points, Malik Monk scored 23 points as Russell Westbrook scored 18 points and Dwight Howard grabbed 10 rebounds. With this result Pelicans improved their record to 32-43 and subsequently moved above the Lakers in the 9th place in the Western Conference standings.

''I've been out for three weeks, and to be back and win in this fashion with all my brothers, it's special,'' Ingram said. ''It shows we believe in each other. ... When winning is the mentality good things come to you and great things came to us tonight.''

''I have no idea how I finished the game,'' James said. ''It's pretty sore right now.

''I didn't want to come out,'' James added. ''I understood how big of a game it was for us. ... I just lost all explosiveness, so a lot of my game tonight was played on the perimeter after that. ... I couldn't really get into the lane like I would have loved to.''

''It shows they're getting better,'' Ingram said, applauding the consistent work ethic both young players have exhibited since they arrived. ''It's showing up on the box score. It's showing up in wins. It's definitely helping their confidence out a lot.''

''We can score when we want if we continue to play the right way, which I didn't think we did in the second half,'' Westbrook said. He did not elaborate.

Blowing a lead like that in such a game ''feels like (expletive),'' James said. ''Excuse my language but that's what it feels like. I came in with the mindset and understanding it was going to be a playoff-type atmosphere, playoff implications and things of that nature. I knew that from the jump. ... It feels like another wasted opportunity obviously for myself and for our team.''

The Golden State Warriors suffered a shock defeat at the hands of the Washington Wizards 123-115. For the Wizards, Kristaps Porzingis scored 23 points as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 22. For the Warriors who have lost five of its last six, Jordan Poole scored 26, Klay Thompson contributed 25 and Andrew Wiggins had 23. With this result the Wizards improved their record to 32-42 as the Warriors slipped to 48-27 and there is a possibility that the Dallas Mavericks will soon overtake the Warriors, who are struggling without Steph Curry.

''It feels good - sadly, that it's been that long,'' coach Wes Unseld Jr. said.

'I knew I was getting close. It feels great,'' Kispert said. ''I feel really good about it, but I also played a lot more games than Brad did his rookie year.''

'It looked like they were getting wide open shots from 3 most of the game,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ''I didn't like our ball pressure or our general body language in the first half. I didn't think we brought it, I didn't think we competed.''

''I'm playing terribly,'' he said. ''I've never really been on a team that gets worse when I'm on the floor and that's kind of where we are right now. Some things I can correct, some things will come with time. Just kind of is what it is.''

Also read: NBA: Hawks beat the Warriors and the 76ers thrash the Clippers

The other results were:

• Pistons 102 - 104 Knicks
• Celtics 134 - 112 Timberwolves
• Suns 114 - 104 76ers
• Mavericks 114 - 100 Jazz
• Nets 110 - 119 Hornets

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Hornets vs Nuggets
• Pacers vs Hawks
• Cavs vs Magic
• Knicks vs Bulls
• Raptors vs Celtics
• Heat vs Kings
• Grizzlies vs Warriors
• Rockets vs Spurs
• Trail Blazers vs Thunder

Basel, Mar 26 (Badminton News) Double Olympic medallist P V Sindhu and HS Prannoy dished out scintillating performances to make their way to the women's and men's singles finals respectively at the Swiss Open Super 300 badminton tournament here on Saturday.

World No. 7 Sindhu prevailed 21-18 15-21 21-19 over Thailand's Supanida Katethong in a 79-minute women's singles semifinal to make her second successive final after Prannoy eked out a hard-fought 21-19 19-21 21-18 win over Indonesia's world number 5 Anthony Sinisuka Ginting for his first summit clash in five years.

Sindhu, seeded second, will face another Thai player and fourth seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan in the summit clash, while Prannoy, who had last won the US Open in 2017, will take on Indonesia's Jonatan Christie in the men's singles final, on Sunday.

Kidambi Srikanth, the World Championships silver medallist, squandered an opening game advantage to go down 21-18 7-21 13-21 to Asian Games champion Christie of Indonesia in the other semifinals.

In the final, Prannoy will fancy his chances as he has beaten Christie thrice while losing four times in the last seven meetings. On the other hand, Sindhu will start as favourite against Busanan, whom she has defeated an overwhelming 15 times in 16 meetings so far.

Sindhu and world number 29 Supanida had shared the spoils in the two meetings this year and the Indian showed great nerves against the fighting Thai to come out unscathed in the semifinals.

In the opening game, Sindhu, who had won the Syed Modi International in January, used the court well, producing her smashes and follow up shots to gather points. Supanida tried to stay in the rallies but she couldn't finish them.

At the first break, Sindhu had a three-point advantage and she swelled it to 15-7 with a run of four points. The left-handed Thai tried to attack and dominate the rallies to narrow the deficit to 13-18.

However, she was not consistent enough as Sindhu grabbed five game points when the Thai went long.

The Indian found the net next, while Supanida grabbed two more points before smashing one at the nets to allow the Indian take the opening game.

Supanida continued her momentum after the change of sides, running up a 16-7 lead with Sindhu struggling against the deceptions of the Thai player, who eventually roared back into the contest when Sindhu went to the nets.

The Hyderabadi shuttler came back strongly in the decider, gaining a 4-1 lead but Supanida once again clawed her way to draw parity at 7-7 with a smash.

Both the shuttlers tried to take control of the front court with Sindhu managing to take a one-point lead in the final interval.

Sindhu stepped up the pace in the rallies to move to 16-13 but Supanida reeled off five straight points to surpass the Indian. It was soon 18-18 with Supanida going wide.

A lucky net chord helped Sindhu move to 19-19 as she held the match point with a smash and she sealed it with another powerful smash.

Earlier, former world number 8 Prannoy, who has been battling health issues after being diagnosed with a gastroesophageal reflux disease in 2018 and COVID-19 in 2019, showed great resilience against Ginting.

Prannoy, currently ranked 26th, grabbed the initiative early and held a 6-3 lead which was quickly erased by Ginting to move to a 12-19 advantage at one stage.

A five-point burst gave Prannoy a slender two-point lead and he maintained it till 18-16 before a net error and a service fault helped his rival to level par.

Ginting, however, went to net twice himself to hand over Prannoy a game point and the Indian sealed it with a precise return on his rival's front court.

After a tight battle in the second game, it was Ginting who grabbed a three-point lead at the interval following a couple of errors from the Indian at the net and front court.

The Indian fought his way back to 18-19 but a judgement error at the backline gave one game point to Ginting, who squandered one with a net error before Prannoy smashed out to allow his rival to make a comeback.

In the decider, Prannoy took a 8-5 lead and increased it to 14-8 but he stumbled to a series of errors to allow Ginting make it 15-19. The Indian eventually unleashed a smash to grab four match points. He squandered two before entering the finals with another precise return. "Yessssss ! Finals of the Swiss Open ! Quite a tough one against Ginting tonight! Happy to get that win today. One more to go, Let's get it," Prannoy tweeted after the match. 

Also Read : P V Sindhu, H S Prannoy enter Swiss Open semifinals

News Source : PTI

Christchurch, Mar 26 (Cricket News) Having regained her confidence with runs in the previous game, India opener Shafali Verma is relishing the prospect of facing the South African pacers in their must-win Women's World Cup match on Sunday.

The teenager has not been in the best of form in the ongoing tournament and was dropped from the playing XI before being called back for the game against Australia.

"I'm always ready for any sort of situation whether I was not in the squad. When I was included against Australia, I was ready for it as I always thought that I may be given a chance on any given day," Verma said at a pre-match press conference.

"Coaches were backing me when I was in nets. Our batting coach always gave me confidence which is a very good thing. He always worked on my weak and strong points." "Our staff goes to those player who are not in good nick. They sit with them and give them confidence. As a player it gives us a boost.

"They always make sure to speak to the out-of-form players and try to boost their confidence, which is a good thing. As a player, you derive a lot of confidence through such interactions." Her run-a-ball 42 against Bangladesh has given her a lot of confidence, too.

"The last game gave me so much confidence. I was just thinking of improving myself and backing myself rather than thinking I am doing good or not. So, I'm just thinking to do well for the team in tomorrow's game.

"When I was out, I was going through a bad time. I was focusing on my processes and when you go through such patches it's important to work on your process.

"I worked on my mistakes, and tried to improve on a day-by-day basis, and I am doing that even now - physically, mentally and skills-wise." Having made her India debut as a 15-year-old prodigy, Shafali has come a long way and alongside the elegant Smriti Mandhana, forms one of the most explosive opening pairings in women's cricket.

However, on tours of England and Australia last year, she was peppered with short balls and didn't look comfortable against them.

"I have worked on playing short balls. I have improved but want to keep getting better at it, whether that be against the short ball or a strong point of mine," she said.

"I love playing fast balls and good bowlers. I have always played against pace because I used to play with boys. I am very excited to play tomorrow's game. It would be fun to play fast balls." 

Also Read : Delhi Capitals clash with Mumbai Indians; PBKS take on RCB

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Atlanta Hawks beat the Golden State Warriors 121-110. For the Hawks,  Trae Young had 33 points and 15 assists, Danilo Gallinari added 25 points as they railled them to consecutive victories, For the Warriors,Klay Thompson finished with 37 points, hitting a season-high nine 3-pointers, and Jordan Poole scored 24 as Poole and Thompson each had 22 points in the first half. With this result the Golden State stayed third in the Western Conference, coming off a rousing win at Miami on Wednesday before faltering against the Hawks, who are the No. 10 team in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 37-37.

''The last two minutes (of the second quarter) were kind of a disaster,'' Golden State coach Steve Kerr said. ''We turned the ball over, took some tough shots. They got out in transition, hit some 3s and I thought that carried to the second half.

''They felt more confident and they dominated that third quarter. That was the key stretch. From the two-minute mark of the second and into the third, they took over the game.''

''We knew what we needed to do is get stops,'' Young said. ''They went on a run, hit some tough 3s and contested 3s. Late in the game, it comes down to getting stops and executing down the stretch. We did a good job of doing that. Klay hit some tough shots, but it was good to get some stops.''

''There's still time for us to get that rhythm, get that mojo back and a game like this - coming out with that focus and playing with that attitude that's necessary - we can certainly can get that going,'' Hawks coach Nate McMillan said.

The Philadelphia 76ers moved within a victory away from going to the top of the Eastern Conference standings as they thrashed the Los Angeles Clippers 122-97. For the Sixers, Harden had 29 points and a season-high 15 rebounds while Embiid added 27 points and 10 as both of them registered double-doubles as Thybulle had 13 points, Tobias Harris added 12 and Tyrese Maxey 11. For the Clippers,Amir Coffey scored 21 points and Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 points and eight rebounds. Harden became the 116th player in league history to reach 4,500 career defensive rebounds. With this result the 76ers improved their record to 46-27 and are currently second in the Eastern Conference standings.

''We're getting better. The one-two has to be there first. It is. The rest will follow,'' Rivers said after Philadelphia (46-27) won its third straight to pull within a half game of the Miami Heat for first place in the Eastern Conference.

''Things are headed in the right direction, but every single day we are focusing on execution and details,'' said Harden, who is averaging 23 points and 7.6 rebounds since coming to Philadelphia. ''There are going to be different ways we are going to have to win in the playoffs, and we have to be prepared for that.''

''When shots are going in, it makes it better. Tonight was one of those nights where I felt good, we got out to a big lead and the wave continued the entire game,'' Harden said.

''We were overmatched. They played well and we didn't play our best game,'' Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. ''We had some chances to cut the lead a couple times. We got some rebounds but then turned it over, and then the game got away from us.''

Also read: NBA: Warriors beat the Heats and Joel Embiid powers over the Lakers

The other results were:

• Hornets 107 - 101 Jazz
• Pistons 97 - 100 Wizards
• Timberwolves 116 - 95 Mavericks
• Heat 103 - 111 Knicks
• Trail Blazers 106 - 125 Rockets

Tomorrow’s results are:

• Pelicans vs Spurs
• Magics vs Kings
• Raptors vs Pacers
• Heat vs Nets
• Grizzlies vs Bucks
• Cavs vs Bulls
• Nuggets vs Thunder
• Trail Blazers vs Rockets
   

(Cricket news) Gary Wilson, Ireland Men’s newly appointed batting coach will be taking a 12 player squad to Desert Springs in Spain next week for an intensive four day batting camp as part of the pre-season preparations ahead of a busy schedule. 

The squad players are: Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Andrew Balbirnie, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Andy McBrine, Barry McCarthy, William Porterfield, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker.

Coaching and support staff: Gary Wilson, Simon Johnston, Darren Nicol

Speaking from home today, Gary Wilson, said: “It’s just a great opportunity to get out on grass and what we’ve heard is a great facility – there are two nets and a centre-wicket that we’ll be utilising for four days next week, and we’re thoroughly looking forward to that. To get the guys back outdoors after 3 or 4 weeks purely indoors will help them hit the ground running when we get back to Ireland and start the season.”

“We’ll wait and see what the surfaces are like when we get out there to know how we want to approach training – there might be some spin-friendly surfaces there, which will allow us to work on our spin game. But we will be going out there looking to develop all aspects of our batters’ game – it’s just an excellent opportunity to get out on grass ahead of the season.

“Whilst the camp is primarily for our contracted players, we have added Ross Adair, as unfortunately he missed out on the Wolves tour to Namibia with Covid-19, but has now recovered.”

Also read: Ireland Wolves level series 1-1 courtesy of Shane Getkate

(Basketball news) The Warriors were without their star players but still managed to get a 118-104 victory over the current Eastern Conference leaders Miami Heat. For the Warriors, Jordan Poole scored 30 points to continue his hot scoring run, plus had a career-best nine assists, as Damion Lee, Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins each scored 22 points and got 11 points from Gary Payton II and 16 rebounds from Kevon Looney. For the Heat, Kyle Lowry scored 26 points, Bam Adebayo had 25, Butler finished with 20 and Duncan Robinson had 13. The Warriors were already without Stephen Curry because of a sprained left foot and Andre Iguodala with low back tightness, plus Steve Kerr gave Draymond Green, Otto Porter Jr. and Klay Thompson the night off for injury management. With this result, the Warriors improved their record to 48-25 and are currently 3rd in the Western Conference.

'It's so important to just keep pushing ahead and not succumb to the noise and to the roller-coaster nature of it all,'' Kerr said. ''You just gotta keep pushing forward. And that's what our guys did tonight.''

''Our overall competitive fire and execution at both ends ... was excellent,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.

''You can use moments during the season to catapult you,'' Spoelstra said. ''You can galvanize together over frustration and disappointment. Teams can also go the other way. I don't see that with our group. I don't see that with our locker room. But we have needed a kick in the butt.''

The Philadelphia 76ers overcame the LeBron-less Lakers 126-121 as Joel Embid dominated from the get go. For the Sixers, Joel Embiid had 30 points and 10 rebounds, James Harden added 24 as Tyrese Maxey scored 21 points, now they have won five of seven matches that they have played recently. For the Lakers, Dwight Howard scored a season-high 24 points, Malik Monk had 23 and Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points as the Lakers lost for the 11th time in 15 games to fall 11 games below .500 again (31-42). With this result the 76ers have improved their record to 45-27 and are only two wins away from taking the first place in the Eastern Conference table.

''Guys played well,'' Harden said. ''Obviously, we wanted to play a lot better, especially defensively. But we'll take the win, and we've just got to continue to get better in these last games before the playoffs.

''Big picture, it's going great, because they want to do it,'' Rivers said. ''As far as doing it well, they're up and down. If you've got two guys that want to get it right, they'll get it right. It's difficult because it's being done with 22 games left.''

''Our goal is championships, and it's still there,'' said Stanley Johnson, who scored 13 points. ''We're trying to put the work toward things so when we get to the play-in game and the playoffs that we're ready, playing our best basketball. There's no win tonight for us at all, but the effort is something that we can continue, and we can use that later.''

“We're making progress,'' Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. ''We're building habits that are going to win for us in the postseason, and we're continuing to grow. We're disappointed we lost, but without Bron, without AD, the group that played showed everyone we've still got a whole lot of fight left in us.''

Also read: NBA: The Bucks overcome the Bulls while Warriors lose

The other results were:

• Pistons 122 - 101 Hawks
• Pacers 109 - 110 Kings
• Hornets 106 - 121 Knicks
• Grizzlies 132 - 120 Nets
• Celtics 125 - 97 Jazz
• Timberwolves 116 - 125 Suns
• Thunder 118 - 102 Magic
• Mavericks 110 - 91 Rockets
• Trail Blazers 96 - 133 Spurs

Tomorrow’s matches are:

• Raptors vs Cavs
• Bucks vs Wizards
• Grizzlies vs Pacers
• Pelicans vs  Bulls
• Nuggets vs Suns
   

(Basketball news) The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls quite comprehensively as Giannis and Jrue Holiday inspired a 126-98 victory. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points and 17 rebounds in his return to action Jrue Holiday had a game-high 27 points to go along with seven assists and no turnovers as the Bucks won for the 15th time in their last 16 meetings with the Bulls, including all three matchups this season. For the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic had 22 points as DeMar DeRozan and LaVine added 21 points each as the Bulls lost for the ninth time in 12 games. With this result the Bucks improved their record to 45-27 and moved second in the Eastern Conference standings.

'He took a fall in the Minnesota game, and it was pretty sore and stiff, so we've had it looked at,'' Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said before the game. ''We feel like it's short term, but we'll see how he feels the next day or two.''

''Jrue was being Jrue,'' Antetokounmpo said. ''Jrue was being aggressive, making good decisions, getting downhill, getting everybody involved, guarding Zach (LaVine). Everybody was doing their job. Obviously we knew that Khris wasn't playing, and Khris is a big part of our team and what we do here, but at the end of the day, even with the team that we have, we're a great team.''

''Shots we would want them to take, they made,'' Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. ''It was a night where they really, really had it going. Credit to them. And it was a night we just didn't shoot the ball particularly well.''

''At some point, we've got to get tired of getting our butt kicked like this and flip that switch of understanding, all right, enough is enough,'' DeRozan said. ''Now it's time to turn it around and show that desperation.''

The Golden State Warriors suffered a shocking defeat to the Orlando Magic 94-90. For the Magic, Wendell Carter Jr. led them with 19 points and Wagner had 18 points and a big finish as did Cole Anthony, who had 14 points and five assists. For the Warriors, Jordan Poole scored 26 points, shot 40% for the game and had seven turnovers in the fourth quarter on the way to their third straight loss as Klay Thompson added 15 points and Otto Porter Jr. had 14 points and 15 rebounds. With this result they slipped down to third in the Western Conference standings behind the Memphis Grizzlies as the Magic improved their record to 20-53.

''Franz can play, man,'' said Magic guard Cole Anthony, who had 14 points and five assists. ''He can hoop. I saw it here first hand tonight.''

''I think we're playing soft, I think we're playing stupid,'' Warriors forward Draymond Green said. ''We're just not playing good basketball. We're getting punked, and we're losing a lot of fourth quarters. No disrespect to the Orlando Magic, but they're one of the worst teams in the league.''

“No, Steph's not going to bring a level of physicality to the game,'' he said. ''That's not his job.'

''We have to look at our lineup, we have to address everything,'' Kerr said. '' ... It's like a domino effect. You saw me searching for lineups tonight. But I was really disappointed in the fourth quarter. We did not execute at all in the fourth quarter.''

''But we stayed engaged in the game,'' Anthony said. ''We realized there's four quarters to a game, and we're not going to lose in one moment like that.''

''Fouling 3-point shooters has killed us in the last two games,'' Kerr said. ''I love these guys, but we have to learn how to win. Right now, we don't know how to win.''

Also read: LeBron James overtakes Karl Malone as the second highest scorer in NBA

The other results were:

• Knicks 111 - 117 Hawks
• Nuggets 127 - 115 Clippers

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Pistons vs Hawks
• Pacers vs Kings
• Hornets vs Knicks
• Grizzlies vs Nets
• Heat vs Warriors
• Celtics vs Jazz
• Timberwolves vs Suns
• Thunder vs Magic
• Lakers vs 76ers 
• Trail Blazers vs Spurs

Mumbai, Mar 21 (Cricket News) Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant on Monday said the team management has been discussing the roles "players can take up" during matches in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.

The IPL-15 starts on Saturday with a match between defending champions Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium here.

Pant, who will be leading the franchise for the second time after guiding it to the playoffs last year, said every member of the team is in a "good frame of mind" heading into the tournament.

"At the moment, we are trying to understand what do the new players' need during nets sessions. We are discussing the roles the players can take up during matches and the kind of team environment we would like to set up," the dashing wicketkeeper-batter said in a press release issued by the franchise.

"We have spoken to the new players about the team environment we've had in the last few years," he added.

The JSW-GMR co-owned Delhi Capitals franchise will be taking the field with a new group of players in the upcoming season.

Captain Pant attended his first training session with the side here.

"It seems like the team has been made for the first time. I observed every player during my first practice session with the team and it looks like everybody is in a good frame of mind. Everybody is enjoying each other's company." Speaking about working with head coach Ricky Ponting for the second time as skipper, Pant said, "It's always special meeting Ricky Ponting. Whenever I meet him, it feels like I am meeting a family member. And he always brings the energy out of every player on the field. Everyone looks up to him and waits for him to say something different." 

Also Read : Women's World Cup: India eye mammoth win over Bangladesh to stay alive

News Source : PTI

Auckland, Mar 19 (Cricket News) India on Saturday came tantalisingly close to breaking Australia's unbeaten run in the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup before falling short and young batter Yastika Bhatia said had they picked up some early wickets, the end result could have been different.

India's path to the semifinals got a lot tougher after they lost by six wickets to Australia, their third defeat in the showpiece, as the Meg Lanning-led side became the first team to qualify for the last four stage with a record chase in the tournament's history.

Half-centuries from skipper Mithali Raj (68 off 96 balls), Yastika (59 off 83) and Harmanpreet Kaur (57 not out off 47) steered India to 277 for seven, but Australia rode on openers Alyssa Healy (72 off 65), Rachael Haynes (43 off 52) and Lanning's (97 off 107) knocks to cruise to their fifth win in as many games.

"They (Australia) have been playing superb ricket, everyone in their team takes responsibility," left-handed Yastika said in the post-match media interaction.

"It was Meg Lanning (97) who just took it on herself to take the team over the line. Her intent quite clear from the beginning, though she got out. Still, we came pretty close, it could have gone either way, we could have crossed the line." India, runners-up in 2017 edition, had eliminated Australia en route to the final.

And Yastika said despite their ominous form, Australia are a beatable side.

"It's nothing like they can't be beaten. We can do it for sure. Our team is really good, we can do it in the semis or finals," the 21-year-old said.

"I think it was a defendable total. Credit to the Aussie batters the way they started. Healy and Hyanes started aggressively.

"We would have liked to take more wickets in the power play but they played really well. That (early wickets) would have turned the game but they played really well," she added.

The Mithali Raj-led India now have a tough task at hand as they must win their remaining two matches against South Africa and Bangladesh to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

Against Australia, India missed a sixth bowler as they opted for Shafali Verma in place of Deepti Sharma.

India also did not use the part-time off spin of Harmanpreet on Saturday.

"She's (Harmanpreet) bowling in the nets. We had it in our mind that we can use her in the middle overs but I don't know what the captain had in her mind. But she will bowl for sure in our future matches," Yastika said.

India will next face Bangladesh at Hamilton on Tuesday, before taking on South Africa in their concluding league match on March 27. 

Also Read : We have got a title winning squad, now need to execute skills under pressure: Punjab Kings captain Mayank Agarwal

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) Lakers snapped out of their losing streak as they beat the Toronto Raptors in overtime 128-123. For the Lakers, LeBron James scored 19 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, Russell Westbrook had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists as the likes of Wenyen Gabriel scored 17 points, Bradley had 14 and Austin Reaves had 10 points. For the Raptors, Barnes set career-highs with 31 points and 17 rebounds, Gary Trent Jr. scored 23 points and Fred Van Vleet 20. With this victory the Lakers snapped out of their 11 game losing streak away from home as they improved their record to 30-40 and are currently in 9th in the Western Conference standings. 

“To be able to come into a very hostile environment and win a basketball game, and the way we won it, was big for our team,'' James said. ''We needed literally every minute, all 53 of them, to accomplish that.''

''I thought we did a great job of just sticking to our principles, grinding the game out,'' Westbrook said. ''This was a grind-out game.''

''That's part of what makes him the greatest is his ability to just make whatever play is necessary, whatever side of the floor,'' Lakers coach Frank Vogel said.

''We just didn't make one little play there to get the ball in bounds,'' Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. ''We got it in and got a tough pass complete, and then gave it up.''

''He really competed,'' Vogel said. ''I thought tonight he did a great job of really leading the team in terms of organizing our action, not just making plays himself but getting our group organized.''

The Phoenix Suns beat the Chicago Bulls quite comprehensively 129-102 for their 4th straight victory. For the Suns, Ayton scored 20 points he was 8 of 11 from the field as Devin Booker led the scoring with 28 points and Cameron Payne scored 15 points, Torrey Craig, Landry Shamet had 14 each, JaVale McGee 12 and Mikael Bridges 11. For the Bulls, DeMar DeRozan scored 19 points, Nikola Vucevic added 16 points. Coby White had 14, Zach LaVine 12 and Tristan Thompson 11 as they are fifth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 41-29. The Suns improved their record to 57-14 and moved closer to clinching the NBA's best regular-season record this season.

''He is aggressive in the post. I didn't see a ton of finesse,'' Suns coach Monty Williams said

“We don't want to be `Chris and Book' dimensional,'' Williams said. ''We want to be comfortable to go to other guys so that in those key moments it is not something new to them.''

“To get the lead that we got and sustain it, then maintain it throughout the second half was pretty impressive,'' Craig said.

''I don't want to take anything away from Phoenix or teams we've played against, but we've got to be able to have a better response when shots aren't going in,'' Chicago coach Billy Donovan said. ''I thought some of the (Suns') offensive rebounds in the second quarter really hurt us, and then we started missing shots. We gotta develop a resilience when it's not going well.''

DeRozan said the team is dealing with some new adversity after a solid season. ''We're at that time of the year where nothing is a secret,'' he said. ''We've played great basketball and now teams are coming after us no matter who we play. Once we figure it out, we'll be fine.''

Also read: NBA: Luka magic sinks the Nets while Lakers' struggle continues

The other results were:

• 76ers 111 - 101 Mavericks
• Nets 128 - 123 Trail Blazers
• Knicks 100 - 97 Wizards
• Cavaliers 119 - 116 Nuggets
• Hawks 120 - 105 Grizzlies
• Heat 120 - 108 Thunder
• Rockets 118 - 121 Pacers
• Spurs 91 - 124 Pelicans
• Jazz 121 - 92 Clippers
• Kings 97 - 126 Celtics

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Timberwolves vs Bucks
• Hornets vs Mavericks
• Wizards vs Lakers
• Cavs vs Pistons

(Basketball news) The Dallas Mavericks produced a clinical performance to beat the Brooklyn Nets 113-111. For the Mavericks, Doncic finished with 37 points, nine rebounds and nine assists as Dinwiddie scored 22 points, 15 in the fourth quarter, made a 3-pointer at the buzzer against his former team, to lead their eighth win in nine games. For the Nets, Durant had 23 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, but Brooklyn had its four-game winning streak snapped. Goran Dragic scored a season-high 21 points and Bruce Brown had 17. Andre Drummond had 14 points and 17 rebounds.With this result the Mavericks improved their record to  43-26 as they are currently 5th in the Western Conference standings.

''It's like sticking it to your cousin versus, like, being vengeful for an enemy,'' Dinwiddie said

''When you watch that last play, just regret, wondering what the game would have been like if I didn't go jump Luka right there, you know what I'm saying?'' Durant said. ''So in hindsight I wish I would have made a different decision, but it is what it is.''

The Lakers continued their struggles as they lost to the in-form Minnesota Timberwolves 124-104. For the Wolves, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 16 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and Anthony Edwards had 20 of his 27 points in the second quarter to lead the early surge for them. For the Lakers, LeBron James, playing through knee soreness, had just 19 points on 8-for-21 shooting as Carmelo Anthony had 16 points. The Lakers fell a season-worst 11 games under the .500 mark at 29-40. James has not played on a team that far below even since his rookie year, when Cleveland finished the 2003-04 season at 35-47. With this result the Timberwolves improved their record to 41-30 as they are just a win away from overtaking the Nuggets in 6th in the Western Conference table. 

''We need that right now, a check underneath the hood, if you will,'' coach Chris Finch said

''We made the game competitive. We can't do that. We can't play with our food out there,'' said Towns, who had 13 of Minnesota's 51 rebounds.

''It's easy to be comfortable when you're winning. I've never been that guy. It's all about, `How comfortable can you be when things become uncomfortable?' I'm OK with that, too,'' James said. ''It's just testing my patience more than any season in the last few years, just because of the way we're playing.''

''When you're up, everything's going great. When you're down, they'll kick you,'' Lakers guard Wayne Ellington said. ''So right now, we're being kicked.'

'Nobody over there has done anything in this league that makes me put my eyes up like, `Oh, they're talking to me. Let me respond,''' Westbrook said. ''No, that's fine. They're good. They won a game. Happy for them. Move on to the next one.''

Also read: Kyrie drops 60 against the Magic while Suns continue their winning run

The other game results were:

• Cavs 114 - 118 76ers
• Wizards 109 - 127 Nuggets
• Hornets 116 - 106 Hawks
• Knicks 128 - 98 Trail Blazers
• Rockets 112 - 129 Suns
• Spurs 122 - 120 Thunder
• Jazz 125 - 110 Bulls
• Kings 126 - 135 Bucks
• Warriors 88 - 110 Celtics
• Clippers 100 - 103 Raptors
   

New Delhi, Mar 16 (Cricket News) India’s U-19 World Cup-winning captain Yash Dhull is excited at the prospect of interacting with Delhi Capitals head coach and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting in the upcoming IPL season, saying it would be a “big achievement” for him.

"This is my first time in the IPL and I am giving my 100 percent in everything that I am doing,” Dhull, who was picked by Delhi Capitals for the upcoming IPL season, said.

“I am looking forward to interacting with Rishabh bhaiyya (Pant) and David Warner. I am also very excited to meet Ricky Ponting. He has been a great player and a great human being. It will be a big achievement for me to interact with him," the 19-year-old Dhull said in a media release issued by the franchise.

Meanwhile, Vicky Ostwal and Ashwin Hebbar made their first foray into the training camp of an IPL franchise in Mumbai.

Maharashtra’s left-arm spinner Ostwal said he was keen to get tips from senior pro and India all-rounder Axar Patel.

"From watching the IPL on TV to getting into a franchise is a big journey for me. It will sink in slowly. It's been great to meet all the players and the members of the coaching staff," said Ostwal.

"I want to meet Axar Patel as soon as possible. Being a left-arm spinner, he has been an inspiration for me. I am looking to take tips from him with regards to the way I should bowl in T20s.

"It will also be good to work with a legend of the game - Ricky Ponting and Pravin Amre sir and it's such a proud moment for me to be around these people," added Ostwal.

Batsman Ashwin Hebbar said he was happy with the way his first training session panned out.

"It's been wonderful to be in the Delhi Capitals camp. I am really happy and excited to be here. I was feeling a bit nervous as it was my first nets session with an IPL team, but I had a good session. Once I started batting, I didn't think of anything else," said Hebbar.

Delhi Capitals will take on Mumbai Indians in their first match of the season on March 27. 

Also Read : Captain Rishabh Pant, Axar and others join Delhi Capitals squad

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Brooklyn Nets are back to their winning ways thanks to Kyrie Iriving who dropped 60 points to lead them to a blowout 150-110 victory over the Orlando Magic. For the Nets, Irving scored a career-high 60 points, most in the Nets' NBA history as he shot 20 for 31, including 8 of 12 on 3-pointers, in 35 minutes. He made 12 of 13 free throws in matching the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season. Irving also scored 41 points in the first half which was the most in the first two quarters since Kobe Bryant had 42 against Washington on March 28, 2003 as Durant added 19 points in the Nets' fourth straight win. For the Magic, Cole Anthony had 19 points and seven assists and Wendall Carter finished with 18 points. With this result the Nets improved their record to 36-33 and sit in 8th in the Eastern Conference standings.

''It just shows you we're on our way to history,'' Irving said.

'The night after Karl Towns had an incredible performance, and then to have Kyrie do it the next night, the league is in an amazing place right now,'' teammate Kevin Durant said. ''We're seeing a lot of talent displayed every night, and this was one of the elite ones.''

''It was just about the team really, just getting in the flow,'' Kyrie said. ''That's the true purity of this game, doing it efficiently on both ends of the floor and coming out with a W.''

''A few shots I probably shouldn't have taken. Tough ones, with double-teams and triple-teams coming,'' he added. ''But as long as I can do it with a smile on my face and my teammates weren't too angry with me, it was worthwhile.''

''There's times he's shooting over two people,'' said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. ''You try to double-team him, he's smart enough to know when to go and when not to go. He's fast in transition so you can't speed up and try to deny him. They're setting backscreens. He's crafty enough and he's seen every coverage and he knows how to play with a pace. That makes it hard.''

The Phoenix Suns continued their golden form as they beat the New Orleans Pelicans 130-115. For the Suns, Booker capped his 27-point performance with six points in a 33-second span at the end of the third quarter which was crucial in the end for the victory, Deandre Ayton added 18 points and Mikal Bridges went 4 of 5 from deep and scored 20 for them. For the Pelicans, Herb Jones scored 22 as CJ McCollum returned from a two-game absence and scored 21 points,  Jonas Valanciunas added 17 points and 12 rebounds. With this result the Suns extended their record to 55-14 and sit comfortably on top of the Western Conference table.

''It's demoralizing because you're right there, you're looking to get over the hump and then he comes down and hits a couple shots like that,'' Pelicans coach Willie Green said.

''More important than making the shot with 33 seconds left was making sure you're taking the shot with 33 seconds, playing the possession game,'' Booker said, alluding to the NBA's 24-second shot clock. ''We've just been stressing on finishing quarters the right way.''

'When they don't miss a shot, it's pretty hard,'' Pelicans forward Jaxson Hayes said. ''They're just hard to match up with.''

We just come together, man. It's fun to be a part of,'' Booker said. ''Just everybody vs. us, just taking that approach to it, just enjoying the road games, just enjoying being the bearer of bad news coming through here. It's something I think that we definitely own.''

Also read: NBA: Lakers lose two in row as the Warriors are back to winning ways

The other results were:

• Pacers 102 - 135 Grizzlies
• Heat 105 - 98 Pistons

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Cavs vs 76ers
• Wizards vs Nuggets
• Hornets vs Hawks
• Nets vs Mavericks
• Knicks vs Trail Blazers
• Timberwolves vs Lakers
• Spurs vs Thunder'
• Jazz vs Bulls
• Kings vs Bucks
• Warriors vs Celtics
• Clippers vs Raptors
   

(Basketball news) The Los Angeles Lakers dreadful season continued as they lost 114-103 against the Toronto Raptors. For the Raptors, Scottie Barnes scored 15 of his 21 points in the first quarter  as Gary Trent Jr. had 28 points and Pascal Siakam scored 27 for their fourth straight victory. For the Lakers, LeBron James had 30 points and nine rebounds,  Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony each scored 14 points as Wenyen Gabriel grabbed a career-high nine rebounds. The Lakers have allowed 100 points in 16 straight games as they are 4-12 in that span. With this result the Raptors moved to 7th in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 38-30.

''It was a great, great start,'' Toronto coach Nick Nurse said. ''And then it was kind of weird from there, but it was good to get off to a good start like that.''

''Especially kind of early on, you get an open shot that everyone pretty much expects you to make and you don't make it, it's kind of frustrating,'' Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker said.

''I really just try to run, get those easy baskets,'' Barnes said. ''I just came out there and was being aggressive, really just trying to get to my spots.''

The Golden State Warriors are back to winnings as they defeated the Washington Wizards 126-112. For the Warriors, Curry dazzled all night on the way to 47 points on his 34th birthday as reigning scoring champion Curry shot 16 for 25 with seven 3-pointers, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole scored 20 apiece. For the Wizards, Kristaps Porzingis scored 25 points and Kenatavious Caldwell-Pope 19 in the Wizards' fourth straight loss, fifth of six and sixth in a row on the road. With this result Warriors have now four in a row and have improved their record to 47-22 and sit level with the Memphis Grizzlies in second spot in the Western Conference standings.

''I think what it did for him is what it did for all of us. You could tell the energy picked up,'' Curry said. ''It's not anything more than what's built on 10 years of experience and chemistry and winning and an understanding of how we do things. No matter how much time we have off, we can get right back to it.

''It is crazy to think for the first time me, Klay and Draymond had been on the court in a very, very long time. We want to keep building on that. We know each other like the back of our hand, we complement each other very well.''

''You heard the crowd when he checked in. Draymond has been our heart and soul for a long time,'' Kerr said. ''He's beloved here in the Bay.''

Also read: NBA: Suns thrash hapless Lakers while 76ers win in overtime

The other results were:

• Cavaliers 120 - 111 Clippers
• Hawks 122 - 113 Trail Blazers
• 76ers 110 - 114 Nuggets
• Thunder 116 - 134 Hornets
• Spurs 139 - 149 Timberwolves
• Kings 112 - 103 Bulls
• Jazz 111 - 117 Bucks

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Pacers vs Grizzlies
• Magic vs Nets
• Heat vs Pistons
• Pelicans vs Suns
   

(Basketball news) The Phoenix Suns thrashed the Lakers 140-111 in a resounding victory as the Suns scored 48 in 1st quarter itself. For the Suns, Devin Booker scored 30 points, Deandre Ayton had 23 points and 16 rebounds in just 27 as Mikal Bridges added 18 points to help Phoenix move 40 games over .500. For the Lakers, LeBron James led the scoring with 31 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Lakers have lost 10 straight road games. James reached a milestone with his 10,000th career assist in the second quarter on Carmelo Anthony's 3-pointer. James is the only player in NBA history with at least 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 assists. With this result the Suns improved their record to 54-14 and stayed on top of the Western Conference standings.

''I get a loss of words anytime things like this happen to me,'' James said. ''I automatically start thinking about my hometown of Akron and my upbringing where I come from. The dreams I had of being in this league at the highest level and to now sit alone in a statistical category in this league. I model my game after being able to score, rebound and assist. And to sit alone in a stat, I'll say cool, but it doesn't quite make sense to me.''

''It wasn't selfish, not like I want more points,'' Williams said. ''(It was)`I can dominate them. I think we need to look at ourselves more.' ... DA doesn't make those kinds of statements so he can score more and get those points. He's like, `I can work down there.' I've been around long enough to know his intentions and he backed it up.''

''We played poorly,'' Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. ''How we started, really the whole night, was unacceptable ... This is a tough matchup to play small-ball against but we definitely have to be better than we were tonight.''

The Philadelphia 76ers continued their good form with a hard fought overtime victory over the Orlando Magic 116-114. For the Sixers, Embiid had 35 points and 16 rebounds, Harden finished with 26 points and Tobias Harris added 25 and nine rebounds as they slowly formed a formidable trio. For the Magic, Wendell Carter Jr. had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Cole Anthony had 19 points. With this result the 76ers improved their record to 41-25 as they are currently second in the Eastern Conference table.

''This was a big win for us. I know people are like: `Oh, it's the Orlando Magic.' But they just beat the Timberwolves the other night and the Timberwolves came back and beat the Miami Heat,'' said Georges Niang, who hit two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help send the game into overtime. ''That should tell you something about the NBA.''

'(The final shot) could have gone in and we'd be in a different mood,'' Anthony said. ''This is a game that easily could have fallen in our favor.''

''We're giving ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter,'' Carter said. ''We're going to be in this position a lot, and we're going to win some and lose some. It's good experience.''

''I would like to get off to a good start, but it's almost like we've got to get punched in the mouth before we turn on our defensive intensity,'' Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said. ''That stretch of defense in the third quarter was phenomenal, but we have to start the game that way.''

Also read: Brooklyn Nets defeat 76ers while Warriors overcome the Nuggets

The other results were:

• Pistons 102 - 106 Clippers
• Celtics 92 - 95 Mavericks
• Pelicans 130 - 105 Rockets
• Hawks 131 - 128 Pelicans
• Thunder 118 - 125 Grizzlies

Tomorrow’s matches are:

• Cavs vs Clippers
• Hawks vs Trail Blazers
• 76ers vs Nuggets
• Thunder vs Hornets
• Spurs vs Timberwolves
• Kings vs Bulls
• Jazz vs Bucks
• Warriors vs Wizards
• Lakers vs Raptors
   

New Delhi, Mar 12 (Cricket News) Rajasthan Royals have a well-balanced team but they will have to be "courageous" and take "brave decisions" on the field to regain the IPL trophy, believes young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.

The 20-year-old, who had provided the team blistering starts at a strike rate of 148.21 across 10 matches last year, was one of the three players retained by the Royals.

"I'm really looking forward to this season with great confidence and hope. We have managed to create a team that has everything in it to win the trophy," Jaiswal said in a release issued by RR.

"With a good balance of batters and bowlers, we've got a team which can produce performances on the field, but the most important thing for us right now is to start well and create momentum for ourselves," he said.

RR had won the inaugural edition of IPL in 2008 but has failed to reach the finals ever since with three top-four finishes to show in 2013, 2015 and 2018.

"We all know we are here to win, but it can only happen when we are courageous on the field," Jaiswal said.

"I know there will be times when I will have to take brave decisions for the team, and those may not always come off, but I have to keep applying my instincts and try to dominate the proceedings." Jaiswal didn't get the opportunity to feature in the playing XI for Mumbai in the recent Ranji Trophy matches and the youngster said he would look to make a case for himself through his performances in IPL.

"Of course, I was really disappointed (about not getting the chance to play) but I'm looking forward to using the IPL to showcase what I can provide. I know that if I do well, I will make my place in the (Mumbai) team," he said.

Jaiswal sweated it out on the practice pitches of the Royals' High Performance Centre in Nagpur in the pre-camp recently and hoped his preparation is reflected in his performance in the IPL.

"I think everything comes down to how I prepare myself off the field. Even when I'm not playing any matches, I'm still trying to utilise my time to work on how I can get better during games," he said.

"I've spent a lot of time in the nets and in the gym to improve on various aspects whether it is fitness or batting technique. Hopefully this coming season my performances can reflect that on the field for the Royals." Asked what would be his approach this season, he said: "I am just focused on my role in the team. I want to be 100% prepared for whatever challenges will come along the way, and perform for the team in each and every match.

"I am focused on repaying the faith that the Royals have shown in me, and the best way to do that is to perform and win matches." The Royals will start their campaign on March 29 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

Also Read : Delhi Capitals unveils new jersey ahead of 2022 IPL season

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Brooklyn Nets defeated Philadelphia 76ers 129-100 in the first meeting between the two sides since James Harden moved to the 76ers for Seth Curry and Ben Simmons in February. However, Harden didn’t have a particularly enjoyable game as he only managed 11 points against his former team while Kevin Durant scored 25 points and Kyrie Irving added 24.

Despite being unable to guide the 76ers to victory, Harden overtook Reggie Miller into third on the all-time three-pointers list with 2,563. Stephen Curry leads with 3,107. As for the Brooklyn Nets, Seth Curry scored 22 points while three time All-Star Simmons is still recuperating from his injury and is yet to represent the 76ers.

Meanwhile, Stephen Curry reached a milestone of 20,000 career points as Golden State Warriors defeated Denver Nuggets 113-102. Curry scored a game high 34 points and became the 49th player to reach this milestone. "Any accomplishment you do, whether it's individual or a team, is special," said Curry. "You work every day to keep getting better. Hopefully a lot more to come. It's pretty special for sure."

Also read: Why are the Lakers and the Nets struggling this season?

Hamilton, Mar 9 (Cricket News) Veteran India pacer Jhulan Goswami on Wednesday backed teen batting sensation Shafali Verma to overcome her poor form in the ongoing ICC women's World Cup sooner than later, saying that the swashbuckler is hitting the ball quite well during net sessions.

Verma was dismissed for a duck in the opening game against Pakistan that Indian won and hasn't exactly done well for the past few games. The 18-year-old's form is expected to be crucial to the team's chances of landing a first ever ICC title.

"Shafali has already proved herself. She is a very exciting cricketer. But these things happen with every cricketer," Goswami said in a virtual press conference ahead of the game against New Zealand here on Thursday.

"I am sure she is working hard really well in the nets, she is batting well in the nets; she is hitting the ball really well.

"She is just one big knock away and if she gets an opportunity, I am sure she is going to do well," she added.

Talking about the upcoming match, Goswami said it was important to bowl in the right areas against New Zealand.

"...against New Zealand, it is important to bowl in the right area. The grounds are pretty open, winds are always flowing, so how to take advantage of those things. We discussed a lot of stuff," she said.

"I think Pooja (Vastrakar), Meghana (Singh), Renuka (Singh Thakur), Simran (Dil Bahadur), they have done a decent job always when they get an opportunity and I hope they will continue with their performance," she added.

Bowled well against Pakistan =================== According to Goswami, the bowlers put up a good show in the lung-opener against Pakistan, which the Mithali Raj-led side won by 107 runs.

"I think we bowled well. I guess we hit the ball in the right areas and as a group we bowled well. The new ball bowlers restricted them very well in the first 10 overs...

"Then the spinners bowled well, they were getting a bit of turn on that wicket and I think restricting them below 150 runs is quite a good achievement as a bowling unit," said Goswami.

She felt the plan to land early in New Zealand for a few games against the hosts has helped India during the ongoing campaign.

"...that was the plan, just before the World Cup, to acclimatise with these conditions and wickets and come back and play fresh in this World Cup.

"(But) tomorrow's match is a totally different ball game, it is a fresh game and it is a World Cup game and definitely we are looking forward (to it)," said the speedster.

Goswami needs just two more wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in women's World Cup.

She currently has 38 World Cup wickets to her name and is just one short of Australia's Lyn Fullston's tally of 39 wickets.

Asked about it, she said, "Honestly speaking, I didn't know that...I am not aware of that. But (the) important (thing) is as a senior member of the side, (I should) go there and perform well, give early breakthroughs.

"That is my job and I often stick to my role and that is the important thing," she asserted.

"If you play (for) a long time, you are going to achieve a few individual milestones, yes that gives me a lot of joy. I enjoy (when) I contribute and the team wins. Personal milestones do not matter to me as I am an absolute team player." 

Also Read : West Indies defeat England Women at the ICC Women’s World Cup

News Source : PTI

Bengaluru, Mar 8 (Cricket News) Still in disbelief by Shane Warne's death, India off-spinner Ravichandran hailed the late Australian legend for redefining bowling and bringing spin as an attacking commodity in world cricket.

Warne, a spin wizard who made the world fall in love with his craft, died of natural causes at the age of 52 in Thailand on Friday, leaving the world shell-shocked.

"I see Warne as a flag-bearer for carrying the spin aspect of bowling on the front in the world cricketing map. The top three wicket-takers in the world are spinners in Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble," Ashwin said on his Youtube channel.

"He was an interesting character. So many Australian legends had so many nice things to say about him. I still can't accept the fact that life is so fickle. We cannot predict what can happen." Warne, regarded as the greatest spinner of all time, picked up 708 wickets with his leg-spin for Australia in 145 Tests. In his 194 ODI appearances, he snared 293 scalps.

"Shane Warne was a colourful character, he redefined bowling, he has taken more than 1000 international wickets, not many can achieve this rare feat." Warne had bowled the 'ball of the century’ deceiving Mike Gatting at Old Trafford with a delivery that landed on the leg stump and, as the Englishman tried to defend, turned viciously to clip his off bail.

However, that isn't Ashwin's favourite Warne delivery.

"Shane Warne brought spin as an attacking commodity to this cricketing world. Everyone will talk about Warne's delivery to Mike Gatting, but my favourite is Warne's delivery to Andrew Strauss in 2005 Ashes," Ashwin said.

"He almost single-handedly fought for Australia in that series. He was a maestro. He was an extra-ordinary human being and he lived his life to the fullest," he added.

The seasoned off-spinner, India's second highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, also spoke about how a traumatic childhood accident, breaking both legs helped Warne master one of the most difficult crafts in the game.

"I was talking to Rahul Dravid who was extremely sad. For a spinner, your shoulder and upper-half of the body has to be extremely strong because you have to use many rotations to spin the ball," Ashwin said.

"Because for a spinner to master your craft, you should keep bowling in the nets. More so, if you are a leg-spinner. He had strong shoulders and that was his massive advantage,” he said.

Rahul Dravid had shared the dressing room with Warne for three seasons at Rajasthan Royals.

"It seems Rahul Bhai asked him, "How do you have such strong shoulders? What do you do?" It is such an unique story. There is a sport called 'Aussies Rules Football'.

"It is sport like Rugby. It seems he wanted to play the sport but was not built for it since people who play it are tall and well-built blokes." It is a known incident that as a child, Warne had suffered two broken legs when another kid jumped from a height and landed on his back.

With both legs swathed in plaster casts, Warne had to push himself around in a cart, developing extraordinary strength in his upper body.

"So, they used to bully him and it seems he broke both his legs while playing. He couldn't walk and was on bed rest. For 3-4 weeks he walked or rather floated using his bare hands and those made his shoulders strong and there was no looking back.

"That's what he has told Rahul Bhai. We all face obstacles in life, but look how Warne converted it as his success formula," Ashwin added. 

Also Read : Two reasons why India can play 5 bowlers in Tests unlike others

News Source : PTI

(Basketball News) The Lakers and Nets are both having terrible seasons considering the wealth of talent they have in their team but they have no team chemistry. With LeBron James at the helm and a wealth of experience to rely on, the Lakers still look confident that they won’t fall out of the play-in game even as they slide down the standings.

LeBron’s confidence may be unwavering, but it’s hard to believe that the Lakers will actually qualify for the play off in the tournament, especially after their recent performance of late. It already seems like a long shot by head coach Frank Vogel to play in the play-in game, the Lakers are coming out of the gate by losing four straight games which has opened up the possibility that the team could fall out of the standings and plummet out of the play-in game entirely. 

The main reason for their downfall this season has been the failed trade of Russell Westbrook, who hasn’t gelled into the team at all. Westbrook is a top class player but one thing in his game which goes against him is that all the team's offence must go through him but with LeBron in the team that is not possible. Frank Vogel, who's a good coach, hasn't really figured out how these two legendary players can play together. On top of that Anthony Davis hasn’t really got going this season, the little glimpses he has shown, he's gone down injured. All in all, the Lakers need to figure out something before the end of the season because there are going to be some major changes next season.

For the Nets, the season began with controversy with Kyrie Iriving refusing to get vaccinated as that really impacted their pre-season. Even after the controversy, Kevin Durant was single handedly leading the Nets to the top spot of the Eastern Conference but everything went downhill when Durant suffered an injury and since then they have lost 12 games in a row. To make matters worse their third star James Harden officially requested for a trade as he went to the 76ers and Ben Simmons moved the opposite direction. I would say that the Nets still have a chance to make the playoffs once Kevin Durant comes back from injury and only time will tell us if Ben Simmons is a good fit for the Brooklyn Nets.

Today's results were:

• 76ers 125 - 114 Cavs
• Pistons 111 - 106 Pacers
• Wizards 114 - 117 Hawks
• Raptors 97 - 103 Magic
• Bulls 112 - 118 Bucks
• Thunder 101 - 138 Timberwolves
• Pelicans 124 - 90 Jazz
• Nuggets 116 - 101 Rockets
• Suns 115 - 114 Knicks

Also read: NBA: Lakers continue their losing streak, Mavericks beat the Warriors

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Mavericks vs Kings
• Hornets vs Spurs
• Timberwolves vs Trail Blazers
• Grizzlies vs Magic
• Heat vs 76ers
• Lakers vs Warriors
• Celtics vs Nets
   

(Football news) Watford will be hosting Arsenal at Vicarage Road on Sunday, hoping to take points from another top six side. In their last match, the Hornets secured a point with a 0-0 draw against Manchester United while Arsenal defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 and are in pole position for a top 4 finish. Watford displayed immense defensive solidity at Old Trafford and Roy Hodgson has managed to reinforce the side and made them difficult to beat. As for Arsenal, the Gunners are two points behind Manchester United with three games in hand and will look to capitalise on their opportunities to secure Champions League qualification. 

In team news, Watford will be without Ismaila Sarr due to a hamstring injury alongside Peter Etebo and Nicolas Nkoulou. However, Kiko Femenia is expected to have recovered from a knock and will be available for Roy Hodgson. As for Arsenal, Emile Smith Rowe is back in contention after recovering from an illness but Takehiro Tomiyasu will be unavailable for selection due to a calf strain and Cedric Soares should be selected in the lineup instead. Mikel Arteta is expected to feature Nicholas Pepe and Eddie Nketiah although it would be difficult for either of Lacazette or Gabriel Martinelli to be dropped. Despite Watford’s resilience, Arsenal are expected to secure all three points and possibly move into the top four.

The Manchester derby is without a doubt the fixture to look out for this weekend as City host United at the Etihad Stadium. Fixtures like these are as much about points as it is about pride and despite the fact that 19 points separate the two teams, Rangnick’s team haven’t lost a game under the interim manager and will look to at least secure a point from the fixture. Defensive solidity will be key for Manchester United as City are scoring goals for fun with 36 goals to their name already at home so far, the joint highest in the league. Another matter of concern for Manchester United will be being more clinical in front of goal as City will not give them many chances and it will be important to capitalise on opportunities in order to get a positive result.

In team news, Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias are unavailable for selection while Zack Steffen and Cole Palmer are also doubtful. However, Jack Grealish, Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and John Stones are expected to feature in the starting lineup. As for Manchester United, Scott McTominay has recovered from illness and should be available for selection and Edinson Cavani seems to have recovered from a groin problem as well. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to retain his position in the starting lineup while Rashford might remain on the bench. Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof seem like a solid partnership and should start the match while Harry Maguire is amongst the substitutes.

Also read: Chelsea and Liverpool hope to secure 3 points in the Premier League

(Basketball news) The Lakers continued their horrific form after the All Star break as they lost 132-111 against their city rivals the Los Angeles Clippers. For the Clippers, Reggie Jackson scored 12 of his season-high 36 points in the fourth quarter while adding nine assists and eight rebounds, Ivica Zubac had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers. For the Lakers, LeBron James had 26 points and eight rebounds and Russell Westbrook scored 17 points. The Lakers have now lost four straight and seven of eight to fall a season-worst eight games below .500 (27-35). For the Clippers, they are slowly climbing up the table as they have record of 34-31 and currently are in 8th in the Western Conference standings

'We came out on a mission,'' Jackson said. ''We wanted to close out. We're still a hungry team. ... We feel like we're writing our own story. We know what the narrative is with our guys out. We're trying to do something special with this group. It's about this team, to write our own story.''

''He loves it,'' Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. ''He loves the moment. He's a big-time player. Sometimes we go back and forth, but he's held us together all year. ... It was a struggle when we first lost PG, because the offense is built around PG and Kawhi for the most part. But once we got a set rotation and understood how we had to play, these guys have bought into it, and it starts with our veterans. That's the kind of team and the kind of culture we've built around here.''

''We've had one quarter that's killed us,'' James said. ''It's been the second quarter. Today it was the third quarter.'

''We're just persistent and staying with the work,'' Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. ''We'll leave no stone unturned to get this right, but it hasn't come together for us. We'll continue to try to find ways to win with Anthony (Davis) out. It's not something we can't do, but we haven't found it yet.''

The Warriors lost their 7th game in 9 matches as the Dallas Mavericks beat them 122-113. For the Mavericks, Doncic scored 41 points and the Mavericks beat Golden State for the second time in five days, as Dorian Finney-Smith scored 18 points and Reggie Bullock and Jalen Brunson added 14 apiece. For the Warriors, Klay Thompson finished with 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting, Curry didn't even get off a shot in a scoreless fourth quarter, finishing with 21 points as Jordan Poole scored 23 points.With this result the Dallas Mavericks improved their record to 38-25 and stayed 5th in the Western Conference standings.

“I'm not surprised,'' Doncic said about the surge from Dinwiddie, who finished with 17 points after getting his Dallas high with 24 in the previous Golden State meeting. ''I thought it was going to take a little bit longer. He's a great player, and he's a great fit for us

''I loved the effort,'' coach Steve Kerr said. ''We're going through it right now. Every team in the league pretty much has gone through it at some point this year. It's just our turn. We're going to bounce back.''

''Tough night for Klay,'' Kerr said. ''He needs these minutes to get ready for what's ahead. He's going to have some bumps in the road. Where he's gotten in trouble is he's forcing the issue. He's been trying too hard. You can't blame him. He's been out for 2 1/2 years.''

''We have in the past maybe melted mentally when the ball hits the rim and there's no call,'' Kidd said. ''It just showed growth. I think our maturity level was high. We responded in a positive way.''

Also read: James Harden continues to shine as the Sun get back to winning ways

Other results were:

• Hawks 130 - 124 Bulls
• Celtics 120 - 107 Grizzlies
• Raptors 106 - 108 Pistons
• Nets 107 - 113 Heat
• Spurs 112 - 115 Kings

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• 76ers vs Cavaliers
• Pistons vs Pacers
• Wizards vs Hawks
• Raptors vs Magic
• Thunder vs Timberwolves
• Pelicans vs Jazz
• Nuggets vs Rockets
• Suns vs Knicks
   

Naihati (West Bengal), Mar 3 (Football News) David Munoz scored a brace as Sreenidi Deccan FC beat TRAU FC 3-1 to notch up their maiden win in the I-League here on Thursday.

Munoz scored in the second and 41st minutes while Louis Ugochukwu Ogana (30th) struck in between for Sreenidi Deccan. Akobir Turaev (33rd) scored a consolation goal for TRAU.

Sreenidi Deccan kicked off the proceedings in style with Munoz getting the first goal in just the second minute of the match. Munoz got another opportunity in the seventh minute but TRAU goalkeeper Amrit Gope was quick to deflect the ball to his right.

Salam Johnson Singh and Joseph Olaleye started linking up well on the front lines as TRAU started dominating possession.

In the 25th minute, a diagonal cross from Netrajit Singh inside the box towards Salam Johnson Singh provided a big opportunity for TRAU to get the equaliser. But Sreenidi Deccan goalkeeper Shibinraj Kunniyil kept his calm and averted the danger.

In the 29th minute, Sreenidi Deccan extended their lead with Louis Ogana receiving the ball from the right and sending it towards bottom-right corner past TRAU goalkeeper Amrit Gope.

But Akobir Turaev managed to get one goal back minutes later, as he struck a right-footed shot into the nets, bringing TRAU back into the contest.

In the 40th minute, a free-kick inside the box from Lal Chungnunga was headed in by David Munoz to again extend Sreenidi Deccan's lead by two goals.

In the second match of the day at Kalyani, NEROCA and Gokulam Kerala FC played out a goal-less draw.

The Spanish duo of Juan Mera and Sergio Mendiguchia were at the heart of NEROCA’s creative engine and looked the likeliest source for the Manipuri side to break the deadlock.

Combative midfielder Jiteshwor Singh had an influential first half as well, proving to be a bundle of energy and winning the ball back for NEROCA FC on multiple occasions.

But in the end, both sides could not find a goal. 

Also Read : Churchill Brothers look to bounce back from first round defeat, Kenkre FC to make debut

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Philadelphia 76ers continued their rise above the table as they won 123 - 108 against the New York Knicks. For the 76ers, James Harden scored 26 points, nine assists and nine, Joel Embiid had 27 points and 12 rebounds and Tyrese Maxey scored 25 points. The Sixers moved to 3-0 with Harden in the lineup and his dynamic duo linkup with Embiid has suddenly stamped the Sixers as legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference. For the Knicks, RJ Barett scored 30 points and Julius Randle had 24 points in a very unenterprising performance from them. With this result the 76ers moved within a win of the Bulls as they are currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference with a record of 38-23.

''I just wanted to come out there and show my love back,'' Harden said in his home debut.

''I feel like you can put me anywhere in the room and I can fit in,'' Harden said. ''Here is no different. Just see what you have and try your best to fit in. Be the best James Harden I can be in every aspect.''

''It felt like a playoff atmosphere,'' Embiid said. ''I've given a lot of credit to Philly fans over the years and they've always come through, win or lose.''

''I do the same job, the same work. It's just that more people notice,'' Rivers said. ''I think when you get a guy like James and Joel together with what we have, with all of our other guys, our guys sense it, too. Not the hoopla, though. It's that they have a real shot. You don't get many of these.''

''I just want us to lock into improvement. come in every day, put everything you have into it,'' Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. ''That's where our focus has to lie right now. We've got to get over the hump and close the games out. That's our challenge. Keep growing, keep getting better ,learn from mistakes.''

The Phoenix Suns got back to winning ways after the Pelicans had snapped their winning streak as they won 120-95 against the Portland Trail Blazers. For the Suns, Cam Johnson scored 20 points, Deandre Ayton added 18, Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder each added 15 points, with Bridges shooting 6 of 9 and the Suns became the first NBA team to 50 wins this season. For the Trail Blazers, Brandon Williams had a career-high 14 points as 4 of the 5 starters got into double digits but couldn’t really get going. With this result the Suns stayed on top of the Eastern Conference table with the best NBA record currently of 50-12.

''It feels good,'' Johnson said. ''Fifty is a big benchmark in this league, but now we want to get to 60.''

''My biggest concern is just trying to get some continuity with our new guys and the guys we had here,'' Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. ''That is the biggest thing for me. The problem is it's tough to rush that. You have to get it when it comes and keep chipping away at it.''

'We were moving the ball,'' guard Cameron Payne said. ''We played well. We've just got to keep it going.''

Also read: Lakers lose three in a row and Warriors also lose to the Timberwolves

The other results were:

• Magic 114 - 122 Pacers
• Cavs 98 - 119 Hornets
• Pelicans 125 - 95 Kings
• Bucks 120 - 119 Heat
• Rockets 127 - 132 Jazz
• Nuggets 107 - 119 Thunder

Tomorrow’s matches are:

• Hawks vs Bulls
• Celtics vs Grizzlies
• Raptors vs Pistons
• Nets vs Heat
• Mavericks vs Warriors
• Spurs vs Kings
• Clippers vs Lakers
   

(Cricket news) With the IPL season set to begin from the 26th of March, it's time to look at the lesser known uncapped players in each of the teams who can make a significant impact. Over the years we have seen a plethora of players get the much needed pedestal in the IPL to showcase their talent and some players have gone on to represent the country also. So let us take a look at some of these players:

• Sunrisers Hyderabad (Umar Malik)

The 22 year old fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir took the IPL by storm when he bowled the quickest delivery by an Indian - 153 Kph, but he didn’t get enough game time to actually prove his wicket taking ability. Seeing his raw talent the Indian selectors fast tracked his career and gave him the opportunity to bowl in the nets during the T20 World Cup last year. Like his deliveries, even his career has been on the fast-track. 

Three years ago, Umar was struggling to get into Jammu & Kashmir’s team, but fast forward to last October, he was bowling to the likes Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers in the IPL, and in November he made his first-class debut for India A against South Africa A. He is still a raw diamond which needs some final touches as this season he will be given the mantle to lead the bowling attack for SRH which will showcase his talent.

• Gujarat Titans (Abhinav Manohar Sadarangani)

The Gujarat Titans shelled out massive money for Abhinav Manohar Sadarangani as the 27 year old only made his domestic debut in November 2021, but made a huge impact in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy, batting at no 5 he was the highest run-scorer for Karnataka, making 162 runs in four games at a strike rate of 150.00 and an average of 54.00. His performances caught the eye of many IPL franchises. 

He played an integral part in Karnataka reaching the final where they eventually lost out to a last ball six by Shah Rukh Khan but Abhinav’s performances didn’t go unnoticed. He should add the much needed firepower in the middle order, and slot in alongside the likes of Hardik Pandya and Rahul Tewatia as the finishers in the team. Sadarangani looks like a promising talent who could deliver the goods for Hardik Pandya's side who look a bit unenterprising on paper.

• Lucknow SuperGiants (Ayush Badoni)

The LSG franchise have the smallest squad in the IPL with the least amount of uncapped players but Ayush Badoni the 19 year old from Delhi will be part of their squad. Although in most likelihood he won’t get much game time but he’s a future investment for this new franchise. The 19 years old really got the recognition in a U19 test match against Sri Lanka when he put the Lankan players down with both bat and ball and his performance had been appreciated by many cricket experts. He bowled a  brilliant spell of Off spin bowling and he scalped 4 of the key wickets in the first innings. Badoni actually stole the show when he  thrashed the Srilankan bowling whilst batting at the no. 7, he played a magical innings of 185 runs in just 205 deliveries which clearly proves is skills at such a young age

• Royal Challengers Bangalore (Anuj Rawat)

The left handed batsman, who can double up as a wicketkeeper as well was bought for a whopping 3.4 cr, he will mainly act as a replacement for Devdutt Padikkal in the squad. He was born in Ram Nagar in Uttarakhand and made his First-Class debut for Delhi versus Assam. Batting at No 7, Rawat scored 71 off 147 balls. The 22-year-old slammed 925 runs from 19 First-Class games at an average of 34.25 including two centuries and three half-centuries. 

Rawat has scored 573 runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at a superb of 44.07 including five fifties which is quite impressive considering his age. Rawat is a multi dimensional batsman who either bat as a finisher or could open the innings with Faf Du Plessis at the top, providing RCB with a left hand - right hand batting option. For Anuj it will be a big season since he has to fill in a major void left behind by Padikkal at the top.

• Rajasthan Royals (Riyan Parag)

Riyan Parag over the years has become a mainstay for the teams and this year the team management have shown the same faith in him to finally perform to his full potential. He came into the limelight when Parag played for the India U19 team in the 2018 World Cup where he was captained by Prithvi Shaw and was bought by the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2019 auction for his base price only. He created history when he became the youngest cricketer in the IPL to score a half-century at the age of 17 years and 175 days. 

In 23 IPL innings for Rajasthan Royals, Parag has made 339 runs with just one solitary half-century at a strike rate of 118.50 and average of 16.90. He has hit 29 fours and 12 sixes so far. However, Parag’s actual credentials lie with Assam where he boasts a decent record for them in domestic cricket, with 659 runs in 13 First-Class matches with one century and 4 half-centuries. He has 756 runs in 29 List-A games with 6 half-centuries and the best score of 86. In 57 T20 games, he has 1019 runs with 8 half-centuries, the best score of 77* at an average of 24.85, and a strike rate of 126.27.

Also read: Top uncapped players to watch out for CSK, MI, KKR, DC, PBKS

Mumbai, Mar 3 (Cricket News) South Africa's U-19 World Cup sensation Dewald Brevis says Sachin Tendulkar has always been an inspiration to him and he would like to implement a few things in his game from the batting icon as he looks to create his own identity in world cricket.

"The way he played was always an inspiration to me. My favourite innings of his is the ODI double-century, which happened to be against South Africa. I remember watching the match with my brother - it was an amazing innings," the 18-year-old told Mumbaindians.com.

"I read his autobiography 'Playing it My Way' and there are a lot of things from there that I'd like to implement in my game. One thing I learnt from him is that you have to be humble because pride can be your downfall." Brevis was picked up by five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians in the mega-auction recently.

Nicknamed 'Baby AB' for his uncanny resemblance to AB de Villiers' batting, Brevis said it is an honour to be compared to him but he would like to create his own identity and is relishing the prospects of sharing the dressing room with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

"It is an honour to be compared to him (AB De Villiers), but it is important for me to have my own identity. I want to be known as Dewald Brevis," he said.

"We went to the same school and played under the same coach so when I first met him, I could not get a word out. There were many things I wanted to ask him but I was star-struck," the right-handed batter remembered.

Brevis said he is now keen to pick the minds of de Villiers as he starts his IPL journey.

"I would say he (AB) is great to learn from - he makes time for you and that is something I really appreciate. I mean, he is AB de Villiers and he could be a very different guy but he is very humble. I plan to ask him about his knowledge of the IPL soon," he said.

Brevis scored 506 runs in the 2022 U-19 World Cup, the most in a single edition of the tournament, surpassing flamboyant India opener Shikhar Dhawan's record of 505 runs in the 2004 edition and also picked up seven wickets with his part-time leg-spin.

His exploits forced Mumbai Indians to shell out Rs 3 crore for him at the IPL mega-auction and Brevis said he is now looking forward to sharing the dressing room with India and Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma, who is himself a white-ball exponent.

"I would love to share the dressing room with Rohit Sharma. He is a wonderful batter, smokes the bowlers and I have seen him rise through the ranks over the years," he said.

"I am grateful that both Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah are on the team. I think it will be tougher to face Bumrah, I have seen him bowl live at Supersport Park (in Centurion) for India against South Africa and it is surreal that I will be facing him in the nets soon." Brevis said it a dream come true moment for him but he never expected to play for Mumbai Indians.

"I did not expect it at all. I was playing for the Titans in the CSA T20 challenge during the auction and my name literally came up in the middle of the game. I remember Quinton de Kock asking me to come up to the TV to watch what was happening," he said.

"My parents were also really excited. They started crying in all that excitement because, we as a family, have followed the IPL and MI all through. My first memory of playing cricket was in our backyard and from replicating ‘IPL games’ there to actually playing for MI is a dream come true.

"It gives me a lot of confidence to be picked by the most successful IPL team and motivates me to add one more trophy to that cabinet. MI has always been one of my favourite teams." 

Also Read : Rohit Sharma to begin Test captaincy reign against Sri Lanka in Mohali

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Mar 2 (Cricket News) Chennai Super Kings pacer Deepak Chahar is set to miss first half of the upcoming Indian Premier League due to a right quadriceps injury which he sustained during the third and final T20 match against West Indies in Kolkata.

According to BCCI sources, Chahar is likely to be out for eight weeks.

"Chahar is out for at least eight weeks, which means he will miss half of IPL 2022," the BCCI source told PTI.

The IPL 2022 starts on March 26 and CSK is still waiting for a final report from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru where the pacer is recuperating.

Chahar was bought by CSK for a whopping Rs 14 crore, which is the second most expensive buy in this year's IPL auction.

The 29-year-old had sustained a right quadriceps injury while playing in the final T20 against the West Indies in Kolkata on February 20 and was subsequently ruled out of the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka, which India won 3-0.

In his short international career so far, Chahar has picked up 10 and 26 wickets from seven ODIs and 20 T20 matches respectively.

Coming down the order, Chahar has also made valuable contributions for India, hitting two fifties in ODIs with 69 not out being his highest score.

The IPL 2022 is scheduled to be played in the country from March 26 till May 29. 

Also Read : Two Alpha Males and 'The Test': A day in nets for 'Centurion' Kohli and 'Captain' Sharma

News Source : PTI

Mohali, Mar 2 (Cricket News) Two men at the peak of their careers and separated by a year.

Supremely successful, insanely wealthy, and achievers in their own right with manic followers growing exponentially with each passing day.

But 48 hours before Virat Kohli gears up to play his landmark 100th Test and Rohit Sharma walks out from the PCA Stadium pavilion in a navy blue India blazer for the first time, they simply looked like two men possessed and intensely focussed to make their milestone moment special.

While social media went into a frenzy before BCCI allowed crowd for the momentous occasion, there were not even 10 people around when the Indian team bus entered the stadium premises on Wednesday.

Yes, there are billboards and cut-outs around the stadium but how many people will turn up on a warm Friday morning when India open a two-match series against Sri Lanka could be anybody's guess -- crowd allowed or not.

Inside the cauldron were two men-- one aged 34, who has basically turned the corner in traditional format in such a whirlwind fashion that he has now become the undisputed leader of men, making a mockery of perceptions.

Rohit Sharma, in his own way, proved that perceptions are just that "perceptions".

One could even imagine that wry smile for all those who thought that he is just another white-ball bully.

Within a few yards of him was a mega-star, who is best described as a Test cricket devotee. Ian Chappell recently urged Kohli to take the lead in saving Test cricket.

Not more than 20 odd people were witness to what an intense practice session looks like where the two stars took multiple turns to bat various nets -- throwdowns, spinners, pacers, and net bowlers.

If Rohit would tuck Shami off his hips, Virat would bring the cover drive against Mohammed Siraj out of the closet.

They batted at different nets at different times. There was a delivery from Siraj that could have got any batter.

Pitched on length and moving enough to send Kohli's off-stump for a walk. The stump cart-wheeled and pierced the back net. Kohli walked back and picked it up.

Suddenly the urgency in his stride increased and the next ball was hit for a cover drive.

Some 30 yards away, quietly watching the former skipper was his one time deputy. 'Captain Sharma' kept a hawk eye on the proceedings, having himself batted close to 45 minutes.

In between, he came out and twice was seen tonking rookie left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar.

As Rohit was going through the paces, one saw a relaxed Kohli having a chat with batting coach Vikram Rathour and Ravindra Jadeja, sharing a hearty laugh, something that that told that he is absolutely relaxed and in a great mind space.

In between, he was seen watching Rohit leave some of Jasprit Bumrah's balls and Mohammed Shami's express deliveries outside the off-stump.

So, how is King Kohli shaping up before a Test match? Well, one would like to refer to Sunil Gavaskar's often recalled statement of his playing days.

"When I didn't bat well at the nets, I invariably ended up doing well in Tests," and one would expect that all the dismissals that happened and the edges that flew off his bats remained confined to nets only.

For Rohit, his practice duration, including multiple sessions with throwdown experts and quality time against spinners, was an indication that he just doesn't want to be a skipper in whites but a leader, who wants to show how it is done.

This is not just another Test for them.

Champions always want that stage where the world give them a standing ovation for their artistry.

Both have been their and done that.

And the relationship? Go back to the YouTube montage which has more than a million hits.

One where skipper Kohli is asked if Rohit Sharma can be dropped? "You want to drop Rohit Sharma? Pahle bata do yaar aise questions puchne wale ho," the shake of head with disdain and smirk on his face had said it.

That was Kohli who could be intimidating in a split second.

A few months later Rohit Sharma was asked if Virat Kohli lacked confidence? "Virat Kohli ko confidence ke zaroorat hai? Kya baat karte ho yaar" There was disdain here too but laced with sarcasm, which is typically Rohit.

Fans do not need to know if they are best friends or not but one can be assured that when it comes to performing for a common cause, they put their "best foot forward". 

Also Read : Mayank Agarwal looking at new talent to shine for Punjab Kings

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Lakers suffered their third straight loss after the all star break as they lost to the Dallas Mavericks 109-104. For the Mavs, Luka Doncic scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Jalen Brunson added 22 points as Dorian Finney-Smith had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Mavericks, who hung on for their eighth win in 10 games. For the Lakers, LeBron James scored 26 points and Carmelo Anthony had 20 for the Lakers, who took their sixth loss in seven games despite erasing a 21-point deficit in just over 12 minutes. With this result the Mavs improved their record 37-25 and sit just a win behind the Utah Jazz in 5th in the Western Conference standings.

''At halftime we told them, `They're coming. LeBron is coming,'' Dallas coach Jason Kidd said. ''In the third quarter, LeBron put on a show, but we didn't lose our composure. That's one of the things we've gotten better at, and in the fourth quarter we got back to what we've done at Golden State. We held them to 17 points, and that's pretty good.''

''We stayed together and just executed the game plan, played the game,'' Doncic said. ''My mentality is to close the game with the best shot possible. We executed down the stretch.''

''I don't know if you can do a better job on Luka than we did tonight,'' Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. ''Our guys really competed. Our helpers really competed, but he had that stretch in crunch time where he scored a few buckets in a row. Not good enough. ... It hurts. All these guys are hurting there. We're putting in the work.''

“We still have games to play,'' James said. ''Until you stomp me out, cut my head off, bury me 12 feet under, I've got a chance. So that's my confidence. We've got to come here and win ball games and play better, but as long as we've got ball games to play, we've got a chance.''

''I hit my head (on the rim),'' Doncic said with a laugh. ''We're not going to talk about that. Let me enjoy the moment.''

The Golden State Warriors lost to the Timberwolves 129-114. For the Timberwolves Karl Anthony Towns had 39 points and nine rebounds he went 14 for 22 from the floor and D'Angelo Russell pitched in 22 points, and Malik Beasley added 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from 3-point range for Minnesota. For the Warriors, Stephen Curry led them with 34 points and Gary Payton II added 14 points. With this result the Timberwolves improved their record to 34-29 and sit comfortably in 7th place in the Western Conference table.

''Nights like tonight where you just don't play a good brand of basketball defensively to give yourself a chance to win on the road against a team that you allow to have life all night, you're not going to win a lot of games that way,'' Curry said.

''We're going to be fine long-term. I'm excited about our team and excited about where we can go, but we've just got to weather this storm,'' coach Steve Kerr said.

''He played hard, played to exhaustion,'' coach Chris Finch said. ''At one point he had to ask to come out. Super inspirational for his guys tonight.''

Also read: The Heats beat the Bulls and the Bucks steam roll past the Hornets

The other results were:

• Wizards 116 - 113 Pistons
• Raptors 109 - 108 Nets
• Celtics 107 - 98 Hawks
• Rockets 100 - 113 Clippers

Tomorrow's fixtures are:

• Magic vs Pacers
• Cavs vs Hornets
• 76ers vs Knicks
• Pelicans vs Kings
• Bucks vs Heat
• Rockets vs Jazz
• Nuggets vs Thunder
• Suns vs Trail Blazers

(Basketball news) The Miami Heats comprehensively beat the Chicago Bulls 112-99. For the Heat, Gabe Vincent and Tyler Herro each scored 20 points as Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each had 15 points for Miami. Max Strus had all 13 of his points in the fourth quarter for them. For the Bulls, Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 22 points, while Ayo Dosunmu had 18 and Nikola Vucevic added 14 as DeMar DeRozan's streak of 10 consecutive games with at least 30 points ended; he finished with 18. With this result Miami reclaimed the top position in the Western Conference table with their ninth successive win as their record currently stands at 41-21. 

''Whatever people want to say about us is cool,'' Herro said.

''I was just playing,'' DeRozan said of the streak. ''Just going out there playing, competing, doing whatever I could. I was just going out there playing. ... I'm glad it's over with so I can stop hearing everything about it.''

''I think the biggest thing for me is we have to get battle-tested in some of these games and we just don't have a lot of guys who have gone into these kinds of experiences,'' Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. ''I think it's really good for us.''

“When the opportunity comes you want to take advantage of it,'' Vincent said. ''We miss Kyle and can't wait to get him back.''

The Milwaukee Bucks steam rolled past the Charlotte Hornets as they beat them 130-106. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 26 points and 16 rebounds, Jrue Holiday had 21 points and eight assists, and Bobby Portis added 20 points and 10 rebounds for them. Milwaukee made its first 26 free throws and finished 32 of 37 from the line. Antetokounmpo made all 14 of his free throws. For the Hornets, LaMelo Ball scored 24 points, Terry Rozier finished with 17 points and eight assists. With this result the Bucks improved their record to 37-25 and currently are in 4th place in the Eastern Conference table.

''If we got everybody locked in, giving that effort defensively, who can really score on us at a high level?'' said Jevon Carter, who scored 10 points off the bench. ''And then on the other end, being able to guard us in transition. So, we keep that pace up, sky's the limit.''

''We were in a little bit of an aggressive mindset'' in the second quarter, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. ''I thought Giannis quarterbacked in some of those situations, whether it was against the press or against the zone and found shooters. Sometimes we were able to play fast against the zone before it could get set, get some corner 3s.''

Also read: NBA: Pelicans thrash the Lakers and Warriors also lose

The other results were:

• Cavs 122 - 127 Timberwolves
• Magic 119 - 103 Pacers
• Nets 97 - 133 Raptors
• Thunder 110 - 131 Kings
• Grizzlies 118 - 105 Spurs

Tomorrow’s fixture are:

• Wizards vs Pistons
• Raptors vs Nets
• Celtics vs Hawks
• Rockets vs Clippers
• Timberwolves vs Warriors
• Lakers vs Mavericks

Dharamsala, Feb 27 (Cricket News) Making full use of the opportunities, Shreyas Iyer was breathing down Suryakumar Yadav's neck as India completed a clean sweep with consummate ease, beating Sri Lanka by six wickets in the third and final T20 International here on Sunday.

The Indian team's last three T20 home series against New Zealand, West Indies and now Sri Lanka have ended in identical 3-0 margins.

Chasing a target of 147, it was like a walk in the park for Shreyas, who smashed 73 not out off 45 balls to complete the chase in 16.5 overs after Avesh Khan and Mohammed Siraj enjoyed a brilliant run in the powerplay overs.

Shreyas, whose game against the short ball was once found to be suspect, had a rubber to remember with a hat-trick of half-centuries, an aggregate of 200 runs that fetched him the Player-of-the-Series Award.

Come to think of it, Shreyas is fighting for one elusive middle-order spot with Suryakumar, who was the Player of the Series against the West Indies before sustaining a hairline fracture on his right hand.

Not only in the third match but throughout the series what was evident was that Shreyas was in control of the pull shots which he had been made to practice for hours in the nets.

He is getting in line to keep the pulls down and now presents a happy headache for skipper Rohit Sharma, who became the most capped player in T20 Internationals with 125 games, one more than Pakistan's ageless wonder, Shoaib Malik.

It was a 'Super Subs' day out with India making four changes in the playing XI, including Ishan Kishan due to concussion. They came up trumps without breaking much sweat.

Avesh made amends for a forgettable debut as his scorching opening spell alongside Mohammed Siraj put the Sri Lankans on the back foot straightaway, as both made full use of the pace and bounce on offer on the Dharamsala track.

Even the two wrist spinners, Ravi Bishnoi (4-0-32-1) and Kuldeep Yadav (4-0-25-0), did well enough to bottle up the islanders on a chilly night.

Strange enough, for two years Bishnoi has been only bowling googlies but with so much accuracy, that the batters in IPL and now in international cricket are yet to get a measure of him.

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was once again the saviour with a 74 not out off 38 balls that took his team close to 150-run mark. Shanaka hit nine fours and two sixes.

But it was Avesh (4-1-23-2) and Siraj (4-0-22-1), who just dismantled the Lankan top-order with pace and bounce, as they were reduced to 11 for 3 in the fourth over and there was no coming back from there.

Siraj started it by hurrying Danushka Gunathilaka (0) with a short ball which he tried to pull but only managed to drag back onto the stumps.

Avesh, who went for 40 odd runs on debut on a Eden Gardens belter, bowled much fuller from his usual back-of-length stuff and sent back Pathum Nissanka (1) and Charith Asalanka (4), both deliveries hitting the bat faster than they could have comprehended.

The best part about India's performance was that vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah, veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar and first choice wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal were given a much- needed break.

The skipper is spoilt for choice as he and coach Rahul Dravid are slowly building a set-up where they have multiple options for each and every position in both departments.

The only missing link in the T20 squad is the absence of a good off-spinner as the Indian team management is unlikely to go back to Ravichandran Ashwin for the T20 World Cup in Australia.

Otherwise, the team looks in good health. Also consider the fact that people who are not playing this series include Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul.

There is Suryakumar, Deepak Chahar and now Ishan Kishan getting injured at some point and Shardul Thakur being rested.

Yet a Test specialist like Siraj and the fiery Avesh or the committed Harshal Patel (4-0-29-1) are all making their cases for selection going into the big-ticket event eight months from now.

There would be injuries or the odd loss of form but even then, Rohit will have not much to worry about in terms of options. 

Also Read : Unbeaten Shreyas Iyer guides India to whitewash and achieves rare feat

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The new-look New Orleans Pelicans beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-95. For the Pelicans, McCollum scored 22 points while Jonas Valanciunas and Brandon Ingram added 19 apiece as the 28-point margin of victory is the largest in franchise history by the Pelicans over the Lakers. For the Lakers, LeBron James led them with 32 points but also had seven turnovers, tying a season high. It was James' 500th game in which he has scored at least 30 points, becoming the third player in NBA history to accomplish that as Carmelo Anthony had 13 points off the bench and Dwight Howard finished with 11 rebounds. With this result the Pelicans improved their record to 25-36 and just a position behind the Lakers who are well below the .500 mark this season.

''A great way to start (coming out of the All-Star break) is to get these two wins,'' Pelicans coach Willie Green said.

''I don't have an answer for tonight. They went into Phoenix, beat them, and obviously beat the doors off us today,'' James said.

''Teams are coming in and playing harder. I believe that's their scouting report - just play harder than them and see what happens. And it's working,'' said Russell Westbrook, who had 16 points and seven turnovers. ''We have to have the determination that's not going to happen on our home floor or it is going to continue to happen to us.''

''It's always fun when everybody's involved on the offensive and defensive end,'' Ingram said. ''We were just out there having fun, laughing, and playing the game the right way. Everybody contributed in a big way tonight.''

The Golden State Warriors suffered a shock defeat to the Dallas Mavericks 107-101. For the Mavericks, Donic had 34 points, 11 rebounds and nine turnovers as new addition Spencer Dinwiddie scored 10 of his 24 points in the final period for them. For the Warriors, Steph Curry had 27 points and 10 assists, Andrew Wiggins added 18 points, Kevon Looney grabbed 10 rebounds to go with eight points and five assists as Klay Thompson sat out with an illness after missing practice Saturday. With this result the Mavericks improved on their record to 36-25 and sit comfortably in 5th place in the Western Conference standings, for the Warriors they remained second with a record of 43-18.

''I think we let our offense dictate our energy and our spirit in the game,'' Looney said. ''... We kind of folded when adversity hit.''

''I think it's actually good to go through and feel it because this is what it feels like in the playoffs,'' coach Steve Kerr said. ''This is what it feels like when you're playing a really good team, the game's never over.''

'Energy, effort, execution under pressure, that's the name of the game,'' Kerr said

''It was good to be back on campus,'' Kidd said, joking how he has former Stanford star Dwight Powell on his roster

Also read: James Harden makes his debut for the 76ers and the Lakers lose again

The other results were:

• Jazz 118 - 114 Suns
• Pacers 128 - 107 Celtics
• Hornets 126 - 127 Pistons
• Rockets 98 - 99 Clippers
• Warriors 101 - 107 Mavericks
• Trail Blazers 92 - 124 Nuggets

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Cavs vs Timberwolves
• Magic vs Pacers
• Heat vs Bulls
• Nets vs Raptors
• Bucks vs Hornets
• Thunder vs Kings
• Grizzlies vs Spurs
   

(Basketball news) James Harden made his much anticipated debut for the Philadelphia 76ers as they beat the Timberwolves 133-102. For 76ers, Harden had 27 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in his 76ers debut, Joel Embiid added 34 points and 10 rebounds as Harden was 8 of 9 as the 76ers went 30 of 36 overall from the free throw line. For the Timberwolves, Karl-Anthony Towns led Minnesota with 25 points, and D'Angelo Russell had 21. Tobias Harris had just six points, but his defence on Towns forced an off-night shooting for the Timberwolves All-Star as Tyrese Maxey put in an impressive performance to score 28 points. With this result the Sixers improved their record to 36-23 and moved to 3rd in the Eastern Conference standings. 

''We're unselfish, we just want to win,'' Harden said. ''We've got guys, from top to bottom, that it feels that way on the court. Great things are going to happen more times than not. My job is to come in and add to each individual on this team.''

''That's what I expected,'' said Embiid, smiling wide as the two shared a post game press conference table. ''I've never been wide open like this in my life. Seriously, the passing, like I wasn't even expecting it and it was just coming.''

''The most costly thing tonight, and it might not be on the stat sheet, was that we were looking for shortcuts all night long,'' Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. ''We come down, one pass, try to make a home run play on offense. And more than anything it was our offense that let us down, really.''

''I feel the way we lost tonight, I feel like we took steps backwards,'' Russell said. ''Tonight, we didn't lose right.''

''I don't know why,'' Harden said. ''That's for the media. The media say that. I feel like I'm one of the best teammates that the NBA's seen, on the court and off the court.''

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered another disappointing loss to their city neighbours Clippers 105-102. For the Clippers, Terance Mann had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Amir Coffey added 12 of his 14 in the fourth quarter as Luke Kennard scored 18 points, the Clippers subsequently earned their sixth consecutive with a victory over the Lakers. For the Lakers, James had 21 points and 11 rebounds while Anthony and Russell Westbrook scored 18 points, they fell five games under .500 with their fourth loss in five games. With this result the Clippers improved their record to 31-31 and levelled up with .500 in the standings as they are currently 8th in the Western Conference.

''When we got down five or six, we just kept our composure, kept our poise and kept playing,'' Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. ''In that third quarter, I thought we let the game get away from us, but to keep our composure and come back and get a win, I thought it was big for us.''

''I couldn't disagree more strongly with the ruling,'' Vogel said. ''It's wrong. It should have been our ball in that situation.''

“We're going to do everything we can to keep it going and put it on their shoulders when they get back,'' Jackson said. ''The thing about this team is, we understand the light is at the end of the tunnel and they're going to be back at some point.''

''I don't understand how some of my comments over the weekend was taken to a whole different area,'' James said, later adding: ''I see myself being in the purple and gold as long as I can play.''

Also read: The NBA is back as Warriors kicked off the proceedings with an emphatic victory

The other results were:

• Thunder 129 - 125 Pacers
• Magic 119 - 111 Rockets
• Hornets 125 - 93 Raptors
• Wizards 153 - 157 Spurs
• Knicks 100 - 115 Heat
• Suns 102 - 117 Pelicans
• Jazz 114 - 109 Mavericks

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Hawks vs Raptors
• Bulls vs Grizzlies
• Heat vs Spurs
• Cavs vs Wizards
• Nuggets vs Kings
• Bucks vs Nets
• Knicks vs 76ers
   

(Football news) Manchester United will welcome Watford to Old Trafford with both sides desperate to secure three points for different reasons. The Red Devils are currently fighting for a place in the Champions League and cannot afford to slip up with Arsenal breathing down their necks. Watford are fighting for survival in the Premier League and are 19th on the table with 18 points from 25 games. The reverse fixture at Vicarage Road was a memorable one for the Hornets as they defeated Manchester United 4-1 and the result cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job. The hosts will be looking for revenge this time around and Ralf Rangnick hasn’t lost a game since his appointment as interim manager so far.

Manchester United were lucky to have secured a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie. Rangnick will hope for an improved performance this time around, especially with regards to providing service to Cristiano Ronaldo. Anthony Elanga has been one of the most positive aspects of Rangnick’s reign so far and is expected to start ahead of Marcus Rashford who has been abysmal so far. Edinson Cavani and Scott McTominay will be unavailable for selection for the match and Diogo Dalot is expected to feature at right back. 

As for Watford, Peter Etebo and Nicolas Nkoulou remain absent but Joao Pedro and Juraj Kucka are expected to return to the starting lineup. Former Manchester United players Joshua King and Tom Cleverley will look to make an impact at their former club while Edo Kayembe might feature in midfield. Manchester United are expected to secure the three points from this fixture but will need to be prolific in front of goal. The performance of Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Elanga and Cristiano Ronaldo will be integral to getting the right result in the fixture.

Reigning champions and Premier League leaders Manchester City will visit Goodison Park to take on Everton on Saturday evening. Pep Guardiola will expect nothing less than three points from this fixture, especially considering that a single slip up may result in Liverpool taking the top spot on the table. The Toffees will hope to make it difficult for them as Frank Lampard’s team look to move five points clear of the relegation zone and need to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Southampton.

Everton will welcome Demarai Gray and Abdoulaye Doucoure back in their squad but Lampard will be without Yerry Mina (thigh), Ben Godfrey (hamstring), Fabian Delph (thigh) and Tom Davies (thigh) due to injury. Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are expected to retain their places in attack despite a disappointing performance last weekend while Anthony Gordon is expected on the left flank and one of Andros Townsend, Alex Iwobi or Anwar El Ghazi to operate on the other side.

As for Manchester City, Guardiola has confirmed that Jack Grealish and Gabriel Jesus are available for selection. The Spaniard might select Riyad Mahrez over Ilkay Gundogan in the starting lineup and Bernardo Silva operating in a midfield three alongside Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne. John Stones and Nathan Ake will look to force their way back into the starting lineup even though Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte are the preferred options with Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo operating as fullbacks. 

Also read: Liverpool and Chelsea set to renew hostilities in the Carabao Cup final

Lucknow, Feb 25 (Cricket News) Struggling for fluency in the previous series, young opener Ishan Kishan has credited India skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid for his return to form in the first T20 against Sri Lanka.

The left-hander, who failed to capitalise on his starts against the West Indies, finally lived up to his Rs 15.25 crore IPL tag with a whirlwind 56-ball 89 in India's 62-run win over Sri Lanka on Thursday.

"Always a senior player would want a youngster to be in a good head space. Be it (coach) Rahul (Dravid) bhai, Virat (Kohli) bhai or Rohit bhai, they all have passed this phase. They are aware how we feel when we don't perform well," Ishan said at the post-match media interaction.

"I didn't do well against the West Indies. They always told me that they know about my talent and what I can do for the team. 'We trust in you. Never ever you think that we are doubting your abilities'.

"They always help you out with small, small things be it your batting grip or the attacking mindset." The wicketkeeper-batter, who was bought back by Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians at the recent IPL auction, scored just 71 runs in three matches at a poor strike rate of 85.54.

But skipper Rohit kept his faith in Ishan's abilities and retained him as an opener for the opener against Sri Lanka "After playing so much cricket, you get used to the situation. Tough times will come but it's very important to be in the situation. You don't get too excited when you score runs.

"Same goes when you don't perform. So you need to be in a very good space. You need to talk to your seniors, because they are much more experienced than us. So it's very helpful when I sit with Rohit bhai for a conversation," added the 23-year-old, who scored his second T20I fifty.

Key was to rotate strike ============== Ishan revealed how Rohit helped him out at the nets to overcome his shortcomings to rotate the strike and take quick singles.

"He (Rohit Sharma) always keeps telling me that 'you can hit whenever you go out there in the middle. The important thing for me where I was erring was about rotating the strikes, and taking singles "Obviously he has helped me out in those areas, especially when I'm batting at the nets. He keeps telling me to try how to rotate the strike. 'You can hit anyway, but it's about rotating the strike and keeping the bowlers under pressure', he would say.

"When you get their full support, our job is to continue our disciplined life, be it the fitness, homework, or batting pattern we just have to continue." Ishan further said he's blessed to have so many senior cricketers in the dressing room as they keep showing him the way.

"Senior players always help you out. It's not always about hitting hard, it's about going there and playing with the bowlers' mind and how to put him under pressure if he's bowling well at that point of time." Ishan has been promoted up the order in absence of regular opener KL Rahul (hamstring injury).

"When you come to a level like this, playing for the Indian team, you have to be ready for every opportunity you get because there are so many players performing well and you cannot ask that coach I want to open or so... "...It's not just that you go there and you get to open, you have to wait for your time but when you get it, you have to capitalise on it," he added.

India had earlier endured six losses batting first from nine matches from the period of March 2021 till their loss to New Zealand in the T20 World Cup where toss also played a key role for the Virat Kohli-led side.

India's change in approach paying dividends =========================== Now after their win against Sri Lanka, India coasted to 10 successive wins in T20I including five while batting first.

"We have been very predictable in the games against big teams and thought much about keeping our wickets for the slog overs," said Ishan about the change in batting approach.

"All of us are so talented, we have shots in our pockets, the captain and coach believe in us, like what we have done in the IPL and important matches. So the meetings were obviously about this and our approach is simple -- to go out there and express ourselves.

"If the ball is there then we need to go for it rather than taking a single and waiting for the bowler to come. It's nothing like you have to take chances on a very good ball.

"But at this platform I think it's very important that you have to move towards the ball, you have to step out, keep the bowler thinking. So that's the important thing that we are focusing on, rather than standing at one place and batting, we need to keep moving and put the bowler under pressure," he concluded. 

Also Read : 2nd T20I: India on course to wrap up series in Dharamsala; Lankans hope to stay afloat

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Golden State continued from where they left off before the All Star break as they destroyed the Portland Trail Blazers 132-95. For the Warriors, Stephen Curry had 18 points and 14 assists as Klay Thompson also had 18 points for the Warriors, the Warriors at the end of the match had 8 players in double digits scoring. For the Trailblazers, Anfernee Simons had 24 points for Portland as they had won four straight going into the break. With this result the Warriors improved their record to 43-17 and sit comfortably in second place in the Western Conference table.

'It was a good way to kind of come back from the break and establish ourselves on both ends of the floor,'' Curry said.

''Steph was brilliant tonight,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ''I loved his patience and the way he ran the team tonight. He played a beautiful game.''

''(Curry) has always been able to pass like this. His scoring is so good it can get overlooked sometimes,'' Thompson said.

''I thought they played hard and they played well, they just came up against a juggernaut,'' Billups said. ''They kind of took off on us there, they had 39 points in the second quarter, that really hurt us and we could never really recover.''

The Phoenix Suns won their 8th consecutive match against the Oklahoma City Thunder 124-104. For the Suns, Devin Booker had 25 points, 12 assists and a career-high six steals as Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges each scored 21 points for the Suns, who have won 19 of 20. For the OKC, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led them with 32 points on his return as Rookie guard Josh Giddey, who had 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists. At this moment the Suns are the best team in the league by a mile and they are consistently winning matches for fun. With this result the Suns improved their record to 49-10 and sit on top of the Western Conference table.

''I thought Devin managed the game well,'' Suns coach Monty Williams said.

''I feel like we can only get better from this,'' Suns forward Jae Crowder said. ''Obviously, we've put ourselves in a position to have a cushion. But at the same time, we're playing for something. We're playing purposeful basketball each and every night.''

'Love playing with him,'' Giddey said. ''I think that chemistry is getting better and better over time. I think in a few years, we're going to be one of the best backcourts in the league. So growing with him is something I love doing.''

''The good thing is, we got that game out of the way,'' Williams said. ''I thought we had some rust in the pipes tonight, and we were able to get some of that out and get used to Book (Booker) playing some point.''

Also read: Team LeBron wins over Team Durant as Steph Curry won the Kobe Bryant MVP award

The other results were:

• Pistons 106 - 103 Cavs
• Nets 106 - 129 Celtics
• Timberwolves 119 - 114 Grizzlies
• Bulls 112 - 103 Hawks
• Kings 110 - 128 Nuggets

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Pacers vs Thunder
• Magic vs Rockets
• Hornets vs Raptors
• Wizards vs Spurs
• Knicks vs Heat
• Timberwolves vs 76ers
• Suns vs Pelicans
• Jazz vs Mavericks
• Lakers vs Clippers
• Pistons vs Celtics
   

New Delhi, Feb 22 (Cricket News) Currently trying to pick Kieron Pollard and Rohit Sharma's brains, Mumbai Indians' Rs 8.25 crore big-hitting recruit Tim David says he will be "willing to take some risks" in the upcoming IPL, as that is his approach.

The power-hitter from Australia, who has so far earned his international stripes for his birthplace of Singapore and not the country where he was raised, was snapped up by MI after a fierce bidding war in the IPL mega auction recently.

A great admirer of Pollard, David has been trying to imitate the power game of the veteran West Indian swashbuckler heading into the 15th edition of the lucrative league, and feels the two of them can do a lot together.

"It is an exciting idea to bat with him. Polly is someone I have admired for his power-hitting and have looked at some of his innings to see how I can do that myself. If we could get going in the middle and death overs, we could take a few games away," David told mumbaiindians.com.

On skipper Rohit and his approach, David said, "Rohit Sharma is a world-class player. He just looks so effortless when he bats, it's very admirable. It is a huge bonus to be able to spend time with class players and try to pick their brains a little bit.

"I try to keep it simple. I could come in a lot of different situations but my aim is always to have a positive approach and be willing to take some risks. Sometimes it may not come off but there is no better feeling than hitting one off the middle of the bat and it going for a big six." David has experience of playing for various franchises across the world -- Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2021 IPL, Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League, Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League, Southern Brave in The Hundred and Saint Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League.

MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene, who has worked with David in the Hundred, might have had a say in the selection of what he terms a "hot property" in the shortest format.

"I think he is a hot property at the moment. In T20 cricket, he is known as a power-hitter. We have always had those options at Mumbai Indians.

"When we plan the auction and when we knew we had funds available after the Jofra Archer bid, we took into account the auction dynamics because a lot of the uncapped players were available and Tim became a great target for us," Jayawardene said.

The Sri Lankan batting great and former captain added, "Like we have the Bumrah-Jofra combination to look forward to, we can have the Pollard-Tim David combination at the back-end of the innings.

"Tim is a much improved player in the last few months and he is still young. We look forward to have him in the dressing room. You saw the price (8.25 Crore), it kept going up and many teams were interested in him, not just us. I am sure he will have a fabulous IPL career." David has represented Singapore in international cricket in 14 T20Is, scoring 558 runs at an average of 46.5 and a strike rate of 158.52 since his debut against Qatar in July 2019.

The 25-year-old David is looking forward to utilise the opportunity of facing people like Jasprit Bumrah at MI nets to prepare himself better for the tournament.

"One bowler I am looking forward to facing the most in the nets is Bumrah. I know it sounds strange because he is one of the best in the world but I believe it will be great to test myself against him. I am sure it is going to be hard work." 

Also Read : Category shortlists revealed for ITW Irish Cricket Awards 2022

News Source : PTI

(Cricket news) “Mere liye tu hamesha Cheeku rahega aur duniya ke liye King Kohli (you will always be Cheeku for me and King Kohli for the world),” said former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh in a heartfelt letter to batting icon Virat Kohli on Tuesday.

As a fan, teammate and someone who has closely watched Kohli grow as a cricketer, Yuvraj posted the letter on social media.

Yuvraj, who shares a close association with sports brand PUMA alongside Kohli, also took the occasion to give one of India’s most successful captains a special edition of PUMA’s golden boots.

“Virat, I’ve seen you grow as a cricketer and as a person. From that young boy in the nets who would walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the legends of Indian cricket, you’re now a legend yourself leading the way for a new generation,” Yuvraj, the 2011 World Cup-winning star, wrote.

In the letter, Yuvraj commended Kohli for his dedication and discipline towards his craft that serves as an inspiration for the future generation. “Your discipline in the nets, passion on the field and dedication to the sport inspires every young kid in this country to pick up the bat and dream of putting on the blue jersey one day,” he said.

“You have elevated your level of cricket every single year and achieved so much already in this wonderful game. You have been a legendary captain and a fantastic leader.”

The swashbuckling batter, who holds the record of fastest fifty in T20 Internationals, also recounted the memories spent together with Kohli, be it scoring runs for the country or sharing lighter moments off the field.

“Always keep the fire inside you burning. You’re a superstar. Here’s a special golden boot for you. Keep making the country proud,” Yuvraj added.

Yuvraj Singh posted the letter on his Instagram handle, you can see it here 

Also read: India women lose rain affected encounter against NZ despite Richa Ghosh heroics

New Delhi, Feb 20 (Cricket News) Seven years back, the then 21-year-old Saurabh Kumar faced a common career dilemma --- pursue his passion or secure a safe future.

Employed with Indian Air Force on sports quota, Saurabh was at the crossroads. He had a secure central government job with all the perks but his heart pushed him to play professional cricket and earn that coveted India jersey.

"There comes a moment in life when you have to take a decision. Jo bhi ho lena padhta hai," the 28-year-old orthodox left-arm spinner and newest entrant to the Indian Test squad told PTI in an interview.

"It was a tough decision to quit playing Ranji Trophy for the Services. I loved being an Indian Air Force man and part of Indian defence but there was a part of me that felt that I have it in me to work hard and play for India," the cricketer, who hails from UP's Baghpat District said.

"I was posted in Delhi. I played for Services in the Ranji Trophy for one year (2014-15 season) when Rajat Palliwal was our captain.

"Since I was a sports quota entry, I didn't have to do any duty apart from play for Services. If I had quit cricket, then I would have had to do full-time duty," he recollected the old days.

Hailing from a middle-class family, his father worked as a JE (Junior Engineer) at the All India Radio. His parents were firmly supportive of his decision to trade profession with passion.

"It is amazing that when I told my parents that I am leaving Air-force job, they didn't for once asked me to reconsider. Both were very supportive of my choice.

"It was my decision to leave IAF but when I saw that parents were supportive, I got a lot of confidence to independently pursue my dream," Saurabh said.

Left-arm spinner's doggedness =================== There is something about left-arm spinners that make them special and one of the character traits is the doggedness which Saurabh believes that he had in abundance.

"Now, we stay in Ghaziabad but during those early days of playing cricket in Delhi, it was a big ordeal. In my town Baraut in Baghpat district, we didn't have great coaching facilities. So I had to take a daily train to come to Delhi for my training at National Stadium," he said.

For the uninitiated, Saurabh's coach is Sunita Sharma, the only female cricket Droancharya in India, whose other notable disciple is former keeper Deep Dasgupta.

"If I had a 2:00pm afternoon nets. I left home at 10 am in the morning. It would be a three and half hour train journey and another half an hour to reach the stadium. And same while coming back. It was tough but that's what helped me when I look back," said the man, who had 95 wickets in last two first-class seasons (2018-19, 2019-20).

"When you are 15 or 16 year old, you don't realise. Aap mein junoon itna hota hai, ki kuch bhi aapko mushkil nahi agta hai sir (When you have so much passion, nothing looks difficult)." Being tracked by Bishan Singh Bedi ====================== One of the turning points for Saurabh as a young cricketer was coming under legendary Bishan Singh Bedi's tutelage. Back in the day, Bedi used to organise Summer Camps and a lot of youngsters practiced over there.

"Bedi sir liked what he saw in my bowling. He introduced me to the world of nuance about little things on grip and stuff. No major changes as he liked my action and loved the areas I bowled into.

"One thing that happened during those Summer Camps was I got a chance to bowl hundreds of overs. Bedi sir had one mantra "Mehnat mein kaami nahi honi chhaiye". There should be no short cut to success," he added.

Once he entered the UP age-group teams, it was former state keeper Manoj Mudgal, who backed him a lot and the result is 196 wickets and 1572 runs from 46 first-class games.

Unlucky to miss Irani Cup ================ Saurabh during his two seasons of 51 and 44 wickets had once got a call-up for Irani Cup which had to be called off due to COVID-19 in 2020.

"When I was picked for Rest of India, I knew that I am now on the radar of selectors. I had been bowing pretty well and was confident but then it didn't happen and I lost my chance to showcase my talent in Irani Cup." But he continued working hard.

"Main kisi bhi cheez mein laga reh sakta hoon. I can work hard for long hours without any fuss." Life was about to change as he finally got an India A call-up to go to South Africa and played two A Tests in Bloemfontein. He must have impressed the coaches as the senior team then kept him as a stand by bowler for the Test series.

"It was a dream come true as I got a chance to bowl to the senior India players like Virat Kohli, KL Rahul. It was a massive learning curve for me. They gave valuable tips that will help me improve as a bowler." No IPL bids, no regrets =============== Saurabh was once picked for Rs 10 lakh by Rising Pune Supergiants back in 2017 but this time, days before his maiden India call-up, he went unsold at the IPL auctions. But he has no regrets.

"Not even one percent regret sir. This is life. Zindagi mein upar neeche toh hota rahega. Zaroorat hai toh lage rehne ka (There will be ups and down in life. All you need is to hang on.). I am doing just that," he signed off. 

Also Read : Kartikeya's fifer helps Madhya Pradesh rout Gujarat by 106 runs

News Source : PTI

Queenstown, Feb 18 (Cricket News) The Indian women's team has lost all the four matches so far in its ongoing tour of New Zealand but coach Ramesh Powar is "not concerned at all" as he attributed the poor performance to lack of game time due to COVID-19 and quarantine-related issues.

India suffered an 18-run defeat in the lone T20I before losing the three ODIs on the trot to concede the five-match series to New Zealand. The visiting team has not won a match so far.

"We had only three days of practice sessions ahead of tour. You cannot get into a competitive series like against New Zealand in such less time. So, there will be some rustiness in the players' approach," Powar said at the post-match conference after India lost by three wickets in the third ODI here on Friday.

"There is no concern at all, I'm not concerned about anything. After Australia, we did not play any game as a team. We came straight to NZ. When you want to address few issues about batting, fielding and bowling, you need to play as a group before a series which did not happen." Powar admitted that batting has clicked on this tour but there has been "inconsistencies" in bowling department but expected that things will be sorted out before the World Cup starts next month.

"Batting has clicked. From England tour to where we are now. We have scored 270, 280. In Australia also, we have scored 260, 270 so batting unit has done its job," said Powar, adding that opening batter Smriti Mandhana will be available from the next game after coming out of quarantine on Tuesday.

"It is now the bowling unit to get into rhythm. There were restrictions on doing practice, other limitations. So, I have to give (benefit of doubt) to the bowlers, they will come back hard when the World Cup begins." India put up 270-plus targets to New Zealand in the second and third ODIs but the bowlers failed to defend on both the occasions.

"We have missed our genuine fast bowlers, we just played with Jhulan, Simran, Renuka (and Pooja) because of unavailability," he said.

"Now Meghana will be available (from next game). We can go a little ahead with our bowling which did well in Australia. Three seam bowlers in every game." India played with just two pacers in all the three ODIs so far.

Pacers Meghana Singh and Renuka Singh were in an extended quarantine, along with Mandhana. Renuka, who came out of quarantine earlier, played in the third ODI on Friday but Meghana and Mandhana missed again as they came out of MIQ only on Tuesday.

"There were inconsistencies, agreed. In bowling we are trying to address middle-over performance where we can pick up wickets because there were a couple of 100-run partnerships (by NZ). We are trying to break that chink.

"We want to take wickets in middle overs. They have tried their best but with limited practice and Covid situation and quarantine, I don't blame my players for (lack of) consistency because they are short of practice, match simulation and proper matches, that is hurting us." Asked about vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur's wretched form as she scored 10, 10 and 13 in the three ODIs, Powar said, "I will stick to my statement (in India) that it is up to Harman to get back to form because it is the player's mind which works in pressure situations.

"We can create those (situations) in nets or otherwise. But it is up to that particular player to come out of that zone and do well." Powar said the management has been trying out different team combinations to deal with different situations which may arise against different opponents in the upcoming World Cup.

"We want to give game time to all the 18 players. In the whole four games, we tried different bowling attacks with the limitation of unavailability of fast bowlers," he said.

"We are trying to get the bowlers in the zone when they can bowl anytime, during power play, middle overs or the death. We are trying to have a lot of combinations, there is no final combination yet." He said the idea was to have many match-winners in the team so that one or two can do the job on a particular day.

"In the World Cup you cannot just have one combination like five bowlers or six bowlers or may be six all-rounders in the team, every opponent is different. It will be match-by-match." "They have the skill-sets to face the pressure and they well rise against that pressure. They will do well in the Wold Cup." 

Also Read : India look to seal the T20I series against West Indies at the Eden Gardens

News Source : PTI

Kolkata, Feb 17 (Cricket News) Enjoying a brilliant run of form, India batter Suryakumar Yadav says he is relishing the role of a finisher whose unbeaten knocks can steer the team home consistently.

In the opening T20 against the West Indies here on Wednesday, India suffered a few hiccups after a flying start given by skipper Rohit Sharma (40) but Yadav revived their 158-run chase with an unbeaten 18-ball 34. The side eventually won comfortably by six wickets.

"I think it was very important for me to stay till the end and win the game for my side," Yadav said in the post-match media interaction.

Returning to the ODI fold in the third match against South Africa in Cape Town last month, Yadav looked in fabulous touch with a 32-ball 39 but failed to finish their 288-run chase as India suffered a 0-3 series defeat.

"I have been in these situations many times, and whenever I have got out leaving 20-25 runs behind, I have felt bad after going back to the hotel. The situation was perfect tonight," the 31-year-old added.

Yadav got good support from Venkatesh Iyer at the other end with the Kolkata Knight Riders pace bowling all-rounder taking initial charge in his 13-ball 24 not out.

Yadav lauded Iyer's aggressive strokeplay. The duo put together a match-winning 48 runs stand from 26 balls.

"...the way he came to bat, his positivity was completely different, that passed onto me. He started his innings with a boundary, I felt it was the perfect platform for both of us to finish the game," he said.

Earlier, skipper Rohit Sharma was at his best playing at his favourite venue as his 19-ball 40 gave India a flying start.

"The entire world is watching how he is a class player. He has played for many years for India, he is just batting in the same manner he always has," Yadav said lauding his skipper.

"When he bats in the powerplay, if his timing is right then he tries to accumulate as many runs as he can in the first six overs," he added about Rohit, who is also his skipper at Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

Yadav further said he's ready to chip in with his bowling if required.

"Whenever Rohit needs me, I am there... I am trying it. Whenever we turn up for practice sessions, we bowl at the nets. We don't have a lot of bowlers in the end when our bowlers bat." Earlier, young India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi showed his brilliant exhibition of googlies to return with an impressive 2/17 to be adjudged the man-of-the-match in his maiden international outing.

Terming it a perfect debut for the Rajasthan lad, Yadav said: "It was a good opportunity for him to play against one of the best T20 sides in the world." "He responded well, the way he backed himself and bowled. There was a bit of dew, and it was not easy for the spinners to grip the ball.

"He executed everything well. And when (he was) under pressure, he backed himself with his best ball. It has been a perfect debut for Bishnoi," Yadav said.

Down 0-1, the West Indies would look to bounce back in the second T20I here on Friday and Yadav said the visitors can't be taken lightly.

"I think they are one of the most destructive sides in the world, and we can't count them out. The second game will be a challenge as it will be the series decider," he concluded. 

Also Read : We were caught in two minds against Indian spinners: Pooran

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Los Angeles Lakers came from behind to beat the Utah Jazz 106-101. For the Lakers, James scored 15 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, as Davis had 17 points in 17 minutes when he was injured. He was down on the court for several minutes before being helped off, Russell Westbrook had 17 points and seven rebounds while Malik Monk added 13 points. For the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell led them with 37 points, including five 3-pointers, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 15 points and Jordan Clarkson had 13 off the bench. With this result the Lakers still remained 9th in the Western Conference standings but improved their record to 27-31.

''I just tried to take the inspiration of what he was able to accomplish over the past couple days,'' said James of Donald. ''He's the greatest defensive player I have ever seen play the sport. For him to take time out of his day and watch us play after the parade was amazing.''

''What we saw LeBron do, it's just remarkable,'' coach Frank Vogel said. ''What he continues to do at this point of his career, to take over a game in the fourth quarter the way that he did with his energy, will and determination, it was really something special.''

''Obviously, it took the sails out of us for quite a while when AD went out, especially with the game he was having up until that point,'' James said. ''It took us a minute to kind of recalibrate and get us some bounce back after that, but we closed the third quarter out in good fashion and was able to turn around in the fourth.''

“The game tightens up and go to LeBron, and he makes plays,'' Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. ''But we had plenty of chances to make plays too. We just didn't, but we put ourselves in that position. It can't be that easy to give up a 13-point lead. We got to make teams work to come back, and grind. It was too easy.''

The Warriors suffered their second loss in succession as they lost to the Denver Nuggets 117-116. For the Nuggets, Jokic had 35 points and 17 rebounds - 11 and 8 after the first quarter as Bryn Forbes scored 22 points and Morris finished with 13 points and six assists. For the Warriors, Klay Thompson scored 16 points and Jordan Poole added 15 off the bench as Steph Curry top scored with 25 points. With this result the Nuggets improved their record to 33-25 as they currently 6th in the Western Conference table.

''Monte made a clutch bucket,'' Curry said. ''The last thing you can do in that situation is give up a 3.''

''I told the guys if we continue to play with that kind of fight and connection then we're going to be in good shape after the break,'' Kerr said.

''I just wanted to go in the middle of the paint and shoot a hook shot,'' he said. ''I just saw Steph and he was helping a little bit and Monte was wide open so I just passed the ball.''

“He's the reigning MVP. He was down there scoring at will in the fourth quarter at the rim,'' Kerr said. ''... Our defense was much, much better, Jokic just took over the game.''

Also read: NBA: Suns continued their winning streak as Giannis helps Bucks win

The other results were:

• Magic 109 - 130 Hawks
• Knicks 106 - 111 Nets
• Pacers 113 - 108 Wizards
• Celtics 111 - 112 Pistons
• Grizzlies 119 - 123 Trail Blazers
• Thunder 106 - 114 Spurs
• Timberwolves 91 - 103 Raptors
• Bulls 125 - 118 Kings
• Suns 124 - 121 Rockets

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Hornets vs Heat
• Nets vs Wizards
• Pelicans vs Mavericks
• Bucks vs 76ers
• Clippers vs Rockets

Kolkata, Feb 17 (Cricket News) Shreyas Iyer might have been the third biggest buy at the IPL auction but to fit into India's T20 combination, he would need to showcase all-round skills as that's what the team is looking for in the middle-order slot, skipper Rohit Sharma has said.

Wednesday was a mixed bag for Shreyas.

Around evening, Kolkata Knight Riders unveiled the worst kept secret in the IPL universe by announcing their Rs 12.25 crore recruit as franchise captain for 2022.

By 6:30 pm, however, it was clear that the former Delhi Capitals and new KKR captain isn't fitting into the specialist batter category in Team India for the T20 game against West Indies.

"Someone like Shreyas Iyer is sitting out, very hard on him to be out and not making it to the XI, but it's what the team requires. We need that option in the middle, someone who can bowl," Rohit said, after India's easy six-wicket win in the first T20 International on Wednesday.

"It's always nice when you have those kind of competitions going on," he added.

Skipper Rohit gave a glimpse of what kind of team combination he is looking at in the shortest format and he made the hard but prudent call in picking a '360 degree' player like Suryakumar Yadav along with the less fancied Iyer -- Venkatesh, who brings in all-round skills to the table.

"We were very clear with Shreyas, we told him the team wants that option (of an all-rounder) going into the World Cup. They are all smart guys, professionals and they understand the team comes first," the Indian captain said.

"A lot of things go into deciding the playing XI, the opposition, the conditions, the dimensions of the ground. Yes, sometimes it can be tough for the guys missing out but we are making sure we are giving out a very clear message. Unfortunate but we want to put the team first," the skipper displayed no ambiguity in his statements.

It is also understood that Shreyas' technique against the short ball has been a bit susceptible and a lot of work is going into making him correct his body position to deal with express quicks in future.

All those who witnessed a couple of days' training at Eden Gardens saw how Rohit, himself a fine exponent of pull-shot, was seen explaining to Shreyas a thing or two about balance.

On the eve of the match after regular nets session, Shreyas wore the helmet and didn't have his pads on but team's throwdown specialist Raghavendra was seen standing at 10 yards and feeding him with fast but loopy balls, aimed at his helmet visor as he continuously played the pull-shot.

It was an exercise to perfect a particular shot as Rahul Dravid kept a hawk's eye on the proceedings.

As Rohit had mentioned before the match, IPL dynamics won't dictate how he builds a team, he walked the talk.

Hence it wasn't surprising to see Shreyas (Rs 12.25 crore), Shardul Thakur (Rs 10.75 crore), and Avesh Khan (Rs 10 crore) along with two retained players (Ruturaj Gaikwad Rs 6 crore) and Mohammed Siraj (Rs 7 crore) warming the bench.

Add to it Deepak Hooda's Rs 5.75 crore and Kuldeep Yadav's Rs 2 crore base price, India's reserve bench was worth more than Rs 50 crore.

"When the guys who are missing come back it's going to be very challenging to make the playing XI. But I'm happy with that challenge rather than not having players," Rohit said. 

Also Read : Full strength Indian women look to avoid series defeat against New Zealand

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Phoenix Suns continued their winning streak to 6 games as they beat the Los Angeles Clippers 103-96. For the Suns, Booker scored a game-high 26 points, Paul added 17 points and 14 assists, Mikel Bridges further added 19 points and Deandre Ayton had 12 points and 12 rebounds as the Suns have won six straight games and 17 of their past 18 dating back to Jan. 11. They also pushed their NBA-best record to 47-10. For the Clippers, Marcus Morris Sr. led the scoring with 23 points while Nicolas Batum had 18 as Reggie Jackson had a tough shooting night, making just 7 of 26 shots from the field. With this result the Suns remained on top of the Western Conference standings as the Clippers stayed in 8th place with a record of 29-31.

''We turn it on,'' Booker said. ''I don't want to make it sound like it's an on/off switch like we're not trying the rest of the game, but we've been in those situations, and we understand how much those little plays and 50/50 balls matter.''

''I do think the experiences we've had over the past couple years with this group, with Chris being the point guard, has certainly helped us,'' Suns coach Monty Williams said. ''Chris and Book aren't afraid to take those shots. They're not afraid to have the ball in their hands.''

''They have a team full of guys who can defend and want to defend,'' Clippers coach Ty Lue said. ''That makes them great right there.''

''Knowing it is just 10,000 - some guys get 30,000,'' Batum said. ''I don't know how they do that. It is pretty crazy. It's an achievement. It is a good thing to put that on the resume.''

The Milwaukee Bucks rode on a Giannis 50 point masterful performance as they beat the Indiana Pacers 128-119. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a season-high 50 points, two off his career best, and pulled down 14 rebounds as this the first time he scored 50 points since the memorable title-clinching game in the NBA Finals last season, along with that Khris Middelton added 19 points and Jrue Holiday further scored 14 points. For the Pacers, Buddy Hield scored a season-high 36 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 17 points and eight assists. With this result the Bucks move within one victory of going on top of Eastern Conference standings as they are currently third with an improved record of 36-23.

'Obviously, it's a nice feeling to have 50, you'll always remember it, but I care about the win. I want to win games,'' Antetokounmpo said. ''We have another one on Thursday. We'll try to finish and go to the All-Star break on a good note. As long as we're winning, I'm good. You do whatever it takes. If you are thinking about let me get to 50, let me get mine, it doesn't work that way. You have to focus on winning games.''

''He's in a good place and good rhythm at the free-throw line,'' Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. ''You get 14 of those and a couple of 3-balls and it can add up for him. Fifty is never easy. It's great to have him back.''

Also read: NBA: The Nets finally break their losing streak and Clippers beat the Warriors

The other results were:

• Heat 99 - 107 Mavericks
• 76ers 87 - 135 Celtics
• Hawks 124 - 116 Cavs
• Pelicans 109 - 121 Grizzlies

Tomorrow’s matches are:

• Magic vs Hawks
• Knicks vs Nets
• Pacers vs Wizards
• Celtics vs Pistons
• Grizzlies vs Trail Blazers
• Thunder vs Spurs
• Timberwolves vs Raptors
• Bulls vs Kings
• Suns vs Rockets
• Warriors vs Nuggets 
• Lakers vs Jazz
   

Ahmedabad, Feb 16 (Cricket News) Indian cricket's 'backbone', the Ranji Trophy, will make a much-anticipated return after two years amid the easing COVID-19 situation in the country, providing host of domestic cricketers an opportunity to make their name in red-ball cricket while giving veterans like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara a final shot at resurrecting their Test careers.

A third wave of COVID-19 had threatened the premier domestic event for the second year in a row but the drop in infections has allowed the BCCI to conduct the 38-team event, a massive logistical task in the new normal of bio-secure environments.

All eyes will be on the opening fixture between defending champions Saurashtra and record 41-time champions Mumbai here with Rahane and Pujara on either side, aiming to make the big scores that have deserted them at the Test level for a while.

Both veterans have been working hard in the nets and their coaches feel a big knock is around the corner. Rahane and Pujara will need to make instant impact with the Test squad of Sri Lanka series expected to be announced soon.

Nine bio-bubbles have been created across nine venues in the country and the players had to quarantine for five days, leaving them only two days of training for the first round beginning on Thursday.

The players, however, are in no mood to complain. They are just happy that they are finally getting to test themselves in the toughest form of the game after two seasons of white-ball cricket.

The batters had almost forgotten the art of leaving the ball and bowlers the relentlessness of long spells. Both the departments are up for the challenge but their bodies might take longer to get used to the hard grind of red-ball cricket.

"It is great that red ball cricket is starting. Players have suffered and lost a lot in the last two years both financially and skill-wise. They all are looking forward to the challenge," said Delhi coach Raj Kumar Sharma after the team's first training session on Monday, echoing the views of all teams.

It is also set to be the shortest first-class season for most teams with sides only getting three league games, impacting their match fees and leaving them with little room for error.

Eight groups of four teams each have been formed at the elite level while six teams will fight it out in the plate group. The knockouts, barring the sole pre-quarterfinal, will be held in the post IPL phase starting May 30.

It will also be a high pressure game as it will potentially decide the only quarterfinalist from the group.

The national selectors will also finally get to see the upcoming talent in action.

Only one India A tour has taken place over the past 24 months, the selectors have had to refer to part performances with no first-class cricket played in the country.

Focus will also be on fringe India players including Priyank Panchal, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Hanuma Vihari, who had been controversially dropped for the home series against New Zealand before making the team for the away series in South Africa.

Among the India U-19 stars, skipper Yash Dhull and Raj Angad Bawa are expected to make their first-class debut soon after landing IPL contracts. Dhull will be in Guwahati playing for Delhi against Tamil Nadu.

Teams have been advised to keep two COVID-19 reserves in the squad. There is a good chance of a COVID outbreak midway into the game but the match will go on provided a team has a minimum of nine fit players.

Both teams will be awarded a point each if first innings is not completed.

The games will be played across Rajkot, Cuttack, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi, Haryana, Guwahati and Kolkata.

First-Round Fixtures: ============= Karnataka vs Railways, Elite Group C (Chennai).

Hyderabad vs Chandigarh, Elite Group B (Bhubaneswar) Bengal vs Baroda, Elite Group B (Cuttack) Kerala vs Meghalaya, Elite Group A (Rajkot) Gujarat vs Madhya Pradesh, Elite Group A (Rajkot) Manipur vs Arunachal Pradesh, Plate (Kolkata) Jammu and Kashmir vs Puducherry, Elite Group C (Chennai) Saurashtra vs Mumbai, Elite Group D (Ahmedabad) Odisha vs Goa, Elite Group D (Ahmedabad) Nagaland vs Sikkim, Plate (Kolkata) Bihar vs Mizoram, Plate (Kolkata) Jharkhand vs Chhattisgarh, Elite Group H (Guwahati) Delhi vs Tamil Nadu, Elite Group H (Guwahati) Maharashtra vs Assam, Elite Group G (Rohtak) Vidarbha vs Uttar Pradesh, Elite Group G (Gurugram) Haryana vs Tripura, Elite Group F (Delhi) Punjab vs Himachal Pradesh, Elite Group F (Delhi) Services vs Uttarakhand, Elite Group E (Thiruvananthapuram) Andhra vs Rajasthan, Elite Group E (Thiruvananthapuram) 

Also Read : Maxell set to miss Pakistan tour, start of IPL

News Source : PTI

Bengaluru, Feb 15 (Tennis News) India's Sidharth Rawat secured a straight-set win over compatriot Mukund Sasikumar to enter the last 16 but it was curtains for local favourite Ramkumar Ramanathan in the men's singles at the Bengaluru Open 2 ATP Challenger, here on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Rawat beat Sasikumar 6-4 6-4 to emerge as the only Indian in the single draw.

However, seventh seed Ramkumar's gallant fight ended with a 6-4 3-6 2-6 loss to France's Mathias Bourgue.

Doubles pair of Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and Purav Raja, meanwhile, quelled the challenge of Australians Thomas Fancutt and Jason Kubler 6-3 7-5 to enter the quarterfinals.

It was an exodus of fancied players in the first round with the biggest casualty being the defending champion and eighth seed Chun-hsin Tseng crashing out of the tournament.

Tseng, who had won the Bengaluru Open 1, went down tamely to Greece qualifier Markos Kalovelonis 2-6 2-6 in a match that lasted just 62 minutes.

A total of five seeded players bit the dust in their opening encounters on Tuesday.

Top Indian player, Ramkumar began with a bang earning a break in the opening game which set the tone for the rest of the set, which he eventually won 6-4.

However, his luck ran out in the second set and he also lost his composure as the match progressed with his French rival breaking his serve in the second game and winning the set 6-3.

He kept the pressure up against the crumbling nerves of Ramkumar, whose best shot was an ace which came at the fag end of the third set but could not stop Bourgue from walking into the pre-quarterfinals.

Among the top players in fray, Swiss Antoine Bellier felled fourth seed Federico Gaio of Italy 6-4 6-3, Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia won a long-fought battle against fifth seeded Czech Vit Kopriva 6-1 1-6 6-3, while runner-up last week Czech Borna Gojo survived a scare against qualifier Dominik Palan before prevailing 4-6 6-3 6-4. 

Also Read : Lehecka makes his debut into the top 100 of ATP rankings

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Brooklyn Nets finally overcame their 11 match losing streak after they comfortably beat the Sacramento Kings 109-85. In his first game as a member of the Nets, Seth Curry scored 23 points as Bruce Brown set season-highs with 19 points, six assists, and five steals. LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 19 points, Cam Thomas added 14 off the bench and Andre Drummond contributed 11. For the Kings, DeAaron Fox scored 26 points as Davion Mitchell finished with 13 and Donte DiVincenzo chipped in with 12. The new-look Nets debuted two of the three players acquired from the 76ers. Curry and Drummond started at off-guard and center, respectively as Ben Simmons, the centerpiece of the trade for the Nets, sat on the bench. With this result the Nets improved their record to 30-27 and helped them move over the Hornets in 8th position in the Eastern Conference standings. 

''I was just getting the ball off the rim and pushing it,'' Brown said. ''I had shooters around me: Patty (Mills and) Seth (Curry) now and when other guys come back, just space on the floor. I can just find angles, get to the rim or find them for catch-and-shoot 3s.''

''(Coach Steve Nash's) message was very simple - just play your game and the rest will take care of itself,'' Drummond said. ''All the little details of plays and defensive schemes, you know, we'll worry about that later when we've got time to practice, but today's agenda was just to play as hard as we can and win a game.''

''We definitely shared the ball a lot more,'' Brown said. ''We were just getting out in transition a lot more than we used to. Get out and run everybody pushing it, finding anybody just playing together.''

''I think our guys have really enjoyed playing with him on the floor,'' Gentry said. ''I think our cuts have been much better because I think they anticipate getting the ball on the scoring cuts that they make. He's just been a real stabilizer for us, really.''

The Los Angeles Clippers pulled off an upset as they beat the Golden State Warriors 119-104. For the Clippers, Mann tied a regular-season career high with 25 points, including 14 in the third quarter, as all five Clippers starters scored in double figures, Ivica Zubac had 18 points and eight rebounds as Reggie Jackson  had 19 points. For the Warriors, Curry ended up with a game-high 33 points, including eight 3-pointers. Steph Curry had hit his first six shots, including four three pointers, as he had 26 points in the first half on 9-of-11 shooting before going cold in the second half as Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole each had 13 points, but Klay Thompson had only 7 points after he scored just 3 for 14 shooting. With this result the Clippers (29-30) are back within a game of .500 after two straight wins and stayed in 8th in the Western Conference standings.

''It felt like Steph vs. the Clippers (in the first half). I was proud of the way we continued to play,'' said Reggie Jackson, who had 19 points for Los Angeles. ''It was fun competing against a great team.''

''I had two good floaters to start the game and kind of got in a good rhythm. We just couldn't get any momentum at all during the game,'' Curry said.

''It wasn't easy in the first half. There was one play where Steph was bobbling the ball on the way up and made it,'' Mann said. ''You have no choice but to adjust. The next possession is coming.''

''I thought this was one of our most complete of the season even with Steph getting off to the start he had,'' Lue said. ''We kept them out of transition. When you're scoring, you can stay out of transition most of the time.'

“Our defense has just been bad for six, seven games now. It's hard to win in this league when you're looking like we are defensive, with so many holes,'' Steve Kerr said after the match.

Also read: The Warriors defeated the Lakers and Suns maintain winning streak

The other results were:

• Wizards 103 - 94 Pistons
• Knicks 123 - 127 Thunder
• Pelicans 120 - 90 Raptors
• Bucks 107 - 122 Trail Blazers
• Bulls 120 - 109 Spurs
• Nuggets 121 - 111 Magic
• Jazz 135 - 101 Rockets

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Heat vs Mavericks
• 76ers vs Celtics
• Hawks vs Cavaliers
• Pelicans vs Grizzlies
• Timberwolves vs Hornets
• Bucks vs Pacers
• Suns vs Clippers
   

Kolkata, Feb 14 (Cricket News) Battling a prolonged lean patch, former India captain Virat Kohli batted at the nets and also took throw-downs during India's first practice session ahead of Twenty20 series against the West Indies here.

Kohli was first to enter the nets to take throwdowns from the Indian support staff as he batted from both the ends before going for the drill.

Later he had a lengthy net session, spanning more than 45 minutes.

India skipper Rohit Sharma along with coach Rahul Dravid were also seen in a long discussion with curator Sujan Mukherjee.

In the white-ball format, the Indian ace last scored a century against the West Indies in August 2019, in Port of Spain ODI and since then, he has had 10 50-plus scores but failed to convert them into a ton.

Across formats, he's yet to score an International century in more than two years and his last century came against Bangladesh in India's first pink ball Day/Night Test at Eden Gardens here in November 2019.

CAB requests BCCI to allow spectators ======================== There will not be any spectators in India's opening T20I against the West Indies on Wednesday but Cricket Association of Bengal is "hopeful" that the Board will reconsider its decision for the second and third T20Is.

"The Cricket Association of Bengal on Monday again requested the BCCI to allow spectators for remaining matches," CAB president Avishek Dalmiya said in a statement.

"The CAB will intimate all stake holders once it receives feedback from the Board." For the first match, there would be only 2000-odd match representatives and sponsors.

"The BCCI has allowed only upper tier and hospitality boxes for sponsors and representatives of the match," he added.

Earlier, Dalmiya hoped to conduct the matches with spectators after the state government allowed 75 per cent capacity.

But the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly came in the local association way and said they will not allow spectators in the stadium as part of the Board's safety-first approach.

Dalmiya then requested the Board to allow entry of fans. 70 per cent spectators were allowed to attend the India-New Zealand T20I in November last year. 

Also Read : Gujarat Titans have an all-round squad, says coach Ashish Nehra

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Golden State Warriors edged out the struggling Lakers as they won 117-115 in a close encounter. For the Warriors, Klay Thompson scored 16 of his season-high 33 points in the fourth quarter, Stephen Curry made a clutch layup with 46 seconds remaining to win the encounter as Curry finished with 24 points and eight assists while Andrew Wiggins scored 19 points to help the Warriors end a two-game losing streak. For the Lakers, James had 26 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists as James extended his streak of 25 points or more to 22 games and passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most points scored in the NBA in the regular season and postseason with 44,157. James tied Abdul-Jabbar's mark of 44,149 in the first half, as he then surpassed it with a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to break such a historical record. With this result the Warriors improved their record to 42-15.

''It meant something special to do it for my dad,'' Thompson said. ''I don't think he's seen me play for a few years. I know he was proud of me, and that's always fun.''

''This one hurts,'' Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. ''We were up six with a few minutes to play. Just one of those nights where a lot of bad bounces didn't go our way.''

''We had an opportunity to win a big game tonight,'' James said. ''But in all my career, any time I've been linked with some of the greats, I've always just been in awe.''

''Just took over the game at a time when we desperately needed him,'' Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. ''With our offense kind of struggling to find a groove he got hot and took over the game. Klay is special. It goes beyond making shots. He brings electricity to the building that's hard to quantify.''

The Phoenix Suns continued their winning streak as they won 132-105 against the Orlando Magic. For the Suns, Devin Booker scored 26 points and Deandre Ayton had 17 points and 10 rebounds as Chris Paul recorded his 30th double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 assists and the Suns had nine players score in double figures. Phoenix has won 16 of 17 games and owns the NBA's best record at 46-10. For the Magic, Jalen Suggs, who scored 20 points, two shy of his career-high, and had a season-high 10 assists. Cole Anthony scored 17 points, and Chuma Okeke had 15 points off the bench. With this result the Suns improved their record to 46-10 as they sit comfortably on top of the Western Conference table.

''That's an unreal ratio,'' coach Monty Williams said. ''But the ability, the will to turn down a decent shot or a good shot for a great shot, that's who we are. That's our DNA. That's who we have to be if we want to do something really, really special, which we believe we can.''

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said the Suns set an example for his team on how to play the game. ''You talk about what they've done and how they do it and the chemistry which they have and we talk about our guys being able to play in that same fashion,'' 

Also read: James Harden moves to the 76ers as lot players move on the NBA trade deadline

The other results were:

• Trail Blazers 112 - 103 Knicks
• Pelicans 114 - 124 Spurs
• Hornets 118 - 125 Grizzlies
• Wizards 110 - 123 Kings
• 76ers 103 - 93 Cavs
• Raptors 109 - 110 Nuggets
• Heat 115 - 111 Nets
• Bulls 106 - 101 Thunder
• Mavericks 97 - 99 Clippers

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Wizards vs Pistons
• Knicks vs Thunder
• Nets vs Kings
• Pelicans vs Raptors
• Bucks vs Trail Blazers
• Bulls vs Spurs
• Jazz vs Rockets
• Clippers vs Warriors

Kolkata, Feb 14 (Cricket News) Virat Kohli's prolonged lean patch is not a concern for the Indian team, batting coach Vikram Rathour said on Monday, expressing confidence that the superstar batter would be back among runs in the upcoming T20I series against West Indies here.

The 33-year-old, whose tenure as India captain across formats came to an end last month, had a disappointing run in the recently-concluded three match ODI series with a total score of 26 runs at an average of 8.6 with a best of 18.

Rathour said it does not mean lack of form as Kohli has been doing well in the nets.

"I don't think he's going through a lean phase. I understand he had a poor series against the West Indies (in ODIs) but no conversation as such," Rathour said in a media interaction in the build-up to the three-match T20I series beginning at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

In ODIs, Kohli last scored a century against the West Indies in August 2019, in Port of Spain and since then, he has had 10 50-plus scores but failed to convert them into a ton.

In the last 12 months, he has been part of nine ODIs and scored a total of 271 runs in them.

"He's batting really well in the nets and the kind of preparation he's putting in. We are waiting for... I'm certain that in one of these innings he will be back among runs," the batting coach said, strongly backing the former skipper.

The series is seen as India's preparation for the T20 World Cup slated in Australia in October and Rathour said he's confident that the batters will put up a strong show Down Under.

"With the batting that we have I don't think we have any issues. All our batters are capable of batting well in those conditions.

"Of course that is the focus at the moment. We are working towards the World Cup in Australia...unfortunately we are struggling a little bit with the injuries at the moment, few people are missing out.

"Till we have everybody available it's difficult to make sure what their role going to be. But so far that's the focus. We have started our preparation for Australia," he said. 

Also Read : Du Plessis will strengthen batting and help team with leadership skills: RCB head coach Bangar

News Source : PTI

Queenstown, Feb 14 (Cricket News) The crushing defeat in the opening game exposed a lot of chinks in their armour and a depleted India will be eager to address their batting and fielding woes when they face New Zealand in the second women's ODI here on Tuesday.

Nothing worked for India in the first ODI on Saturday with the bowlers allowing the hosts to pile on 275 before the batters, except for captain Mithali Raj, flopped to be all out for 213 and lose the match by 62 runs.

Raj was virtually the lone hand with a well-crafted 59 while rookie Yastika Bhatia made 41.

All the other batters, including vice captain Harmanpreet Kuar (10 off 22 balls), failed to make any significant contribution in the face of a clinical bowling show from New Zealand led by Jesse Kerr (4 for 35).

The Indians' cause was not helped by the absence of senior opener Smriti Mandhana who missed the first ODI due to extended quarantine, along with Renuka Singh and Meghana Singh.

Mandhana and Meghana are not likely to be available for the second ODI either but pacer Renuka could make the team as she is out of her quarantine.

In the first ODI, India collapsed from 105 for 2 to 165 for 6 as New Zealand kept their line and length accurate.

With both experienced batters Raj and Harmanpreet dismissed in quick succession by the 33rd over, both by Jess Kerr, India could not chase down the target.

Before that, the Indian bowlers let New Zealand score 275. The Indians seemed to have tied down the New Zealand batters till around the halfway mark but the hosts upped the ante in the middle overs to reach a big score.

Centurion Suzie Bates was let off early when she was 13 with Rajeshwari Gayakwad dropping her at point and that sloppy fielding cost India dear. Bates went on to score 106 to anchor the New Zealand innings.

The return to form of opener Bates, who scored her 11th ODI hundred and first in 19 innings, could be ominous for India.

The only positive from the first game was that barring Harmanpreet, all the Indian bowlers were among wickets with Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Jhulan Goswami and Rajeshwari Gayakwad taking two apiece, while Poonam Yadav got one.

With the 50-over World Cup less than three weeks away, Raj was a bit concerned, especially on the batting front, though she expected the team to make improvements.

"We should be able to score 270 because that's the standard now in women's cricket," she said.

She also wanted her bowlers to get used to the New Zealand conditions at a faster pace.

"It's important to get used to the conditions, it's in a way good that we are playing a series before World Cup. We definitely made a comeback in later half of first innings. It took time for the bowlers to get used to windy conditions, because there was a lot of breeze in the middle." The Squads: India: Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur (vc), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Simran Dil Bahadur.

New Zealand: Sophie Devine (c), Amy Satterthwaite (vc), Suzie Bates, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Frankie Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.

Match starts at 3:30am IST. 

Also Read : West Indies hit nets at Eden ahead of T20I series

News Source : PTI

Kolkata, Feb 13 (Cricket News) Their minds very understandably was on IPL auctions where some of them hit the jackpot but West Indies players in earnest went through the paces under the watchful eyes of their coach Phil Simmons.

West Indies players enjoyed a great auction with vice-captain Nicholas Pooran fetched Rs10.75 crore while Romario Shepherd went home richer by Rs 7.75 crore from SRH while Odean Smith got Rs 6.5 crore from Punjab Kings.

The Kieron Pollard-led side, who arrived along with Team India on Saturday, spent more than two hours with drills, net sessions with Simmons kept it intense.

Their batting came a cropper as India made it a 3-0 clean sweep in the preceding three-match ODI series in Ahmedabad.

But the Windies, who boast of some T20 utility players, would look to make amends and fight back in the upcoming series. 

Also Read : We believe that a fit Jofra will form a formidable partnership with Bumrah: Akash Ambani

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The NBA trade deadline was a full-on fire drill from start to finish with landscape-altering blockbusters, under-the-radar fringe moves, conflicting reports by NBA insiders, and the deafening silence from a couple of marquee franchises in disarray. A lot of marquee players made unexpected moves for big, so let us take a look at these season defining deals:

Sixers receive: James Harden, Paul Millsap
Nets receive: Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, two first-round picks

The move comes after an unexpected turn of events as James Harden wanted to move out of the struggling Nets and join Doc Rivers Philadelphia 76ers. On the other hand the Nets received a world class young point guard in the form of Ben Simmons who hasn’t played a single match this season. The Nets run a switch-heavy defence as Simmons should fit in like a glove in the offence. He is one of the very few players who can guard every position and might be the most versatile defender in the league. The Nets have badly missed a strong point of attack defender, and Simmons excels there too. 

The Sixers have added some more juice in their offence especially in the playoff games, so Harden will obviously help them offensively. Doc Rivers will have to find some balance between Embiid and Harden, but an overabundance of quality isolation players is certainly a better problem and some one who can create his own offence is better than a player who didn't want to play for their franchise. Defensively, Harden's reputation speaks for itself but teams have to manage his off field antics as Dayerl Morey is familiar on how to handle him.

Dallas gets: Spencer Dinwiddie, Davis Bertans
Washington gets: Kristaps Porzingis, 2022 second-round pick

The Porzingis trade represents a major power shift for the Mavericks. They had acquired Porzingis from the New York Knicks in a trade deal in 2019 with the hopes that he would be a co-star alongside Luka Doncic. Porzingis has always been dealt with a series of injuries, including surgeries on both knees, but he still managed to average 20.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 134 games for the Mavericks over three seasons. Porzingis, who subsequently missed the past five games, has two seasons remaining on his five-year, $158 million contract.

Dinwiddie, 28, provides the Mavericks a scoring and playmaking boost. He signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Wizards last offseason and has career averages of 12.9 points and 5.1 assists. Having Dinwiddie also gives the Mavericks insurance in case guard Jalen Brunson leaves Dallas as an unrestricted free agent this summer, although sources say the team remains optimistic that it will re-sign the 25-year-old.

"Kristaps is an All-Star player whose unique talents will fit well within our system and allow him to impact the game for us in multiple ways," Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said. "He will get a fresh start with our team and provide us with the opportunity to play multiple lineups that feature size, versatility and shooting ability."

Boston receives: Derrick White
San Antonio receives: Josh Richardson,Romeo Langford, 2022 first-round pick (protected)

For Boston, White, 27, should fit in nicely alongside Boston's star wing tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The 6-foot-4 guard, averaged 14.4 points and 5.6 assists per game this season and is a strong two-way player who has familiarity with Celtics coach Ime Udoka, whom he played under when Udoka served as an assistant coach in San Antonio. White also played alongside Tatum, Brown and Marcus Smart with Team USA in the World Cup in 2019.

Richardson, 28, has had a nice comeback season with the Celtics after his horrible seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks. Richardson is shooting 39.7% from 3-point range after being traded to Boston in the offseason and agreeing to a one-year contract extension shortly thereafter. Langford was the 14th pick in the 2019 NBA draft but injuries have limited him to only 94 games over three seasons and he is averaging 4.7 points in 44 games this season as the Spurs receive a good young player.

Also read: NBA: Lakers lose to the Trail Blazers and Warriors winning streak snaps

The other trades that took place were:

Detroit receives: Marvin Bagley III (via Sacramento)

LA Clippers receive: Semi Ojeleye (via Milwaukee),Rodney Hood (via Milwaukee),Draft rights to Vanja Marinkovic (via Sacramento)

Milwaukee receives: Serge Ibaka (via LA Clippers),Second-round pick (via Sacramento),Second-round pick (via Detroit),Cash considerations (via LA Clippers)

Sacramento receives: Donte DiVincenzo (via Milwaukee),Josh Jackson (via Detroit), Trey Lyles (via Detroit), Draft rights to David Michineau (via LA Clippers), Draft considerations (via Detroit)

Toronto receives:Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks,2022 second-round pick (via Detroit)
San Antonio receives:Goran Dragic, 2022 first-round pick (protected 1-14)
 

New Delhi, Feb 10 (Cricket News) Yash Dhull has lost count of the number of flights he has taken in the past 48 hours.

He had spent the previous day in Ahmedabad where the entire team was felicitated following a tiring journey in which the squad had to take as many as four flights to reach India from the Caribbean.

Having lived out of suitcase for the past two months, which could potentially be life-changing, when Dhull finally met his parents, it was just a mere 30 minutes of reunion for the sleep-deprived captain of the World Cup winning India U-19 team.

Dhull arrived in Delhi early morning and went straight to his alma mater Bal Bhavan in West Delhi to meet the people who played a big role in him becoming the cricketer he has become.

Two hours later, he had a flight to catch and next destination was Guwahati, where he is set to make his Ranji debut for Delhi next week. So between the school visit and ride back to the airport, Dhull got just enough time to go home for a shower.

He has no time to rest as the real journey into the men's world started with the flight that he took to Guwahati to join the Delhi Ranji Trophy squad. Having hardly slept since lifting that trophy in Antigua last week, Dhull has no complaints though. He knows it is only the start of his life as a professional cricketer.

"I have hardly slept the last few days but it is not something I can complain about. What I have done till now is done, I need to focus on what lies in the immediate future," Dhull told PTI referring to his Ranji Trophy call-up. Most of the World Cup winning squad members won't go on and play for India but Dhull showed in the Caribbean that he could move up the ladder and play at the highest level. He has set himself an 18-month target to play for India.

"That is my target but If I am not able to do that in the 18 month time frame, I will keep working hard till I attain my goal," said the soft-spoken cricketer.

The 19-year-old is third captain from Delhi to win the title after Virat Kohli and Unmukt Chand, who both had contrasting career graphs post their exploits in the U-19 Word Cup. He is inspired by Kohli and his achievements but there is also the story of Chand, who succumbed to pressure of expectations he set with his performance in the 2012 edition.

Does Dhull have fear of failure after a high he just experienced in the Caribbean? "The names you have taken (Kohli and Chand), I am not thinking on those lines. I want to remain humble and not think about the future too much.

"Virat bhai shared his experience with me on what happened with him post the U19 World Cup (in 2008).

"I got to know a lot from approaching my career from here on, the chat with him has helped me understand things I need to focus on going forward and things I need to avoid," he said referring to the conversation with Kohli on the eve of the World Cup final on Saturday.

Kohli had already played first-class cricket before he captained India to the World Cup title 14 years ago but Dhull has not even played red ball cricket at U-19 level as he was selected for the white ball assignments.

The switch from U-19 to first-class is a big one but Dhull believes it is something he can handle. "I will have to change my mindset for the red ball game, preparation will be different. I don't think it will be a lot different and tougher than white ball. The red ball does a bit early on but and if you can see that initial period batting becomes easier.

"It is all about the mindset from here on. Physically how fit you are. It is not one specific area, I will have to work on all my shots to become a better player," said Dhull when asked about areas of improvement.

The skipper impressed many with his range of strokes, strike rotation and the tempo of his innings in the Caribbean where he overcame COVID-19 to take his team past the finishing line. The highlight of his campaign was the hundred against Australia in the semifinal when he produced a sublime knock under pressure.

He had just about managed to play the quarters after missing two league games along with his deputy Shaik Rasheed due to the infection.

It was frustrating for Dhull in the seven-day isolation period but wise words from NCA head VVS Laxman helped him maintain focus. He just had a day of nets before the quarterfinal but it was enough for him. "The first two days were tough especially.. But after that I started training in the room for the games to come. Mentally, I was prepared already . I had trained myself for this event for the last few years.

"If you don't practice for a week, you won't forget you game. I had confidence in my game and my abilities." Short on time on all fronts, Dhull and his parents have not had the time to think about what they plan to do with Rs 40 lakh cash reward given by the BCCI.

"By the grace of god, we already have enough to lead a normal life. Yash has his own back account and the money will go into that. We will figure out soon what do with it but we first we would like to spend some time with him," said his father Vijay Dhull, who was also present at the school function here. 

Also Read : India batter Ruturaj Gaikwad recovers, out of isolation

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Lakers lost their second successive match against the Portland Trail Blazers 107-105. For the Blazers, Anfernee Simons scored 29 points and Jusuf Nurkic added 19 points and 12 rebounds as Portland snapped a six-game losing streak. For the Lakers, LeBron James had 30 points as Anthony Davis finished with 17 points. Before the trade deadline, Portland traded away three starters, among them was guard CJ McCollum, who went to New Orleans as the move broke up Portland's longtime backcourt duo of McCollum and Damian Lillard. With this result the Lakers stayed in 9th with a record of 26-30 as the Trail Blazers improved their record to 22-34.

''Man, it was great,'' Simons said. ''Just to see everybody playing well, coming together and being a good team. I mean, you can say what you want, but you've always got a chance when you've got LeBron and AD (Anthony Davis) on the team. So for us to get a win is big.''

''Every time we turned the ball over it was almost like pick sixes. We didn't get a tackle and they basically ran it in for a touchdown every time,'' James said. ''That's not the ingredients for winning basketball.''

''It always feels good to win, and in the fashion in which we did it - we did it together,'' Blazers first-year coach Chauncey Billups said.

''Every loss is different. Everyone is different and this one is definitely disappointing,'' Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. ''I feel like we should've won this game. I'm disappointed that we didn't and we will get back to work and figure out why we didn't.''

The Utah Jazz ended the Warrior's 9-match winning streak with a 111-85 victory. For the Jazz, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 23 points and Donovan Mitchell had 14 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as Whiteside had nine points, 17 rebounds and seven blocks. For the Warriors, Steph Curry scored 16, Jordan Poole top scored with 18 points and Andrew Wiggins finished with 13 points as they ended their 9 match winning streak and victory also meant that this was Utah’s 4th straight win. With this result the Jazz improved their record to 34-21 and stayed in 4th as the Warriors stayed in 2nd with a record of 41-14 in the Western Conference table.

''It's been tough for me, but my whole life I actually like adversity because it shows you what a lot of people really think about you,'' said Whiteside, who has been playing behind Udoka Azubuike in Gobert's absence.

''They know the things that people say. That's sometimes a challenge for us, and they take it personally,'' Utah coach Quin Snyder said.

''I thought Whiteside dominated the game. I didn't think we attacked in a very intelligent manner in the first half. We kept trying to score over the top of him and you're not going to do that. He had six blocks in the first half and then every one seemed to turn into a layup on the other end,'' Golden State coach Steve Kerr said.

Also read: The Bucks beat the Lakers and Nets are still searching for that elusive victory

The other results were:

• Cavs 105 - 92 Spurs
• Hornets 109 - 121 Bulls
• Thunder 98 - 117 Raptors
• Kings 132 - 119 

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Pistons vs Grizzlies
• Pelicans vs Heat
• Wizards vs Net
• Rockets vs Raptors
• Mavericks vs Clippers
• Suns vs Bucks
• Warriors vs Knicks

New Delhi, Feb 9 (Cricket News) Ishant Sharma is set to skip the Ranji Trophy, Wriddhiman Saha has already withdrawn and the path does not seem too easy for Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane -- has the long due transition phase kicked in for India's Test team? By the look of it, the wheels of change seem to have been set in motion keeping the upcoming home Test series against Sri Lanka in mind as Ishant's Ranji pullout also puts a huge question mark on his international future.

It is understood that even Pujara and Rahane, who are playing Ranji Trophy, will have to score more than just a stray century to be in reckoning as their bad patch has been a prolonged one and one good innings might not undo the damage that has already been done.

The 33-year-old Ishant is the most experienced player in the current Indian Test set-up with 105 Test matches and 311 wickets in his kitty but has gone off the boil since the tour of England.

On Wednesday, Delhi and Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) selection committee met to pick the Ranji squad and despite the selectors as well as office bearers trying to get in touch with Ishant, they were unable to get a confirmation on his availability till evening.

"As and when, if he tells he wants to play, he will be included as he is a Delhi legend. but I don't know what has happened to him since he has been incommunicado for the last week. He hasn't come for Ranji team's practice sessions. We don't know what's on his mind," a senior DDCA selector said.

"We don't know if the Indian team management has told him something which may have led to a change in his mind-set," he added, rather confused.

The writing was on the wall when Ishant wasn't even considered among the top five pacers who played the three Tests in South Africa.

"Just like Wriddhi, even Ishant has got feelers that his India career might just be over. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj are now India's No 1, 2 and 3 in priority list when all are fit," a senior BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"Then comes Shardul Thakur, who is an all-rounder and Umesh Yadav was choice No.5," he added.

Against Sri Lanka, India plays two Tests at Mohali and Bengaluru where the two pacers would be Shami and Bumrah (if both are fit) and the third will be Siraj.

It doesn't make sense to take a senior bowler like Ishant and make him carry drinks when an Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna or Ishan Porel can get good exposure.

India, in 2022, play three more Test matches -- two in Bangladesh and one in England which is part of the 2021 series.

Save the Test against England where they might think of fielding four pacers, Ishant is unlikely to fit into the scheme of things.

He played against New Zealand in Kanpur but looked pedestrian for the better part. In Mumbai, an injury was cited as reason for his ouster even though he was seen bowling at lunch time every day.

It is understood that he didn't bowl well enough in the nets in South Africa to be considered for selection in top five.

Time running out for Rahane-Pujara duo ========================= The only two people who have got a bit of grace period are Rahane and Pujara, who have had a dry run for two years.

If youngsters like Hanuma Vihari (a possible No.3) and the talented Shubman Gill (No.5) need to be settled in their new roles, it should start with the Sri Lanka series.

That initiation will ensure that they carry on deep into the World Test Championship's second cycle.

Somewhere, the new team management under Rahul Dravid's stewardship needs to take a few tough calls but it would also depend on what the new Test captain (in all likelihood Rohit Sharma) also feels about the future of these two seniors.

They are sure-shot selections against Sri Lanka but in their case, the team management wants them to play Ranji Trophy which means that if they can score heavily over a period of time, there is a chance of a comeback.

Unlike Ishant and Saha, who seem to have played their last Tests respectively.

For Rahane and Pujara, the Ranji Trophy begins with the two squaring off against each other and they would like to give their everything to keep their places in the team. 

Also Read : Rohit retains 3rd spot but closes in on No. 2 Kohli in ICC ODI batting rankings

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Miluwakee Bucks 131-116 as Ginnias produced a world class performance. For the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 44 points on 17-for-20 shooting and Bobby Portis had 23 points with five 3-pointers as Khris Middleton scored all of his 21 points in the first half. For the Lakers, LeBron James scored 27 points and Anthony Davis had 22 points and nine rebounds, Malik Monk scored 20 points and Stanley Johnson added a season-high 16 for the Lakers in a reserve role. LA lost five of seven to fall back to three games below .500. With this result the Bucks moved up to second in the Eastern Conference table as they improved their record to 35-21.

''He made it look easy, honestly,'' Middleton said. ''That just shows the level of how he's playing. He was knocking down his jump shot. He's got guys going for his pump fake. Just the way he let the game come to him and stay patient, it was pretty fun to watch.''

''Obviously when you make shots, the game is a lot easier, looks a lot better,'' Antetokounmpo said. ''I know I'm going to try to get my teammates involved and look for the best way to help the team, but sometimes when you start making shots, you feel better about yourself, you defend better. Today was one of those games.''

''We played a terrible defensive half,'' Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. ''Disposition, competition, the level of competitive spirit we showed for a big game was very disappointing. Two straight games we started with a terrible defensive half. We've gotta get that right.''

The Nets suffered their ninth successive loss as they lost 126-91 against the Boston Celtics. For the Celtics, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart each scored 22 points, Jayson Tatum scored 19 and Robert Williams had 12 points and 11 rebounds as the Celtics continued their strong stretch and moved past the Nets into seventh place in the Eastern Conference. For the Nets, Jevon Carter scored 21 points on seven 3-pointers and Cam Thomas scored 17 points. The Nets are considered the favorites to win the East, but since Kevin Durant’s injury they have lost 10 of 12 in the middle of January. 

''I don't know how often or if we've ever been so good to start like that before but it felt good,'' Brown said. ''We knew some of those guys were out. We wanted to just take care of business early. We didn't want to play around and give them confidence and let them linger into the game.''

''Frankly, that's a really good starting five that's playing really good basketball playing against a reserve lineup, so we're asking them to match a high, high-quality NBA starting five,'' Nets coach Steve Nash said.

''Honestly, I think we'll be exactly the same. I think the chances of trades or deals happening before the deadline are so slim, especially for our group,'' Nash said. ''So my mind and attention is on this group and putting this thing together as guys become healthy again and trying to build it for the stretch run.''

Also read: Phoenix Suns in unbeatable form while Warriors win 9th straight game

The other results were:

• 76ers 109 - 114 Suns
• Hawks 133 - 112 Pacers
• Grizzlies 135 - 109 Clippers
• Pelicans 110 - 97 Rockets
• Mavericks 116 - 86 Pistons
• Nuggets 132 - 115 Knicks
• Kings 114 - 134 Timberwolves
• Trail Blazers 95 - 113 Magic

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Cavs vs Spurs
• Hornets vs Bulls
• Thunder vs Raptors
• Jazz vs Warriors
• Kings vs Timberwolves
• Trail Blazers vs Lakers
   

Ahmedabad, Feb 8 (Cricket News) Rising Windies all-rounder Akeal Hosein is aware that a significant performance in the ongoing ODI series against India could open the doors for him for the big-ticket IPL.

Trailing 0-1 in the three-match ODI series here, the Kieron Pollard-led side is faced with a must-win situation in the second rubber here on Wednesday as the left-arm spin all-rounder wants to make all the difference in the slow conditions on offer.

"Yes, we know, the IPL is the best league around. But I'm not really focused on that (IPL). The task at hand right now is these two games. They are very important for me, because it will determine the series," the 28-year-old said in a virtual media interaction on the eve of the second ODI.

"Having said that, I think once I do the right things and perform well for my team, the doors will open. For me, it's all about these two games and winning this ODI series." I see myself as a complete all-rounder ======================== A slow-left arm spinner and a dasher down the order, Akeal declared himself as a 50-50 all-rounder, who is hugely influenced by his fellow Trinidadians Pollard and Sunil Narine.

"I think I'm a 50-50 perfect proper batter, proper bowler. Having said that, over the last couple of years, I've played CPL, different formats and what not. Then you find yourself you might flex down the order if given an opportunity to bat.

"I definitely see myself as a total all-rounder and it's just about working my way up the ladder. Hopefully people can see that I am a genuine allrounder," he said.

Akeal, who was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders net bowling squad in the second phase of the IPL in UAE last year, said his fellow Trinidadian Sunil Narine played a big role during the stint.

"For me, having the opportunity to spend more time with him in KKR setup helped me a lot because the World Cup was played in Dubai as well," Akeal said.

How Narine helped Akeal during the T20 World Cup ================================ Akeal remembered he was feeling "terrible" at the nets on the eve of their T20 World Cup match and it was the two-time IPL winning KKR all-rounder who helped him.

"It was actually the day before the game, so it was a bit worrying. But Sunil said 'don't be surprised. That's how it goes. Some days you'll feel terrible in the nets, and then the next day you will see the ball coming out of your hand perfectly in the match.' "His advice was spot on. I didn't take it (the feeling) on too much and surprisingly in the match the ball came out beautifully," Akeal, who was their best wicket-taker with five to his kitty in the T20 World Cup, said.

"I was able to get a feel of the pitches and worked closely alongside, always giving me advice and information and little cues, the type deliveries, trajectory. Immediately after the IPL, we had the World Cup and I thought I didn't do too bad there." "Sunil is not only a friend to me but a big brother. He's very quiet but very open at the same time. He would share almost everything with all his tricks and ideas." "And if he thinks it's a trick that can't work and doesn't work for him, he will definitely shared with me as well.

Terming the duo of Pollard and Narine as his 'big brothers', he said: "It's always a blessing to have these guys around. They're more than friends. I consider them big brothers and they always look out for you in any way possible. I'm very thankful." "These guys are always around. We play with the same club back home -- Queen's Park. So it's where our relationship grew from. No matter where you are, these guys are just a phone call away." West Indies put up an ordinary show and collapsed against the spin force of Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar to be bowled out for a paltry 176 as India secured a six-wicket win to take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series.

"Yes, we've lost the match and it's a short series -- three matches. Although we lost, there were still positives. It's just about how we plan to bounce back and come back strong.

"The message is to stay positive and get ourselves in proper positions to play strong scoring shots. That's definitely something we're going to stick with, no matter the surface and condition. Once we do those things we'll be able to get through," he concluded. 

Also Read : PCB appoints Wasim Bari as wicket-keeping consultant of high performance centre in Karachi

News Source : PTI

Ahmedabad, Feb 8 (Cricket News) Senior opener Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer, who had tested positive for COVID-19 last week, had a light training session here on Tuesday evening after recovering and completing their isolation period.

The duo was monitored by the BCCI medical team.

It is highly unlikely that they will be straight away drafted into the playing XI for the second ODI, which is scheduled to be held here on Wednesday.

On February 2, a COVID-19 outbreak had hit the Indian cricket team as three main players -- Dhawan, reserve opener Ruturaj Gaikwad and middle-order batter Iyer -- tested positive for the virus during their mandatory isolation period before the start of West Indies series.

Four other persons, including net bowler Navdeep Saini, have also tested positive for COVID-19. Saini was on the standby list.

Saini had also recovered from COVID-19 and had trained in the nets on Monday. 

Also Read : SL batter Kusal Mendis tests COVID-19 positive in Australia ahead of T20I series

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Phoenix Suns in the current form look unbeatable as they beat the Chicago Bulls 127-124. For the Suns, Booker hit the 30-point mark for the third time in four games as the All-Star made 14 of 23 shots, including five 3-pointers, Chris Paul added 19 points and 11 assists. JaVale McGee finished with 16 points and eight rebounds and Mikal Bridges scored 15. For the Bulls, Zach LaVine added 32 points after missing the previous two games because of back spasms and DeMar DeRozan scored 38. With this win it meant that they stretched their winning run to 13 wins in 14 games as they improved to 43-10 overall and a league-leading 21-5 on the road. They also have the best record in the NBA by far as they sit comfortably on top of the Western Conference.

''Just playing within the offense,'' Booker said. ''I understand that's how our team is built, there are gonna be opportunities to score at all times. I've been in this system for a minute now. There's no reason to force anything. We have too many talented players out there.''

''I thought as the game wore on, we played at a higher and higher and higher standard,'' Donovan said. ''To start the game, it was almost like they forced us to play at a higher level. And we've got to be able to do that ourselves.''

“With our team, it's just we're always so balanced,'' Paul said. ''We take the best available shot and not just any shot.''

The Golden State Warriors won against the Oklahoma City Thunders 110-98 as they won their 9th straight match. For the Warriors, Klay Thompson scored 21 points and Stephen Curry added 18 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. For the Warriors, who shot 50% from the field, Andrew Wiggins scored 13 of his 15 points in the first half. For OKC, Dort scored 26 points and Bazley matched a season high with 20 for Oklahoma City. Josh Giddey added 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. With this result the Warriors improved their record to 41-13 and sit comfortably in second spot in the Western Conference table. 

''It was great to see Klay hit those back-to-back 3s to kind of seal the win,'' Golden State coach Steve Kerr said. ''Just fun to have him back, and he looks great out there. He's moving great. It's fun to be able to play him.''

'He's so good at shooting the ball, I feel like my hand doesn't really do anything,'' Bazley said. ''You've kind of like just got to bank on him missing. There's some players that are just so good that they don't even see you.''

''We need him,'' Kerr said of Andre Iguodala playing after a month. ''You could see how good he was in that first half. He just does so many things for us. So it's definitely a concern.''

Also read: Chicago Bulls win against the Pacers and the Nets lost against the Jazz

The other results were:

• Hornets 101 - 116 Raptors
• Wizards 100 - 121 Heat
• Jazz 113 - 104 Knicks

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• 76ers vs Suns
• Hawks vs Pacers
• Nets vs Celtics
• Grizzlies vs Clippers
• Pelicans vs Rockets
• Mavericks vs Pistons
• Nuggets vs Knicks
• Lakers vs Bucks
• Kings vs Timberwolves
• Trail Blazers vs Magic

Ahmedabad, Feb 8 (Cricket News) India showed a lot of intent while chasing 176 in the first ODI against West Indies and going forward the team will continue to bat in a similar fashion, hinted Suryakumar Yadav on Tuesday.

India had chased down the target in just 28 overs.

Surya also feels that batting first isn’t really a big challenge for the side.

“Not really, I think, we have kept things really simple, we are going to bat the same way, we did in the last game, it is just that when we bat first, we need to try and bat till the end to have that defendable score, but the way we batted in the second innings in the last game, I think it was perfect.

"I think the tempo was nice, the intensity and the intent was really good, so there is nothing to change, I mean you just need to be safe and just express ourselves,” said the stylish batter ahead of second ODI.

Across the T20 and ODI format, Surya has batted at number 3, 4, 5 and 6. In the first ODI against West Indies, he came at five.

“It is not too different (batting at number five), I have been batting at all the positions and I am really flexible, so where ever the team management decides and wants me to bat, I am really flexible to bat at any position,” he said.

Ticked all boxes in the lung-opener ====================== “We almost ticked all the boxes, we will try and repeat the same and that is always a challenge to repeat what we do in the first game everywhere, so let’s see, really looking forward," he said According to Surya, he also does a lot of net sessions at home and the motivation to play for the county comes from inside.

Talking about his wide range of strokes, he said: "It all came from practise, I mean it was not that difficult, I knew I just had to work on few strokes, where I can get runs... so I was focussing on that and slowly kept working in the nets, did lot of match simulations when I was back home and with lot of perfect practise it came automatically,” he added.

Surya refused to divulge any detail on team combination with K L Rahul back in the side after missing the first game.

“This is a wrong department; you have asked a question to the wrong person (laughs). They (KL Rahul and Mayank) were seen in training and I am sure they coming back into the squad after quarantine, it makes our unit stronger and at the end of the day, it is all team management’s call, who is going to play and who is not going to play, so but yeah really happy to have them back.” Surya, he is always available to bowl ====================== “Yes (I can contribute with the ball), whenever I will get an opportunity, I will bowl and I have been regularly bowling in the nets, whenever they feel they (team management) feel, they can use me, always available,” the Mumbaikar added.

He also doesn't like comparisons.

“Sir let me be Suryakumar Yadav…with difficulty have played 5-7 games for India…but yes I am trying, whichever number I get to bat, and can win the team from any situation, so that will be my effort.

"Even if I bat first, I will do the same things, I will try to express (myself) and be fearless as I always am,” he said when asked about his comparisons with Michael Bevan. 

Also Read : 'Baby AB' Dewald Brevis, Petersen and Hossain nominated for ICC Player of the Month Award

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Feb 7 (Cricket News) Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli has revealed that he was "approached a few times" by few IPL franchises in the past to put himself in the auction but he preferred to stay at Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The former India captain, who stepped down as RCB skipper at the end of last season after eight years in charge, is the only cricketer to have played for one franchise since the league's inaugural edition in 2008.

"I've been approached a few times as well -- to come into the auction somehow -- I have thought about it," Kohli told the RCB podcast.

"At the end of the day, a person lives a certain number of years, and then you die and life moves on. There have been many great players who have won trophies and things like that but no one addresses you like that.

"If you are a good person, people like you and if you are a bad guy, they stay away from you. Eventually, that's what life is all about." The 33-year-old Kohli has played innumerable match-winning knocks for RCB, who have always boasted star-studded lineups, but could still never win the IPL.

"The loyalty with RCB, like how I follow my life, is far greater than five people saying you've finally won the IPL with XYZ. You feel good for five minutes and then the sixth minute you could be miserable with some other issue in life.

"What this franchise has given to me in the first three years, and believed in me, is the most special thing. There were many teams who had the opportunity. They didn't back me and they didn't believe in me." Speaking about his time as the franchise's captain, Kohli said losing the IPL final in 2016 still rankles.

Chasing 209, RCB had raced to 114 for no loss at the half-way mark before losing their way and falling eight runs short, bringing to an end their incredible season on a sad note.

"That game, I felt like it was written. How could the finals be in Bangalore, and we played that kind of season, and we play that kind of a game where we are 100 for no loss in nine overs.

"Even KL (Rahul), to this day, if there's a highlight package running, he takes a screenshot and says it still hurts. It does. You had these dejected faces sitting in that amazing victory setup that we had done for the post-victory celebration. That is one game where I feel like it hurts." The star batter added, "It disappoints me. We had opportunities where we came close. At the end of the day, I am not going to call it luck.

"The opposition is there to play as well and if they are better on the day, you have to accept it that we haven't been as courageous or as clear in our plans as we should have been in those crunch moments.

"You could say that the odds were stacked against us - the only expectation was for us to win - but you have to deal with those. You can't run away from that." 

Also Read : Rahul, Mayank, Saini sweat out in the nets ahead of 2nd ODI

News Source : PTI

Ahmedabad, Feb 7 (Cricket News) India vice-captain KL Rahul, opener Mayank Agarwal, who has completed his quarantine after being added to the squad, sweated it out on Monday ahead of the second ODI against the West Indies.

It was an optional training day for the team India members as it was just a day after a full-fledged game. Agarwal was added to the squad after multiple COVID-19 cases were reported in the Indian squad. The 29-year-old pacer Navdeep Saini was also part of the practice session.

"Look who are here! The trio joined the squad and sweated it out in the practice session today," the BCCI tweeted along with the pictures of the cricketers.

On Sunday, the Rohit Sharma-led team had defeated West Indies by six-wickets in the lung-opener of the three-match ODI series.

There is a possibility that Agarwal would open the batting with skipper Rohit Sharma on Wednesday.

In the opening game, Rohit had opened with Ishan Kishan, who exactly isn't a regular opener, but the Jharkhand dasher did a decent job, scoring 28 in a 84-run stand with his skipper. 

Also Read : More googlies I bowl, better my leg break will be: Chahal acts on Rohit's advice

News Source : PTI

Ahmedabad, Feb 7 (Cricket News) Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who snared four wickets in the first ODI against the West Indies here, has credited new white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma for the performance, saying the star batter made him realise that the more googlies he bowled, the more effective his leg-breaks would become.

India won the match by six wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series here.

"We had spoken before the game. The thing which you said before the game, the thing I missed in South Africa, I didn't bowl more googlies, so it was there in my mind," Chahal told Rohit in an interview aired on 'bcci.tv'.

"The hard-hitters decide that if the ball is in his area, he will go for the shot...so when you said, 'the more googlies you bowl, your leg-spin will be more effective'. I bowled that to you in the nets and I realised it," the 31-year-old explained.

According to Chahal, when he was not in the national team, he worked on changing his bowling angles.

"I changed my angles, there are slow wickets here. When I wasn't there in the team, I pondered on what improvements can be made.

"I saw other bowlers, who became side-arm to bowl on these wickets. I noticed when I bowl in the nets, that the ball moves faster and you need more wrist," he elaborated.

The Haryana-player, who took his 100th ODI wicket here on Sunday by dismissing Nicholas Pooran, said that it was a good feeling to get to the milestone.

"It is a good feeling (to take 100 ODI wickets). There have been ups and downs in my five-year career but it is a good feeling that you take 100 wickets in any format, which is a big thing.

"I had never thought that it would happen so soon. I continued what I kept doing," Chahal signed off. 

Also Read : Auction Action: RCB may bid handsomely for Holder

News Source : PTI

(Basketball news) The Chicago Bulls won the Indiana Pacers 122-115 as Nikola Vucevic inspired them to a very good victory. For the Bulls, Vucevic came up big with a season-high 36 points and 17 rebounds, to which DeMar DeRozan added 31 points, Vucevic went 16 of 21 from the field, and had four assists and three blocks. For the Pacers, Caris LeVert had 42 points as he also had eight assists and five rebounds, the recently signed Terry Taylor finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds and five assists. With this result they moved up to top of the Eastern Conference table as they improved to 33-19.

''It's like people think he has this huge size advantage but I'm not really used to playing against smaller guys like that,'' said Vucevic, the 6-foot-11 veteran who only faced one defender taller than 6-7. ''There were a lot of seals in the post so a lot of my points were easy. It's just a different look and different for me.''

“I was really, really impressed with what he did at the rim tonight,'' Donovan said. ''He had a couple of really good blocks and he made some guys miss some shots as well.''

'It's a disappointing result but there's plenty of good things going on,'' coach Rick Carlisle said. ''We've just got to stay in the fight while we're undermanned.''

''He cut me from my last NBA team and offered me my first coaching job - in the same phone call,'' Carlisle said. ''Anytime someone sees you and believes you and gives you that first opportunity, that's very special.''

The Nets lost their seventh consecutive match, after being defeated by the Utah Jazz 125-102 as Donovan Mitchell made his return - and the Utah Jazz suddenly looked like the NBA's best offense again. For the Jazz, Mitchell scored 27 points after missing eight games because of a concussion, Bojan Bogdanovic added 19 points and 11 rebounds as Eric Paschall scored 16 points, Hassan Whiteside had 15 points and Mike Conley 14 for the Jazz, who have won twice after losing seven of eight injury-riddled games. For the Nets, Kyrie Irving, the only Nets star to play, scored 15 points on 20 shots as Brooklyn rookie Cam Thomas posted a career-high 30 points just four games after setting his previous best of 25 last week. With this result the Jazz improved their record to 32-21 as they stayed 4th in the Western Conference.

''There's so much focus other teams have on him that it frees up other guys offensively -- he's Donovan Mitchell and makes life a lot easier for everybody,'' said Alex Jensen, who was Utah's acting coach with Quin Snyder in the COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

''He was unbelievable,'' Udoka Azubuike said. ''It looked like a video game. There was one time I had to catch myself in the moment because I was just watching him. Every shot was going in. Don is a star.''
''I was just happy to be playing basketball,'' Mitchell said. ''I was joking before the game that I didn't care if the ball went in. I was just happy to be out there running around, guarding, thinking the game and playing with my teammates.''

''We're going through a tough stretch,'' Brooklyn coach Steve Nash said. ''We're undermanned and we're asking guys to do more. We played against an excellent offensive team. ... I just keep telling the guys that it's about staying together through this.''

Also read: Lakers snapped out of their losing streak and the Nets lose 6 in a row

The other results were:

• Hornets 101 - 102 Cavaliers
• Pistons 93 - 102 Celtics
• Raptors 125 - 114 Hawks
• Spurs 131 - 106 Rockets
• Nuggets 105 - 113 Pelicans
• Mavericks 107 - 98 76ers
• Trail Blazers 93 - 96 Thunder

Tomorrow’s fixtures are:

• Magic vs Grizzlies
• Wizards vs Suns
• Hornets vs Heat
• Lakers vs Knicks
• Trail Blazers vs Bucks
• Kings vs Thunder

Ahmedabad, Feb 4 (Cricket News) The Indian team on Friday carried out its first extensive training session ahead of the three-match ODI series against the visiting West Indies.

On Thursday, the team had a light session where the players had been accompanied by trainers.

On Friday however, barring the trio of Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shreyas Iyer, all the players and support staff were present for training after testing negative for COVID-19.

The players practiced under lights and it was a full-fledged session.

It is understood that head coach Rahul Dravid introduced young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi to the players.

The likes of Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and others batted at the nets while the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav, who is making a comeback to the ODI team, and Yuzvendra Chahal rolled their arms overs.

Pacer Mohammad Siraj and all-rounder Shardul Thakur also bowled in the nets.

Opener Mayank Agarwal is in isolation for three days and will be an option for the opening game if KL Rahul isn't available.

Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who can also open the innings, was also added to the ODI squad.

A COVID-19 outbreak had hit the Indian cricket team on Wednesday as three players -- senior opener Dhawan, reserve opener Gaikwad and middle-order batter Shreyas -- had tested positive for the virus during their mandatory isolation period before the start of the series.

Four more cricketers, including net bowler Navdeep Saini, had also tested positive for COVID-19. Saini is on the stand-by list.

The remaining three who tested positive for the virus are non-playing members -- fielding coach T Dilip, security liaison officer B Lokesh and masseur Rajeev Kumar.

The Indian team assembled in Ahmedabad on January 31 for the three ODIs against the West Indies.

The series starts in Ahmedabad on Sunday with India's 1000th ODI match but it is now a foregone conclusion that Dhawan, Ruturaj and Shreyas will be missing the rubber as they will have to undergo a week-long isolation and then return with two negative RT-PCR tests. 

Also Read : Andy Flower takes leave from PSL franchise to attend IPL mega auction

News Source : PTI

New Delhi, Feb 3 (Cricket News) The February 10 start for Ranji Trophy has offered a lifeline to veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane to get their Test career back on track.

With Test series against Sri Lanka set to be played from first week of March after the T20s starting February 25, a big hundred in the Ranji Trophy will provide the confidence that they need and probably ensure that they retain their place in the Indian team.

The Elite group games will start from February 16 after the Plate group matches begin from February 10 and both under-fire seniors will get two matches at least to convince the selectors.

Both seasoned batters have already started training with the Mumbai and Saurashtra squad respectively and are determined to score the big runs that are expected of them.

In fact, both will be in opposite teams if they are part of the crucial Saurashtra-Mumbai fixture in Ahmedabad. "Ajinkya is definitely looking forward to it. We have met a few times now, he has been practising with the Mumbai team. He has had about couple of sessions already. Looked absolutely in fine touch," Mumbai coach Amol Mujumdar told PTI.

"We don't have to look too much into the future but what is lying ahead of us is Ranji Trophy. They both are due for a big one. I feel it is just a question of confidence. Sometimes batting is nothing but confidence.

"If you can regain that confidence somehow. It will come only if you score a big hundred," added Mujumdar.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly also expects Pujara and Rahane to pile on the runs in the premier domestic competition.

Their prolonged inconsistent run has divided opinions with many saying it is time for the younger lot to replace them in the middle-order. The calls have only gotten louder following the loss in South Africa.

While Rahane has been working hard in the Mumbai nets, Pujara on Thursday had his first session with defending champions Saurashtra at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot.

Pujara batted for 90 minutes in the nets besides undergoing fitness training.

He specifically asked the pacers to bowl reverse swing.

"Pujara is not like other batters. He always has a specific plan when he walks into the nets. He is very meticulous in the way he trains. Today he wanted to practise against reverse swing which he may encounter in the Sri Lanka series," Saurashtra coach Niraj Odedra told PTI.

Time may be running out for Pujara and Rahane but they have all the experience to tide over this tough phase. 

Also Read : U-19 sensation Ravi Kumar set to be part of Bengal Ranji squad, Saha likely to play first two games

News Source : PTI