Chennai win last-ball thriller match

Lasith Malinga's five-wicket haul and Dinesh Karthik's whirlwind 74 went in vain as Chennai Super Kings eked out a narrow six-run win over Mumbai Indians in an inconsequential Group B match of the Champions League Twenty20 

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It was hard to believe that the match was so closely contested given the stark difference in the starts the two teams had to their innings: Super Kings motored to 86 for 0 in eight overs, while Mumbai had stumbled to 38 for 2 after eight.

The credit goes to Man of the match, Ben Hilfenhaus (2/14) who led the bowling attack brilliantly.

Watson backs Haddin, Starc for Tests

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Shane Watson believes Brad Haddin is "mentally and technically ready to go," should he be chosen as Australia's wicketkeeper for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. Michael Clarke, Australia's captain, has insisted that no decision has been made on whether Haddin could reclaim the Test berth he vacated for personal reasons during the tour of West Indies earlier this year, and Haddin faces competition from Matthew Wade for the spot.

Haddin is captaining a Sixers side that has been dominant in the tournament, with wins over Chennai Super Kings, Yorkshire and Highveld Lions. His own contribution has been steady, with consistent runs in the middle order and seven catches behind the stumps.

                   

Kieron Pollard had some unusual headgear while batting in CL

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Supreme Court dismisses appeal, Chargers out of IPL

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The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Deccan Chargers' plea to put a stay on the Bombay High Court order which upheld the BCCI termination of the franchise from the IPL. The chief justice of India, Altamas Kabir, heard the case but refused to grant a stay to the franchise owners, who approached the apex court immediately after the Bombay High Court yesterday overruled the arbitrator's order to put a stay on the expulsion.

The development means the Chargers are now completely out of the IPL. There are only two ways the Chargers can now bounce back - if the Bombay High Court judge, who rejected the ad-interim order on Thursday, reverses his decision once he has heard in details the arguments from both sides on October 29; or the court-appointed arbitrator, CK Thakkar, finds the grounds of the termination were not correct.

Crowe blames cancer on touring ills

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KKR  out of Champions League after washout

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Kolkata Knight Riders, the IPL champions, became the first side to be knocked out of the Champions League Twenty20 when their third game, against Perth Scorchers, was washed out in Durban with only 14 overs having been bowled in the first innings. Knight Riders, who had lost their first two games in the tournament, needed a win to remain in contention for a place in the knockouts.

The skies had gone overcast before the toss happened, and Gautam Gambhir, with one eye on the expected rain, chose to bowl on what his counterpart Marcus North called a "bat-first wicket". Knight Riders' bowlers stuck to their goal of restricting Perth Scorchers to a reasonable total till the rains came down.

World XI to play two Twenty20s in Pakistan

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Watson may follow Kallis path bat No. 4

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As Cricket Australia mounted a vigorous defence of Shane Watson's early departure from the Twenty20 Champions League, the national selector John Inverarity opened the possibility of the allrounder following Jacques Kallis by moving further down the order to No. 4 in future.

Sehwag fit for  Champions League

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Virender Sehwag has recovered from his ankle injury and will be fit to play in Delhi Daredevils' opening Champions League 2012 match, against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Daredevils' team mentor, TA Sekar, confirmed that Sehwag was fit, and said that he had obtained fitness clearance before flying to South Africa. A BCCI official said the board had nothing to do with the decision to play Sehwag: "The BCCI has nothing to do with it. It is a franchise tournament and it is for them to take a call."
Sehwag will not captain Delhi Daredevils at the Champions League, having asked the franchise to relieve him of the responsibility so he could concentrate on his batting.

 Michael Clarke walks back after batting in a Sydney Grade cricket match

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After Sachin Tendulkar (SRT) SRK  for trademark

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Sachin Tendulkar had applied for the same, to trademark his name SRT, earlier this year.

Shah Rukh Khan is a brand by himself. And very soon his often-used initials – SRK may become a very valuable property. Mirror found out that the actor has recently applied for a trademark on his name SRK at the Delhi office of the Trade Mark Registry.

I am mentally stronger now - Ishant Sharma

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"I think I am mentally and physically much stronger now after having gone through the worst phase of my life," Ishant said after helping North Zone to the semi-final in the Duleep Trophy against West Zone.

He said he had no regrets over missing the IPL for the sake of his fitness. He said he had worked on his outswinger. "I still continue to bowl with the same kind of intensity. Bowling a lot in the nets has helped. I have also learnt to bowl the outswinger," he said.

West Indies were crowned the new World Twenty20champions  

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DY Patil Stadium to host its first Ranji match

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Zaka Ashraf aims to take Pakistan to No. 1

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Zaka Ashraf, the PCB chairman, has hinted at an overhaul in 2013 as part of an attempt to make Pakistan the best team across all formats of the game.

He also pledged a reform of the PCB administration, saying the problem with Pakistan cricket was not in the system or in its constitution but in the people who are in charge. He said he would work to ensure the PCB would fall in line with the ICC's decision that all member boards should have free elections and be free from political intervention.

'I don't think I have plenty of cricket left in me'

Sachin Tendulkar has said that he will reassess his cricketing future in November, when he plays the home Tests against England. Tendulkar, who has previously been non-committal on questions about his retirement, also said any decision about ending a 23-year career will depend on both his form and his motivation levels.

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"I need not take a call right now. When I play in November, I will re-assess things," Tendulkar was quoted as saying in Times of India.

Captain inspires Sri Lanka to second WT20 final

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Sri Lanka's captain Mahela Jayawardene goes into Sunday's World Twenty20 final confident of winning the title.  On a crumbling, turning, brute of a pitch by Twenty20 standards, Mahela Jayawardene responded with a T20-size classic.

Pietersen signs contract with England Cricket Board

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One-run win not enough to qualify semi-final

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South Africa have had a few of their parties cruelly crashed by teams world over, but today they spoiled India's when it was only a small gathering. Having been knocked out of the World Twenty20 because Pakistan beat Australia, South Africa won the toss India wanted to win most, kept India down to 152, and passed 121, ensuring India would be eliminated from the tournament on net run rate.

Yuvraj's place in XI was not in doubt - Dhoni

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Before India's big win over Pakistan at the ICC World Twenty20 on Sunday, some former Indian players questioned Yuvraj Singh's fitness and suggested he should be dropped for India's must-win Super Eight tie against the archrivals But Dhoni says he never doubted Yuvraj's place in the XI.