High on confidence after win in the first Test at Galle, <keyword id="6355117" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="South-Africa">South Africa</keyword> will look to create history by sealing their first series win in <keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> in 21 years as the Proteas take on the hosts in the second match, starting Thursday at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo. Traditionally, the SSC pitch can easily be regarded as a sleeping beauty. However, with the series on the line and a Test required to win, Sri Lanka will hope for a surface that offers a lot of turn. They would need all the help from the pitch as the South African pacer <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/dale-steyn/8001/8051">Dale Steyn</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/morne-morkel/8001/8057">Morne Morkel</a> have showed that no matter what the surface is, disciplined bowling can help in taking wickets. 
 
Sri Lanka have not lost a Test here in more than 10 years. However, on a happy hunting ground for the hosts, only four out of the last 10 Tests have produced a result in their favour, rest have been draws. Once again they will be banking heavily on their stalwarts <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kumar-sangakkara/9001/9011">Kumar Sangakkara</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mahela-jayawardene/9001/9003">Mahela Jayawardene</a>. The famed duo carved the South African attack to all parts of the SSC the last time the two teams met here when the world-record stand of 624 saw Sangakkara miss out on a triple ton and Jayawardene miss out on a 400. 
 For South Africa though, only two current players from their 2006 squad will be having the horrid memories - AB de Villiers and <keyword id="12829" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dale-Steyn">Dale Steyn</keyword>. With a settled and hungry middle order comprising Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and De Villiers plus form of the Galle centurions Dean Elgar and <keyword id="69475" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="JP-Duminy">JP Duminy</keyword>, the Proteas go into the final Test as a slightly better batting force. Their bowling, however lethal in the first Test, will be tested to the limit on a deck full of runs. 
 
Team News: 
 
Sri Lanka: The hosts have made two changes in their squad. One has been form-based call of Dinesh Chandimal being dropped and uncapped wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella nearly set for debut. The other forced decision is that Shaminda Eranga misses out due to injury and Dhammika Prasad is favourite to take his spot in the playing XI. Spinners Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera will have to raise their game in order to trouble the South African batsmen. 
 
Probable XI: 1.Kaushal Silva 2. Upul Tharanga 3. <keyword id="22772" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kumar-Sangakkara">Kumar Sangakkara</keyword> 4. Mahela Jayawardene 5. Lahiru Thirimanne 6. Angelo Mathews 7. Niroshan Dickwella 8. Dilruwan Perera 9. Dammika Prasad 10. Rangana Herath 11. Suranga Lakmal 
 
Watch out for 
 
Local boy Jayawardene has some appetite for runs at this venue. With 2698 runs at an average of 77 and 10 hundreds to boot here, the former skipper has more runs than any other player on a single venue. He will be more than eager to once again make an impact as he plays his penultimate game on his choicest venue. If he scores big, Sri Lanka will garner enough wherewithal to challenge their opposition. 
 
South Africa: 
 
Their potent bowling makes them one of the biggest challenges that hosts would have faced of late, on what has usually been a placid track. At Galle, Steyn and Morkel took a total of 16 wickets with a deadly combination of pace, seam and reverse swing. They are likely to make the ball talk if and when the surface becomes abrasive. The only possible change in their ranks could be Wayne Parnell replacing Vernon Philander, who went wicketless in the first Test. With the bat, new captain Amla will have to impress upon as a leader, while opener Alviro Petersen is due a big score. 
 
Probable XI: 1. Alviro Petersen 2. Dean Elgar 3. Faf du Plessis 4. Hashim Amla 5. AB de Villiers 6. JP Duminy 7. Quinton de Kock 8. Dale Steyn 9. Vernon Philander/Wayne Parnell 10. Imran Tahir 11. Morne Morkel. 
 
Watch out for 
 
Steyn - world's best Test bowler and by some distance, is in rollicking form and by the looks of his showings this year (21 wickets in 4 games), he is on course to better his best figures in Sri Lanka, 9/99, which he took in Galle. Steyn's skill as a pacer is unparalleled and each batsmen will have to be at the top of his game to counter his penetrative style of attack. SSC will test him, but if any fast bowler one would want to bank upon to make an impact here, it would be Steyn.

2nd Test: SL Aim To Square Series On Batting-Friendly SSC

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/35103317.cms" /><keyword id="351" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Yuvraj-Singh">Yuvraj Singh</keyword> smashed a 29-ball 68* with the help of nine sixes as <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword> (186 for 4) saw off Delhi Daredevils (170 for 7) by 16 runs at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday night. With their fourth win in 10 matches, RCB kept their remote play-off hopes alive, while DD suffered their eighth defeat in 10 matches to keep scraping the bottom of the barrel. 

	Ever since the World T20 final defeat against Sri Lanka where Yuvraj scored a 21-ball 11, he has been at the centre of criticism with many questioning his batting credentials. In a quest to restore his good name, the left-hander started his IPL campaign on a great note, scoring a match-winning 29-ball 52 against DD in RCB's first match. Despite a great start to the season, Yuvraj all of a sudden waned and so did the fortunes of the team.
 

	However, in the last game against Rajasthan Royals, the left-hander made 83 off 38 balls and took four wickets to show first real signs of his returning to form. On Tuesday, Yuvraj continued from where he had left off against RR, putting DD bowlers to the sword. Against Shane Watson's men, Yuvraj's efforts had gone up the spout but against DD, the team won, erasing the bitterness of the defeat in the last game.
 

	Yuvraj joined AB de Villiers at 93 for 3 in 12.3 overs and showed positive intent straight away, scoring a four off his third ball. The duo had added 132 against RR and looked set to do another similar act. However, de Villiers failed this time losing his stumps to Kaul for 33.
 An undeterred Yuvraj hit legspinner Imran Tahir for three consecutive sixes in the 17th over to bring plenty of momentum to the RCB innings. Yuvraj continued his assault, sending Mohammad Shami and Siddarth Kaul over the fence in the 18th and 19th overs respectively. In the last over bowled by <keyword id="172496" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rahul-Shukla">Rahul Shukla</keyword>, Yuvraj showed his most devastating side, hitting four successive sixes. The over yielded 27 runs in all. 

	Yuvraj also bowled an economical over towards the end - 16th over of the innings - giving away just four runs and hampered DD's momentum a great deal; the visitors needed 68 off 30 balls before Yuvraj's over. He kept the dangerous JP Duminy quiet. Considering the margin of the win and Duminy's 30-ball 48, the over was very important in the context of the game.
 Sri Lanka great <keyword id="26689" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Muttiah-Muralitharan">Muttiah Muralitharan</keyword> also showed some glimmers of his past skills and got rid of <keyword id="57265" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Murali-Vijay">Murali Vijay</keyword> whom DD had brought back for this match in place of Laxmi Ratan Shukla. Hadn't wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel dropped Mayank Agarwal in the third over, Murali's second, the Sri Lankan would've had his second victim in as many overs. Murali, along with Mitchell Starc, who cleaned up Quinton de Kock for six in the second over, ensured there weren't even distant hopes of a win for the visitors. However, Mayank Agarwal (31), Kevin Pietersen (33), Kedar Jadhav (37) and Duminy combined to make a match of it but Yuvraj's assault with the bat eventually turned out to be difference. Murali returned with 2 for 25, <keyword id="6355316" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dinesh-Karthik">Dinesh Karthik</keyword> being his second victim. 

	Earlier, after the match was delayed for 70 minutes due to rain, DD captain Pietersen won the toss and put the hosts in to bat. RCB struggled in the first half of their innings but Yuvraj's extraordinary power-hitting in the next helped the team fetch 71 runs in the last four overs. Yuvraj and Sachin Rana (15) added an unbeaten 79 for the fifth wicket.
 

	Jharkhand fast bowler Shukla got the sought-after breakthrough in the sixth over when he removed Chris Gayle for 22. The West Indian was looking in great touch, manifested by two big sixes off Shami and Duminy, before chopping the ball onto his stumps as he charged down the track.
 

	RCB captain Virat Kohli's lean patch continued as he succumbed to an unnecessary run-out for 10 off the first ball of the eighth over, Shukla again playing a part. The ball from legspinner Tahir took an inside edge in the direction of fine leg where the sturdy fast bowler was keeping vigil; a rocket throw from Shukla reached wicketkeeper de Kock who removed the bails in a flash and Kohli found himself short of crease.
 

	de Villiers joined a cautious Parthiv Patel and both began the repair work. At the start of their partnership, there were only singles and doubles. Things changed for RCB in the 11th over as Patel picked up two boundaries off Tahir. Buoyed by the over, de Villiers took 18 runs off the next over bowled by medium pacer Kaul with the help of two fours and a six.
 

	The 49-run stand was broken by Shami's slower ball in 13th over. The diminutive left-hander got deceived and gave a simple catch to Karthik at point for 29. Thereafter it was all Yuvraj's show.
 

	Brief score: Royal Challengers Bangalore 186 for 4 in 20 overs (Yuvraj 68*; Shami 1/31) beat Delhi Daredevils 170 for 7 in 20 overs (Duminy 48; Muralitharan 2/25) by 16 runs.

Yuvraj's Sparkle Breaks RCB's Losing Streak

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/34678560.cms" />Bangalore: <keyword id="12643" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers">Royal Challengers</keyword> Bangalore captain <keyword id="6354486" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Virat-Kohli">Virat Kohli</keyword> today described his team-mate A B de Villiers' stunning match-winning knock of 89 not out from just 41 balls against <keyword id="1494441" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Sunrisers-Hyderabad">Sunrisers Hyderabad</keyword> here as one of the best Twenty20 innings he has seen. Kohli also rated de Villiers, who hit six fours and eight sixes in his incredible innings, as the best current player in the world in the shorter format. 
 
"He [AB de Villiers] is the best player in the world by far. He has shown it every now and then, and he has shown it again today why he is rated the number one in the world in any format. It was one of the best innings in T20 I have seen," Kohli said in awe of his team-mate after RCB beat SRH by four wicket in a dramatic match. 
 "Today was one of the days we needed someone to win the game from that tough situation. The way de Villiers was striking the ball under pressure, it was just amazing. We thought it was a below-par score in Bangalore. Generally you get 170. <keyword id="44186" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chris-Gayle">Chris Gayle</keyword> got us to a decent start, but the way AB played, it was incredible. He took the game away from the opposition," Kohli said. 
 Hyderabad captain <keyword id="17805" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Shikhar-Dhawan">Shikhar Dhawan</keyword> said any side could have done little with an opposition player coming up with an innings like the one played by de Villiers today. "You cannot help it when someone produces a great knock. Unfortunately we missed the half chance AB offered at point and he took it away after that. We felt we were 10-15 runs short," Dhawan rued, referring to the tough catching chance Karn Sharma failed to hold onto in the 14th over when de Villiers was on 32. 
 
"We started off well as a bowling unit but AB played amazingly. Karn Sharma bowled well, he got their two main left-handers out." 
 
Man of the Match, de Villiers, on his part said it was one of those nights when things went his way. "I had a Skype session with my mom and dad today, and my dad said, the others are lucky. Guess I had my luck today," he said. 
 When told that his South African compatriot <keyword id="12829" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dale-Steyn">Dale Steyn</keyword> (0/39) whom he destroyed today described his innings as a "different class", de Villiers said, "He (Steyn) won the first set and I won the second. I would have loved to have a third set against him. 
 
"In those kinds of situations it is the small things that matter the most. It is team spirit, such things that matter in the end. Yuvraj kept boosting me up tonight, got to give credit to him."

Kohli Hails De Villiers
As World's Best

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/34817839.cms" />The third week of IPL 7 in India was probably more exciting than the previous two weeks in the UAE thanks to some great individual performances and a big run-in between <keyword id="61632" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kieron-Pollard">Kieron Pollard</keyword> and Mitchell Starc. Here, gocricket.com chronicles the eye-catching events that unfolded over the course of last week. 
 
Tambe spins magic with first hat-trick this season 
 At the age of 42, <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword> legspinner Tambe is having the time of his life. Look at his performances in the tournament from day one, he has been nothing short of brilliant. However, this week Tambe took his game to another level and helped RR register a win from an unlikely position against Kolkata Knight Riders in Ahmedabad on May 5. Chasing 171 to win, the Gautam Gambhir-led KKR were cruising at one time at 121 for 0 in 14 overs before RR captain <keyword id="6378477" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Shane-Watson">Shane Watson</keyword> took three wickets in an over to provide a big opening for his team. However, it was Tambe's hat-trick in the next over that actually put the nail in KKR's coffin. The wickets of Manish Pandey, <keyword id="18938" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Yusuf-Pathan">Yusuf Pathan</keyword> and Ryan ten Doeschate broke KKR's back badly and they ended up losing the match by 10 runs. Tambe's performance this season has proved that age has little significance nowadays in cricket and that it's fitness and willingness to do well that shapes a player's career. 
 
de Villiers breaks run-drought in style 
 It was long coming. AB de Villiers had an ordinary season prior to <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword>'s game against <keyword id="1494441" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Sunrisers-Hyderabad">Sunrisers Hyderabad</keyword> on May 4 and when Virat Kohli's men were reduced to 59 for 4 in 10.1 overs chasing 159 to win, it appeared the match was as good as gone for RCB. Against all odds, de Villiers launched a rearguard action and smashed 89* off 41 balls with the help of six fours and eight sixes to see his side home in the last over. While de Villiers punished all SRH bowlers, his face-off with fellow South African and arguably the greatest bowler in the world at present, <keyword id="12829" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Dale-Steyn">Dale Steyn</keyword>, will be remembered for many years to come. In the penultimate over of the innings, de Viliers took 24 runs off Steyn, hitting three sixes and a four to turn the match on its head. 
 
Pollard-Starc altercation 
 The game between <keyword id="13880" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Mumbai-Indians">Mumbai Indians</keyword> and <keyword id="12643" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers">Royal Challengers</keyword> Bangalore on May 6 will long be remembered for an ugly altercation between Kieron Pollard and Mitchell Starc. The run-in - towards the end of MI's innings - that saw the West Indian and the Australian almost come to blows, influenced the outcome of the match a great deal as MI took 54 runs off last 20 balls, thanks largely to captain <keyword id="13937" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Rohit-Sharma">Rohit Sharma</keyword>'s 59 off 35 balls, to post a mammoth 187 for 5. 
 
The drama began in the 17th over when Starc used some pretty choice language against Pollard after beating him with a bouncer. The West Indian disdainfully signed to Starc to go away, and off the next ball backed away from the crease at the last minute. Starc, instead of stopping himself, followed the West Indian on the legside and almost hit him, leaving a seething Pollard to throw his bat towards the bowler in a menacing way. 
 
However, the West Indian had the last laugh when he took a simple catch at extra cover to send Starc (5) back to the pavilion off the bowling of Lasith Malinga. Not just that, earlier in the match he had also accounted for the dangerous Yuvraj Singh's run out (6) using his footballing skills to great effect. 
 
The IPL Governing Council later on Wednesday fined both Pollard and Starc for breaching its code of conduct. 
 
Maxwell at it once again 
 Orange Cap holder Glenn Maxwell (435 runs in seven matches) fuelled his legend further smashing 90 off 38 balls in Kings XI Punjab's 44-run win over <keyword id="13886" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chennai-Super-Kings">Chennai Super Kings</keyword> on May 7. The Australian put on view the switch-hit several times hitting eight sixes and six fours and it surely was his innings that made the difference. His approach against R Ashwin was particularly impressive. The India offspinner is normally very effective bowling around the wicket, but not against Maxwell on Wednesday evening. The Big Show smashed back-to-back sixes in the 11th over against the India offspinner who looked befuddled not knowing where he should land the ball, bowling two wides to boot. Things changed drastically after Ashwin's over, with KXIP scoring 162 in the last 10 overs to finish on 231 for 4. With the win against MS Dhoni's men, KXIP made it back to the top of the table with six wins in seven matches, while CSK go down to second after their second defeat in eight matches. 
 
Delhi Daredevils' sorry state 
 Delhi Daredevils took the wooden spoon last season and looking at their performance so far it seems another is on their way. The team under Kevin Pietersen looks absolutely spineless, especially in the bowling department. DD's defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders on May 7 was their sixth in eight matches and the way Pietersen ran himself out tells a great deal about his current state of mind. The former England batsman tapped a Shakib-al-Hasan delivery to offside and ran away for a single straight away, head down and without looking at non-striker batsman <keyword id="57265" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Murali-Vijay">Murali Vijay</keyword>. Wicketkeeper <keyword id="2231057" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Robin-Uthapa">Robin Uthapa</keyword> charged towards the ball, picked it up and ran Pietersen out in a flash with Vijay shaking his head in disbelief at the other end. 
 Pietersen's captaincy is also under the scanner for repeatedly not bringing the in-form duo of <keyword id="69475" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="40" keywordseo="JP-Duminy">JP Duminy</keyword> and Kedar Jadhav up the batting order. Fast bowler Mohammad Shami is another big concern for DD. He is one of the promising bowlers in the country but his performance so far in the tournament is worrying. Four wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 8.34 don't justify his talent. At present, it's hard to imagine how DD are going to turn their fortunes around.

IPL Week 3 Review: Tambe, De Villiers, Maxwell Steal The Show

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/34464432.cms" />In the first week of IPL 7, Glenn Maxwell dominated the show with his big-hitting prowess. Now, in the second and final week of the UAE leg, gocricket.com takes a look at all the moments which grabbed headlines. 
 
Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals: A chequered rivalry 
 
Before the start of IPL 7, CSK and RR were in the news for events off the field relating to the IPL spot-fixing scandal. When both teams strode out to the ring of fire in Dubai, they added another chapter to the rivalry. CSK made 140 and Rajasthan fell short by seven runs. Ravindra Jadeja was the star for CSK with an unbeaten 36 and a haul of 4/33. In an eerie way, in the match between these two teams in 2013 in Jaipur which is believed to be in the centre of the scandal mentioned above, CSK had made 141 when the bet was that they would make 140. At that time, Gurunath Meiyappan was watching. Now, with Gurunath sidelined, CSK achieved this score. Odd twist of fate? 
 
<keyword id="258312" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chris-Lynn">Chris Lynn</keyword> takes the catch of the summer 
 In a cricket match, seldom has a catch been the talking point. In the match between <keyword id="6354506" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers-Bangalore">Royal Challengers Bangalore</keyword> and Kolkata Knight Riders, Chris Lynn provided the moment of the tournament which helped KKR snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. KKR managed to get to 150 and RCB needed nine runs in the last over. Vinay Kumar, who was part of several last-over finishes in the IPL, gave away just three runs in the first three balls. On the fourth ball, the match changed totally. 
 
Vinay bowled a shortish delivery just outside off. AB de Villiers moved to the off side and pulled it high over deep mid wicket. He had not timed it all that well but with the deep mid wicket boundary at Sharjah been short, it seemed the ball would sail over. Lynn, though, had other plans. His job was made difficult by the fact that he slipped up while lining up for the catch. However, he kept his eyes on the ball, raised his hands and arched back like a gymnast to pouch the catch. With the momentum threatening to take him over the ropes, he stuck out his right hand and ensured that he landed just inches in front of the rope. This moment gave KKR victory by two runs. One of the must watch (video link) moments that should be replayed over and over again 
 
Pollard is the best catcher in the IPL. No, he is not, say CSK 
 <keyword id="61632" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kieron-Pollard">Kieron Pollard</keyword> has built a reputation that he can pouch just about anything. Every team has felt his brilliance in the field, except CSK. In the 2013 IPL clash between CSK and Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede, Pollard dropped Michael Hussey, then playing for CSK, thrice in three balls off Mitchell Johnson. He managed to pouch a good one off Suresh Raina but the three consecutive dropped catches were a sight to behold. 
 In the match against CSK in Dubai, Pollard was once again generous in the field for CSK. In the sixth over, <keyword id="55681" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Brendon-McCullum">Brendon McCullum</keyword> smashed one past mid off. Pollard leapt with one hand but he could not latch onto it. This was a difficult catch but for Pollard's standards, it could have been taken. However, in the 16th over bowled by Harbhajan Singh, Faf du Plessis slog swept the bowler to deep square leg where Pollard dropped a sitter. It seems Pollard suffers from yellow fever when it comes to catching against CSK. 
 
Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals: A tale of two ties 
 KKR and RR played out the first ever tie in the 2009 IPL in Cape Town. In that match, both teams ended on 150 and it was <keyword id="18938" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Yusuf-Pathan">Yusuf Pathan</keyword> who stole the show when he smashed three sixes of Ajantha Mendis to help RR put one over KKR. Five years later and in another neutral venue, KKR and RR played out their second tie. With the scores tied on 152, KKR batted in the one-over eliminator and scored 11. With three needed off the last ball, Steven Smith batted in a way which gave a new definition to smart play under pressure. He knew that in the event of the super over been tied, RR would go through as they had hit more boundaries. He spotted the gap at extra cover and he walked down the track to push it into that gap for a couple. It was the first time that a super over was tied in the IPL. Once again, KKR had failed to get over the line against RR. 
 
Sandeep Sharma shows his mettle 
 
In the IPL, there is a prevalent theme that bat dominates ball to such an extent that bowlers are scarred for life. However, one young gun has thwarted this notion. He was the star performer in the 2012 U-19 World Cup in Australia. With an ability to swing the ball in and away both in the air and off the seam, Sandeep Sharma is a valuable bowling asset for any team. In this edition of the IPL, Sandeep has maintained discipline and he has reaped rich rewards. His performances in the game against Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he picked up three wickets, earned him the Man of the Match award. With an economy rate of 5.63, average of just 8.85 and a strike-rate of just 9.4, Sandeep has added more potency to the already potent Kings XI Punjab.

IPL Week 2 Review: Lynn Takes The Catch Of IPL

<keyword id="1494441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sunrisers-hyderabad" source="Orion">Sunrisers Hyderabad</keyword> pacer <keyword id="12166053" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Umran-Malik" source="Orion">Umran Malik</keyword> on Wednesday night clocked 153kmph on the speed gun, the fastest delivery in the IPL 2021 season, and had both his skipper <keyword id="269650" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kane-williamson" source="Orion">Kane Williamson</keyword> and India captain <keyword id="6354486" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="virat-kohli" source="Orion">Virat Kohli</keyword> gushing over the new speed demon of Indian cricket. While Williamson called him a "special" talent, Kohli said that India needs to nurture him to "maximise the potential of our fast bowling stocks". Malik claimed (1/21) as SRH defended a small total against RCB on Wednesday, winning by four runs. While Bhuvneshwar Kumar got the accolades for denying a batsman of the calibre of AB de Villiers six runs in the final two deliveries, Malik caught the eye for the sheer pace he generated. "Umran certainly is special. We've seen him in the nets for a couple of seasons. Special opportunity for him and it's not surprising to see him come and do well. Been a really valuable addition to the side. I try and keep it really simple with him but he's got a lot of mates in the team and they share the message and he takes the game on," said Williamson after the match, the penultimate game for SRH who now play Mumbai Indians on Friday to end their campaign in IPL 2021. Kohli was also happy to see Malik clocking in around 150 kph regularly. "Good to see a guy bowling at 150 clicks. It's important to understand the progress of individuals from here, how to look after yourself. We've got to maximise the potential of our fast bowling stocks," said the India and RCB skipper. West Indies bowler Jason Holder, a senior member of the SRH team, said the pace is Malik's "biggest asset." "The first thing to mention is his pace, that is his biggest asset. He is very hard to get hold of and has been deceiving the batters through his pace. That extra pace adds a boost to any bowling attack," said during a virtual post-match press conference. Holder was said it was good that Malik had good control over his bowling at this pace. "It is good to see his control as well. A lot of guys who have bowled quick over the years, generally they can be erratic but has been pretty consistent," Holder said. On his IPL debut a couple of days back, Malik had clocked 151.03 kph, the fastest delivery bowled by an Indian in the ongoing IPL 2021. The 21-year-old Malik was roped in as a short-term Covid-19 replacement for T Natarajan, who had tested positive ahead of Hyderabad's encounter against Delhi Capitals on September 22. Malik came into SRH playing XI in place of pacer Sandeep Sharma and he impressed everyone with his raw pace in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Dubai. KKR and New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson have bowled the fastest delivery of the IPL 2021 so far, clocking 152.75 kph. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/chennai-super-kings-vs-punjab-kings-will-dhonis-team-revive-its-winning-streak/slidelist/86829356.cms">Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings: Will Dhoni’s team revive its winning streak?</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/advantage-club-to-hire-100-people-across-technology-sales-and-marketing-in-fy-21-22/articleshow/86830911.cms">HRTech startup Advantage Club to hire 100 people across Technology, Sales and Marketing in FY 21-22</a>

IPL 2021: SRH's pacer Umran Malik makes a new record of fastest delivery at 153kmph

Johannesburg, Jul 15 () Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Wednesday said six people have returned positive for the dreaded coronavirus but none of them are cricketers following approximately 50 tests conducted ahead of the 3TeamCricket match on Saturday. "Cricket South Africa (CSA) can confirm that approximately 50 COVID-19 PCR tests were performed on players, coaches, support and venue staff during the period of 10 to 13 July at various venues across the country, in preparation for the 3TeamCricket match that will be taking place on Saturday, 18 July 2020," CSA said in a statement. "Six positive results were returned but none among any of the participating players. They have been managed by the CSA Medical team according to the current Department of Health &amp; National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) guidelines." CSA did not say who were the six COVID-19 positive people from among those tested for the dreaded disease. The '3TCricket' competition on July 18 would mark the resumption of live cricket in South Africa following the coronavirus-forced break. The Solidarity Cup will see 24 of South Africa's top cricketers feature in three teams -- The Eagles, Kingfishers and The Kites -- playing two halves in a single match. The Squads: Kingfishers: Kagiso Rabada (c), Faf du Plessis, Chris Morris, Tabraiz Shamsi, Reeza Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Heinrich Klaasen, Glenton Stuurman. Kites: Quinton de Kock (c), David Miller, Temba Bavuma, Anrich Nortje, Dwayne Pretorius, Beuran Hendricks, JJ Smuts, Lutho Sipamla. Eagles: AB de Villiers (c), Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Andile, Phehlukwayo, Rassie van der Dussen, Junior Dala, Kyle Verreynne, Sisanda Magala. ATK PDS PDS

Six people returned COVID-19 positive but none cricketer: CSA

<ul><li>Wisden declares the <keyword id="620720" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ODI-team">ODI team</keyword> of the decade: seven countries find their players in the list. </li><li>India proudly bags the highest representation by finding three of its players in the team. </li><li>Cricket enthusiasts feel the list mirrors the most popular picks.</li></ul>The first decade of the twenty first century is drawing towards close and the cricket world is reviewing the performance of all those great talents that have given their best for their teams. Wisden has announced its much awaited <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/wisden-releases-odi-team-of-the-decade-three-indians-included-one-surprising-inclusion/story-6wPgHJ2dfu0jyYIZT47IqO.html?utm_campaign=fullarticle&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=inshorts">ODI team of the decade</a>. 11 players from across seven countries find their way into this most coveted list after successfully getting through the sieve. <keyword id="8489728" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="wisden-odi-team">Wisden ODI team</keyword> of the decade highlights The 11 players list Wisden has pooled up closely mirrors the obvious and the most popular picks that most cricket enthusiasts will agree with. <a href="https://twitter.com/WisdenCricket">India has the highest representation</a> as it finds three of its players making their way up to the list. Australia and South Africa together claim the next position as each of them is able to squeeze in two of their players into the list. The remaining four slots are filled in by the players from England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. The full list of Wisden ODI team of the decade 1. <keyword id="13937" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rohit-Sharma">Rohit Sharma</keyword> (India) Topping the list and playing since 2010 in 179 ODIs, Rohit could secure 8186 runs at 53.50. His best score is 264 runs. 2. David Warner (Australia) Warner played in 109 ODIs so far and scored 4884 runs at 47.88. 3. <keyword id="6354486" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</keyword> (India) To his credit, Virat Kohli has played in 226 matches scoring an average of 11040 runs at 60.65. 4. AB de Villiers (South Africa) Last year AB de Villiers of South Africa chose to retire from international cricket matches. He has proudly scored 6485 runs at 64.20 in 135 ODIs from 2010 to 2019. 5. Jos Buttler (England) Fans call him one of the most destructive batsmen ever produced by England. Buttler is acclaimed for scoring 3843 runs and his average score is 40.88 from 142 ODIs. 6. <keyword id="6354832" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ms-dhoni">MS Dhoni</keyword> (India) MS Dhoni, one of the most renowned captains Indian cricket team ever had follows Buttler in the list. Under his able leadership, India secured the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. Dhoni has hit 5640 runs at a stunning average of 50.35 runs over these ten years. 7. Shakib al Hasan (Bangladesh) Shakib played in 131 ODIs over the past decade from 2010 to 2019. He has taken 177 wickets and scored 4276 runs in total. 8. Mitchell Starc (Australia) Over the decade, Mitchell Starc of Australia has taken 172 wickets at his run rate score is 20.99 in all the 85 ODIs he played. 9. Dale Steyn (South Africa) To his credit, Dale Steyn has bagged 145 wickets while playing in 90 ODIs and his run rate average is 24.80. 10. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) Lasith Malinga made his way to the list by bagging 248 wickets during the 162 ODIs he played with an average run rate of 28.74. 11. Trent Boult (New Zealand) The last one to figure in the list is Trent Boult who got 164 wickets with a run score of 25.06 from all the 89 ODIs he played during the decade.

Wisden declares ODI team of the decade: India has the highest representation as three of its players make it to the list

New Delhi, Wicketkeeper-batsman <keyword id="17246" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Parthiv-Patel">Parthiv Patel</keyword> on Wednesday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. In a social media post, Patel said he is "bringing the curtains down on an 18-year-long cricketing journey". Patel, who made his <keyword id="1819753" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-debut">international debut</keyword> at the age of 17 in an away Test series against England in 2002, played 25 Tests, 38 ODIs and two T20Is for India, his last international appearance coming in team's famous Test win in Johannesburg in January 2018. He was also part of the squad when India won their maiden Test series in Australia in 2018-19. "On this day, as I pause and reflect to assess how far I have come, the biggest wish I have is for my father to have been standing beside me, at the closure of my journey as a cricket player, as he has through most of my life and career," Patel said. "Today, I announce my retirement from all forms of cricket and as I bring down the curtains on this 18-year-old cricketing journey, I feel heavier with gratitude towards many," he added. Apart from playing for India, Patel led Gujarat to the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2015 as he scored a match-winning maiden List A century in the final against Delhi. He outdid that achievement the next season, when he made 143 against Mumbai to help Gujarat pull off the highest successful run-chase in a Ranji Trophy final. "The BCCI showed a generous amount of confidence and faith in a 17 year old boy to play for India. I have enormous gratitude towards them for being a guiding force and hand holding me, in the formative years of my young career," Patel said in his social media post. "I am full of gratitude to The Gujarat Cricket Association, my home, for solidly rallying around me throughout my journey, and the leadership role conferred upon me couldn't have been more joyous and fulfilling than our team winning all formats of the game," he added. The left-handed batsman scored over 11,000 runs in 194 first-class games, with 27 centuries and 67 half-centuries. In the Indian Premier League, the 35-year-old played for six franchises in total. He was part of three title-winning teams - Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and <keyword id="9715112" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-mumbai-indians">the Mumbai Indians</keyword> in 2015 and 2017. In total, he played a total of 139 IPL matches, scoring 2848 runs with the help of 13 half centuries. He was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad in 2020 but was not included in the playing XI for a single game as the team preferred to use AB de Villiers as their first-choice keeper and also used Devdutt Padikkal as opener. "I feel at peace having played the game in its truest tenets, with dignity and in the spirit of the game and more importantly with great comraderie. As I walk away as a proud man having fulfilled more dreams than I thought possible, I hope to be remembered with that thought and find your support for my future endeavours," Patel said. "With every end, comes a new beginning. How lucky I am have something that makes saying good bye so hard. Until the next time " he concluded. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/mukesh-ambani-says-jio-will-rollout-5g-services-by-june-2021-and-it-will-go-beyond-india/articleshow/79619222.cms">Mukesh Ambani says Jio will rollout 5G services by June 2021 – and it will go beyond India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-canara-bank-sun-pharma-titan-nbcc-gujarat-state-fertilizers-coffee-day-and-others/articleshow/79617464.cms">Top stocks to watch — Canara Bank, Sun Pharma, Titan, NBCC, Gujarat State Fertilizers, Coffee Day, and others</a>

Wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel retires from all forms of cricket

New Delhi, Apr 24 () India skipper Virat Kohli and former South Africa batsman AB de Villiers will auction their cricketing gears, including the bats with which they scored hundreds for Royal Challengers Bangalore during an IPL match in 2016, to raise funds for the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. The items to be auctioned also include their respective gloves and shirts from that particular game where both of them had scored centuries to power RCB to a challenging 248 for three against Gujarat Lions. RCB had won the match by 144 runs. "We had a few nice knocks together. There is a particular one in 2016 IPL against Gujarat Lions. I got 129 and you also got 100 right at the end, that doesn't happen always when two batters get 100s. It is a special memory for me," De Villiers said during an Instagram live chat. "I was thinking how we can make a difference, that's why I told you to get hold of that bat from that game and I still got that shirt from that game, which I got you signed, I also signed my shirt. So I got my shirt and my bat, I gonna get hold of your bat, my bat, your gloves, my gloves. That's quite a big package. "The plan is to get it on an online auction platform (bidorbuy.co.za). It could be a nice collector's item. We both can share a picture of that game. People can go and bid and all the proceeds can go for the COVID-19 cause both in India and South Africa, particularly, for the cause of getting meals on people's table. we can make it 50-50 and support the cause in memory of that day." RCB skipper Kohli, who had scored 109 in that match, said he would give away anything for the cause. "It sounds amazing. The fact that you want to share a part of it with India where you have a massive fan, I think it is quite special, it is an amazing gesture from you," he said. "I don't think I will be able to score that many runs in a single season. I have kept most of the things from that season. For this cause I will give anything away." The Indian captain said it is "surreal" what has been happening around the globe and felt people will be more human once the pandemic-induced crisis is over. "I never thought I will see this happening in my life time. So many people are trapped, specially migrant and daily wagers are struggling. There is a silver lining, I mean it is good to see the human side coming up, there is no ego, there is no manipulation, so many people are helping out in this crisis situation," he said. "We have to grateful that we are comfortable sitting, where so many others are struggling for food. Nothing hurts you more than seeing people struggling to get food on table. "Whenever people come back, when players comeback, there will be lot more energy ... it will drastically change the enjoying part of things, pure love for everything will come up in the surface." The coronavirus outbreak has infected over 2.5 million people around the globe, bringing all sporting activities to a standstill. ATK ATAT

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