Delhi canter to top of the table

Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL, Durban

Bulletin by Shwe Wai

Delhi Daredevils 157 for 1 (Gambhir 71*, Dilshan 42*) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 154 for 3 (van Wyk 74, Sangwan 2-29) by nine wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Kolkat Knight Riders' woefulness in the field made Delhi Daredevils' ascent to the top easier

It's getting hard to keep track of who's on top of the IPL table. For the third day in a row, there was a new leader, now with the Delhi Daredevils occupying first place after strolling past a luckless Kolkata Knight Riders in Durban. To make victory even sweeter, one of their key batsmen, Gautam Gambhir, was back among the runs after an indifferent start to the tournament.

After Morne van Wyk made the most of his chance at the top of the order to push Kolkata towards a middling total, they fielded like millionaires, granting the Delhi batsmen innumerable chances to simplify the chase.

Gambhir, in particular, was virtually coaxed back to form. He was grassed a couple of times, that too by two of the better fielders in the side, on 22 by Brendon McCullum and on 65 by Moises Henriques, a run-out opportunity was wasted on 35, and he was given plenty of free runs as well. Even the umpire gave him a let-off by not picking a nick to the wicketkeeper when on 45.

An early exchange with Ishant Sharma showed how Delhi were helped along to victory. The first over had Ishant exchanging wry grins with his Ranji team-mate Gambhir after tying him down to an outside-edged four. The smiles were gone after some woeful fielding in his next over: Ashok Dinda made a mess at fine-leg, Sourav Ganguly gave away a couple of extra runs after a less-than-athletic effort at mid-off the next ball, and another Dinda fumble allowed the batsmen to return for two. Ishant lost his cool, and his line in the next delivery, presenting Gambhir a leg-side gift, which was glanced for four. Seventeen came off the over, and Delhi proved hard to rein in after that.

David Warner again showed his ability to clear the boundary, a Hayden-esque down-the-pitch pull off Dinda was the stand-out stroke in his blazing cameo. A couple of lofted drives for four off consecutive deliveries emphasised his ominous form but Ajit Agarkar beat Warner for pace two balls later, and had him holing out to Moises Henriques.

van Wyk fifty props up Kolkata to 154

Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL, Durban

Shwe Wai

20 overs Kolkata Knight Riders 154 for 3 (van Wyk 74, Sangwan 2-29) against Delhi Daredevils
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Brendon McCullum showed glimpses of a return to form, but couldn't carry on to a big score

Morne van Wyk tried to make the most of his chance at the top of the order, but was starved of the strike for much of the innings and despite his assured half-century, Kolkata Knight Riders only managed a middling total. They looked poised for lot more when they were 98 for 2 after 13 overs, but they just couldn't get into fifth gear towards the end, though there were plenty of wickets in hand.

Kolkata's troubles at the top seemed set to continue when Brendon McCullum struggled to get bat on ball in the first over from Dirk Nannes. But in the first delivery of the third over, McCullum's patented bolt-down-the-track scythe finally connected and sent the ball rocketing over extra cover. A controlled on-drive for four followed next delivery, and a swat sailed past the midwicket boundary three balls later to fetch 21 runs off the over.

van Wyk was in good touch at the other end, picking a couple of boundaries off legspinner Amit Mishra's first over. By the time McCullum clobbered Pradeep Sangwan over midwicket for a flat six, Kolkata were 48 for 0 after five overs, and the two batsmen were sharing a joke in the middle, not a common sight in Kolkata's campaign so far.

It was Sangwan who was laughing a couple of overs later, when he had McCullum slapping the ball straight to fine leg. The in-form Brad Hodge joined van Wyk, but Sangwan and Mishra kept the brakes on with some accurate bowling. Kolkata could only score in singles for the first five overs after the Powerplays, and the run-rate had flatlined to 6.45.

Rajasthan Royals punish Kings XI errors

DURBAN: Rajasthan Royals did not look a gift horse in its mouth, making Kings XI Punjab captain Yuvraj Singh regret his decision to field first on winning the toss in the DLF Indian Premier League here on Tuesday. By making the best total in IPL 2009, Rajasthan Royals were able to complete a 78-run victory to take the second place in the league.

Openers Naman Ojha (68, 51 balls five fours, five sixes) and Graeme Smith (77, 44 balls, 12 fours, one six) posted the best stand in the tournament this season - 135 runs - and Ravindra Jadeja (33, 12 balls, five fours, one six) ensured that Rajasthan Royals made 211 for four in 20 overs, the biggest total in 30 matches. Ojha was fabulous with his big, clean strikes allow Smith to find the form that fetched him the man of the match award and frustrated Kings XI Punjab no end. Yuvraj's pace bowling trio of Irfan Pathan, S Sreesanth - coming off an injury - and Purple Cap holder Yusuf Abdulla - all disappointed him by either pitching it up or delivering the ball very short on a batting track.

On the contrary, Rajasthan Royals paceman Amit Singh found the right length to hit the deck and cause grief in the Kings XI ranks when they chased 212 for a win. Seeking quick runs, Kings XI Punjab were reduced to two for two in the first over when Sunny Sohal and Karan Goel fell to Amit Singh.

Rajasthan thrash Punjab to go second

Kings XI Punjab v Rajasthan Royals, IPL, Durban

Bulletin by Shwe Wai

Rajasthan Royals 211 for 4 (Smith 77, Ojha 68) beat Kings XI Punjab 133 for 8 (Yuvraj 48, Amit Singh 3-9) by 78 runs
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

	Graeme Smith, along with Naman Ojha, batted Kings XI Punjab out of the match with a destructive 135-run opening stand

Two changes, one of them a tactical masterstroke, made their impact in the very first over of each innings to hand Rajasthan Royals an imposing 78-run win against Kings XI Punjab, and propel them - in an intensely fluid tournament - to second place on the points table. The match was effectively decided in three overs: the first of Rajasthan's innings, when Naman Ojha hammered 16 off Ramesh Powar; the penultimate, when Sreesanth went for 23, and the first over of Punjab's innings when Amit Singh, playing his first Twenty20 game, took two wickets, including one off the first ball.

Rajasthan have stayed in this tournament through their bowling but managed today to rectify the blips in their erratic top order to build on a solid opening stand between Ojha - promoted for this game - and Graeme Smith. If Rajasthan got their tactics right, Punjab certainly did not, undermining their decision to field in seaming conditions by opening with a spinner. Powar was punished for 16 in the first over as Ojha, using his feet to counter the flight, smashed two sixes over long-on. Seven balls into the game and Rajasthan had equalled their highest opening partnership of 20 in this year's tournament - the first wicket had reached double figures just once in seven matches .

Lee selection a risk - Hilditch

World Twenty20 2009

Bulletin by shwe Wai

	Brett Lee is part of the Twenty20 squad despite not having bowled at international level in 2009

Australia's chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, admits the selection of Brett Lee in the 15-man World Twenty20 squad represents a sizeable gamble, but was hopeful the fast bowler's forthcoming stint in the IPL will go some way to improving his match fitness. Lee, Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds were all named in Australia's streamlined squad despite limited preparations, and are likely to use the IPL as a springboard into the World Twenty20.

Lee has not played a match at any level since hobbling from the field during the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, but is poised to make his return in Thursday's 20-over match against Pakistan in Dubai. With his surgically-repaired foot now able to withstand the rigours of net training, Hilditch said Lee was a risk worth taking ahead of the World Twenty20.

"There is no doubt we spent a lot of time thinking about what the best way would be for Brett to come back," Hilditch told Cricinfo. "We did not want to take any chances with the key objective, which is getting him ready for the Ashes. He has looked extremely fit and has been training now for a few months. He has obviously missed a fair bit of bowling, but he will start with Dubai and then probably need a few more Twenty20 games to get himself going. There is still a month to go before [the World Twenty20], so there is time.

"It is somewhat of a risk. One of the big advantages in getting him over to the UAE was so we could have a good look at him in training and gauge how far he has progressed. He probably isn't quite ready, but with a few more games he will get there. I understand that he will go from the Pakistan series to the IPL, and from there to our player camp."

Lee is one of five pacemen named in Australia's 15-man squad along with Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Bracken, Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle. That left no room for Twenty20 specialist Shaun Tait, who is recovering from hamstring tendonitis and had hoped to make a late selection charge.

Squad: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, David Warner, Shane Watson.

Yusuf Abdulla has been in excellent form during the IPL

World Twenty20 2009

CSA confident Botha will be cleared

	Yusuf Abdulla has been in excellent form during the IPL

South Africa have included their vice-captain Johan Botha in their 15-man squad for the World Twenty20 beginning on June 5 in England and are confident he will be eligible to play after the offspinner was reported for a suspect action.

Botha was reported for a suspected illegal bowling action by match officials after the fourth ODI against Australia in Port Elizabeth in April. He will undergo a bio-mechanical assessment of his action, but is eligible to play international cricket at the discretion of Cricket South Africa (CSA) while the test results are pending.

"He hasn't been cleared yet but we are confident and positive that he will be," Gerald Majola, chief executive of CSA, told Cricinfo. "Of course, if he is not cleared, we will have to ask for a replacement."

Bruce Elliott, a professor with the University of Western Australia, had tested Botha last Thursday as per the revised ICC procedure. "We don't have the results yet, but we hope to have some numbers by the end of the week." Elliott told Cricinfo.

There were no new faces in the squad which comprised players who enjoyed success against Australia over the summer. Yusuf Abdulla, who made his Twenty 20 debut against Australia in Centurion, was rewarded for his outstanding performances in the domestic tournament and for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL with a call-up. Abdulla is currently the IPL's highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in seven matches.

"Our cricket is entering an exciting period," Mike Procter, South Africa's chief selector said. "We are top of the ODI rankings but have never won a major trophy and this presents the opportunity to do so in a limited-overs format.

"The players are all in good form and it is particularly pleasing to have so many quality all-rounders at our disposal. As always there are a couple of unlucky players and that emphasises the excellent competition we have for places. Form in the Standard Bank Pro20 domestic competition was a key factor in our selection process and it was encouraging to note how high the standard of our domestic cricket is at the moment."

South Africa coach Mickey Arthur was "delighted" with the squad. "It is a team with plenty of options - great depth to the batting and plenty of bowling options. It is also an outstanding fielding unit."

Squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Johan Botha (vice-capt), Yusuf Abdulla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Roelof van der Merwe.

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• Warner and Karthik should have finished game off: Gambhir
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• Sneak Preview 30: Rajasthan Royals vs. Kings XI Punjab
• Raut's wise approach takes Royals home in dramatic chase

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RP Singh included in India's World Twenty20 squad

World Twenty20 2009
Bulletin by Shwe Wai

	RP Singh has made a comeback to India's Twenty20 team

Fast bowler RP Singh has been included in India's 15-man squad for the World Twenty20 in England in June. Reserve wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik and fast bowler Munaf Patel have been axed from the 16-member squad that played two Twenty20 internationals in New Zealand in February.

There were no surprises in the squad which was more or less was finalised after the national selectors held a preliminary meeting in Cape Town on April 24, in the presence of N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary.

RP has been one of the IPL's most successful bowlers, taking 12 wickets in six games for the Deccan Chargers at an average of 11.33 and economy rate of 6.27 runs per over.

The selectors did not pick Mumbai Indians allrounder Abhishek Nayar who has also been impressive during the IPL. Nayar, who bowls medium pace and is a powerful hitter in the middle-order, has scored 102 runs in six innings this season at a strike-rate of 143. He has also taken four wickets and conceded only 5.90 runs per over. Karthik has also been in good form for Delhi Daredevils but couldn't find a spot as the selectors decided a reserve wicketkeeper was not necessary for the two-week tournament in England.

Squad: MS Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Pragyan Ojha, Irfan Pathan.

Swann sizes up spin-twin summer

England v West Indies, 1st npower Test, Lord's

Bulletin by Shwe Wai

	Graeme Swann: England's No. 1 spinner, but yet to play a Test at home

There was a time, not so long ago, when spin bowlers were utterly surplus to requirements during the early season Test match at Lord's. The legspinner, Chris Schofield, made his debut during the Zimbabwe Test in 2000 - at the time the earliest Test ever played in England - and couldn't get a bowl as Darren Gough and Andrew Caddick sealed a crushing innings victory.

The trend continued in later seasons, as Gareth Batty and Ashley Giles were also left to graze in the outfield during seam-dominated contests. Their selection seemed superfluous at best and a misappropriation of resources at worst, as England exploited their home advantage ruthlessly with five innings victories in seven contests, including a thumping innings-and-261-run margin when Bangladesh came to town in 2005.

But then the spell was broken and the life in the surface drained away (possibly via the £1.5million drainage system that has made Lord's into one of the most reliable all-weather surfaces in the world, but also one of the thirstiest). Ever since that Bangladesh result, England have failed to force victory in any one of their seven Tests at Lord's. In July 2005, they lost to Australia by 239 runs, before drawing a blank in six consecutive games against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

"There've been a number of reasons," said James Anderson, who - incredibly - is one of only two players in the match, along with the captain, Andrew Strauss, who has experienced the winning feeling in St John's Wood. "In the first Test against India we had them nine-down and it rained, which didn't help. But it's something we're looking to put right."