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On the eve of their second game at Ahmedabad, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/tillakaratne-mudiyanselage-dilshan/9001/9034">Tillakaratne Dilshan</a> had explained how a total in the region of 280-300 had become a norm in 50-over cricket, especially after the new field restrictions were put in place. His words were almost prophetic as after being restricted to 274, <keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> weren't able to control a rampaging Indian batting order that finished off the job with six wickets in hand and 5.3 overs to spare, going 2-0 up in the five-match series and moving ever so close towards taking an unassailable lead. 
 
The pre-match buzz centred mostly around local lad <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/akshar-rajeshbhai-patel/4001/31051">Akshar Patel's</a> first international match at his home ground, but even as he impressed with his accurate left-arm spin in the middle overs to stifle Sri Lanka, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ambati-thirupathi-rayudu/4001/31025">Ambati Rayudu</a> walked away with the honours near his adopted home - Baroda - where he plays his domestic cricket. He has mostly been confined to a back-up role in a star-studded line-up, but has made the most of the limited opportunities he has had so far, and returning not out on 121* (118b, 10x4, 4x6) after setting up the chase would have been doubly satisfying. 
 
 
 
India went into the game with three spinners on a Motera surface that looked like it would assist the medium pacers more, but <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/virat-kohli/4001/25007">Virat Kohli's</a> ploy worked wonders as Sri Lanka were kept to 274 for 8 in the day/night fixture. The visitors put in a better batting effort as compared to Cuttack, but <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/angelo-davis-mathews/9001/9058">Angelo Mathews</a> - whose 92* (101b, 10x4, 1x6) added some solidity to the total - would have been kicking himself for not capitalizing on what looked like a good toss to win. 
 India's run chase wasn't perfect in any way after Ajinkya Rahane was removed by Dhammika Prasad in the seventh over for 8, caught brilliantly by <keyword id="23015" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mahela-Jayawardene">Mahela Jayawardene</keyword> at slip on rebound after wicketkeeper <keyword id="22772" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kumar-Sangakkara">Kumar Sangakkara</keyword> had spilled a regulation chance. To their credit, Sri Lanka's pacers began well and Lahiru Gamage could have had Dhawan for 10 in the eighth over when the umpire turned down a frantic appeal for caught behind. 
 
Promoted to No. 3, Rayudu, along with <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/shikhar-dhawan/4001/28004">Shikhar Dhawan</a> consolidated for long periods before laying into the change bowlers, and Dhawan took the lead after reaching his seventh ODI half-century. As Dhawan accelerated by taking 16 off a Thisara Perera over, Rayudu continued to play the accumulator, and wasn't until the left-hander holed out to deep square leg off Seekkuge Prasanna for 79 (80b, 7x4, 1x6) did Rayudu decide to step it up. 
 Rayudu was particularly impressive against Sri Lanka's spinners, nimble on his feet as he took boundaries and sixes off them with ease, and exercised restraint when the bowlers were on top. After adding 122 with Dhawan, Rayudu combined with <keyword id="6354486" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Virat-Kohli">Virat Kohli</keyword> to add 116 more as the asking rate dropped significantly. Kohli (49, 44b, 2x4, 2x6) and <keyword id="14587" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Suresh-Raina">Suresh Raina</keyword> (14, 6b, 1x4, 1x6) fell in quick succession to Prasanna (3/53) towards the end, but Rayudu ensured India closed the chase without much drama. 
 
Mathews' innings in the afternoon had turned out to be pivotal, as with Kumar Sangakkara (61, 86b, 4x4) they added 90 vital runs that revived Sri Lanka's innings after being reduced to 64 for 3 in the 14th over. But unlike India who had decided to take their batting Powerplay early at Cuttack, Mathews and Sangakkara held back and only chose to go for it in the 32nd over, and lost three wickets during that period, losing Sangakkara, Prasanna and Ashan Priyanjan while adding just 30. 
 Umesh Yadav, who had begun with the wicket of Kusal Perera in the very first over of the innings, returned to break the threatening stand when Sangakkara smacked a full toss straight to Dhawan's at long on, while Akshar Patel delivered another impressive spell of 2/39 in front of cheering home fans. <keyword id="6359948" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ravindra-Jadeja">Ravindra Jadeja</keyword>, who was included in place of the injured <keyword id="6370607" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Varun-Aaron">Varun Aaron</keyword>, went for plenty (1/64) but R Ashwin (2/49) and Patel ensured the wickets continued to tumble. 
 Yadav and <keyword id="11685" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ishant-Sharma">Ishant Sharma</keyword> bowled a tidy opening spell and kept things tight until Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sangakkara stuck up a breezy partnership, and Dilshan somewhat broke the shackles by belting four consecutive boundaries in Ashwin's first over. But Patel struck with the second ball of his spell when he bowled Dilshan in the next over, and Mahela Jayawardene could only muster 4 before scooping one straight to midwicket off Ashwin. Sri Lanka's stuttering innings was revived by Mathews and Dhammika Prasad (30*, 28b, 4x4) towards the end, as the pair put on 54 for the ninth wicket and played out their full quota of overs.

Ambati Rayudu's Maiden Ton Takes India 2-0 Up

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

There are some cricket grounds where batsmen amass runs in their sleep. The records which they have established at a particular venue make them memorable. Gocricket.com takes a look at batsmen who have scored plenty of runs at a particular venue. 
 
1. Mahela Jayawardene at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) (Tests: 26, Runs 2838*, Average: 79.97, Centuries 11, Fifties 8) 
 
One look at the numbers that <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mahela-jayawardene/9001/9003">Jayawardene </a>has amassed at the SSC is eye-popping. 11 centuries at this venue is a world record. He has scored 2799 runs, which is the most by any batsman at a venue. The consistency of Jayawardene at the SSC is legendary. His first major knock was 242 against India in 1999 which gave <keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> victory. At one point, from 2006 to 2008, Jayawardene scored four consecutive centuries at this venue. However, his knock of 374 and his partnership of 624 with Kumar Sangakkara against <keyword id="6355117" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="South-Africa">South Africa</keyword> will be remembered for its sheer enormity of the numbers. It is only a matter of time before the SSC stadium is renamed as the Mahela Jayawardene Recreation Park. 
 
2. <keyword id="61954" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Jacques-Kallis">Jacques Kallis</keyword> at Newlands, <keyword id="33769" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="cape-town">Cape Town</keyword> (Tests 22, Runs 2181, Average 72.7, Centuries 9, Fifties 9) 
 
Without a shadow of doubt, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/jacques-kallis/8001/8004">Kallis </a>is the Lord of Newlands. He has smashed nine centuries at a venue which has traditionally favoured bowlers. Some of his exploits at this venue are legendary. He smashed 161 and 109* against India to help South Africa avoid defeat. The most astonishing part was that he did it on one leg. His knocks against England and Australia set up victory for the team. Newlands is associated with the picturesque Table Mountains but it will also be associated with Kallis' knocks. 
 
3. Sir <keyword id="80481" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Donald-Bradman">Donald Bradman</keyword> at the <keyword id="9385" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Melbourne">Melbourne</keyword> Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne (Tests 11, Runs 1671, Average 128.53, Centuries 9, Fifties 3) 
 
Bradman's monstrous appetite for runs was evident in the way he played at the MCG. In 11 matches, he scored nine tons and went without a century only once in his whole career at the MCG. His lowest century score is an unbeaten 103 but it came in the infamous Bodyline series of 1932/33. He was dismissed for 0 in the first innings but slammed 103 in the second to help Australia level the series in what was a bitter series. His next greatest moment came in 1937 when, on a damp sticky dog of a wicket, he reversed the batting order and scored 270 batting in the No. 7 position. He shared a 346-run stand with Jack Fingleton to help Australia win the match by 365 runs. This performance helped Australia come back from 0-2 down to win the five-match series 3-2. This is the only time so far that this feat has been achieved. 
 
4. Kumar Sangakkara at the SSC (Tests 21, Runs 2159, Average 77.1, Centuries 8, Fifties 5) 
 
Jaywardene's record is unbelievable at the SSC but <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kumar-sangakkara/9001/9011">Sangakkara's </a>record is no flash in the pan. Out of his eight centuries at the SSC, he has scored three double centuries. His first major knock was 232 against South Africa in 2004 and South Africa never managed to get past his individual score in both innings. His 287 against the same opponents in 2006 was memorable for the 624-run stand with Jayawardene. The SSC has indeed been a happy hunting ground for these two best friends. 
 
5. Michael Clarke at Adelaide (Tests 9, Runs 1279, Average 98.38, Centuries 6, Fifties 3) 
 
<a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/michael-clarke/1001/1027">Clarke</a>, in a way, has been Bradmanesque at Adelaide. He has scored three consecutive centuries twice at this venue. His first purple patch came in 2006 and 2008 when his 124 helped Australia achieve a remarkable come from behind win against England. In his next two matches against India and <keyword id="22501" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="New-Zealand">New Zealand</keyword>, his centuries gave Australia a platform from where they could push for victory. In his next patch, he scored two consecutive double centuries against India and South Africa as he made the venue his own. His average of 98.38 is second only to Bradman when it comes to his performances at this venue. 
 
*The number of runs is updated at the end of day one of the second Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa at the SSC. The order is according to the most number of centuries. 
 
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Lords Of A Cricketing Venue

Leeds: Sri Lanka batsman <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mahela-jayawardene/9001/9003">Mahela Jayawardene</a> said England failed to handle the pressure on the fourth day of the second and final test on Monday and questioned the way home captain Alastair Cook had handled recent criticism. 
 
England, chasing 350 to win, were staring defeat in the face at the close of play on 57 for five after <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/dhammika-prasad/9001/9056">Dhammika Prasad</a> grabbed four wickets during a fiery spell of fast bowling. 
 
Earlier, a test-best 160 from skipper <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/angelo-mathews/9001/9058">Angelo Mathews</a> helped Sri Lanka amass a second-innings total of 457 after starting the day in a tricky position on 212 for four. 
 
"We've seen that under pressure they (England) are not quite up to it," said Jayawardene after having chipped in with a typically cultured knock of 79. "They were quite chirpy but they quietened down after the first hour. We know who's on top and who's not," he told reporters at Headingley. 
 
Cook, on the receiving end of a 5-0 Ashes whitewash at the beginning of the year, has been criticised by former Australia great Shane Warne who branded the captain as "boring" and "unimaginative". 
 
The out-of-form opening batsman made only 16 on Monday and is now without a test hundred for 24 innings. Former Sri Lanka skipper Jayawardene questioned the way Cook had responded to the recent criticism from Warne who is a regular pundit on Sky Sports television. "I feel for Alastair but it doesn't help arguing with commentators," he said. "That is something you can't control. 
 
"You just need to control the things you can control out there and that is perform and carry your team through. I'm a great believer in forgetting things you can't control." 
 
Jayawardene heaped praise on Mathews' knock and said, "Angelo batted really well in that situation, safeguarding the tail and taking the opportunity to go for those big shots when the field was in. He didn’t have to take too many risks when the field was back, but whenever he needed to take a risk, he did. In that context, that showed that they were on the back foot and we just needed to drive that advantage we had forward." 
 
However, Ian Bell, the England vice-captain and playing in his 100th Test backed Cook and said that the team will back the England skipper despite staring at a potential series defeat. Speaking in The Telegraph, Bell said that the tactics that England adopted during Mathews' knock of 160 was wrong. "If you want to stop somebody like that scoring runs you get them out don’t you, you don’t try and stop them from scoring runs," he said.

England cannot handle pressure: Jayawardene

TRP-hungry TV shows, masala news debates, scripted reality shows step aside – it’s time for a cocktail of all three. Yes, IPL is back and the cricketing world is abuzz with festive cheer. So, as we join these celebrations and gear up to cheer for our favourite teams in the following days, let’s have a look at the good, the bad and the ugly of IPL. 
 
THE GOOD 
As the eighty eight warriors from eight teams get set go, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with its amazing win-loss ratio seems to be a hot favourite. CSK’s bright track record evolves from its achievement in making it to the final four in previous seven IPL tournaments. Having won two IPL titles, it has played four finals till date. Of 115 matches played in IPL, CSK has won 69 and lost only 44; thereby, attaining the best win-loss ratio of 1.57. 
 
THE BAD While they were there in first and the last IPL played, Kings XI Punjab, the Ness Wadia co-owned team has failed to qualify for the final four in 5 IPL tournaments. With a Win-Loss Ratio of 1.10, it has found a companion in <keyword id="13802" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Rajasthan-Royals">Rajasthan Royals</keyword> in terms of not-up-to-the-mark performance. Rajasthan Royals has won 54 out of 104 matches. However, the only consolation for Rajasthan Royals over its comparison to the bhangra brigade is its victory in the first IPL edition. 
 
THE UGLY Though Delhi Daredevil has made it to the Final Four <keyword id="108404" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="thrice">thrice</keyword>, yet its performance had been the poorest. Having lost 59 matches out of 105, it has the lowest win-loss ratio of 0.75. Now with <keyword id="351" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Yuvraj-Singh">Yuvraj Singh</keyword> in their court, Delhi finally aspires to hit a home run, something that IPL followers are also looking forward to this season. 
 
KNOCK(OUT) STAR With power and panache being their sole mantra, <keyword id="6354925" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kolkata">Kolkata</keyword> Knight Riders have always been the IPL queen bee. Having raised the trophy twice in 7 seasons, KKR is known for its knockout skills. The achievement is based on KKR’s 77% victory in the final-four stage. 
 
<keyword id="161142" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Best-Buy">BEST BUY</keyword> Ever since the IPL was conceptualized, player auction has become the norm. Though auction rates vary from time to time, this year’s IPL auction has found in Yuvraj Singh an extravagance. Having bought by <keyword id="13845" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Delhi-Dare-Devils">Delhi Dare Devils</keyword> for Rs 16 crores, ex Royal Challenger Bangalore, Yuvi has recently made headlines for his venturing to support young entrepreneurs. 
 The 3 best buys in the IPL this season are: Yuvraj Singh (Delhi Dare Devils) for Rs 16 crore, Dinesh Karthik( <keyword id="12643" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Royal-Challengers">Royal Challengers</keyword> Bangalore) for Rs 10.5 crore, and <keyword id="125980" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Angelo-Matthews">Angelo Matthews</keyword> (Delhi Dare Devils) for Rs 7.5 crore. 
 The lowest bargains this year are: Hanuma Vihari of <keyword id="1494441" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sunrisers-Hyderabad">Sunrisers Hyderabad</keyword>, Sumit Narwal of Kolkata Knight Riders, Akshay Wakhare of <keyword id="13880" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mumbai-Indians">Mumbai Indians</keyword>, Shishir Bhavenane of Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Brainder Sran of Rajasthan Royals. All of these players have been sold for Rs 10 lakh in the IPL auction that happened this February. 
 However, it’s definitely surprising that acclaimed players like <keyword id="22772" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kumar-Sangakkara">Kumar Sangakkara</keyword>, <keyword id="23015" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mahela-Jayawardene">Mahela Jayawardene</keyword>, <keyword id="70374" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tillakaratne-Dilshan">Tillakaratne Dilshan</keyword> and Shadab Jakati found no takers in the latest season of IPL. 
 
 
 
 
(Statistics courtesy : Wikipedia) 
 (Image: <keyword id="-101" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="India-Times">India Times</keyword>)

The good, the bad and the ugly of the IPL

At the end of player auction ahead of the inaugural season of the <keyword id="5282220" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Womens-Premier-League" source="Orion">Women's Premier League</keyword>, <keyword id="13880" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mumbai-indians" source="Orion">Mumbai Indians</keyword> owner Nita M Ambani hailed the auction as "a very special day for women's cricket". "Auctions are always exciting but today was really special. It was the first auction (for WPL), so today was really a historic day. More than all the names and figures today, it was overwhelming to see everyone cheering and celebrating the wonderful talent of women cricketers," she said. <keyword id="7024" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nita-ambani" source="Orion">Nita Ambani</keyword> was joined by Akash Ambani at the auction alongside Mahela Jayawardene, Global Head of Performance, MI, and the newly-formed coaching team for the women's team - <keyword id="114076" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Charlotte-Edwards" source="Orion">Charlotte Edwards</keyword> (Head Coach), <keyword id="68865" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jhulan-Goswami" source="Orion">Jhulan Goswami</keyword> (Team Mentor and Bowling Coach) and <keyword id="4962444" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Devieka-Palshikaar" source="Orion">Devieka Palshikaar</keyword> (Batting Coach). Given her passion for sports and commitment on encouraging more women and girls to play sports, Nita Ambani was happy with the player selections and securing the India captain very early. "As a team, we are very happy with the way the auction panned out. We are very happy to get the Indian captain at Mumbai Indians, where we already have the men's captain. We are also very excited to see Nat (Sciver-Brunt) in the team, Pooja (Vastrakar) and all the talented women who are joining the MI family." The upcoming edition of the IPL will also mark the tenth anniversary of Rohit Sharma taking charge of the franchise and Nita Ambani was extremely enthused about the prospect of having both the Indian captains turn out for the MI family. "I have seen Rohit (Sharma) grow from a player to captain at Mumbai Indians and this year, we complete 10 years of Rohit as a captain for Mumbai Indians. We are now welcoming Harman (Harmanpreet Kaur) to the MI family." She also drew parallels between two of the most successful captains in the history of T20Is. "Both of them come with great experience, professionalism and a winning mentality. They are a huge inspiration to all our youngsters. So, we are really excited to have both these players." She further hailed the achievements of both the U19 as well as the senior Women in Blue. "Our U19 women's cricket team won the World Cup and that has brought so much joy to the nation. My congratulations to them. Our (senior) women's team, too, did so well in their opening match at the T20 World Cup." The first Indian woman to be a part of the International Olympic Committee, Nita Ambani said that the WPL could be a potential turning point for the sporting landscape for women in India. "In India, sports for women is at a turning point. All our young girls are doing so well and I feel so proud just looking at them." Reliance Foundation has been a big supporter of sportswomen over the years and Mrs Ambani said that the support to them make her immensely proud. "More power to these young girls. It is a matter of great pride that we are able to support and promote women in sports and in cricket, not only in India, but internationally." SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/adani-enterprises-posts-820-crore-net-profit-in-q3-gautam-adani-says-current-market-volatility-temporary/articleshow/97914997.cms">Adani Enterprises posts ₹820 crore net profit in Q3: Gautam Adani says current market volatility temporary</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-heres-what-the-big-boys-bought-between-october-and-december/articleshow/97912443.cms">Top stocks: Here’s what the Big Boys bought between October and December</a>

Very special day for women's cricket says Nita Ambani after WPL auction

Cuttack: India's poor showing with the white ball, especially in the death overs has been troubling the team as recently as the abandoned series against the West Indies, but their fast bowlers gave a favourable account of themselves during a comprehensive 169-run win over <keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> in their first game of the series on Sunday. While the batsmen continued to dominate the performances with <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/shikhar-dhawan/4001/28004">Shikhar Dhawan</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ajinkya-madhukar-rahane/4001/32045">Ajinkya Rahane</a> hitting fluent centuries, it was the pace bowling triumvirate of <keyword id="149050" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Umesh-Yadav">Umesh Yadav</keyword>, <keyword id="6370607" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Varun-Aaron">Varun Aaron</keyword> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ishant-sharma/4001/4094">Ishant Sharma</a> that impressed under lights and heavy dew at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. 
 
An early start to day/night fixtures on account of the dew prompted Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews to put the hosts in to bat, but an extremely good batting surface, coupled by rapid centuries from Rahane ​(111, 108b, 13x4, 2x6) and Dhawan ​(113, 107b, 14x4, 3x6) took out any advantage the chasing side may have had. The Indian openers added 231 runs in 35 overs, and despite their quick dismissals soon after, the middle order powered them to 363 for 5 in the first game of the five-match contest. 
 
In reply Sri Lanka were bowled out for 194 inside 40 overs, with Ishant picking up 4 for 34 - his best bowling figures in ODI cricket - to highlight an eye-catching performance from the Indian seamers, even though India would be sweating over the status of Aaron, who had hobbled off the field while bowling his fifth over with a thigh strain. While India impressed, Sri Lanka were left to rue their poor bowling performance and the batsmen's inability to put pressure on India's bowlers instead, with only <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/denagamage-proboth-mahela-de-silva-jayawardene/9001/9003">Mahela Jayawardene</a> (43, 36b, 6x4, 1x6) looking comfortable in the middle until hitting straight into Virat Kohli's hands off Akshar Patel. 
 The Sri Lankan batsmen would have expected some freebies especially early on with the new ball, but Yadav and Aaron began probingly, repeatedly beating the outside edges of both <keyword id="352871" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Upul-Tharanga">Upul Tharanga</keyword> and Tillakaratne Dilshan. India's pace bowling duo cranked up the pace from the start and the Sri Lankan openers struggled to time the ball. Dilshan fell to Yadav caught behind for 18 in the ninth over and Sri Lanka had failed to get a move on. <keyword id="22772" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kumar-Sangakkara">Kumar Sangakkara</keyword>'s wicket for 13 made matters worse, and the trend of regular wickets continued right until the last wicket. 
 Dhammika Prasad and debutant Lahiru Gamage, opening the bowling in the absence of the injured <keyword id="64162" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lasith-Malinga">Lasith Malinga</keyword> and Nuwan Kulasekara - not picked for this game - had earlier kept the Indian openers quiet as Gamage even slipped in a maiden over, but Rahane and Dhawan hit their groove soon after. They were also helped by two rare tough chances put down by Kumar Sangakkara, but aside from that they were seldom troubled on a batting paradise. 
 
Run-fests are common in limited overs contests played in India, but what was encouraging in terms of Virat Kohli's captaincy was India's decision to take the batting Powerplay early, allowing the openers to step up the scoring rate between overs 23 and 28. Dhawan and Rahane took 62 runs in those five overs as they capitalized on the fielding restrictions, as opposed to the usual ploy to take the Powerplay towards the latter stages of the game. 
 Suraj Randiv (3/78) and Ashan Priyanjan managed to pull the hosts back by sending back Rahane and Dhawan respectively, but the damage had already been done. <keyword id="14587" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Suresh-Raina">Suresh Raina</keyword>, playing his 200th one-day international, also completed 5000 ODI runs while scoring a brisk 34-ball 52, before being trapped leg before by Randiv. Quick wickets towards the end didn't allow India to reach that 400-run mark, but Kohli (22), Ambati Rayudu (27) and Akshar Patel (14*) ensured they weren't too far behind. 
 
Brief scores: India 363/7 in 50 overs (Dhawan 113, Rahane 111; Randiv 3/78) beat Sri Lanka 194 in 39.2 overs (Jayawardene 43; Ishant 4/34, Yadav 2/24, Akshar 2/24) by 169 runs

Ishant, Openers Power India To 169-Run Win

New Delhi: While all the early spotlight of Kings XI Punjab's success story in <keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword> 7 was hogged duly by the batsmen, Glenn Maxwell in particular, the bowlers too have come to the party for the Mohali-based franchise. KXIP heads home after an eventful UAE leg during which they were unbeaten, winning all five matches, and it is not just because of the big-hitting Maxwell, but a major contribution to the streak has been provided by the 20-year-old medium pacer Sandeep Sharma. 
 
With two back-to-back Man-of-the-Match awards, the Punjab pacer is very quickly becoming one of the vital cogs of this KXIP team, and this after not being picked for the first two games. Delhi medium-pacer Parvinder Awana was the original choice, but after he leaked75 runs in seven overs from the first two games, Sandeep got his chance and he seized the opportunity with both hands. 
 
He followed up his match winning 4-1-21-3 against Kolkata Knight Riders two nights ago with an even better figures of 3-1-15-3 against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Dubai on Monday. A swing bowler by trade, Sandeep is not the typical tall and strapping fast bowler one would associate with Punjab, but the hunger for doing well and the confidence is exudes is definitely very Punjabi. 
 
Against KKR, Sandeep got the better of a struggling Gautam Gambhir and an in-form Manish Pandey with his swing. While Pandey got a sharp indipper off a good length area, Gambhir could not cover for the away swing hitting the length ball straight to mid-off. On Monday too, against the marauding Chris Gayle, the 20-year-old did not shy away from bowling the ball up and he reaped the rewards when the ball swung away from the bat of the big West Indian and crashed on to the stumps. 
 
Kohli too was undone in a similar fashion to Pandey with the RCB skipper not able to connect to a sharp inswinger. Sandeep knows his strengths and to get his captain's full support has been the secret of Sandeep's success. "I can swing the ball very well. I know that and Bailey [George] is showing full faith in me," Sandeep had said after the KKR match and during the post-match presentation after RCB game too, Sandeep has nothing new to say only adding that he can swing the ball both ways. 
 
A mid 130-135 kmph bowler, Sandeep is not express pace and he has always stressed on the fact that he will not comprise on his swing in order to up his pace. He said this after the India Under-23 team lifted the Asia Cup in 2013. Sandeep was part of the India squad taking seven wickets from four matches. 
 
Sandeep was also part of two India under-19 World Cup squads - 2010 and victorious 2012. While in 2010, the very young 16-year-old Sandeep failed to make an impression, in 2012, under the leadership of Unmukt Chand, he charted a path of his own taking 4 for 54 in the final against Australia and ended the tournament with 12 scalps. 
 
Punjab Ranji call-up beckoned and amongst the established names like Siddharth Kaul and Manpreet Gony the talented Sharma was at his best. With 39 and 41 wickets respectively in the previous two Ranji seasons there is not doubt in the 20-year-old calibre and now with stellar performances against the world's best in the grand IPL stage, the medium-pacer has surely caught everyone's eyes. 
 
During his debut IPL season in 2013 with KXIP, Sandeep played just four games and returned with eights wickets including the likes of Kieron Pollard, Mahela Jayawardene, David Warner and Cameron White. This year, he has done even better and has helped his team win matches. While the credit for the first three victories of KXIP goes to the big-hitting Maxwell, Sharma has stepped up to the plate when the batting failed and with the IPL 7 returning to familiar territories, Sandeep will be all set and raring to show what he is made of at home.

IPL: Sandeep Sharma On The
Fast Lane To Recognition

India's fourth bilateral ODI series win at home by a 5-0 margin should be seen through the lens of the team's defence of the ICC World Cup next year, in specific the roles given to players either just finding their feet in international cricket or returning from injury or filling in for first-choice names. 
 
Make no mistake - Sri Lanka were very poor in the series, their bowlers in particular lining up as fodder for India's batsmen on mostly docile surfaces, and their batsmen, barring <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/angelo-mathews/9001/9058">Angelo Mathews</a> and to a lesser extent <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mahela-jayawardene/9001/9003">Mahela Jayawardene</a>, massively under-performing. But in a World Cup season it is encouraging to see an experimental Indian side finish the job they started without losing much intensity. 
 
Through the series, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/virat-kohli/4001/25007">Virat Kohli</a> spoke of taking each game of this series as a stepping stone towards the 2015 ICC World Cup, particularly in testing out players in different roles to give them the confidence that they are wholly supported with an eye on next year’s big prize. He spoke of the team taking each match as a knock-out, and of learning to be "ruthless" to close out matches. 
 
Sample the margins of victory: by 169 runs, six wickets with 33 balls remaining, six wickets with 35 balls remaining, 153 runs and three wickets with eight balls on Sunday in Ranchi. Four big wins, fashioned by performances from individuals and collectively against a side that looked disgruntled from the time it departed from Colombo following West Indies' abrupt pull-out. The one match in which the batting didn’t click as a unit, Kohli stepped up with one of his finest centuries in a chase. Where his team-mates failed to be ruthless, Kohli was. 
 
The 26-year-old, leading India in MS Dhoni's absence, did his job well. The decision to take the batting Powerplay in the 24th over during the first ODI proved decisive, for it was in that five-over period that his team took the match away from Sri Lanka. He backed <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/akshar-patel/4001/31051">Akshar Patel</a> to bowl during the mandatory and batting Powerplays and this was a huge factor in the series win, and backed his rookie spinner with the right fields. Kohli also ensured <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ambati-rayudu/4001/31025">Ambati Rayudu</a> a spot at the World Cup by sending him in at No 3 in Ahmedabad, where the 29-year-old scored his maiden ODI century. 
 
Apart from his dynamic captaincy, Kohli also had a solid series with the bat, scoring 277 runs at an average of 69.25 with two fifties and a superb century to almost single-handedly chase 287 in the final game. Kohli's emphatic celebrations at hitting the winning six, with eight balls and three wickets left in Ranchi, and then as he acknowledged the crowd after picking up a stump, were stirring. Such form will, at the very least, send him to Australia with some confidence. 
 
India’s other main batsmen all scored runs, too. <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/shikhar-dhawan/4001/28004">Shikhar Dhawan</a> reeled off 283 in three innings before he was rested. Rayudu's four innings at No 3 produced 223 runs while <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/rohit-sharma/4001/4095">Rohit Sharma</a>'s roaring comeback from injury with an astonishing 264 off 173 balls should earn him first dibs as opener alongside Dhawan in the World Cup ahead of <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ajinkya-rahane/4001/32045">Ajinkya Rahane</a>, who after stroking 111 in the series opener trailed off with scores of 8, 31, 28 and 2. The two wicketkeeper-batsmen tested in the series, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/wriddhiman-saha/4001/30016">Wriddhiman Saha</a> for three ODIs and <keyword id="6405247" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Robin-Uthappa">Robin Uthappa</keyword> for the last two, did not make strong statements to tilt the selectors’ votes either way for the World Cup. 
 
There were personal bests for a few players, of which five look certain for the World Cup. <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ishant-sharma/4001/4094">Ishant Sharma</a> beat his previous best returns with 4/34 in Cuttack; Rayudu scored his first ODI century in the second ODI; Akshar (3/40) and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/umesh-yadav/4001/28013">Umesh Yadav</a> (4/53) achieved career-best bowling performances in Hyderabad; and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/dhawal-kulkarni/4001/31006">Dhawal Kulkarni</a> smoothed over a shoddy outing in that match by taking 4/34 in the Kolkata drubbing. Rohit marked his first ODI in three months by scoring the highest individual innings in ODI history at Eden Gardens. 
 Rohit's freak innings aside, the big gains were the bowling of Akshar and the fact that Umesh, on the comeback from an injury break, did not break down or pick up a niggle. The rise of 20-year-old allrounder Akshar has been the story of the series. His left-arm spin accounted for 11 wickets in five matches, at an <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> rate of 4.61, and it was his bowling in the batting Powerplay all series that was instrumental in India’s 5-0 result. Akshar was unfortunate not be named Man of the Match in Hyderabad, where his 3/11 during the batting Powerplay sealed the series for India. 
 
Akshar controls the percentage shots and that ability resulted in some big wickets, and the manner in which he lands the ball outside off stump to bring out loose shots is a trait that could be very handy in Australia. Twenty20 cricket has forced spinners to experiment and Akshar is one of the best examples of how this can have a positive spin - no pun intended - because he varies his flight and pace without compromising too much on his length. He conceded over 40 just twice - at Eden Gardens where he conceded 51 in 43 balls and in Ranchi, where in the 48th of Sri Lanka's innings, Angelo Mathews swatted three sixes to give Akshar figures of 2/45 from his quota. His only two innings, at either ends of the series, were contrasting efforts that showed the value Akshar brings down the order: a four-ball 14 to get the total past 350 and 17 off 14 balls in match-clinching stand of 57 in 5.2 overs with Kohli. 
 
Akshar made rapid strides in the series, and the fact that <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/ravindra-jadeja/4001/32004">Ravindra Jadeja</a> was benched for the Cuttack and Hyderabad ODIs and bowled well after Akshar in Hyderabad is testament to Kohli's line of thought that fringe players need to feel that they belong. 
 
Umesh was quick and lively in each outing and consistently delivered breakthroughs in his first spell in all four games he played - three times in the first over of Sri Lanka’s innings, getting <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/kusal-perera/9001/52007">Kusal Perera</a> each time. He took at least two wickets in each match and finished with ten wickets at an economy of 5.07, and though he still has to work on conceding wides in the death overs, that Umesh hustled and troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen all throughout was encouraging. Considering Ishant injured himself in his return series, having Umesh fit and feisty is crucial to India in Australia. 
 
Ishant did not feature in the series after leaving the field following his four overs in Hyderabad, adding to the injury list that comprises <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/varun-aaron/4001/30019">Varun Aaron</a>, <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mohammed-shami/4001/30030">Mohammed Shami</a> and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/mohit-sharma/4001/26024">Mohit Sharma</a>. These are the frontline bowlers India will hope to have available for the World Cup, along with the rested <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/bhuvneshwar-kumar/4001/25023">Bhuvneshwar Kumar</a>. 
 
Injuries to Ishant and Aaron - themselves called up in the absence of the injured Shami and Mohit - opened up chances for Kulkarni and <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/stuart-binny/4001/31034">Stuart Binny</a> and both were decent without being threatening. Kulkarni does not have the pace to consistently worry batsmen and appears to be easily rattled, while Binny's medium pace does not look like getting him a berth in the World Cup squad considering that pace is a must in Australia and New Zealand. The only player blooded in the series who did not do anything was legspinner <a href="http://www.gocricket.com/player/karn-sharma/4001/27046">Karn Sharma</a>, who is part of the Test squad to play in Australia. 
 
All in all, a good workout for an experimental Indian side in these five ODIs but how much these matches actually matter will only be judged if these players step up in Australia.

Kohli's Well-Oiled India Achieve Series Goals

<keyword id="6355572" type="COUNTRY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sri-Lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> have been meticulously planning for the 2015 ICC World Cup. For Sri Lankans the focus on the World Cup started with the Asia Cup tournament in Bangladesh in February. That was exactly with one year to go for the tournament. 
 
The Sri Lankans won that competition comfortably with an unbeaten record. But their main focus was to win series away from home before the challenge in Australia and New Zealand. Hence, the five-match series against England was high on the agenda. 
 
That Sri Lanka overcame this challenge with a hard fought 3-2 win in tough conditions is indication that they are moving in the right direction. They were the losing the finalists in the last two World Cups in the West Indies (2007) and subcontinent (2011) and they want to go all the way in 2015. 
 Prior to the 2015 World Cup, there will be two short home series against <keyword id="6355117" type="COUNTRY" weightage="40" keywordseo="South-Africa">South Africa</keyword> and Pakistan, two strong outfits and then a lengthy seven-match series against New Zealand away from home just before the World Cup. These games, especially the lengthy tour of New Zealand, should get the team well prepared for a grand show in the World Cup. 
 
They will savour the ODI series win in England for many reasons. One of the things that the selectors and the team management focused on was allowing younger players in the team to take more responsibility. They will be glad that vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne kept his cool in the series deciding final game in Birmingham to post an unbeaten half-century during a tense run chase. Thirimanne was named Man of the Match 
 Ashan Priyanjana was another player who was tried out during the series and his 43 off 33 balls with two fours and two sixes in the second game in Durham was another highlight from a <keyword id="197090" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="young-player">young player</keyword>. Fielding was another discipline that Sri Lankans were putting a conscious effort to improve on and although this tour hasn't stood out for excellence on the field, there are signs that the team is gradually getting there. The ambition for Angelo Mathews' side is to be the best fielding unit during the World Cup above New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. 
 The senior players – <keyword id="22772" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kumar-Sangakkara">Kumar Sangakkara</keyword>, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakeratne Dilshan - all played crucial roles during the series and Sangakkara's brilliant century at Lord's in the fourth ODI, his first hundred at the Home of Cricket was the standout. 
 
The series win is doubly special as the senior players were angered by the defection of Head Coach Paul Farbrace to England's ranks, a mere two weeks before the tour. There were concerns that England had the edge with Farbrace possessing a sound knowledge of Sri Lanka's strong points and weak links. The players, particularly, the seniors were pumped up to prove that Farbrace defection wasn't a major blow. 
 
The icing on the cake was the series win resulting in Sri Lanka moving up to No 2 in the official ICC Rankings just below Australia. 
 
The idea is to knock Australia out and take the number one spot before long, but for the home series against South Africa and Pakistan they will carry on a few more experiments in order to get the combination right for the World Cup. The proof for their meticulous planning is in their ODI record as this year of the 14 ODIs they have played, Sri Lanka have won 12. With so much planning going in ahead of the World Cup, there's no reason why they should not do well in Australia and New Zealand in eight months time. 
 Everything is not perfect though. The two defeats the tourists suffered at The Oval and <keyword id="2023" type="PERSON" weightage="40" keywordseo="Old-Trafford">Old Trafford</keyword> saw humiliating batting collapses. In the first ODI at The Oval they were shot out for 144 as the top order failed to negotiate the moving ball well. At Old Trafford they hit a new low getting bowled out for 67 runs, their lowest against England and third lowest overall. The Sri Lankans definitely need to tighten their games when conditions aren't to their linking as it was in the case at The Oval and Old Trafford when the seam bowlers got plenty of assistance. 
 
A huge drawback was offspinner Sachithra Senanayake, who was their highest wicket-taker during the series getting reported for a suspect bowling action. Senanayake's action now will come under the microscope and his reporting has upset Sri Lanka's planning somewhat. They weren't too pleased when the bowler was reported after they had squared the series and just before the deciding ODI. 
 
It was a massive disappointment to see allrounder Thisara Perera being discarded after the first game at The Oval. The move was initiated in order to get the balance right. But Perera is not the kind of player Sri Lanka should be discarding to get the balance right. His name should be one of the first picks after the five names that are certain to play – Mathews, Malinga, Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Dilshan. 
 Mind you Perera was Man of the Match in the one off T20 international where his monstrous hitting powered the tourists to 183 runs. Perera smashed 49 off 20 deliveries with seven fours and two sixes before accounting to England <keyword id="16561" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="skipper">skipper</keyword> Eoin Morgan. Perera truly is a match-winner. 
 
For some reason, the selectors believe that Perera is better suited for T20 cricket. But the selectors having indicated that they are desperately looking at fast bowling allrounders for the 2015 campaign, there's no way they can discard Thisara Perera. 
 
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