Manoj Tiwary scored an unbeaten half-century to set up a thrilling 17-run win for Kolkata Knight Riders in an Indian Premier League match against Delhi Daredevils on Thursday.
Tiwary hit three sixes and two fours in his 47-ball knock to take Kolkata to 148-7 before Delhi were restricted to 131-9 in 20 overs at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground.
Delhi fancied their chances with 26 runs needed off 12 balls but Australian paceman Brett Lee effected two brilliant run outs in two balls to tilt the scale in Kolkata’s favor.
PHOTO: AFP
The win, Kolkata’s fourth from seven outings, propelled them to joint-second place in the points table while Delhi continued to languish at the bottom after their fifth defeat in the Twenty20 competition.
Delhi now need to win five of their remaining seven matches if they are to make it to the playoffs.
Delhi captain Virender Sehwag made a typically aggressive 34 with five fours and one six after losing his opening partner David Warner (14) in the second over to paceman Laxmipathy Balaji.
However, Sehwag’s dismissal triggered a collapse with Delhi losing their next seven wickets for 87 runs.
Kolkata owed their competitive total to Tiwary who played a responsible innings despite losing his partners at regular intervals at the other end.
Jacques Kallis (11) and Shreevats Goswami (22) put on 42 for the opening wicket before falling in quick succession to Delhi pace bowlers Irfan Pathan and Ajit Agarkar.
Skipper Gautam Gambhir, who was bought for a record US$2.4 million by Kolkata after Delhi deciding against retaining the left-hander, was caught at deep midwicket off Australian James Hopes for 19.
Fast bowler Umesh Yadav then picked up two wickets in two balls, removing Yusuf Pathan, who was caught by his younger brother Irfan, and England’s Eoin Morgan in the 15th over.
Ryan ten Doeschate provided Kolkata a late boost with a quick 19 from 12 balls, including two fours and a six.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at