Clinical CSK hand DD big defeat

© IPL

CSK took as many as seven catches on way to their 93-run win against DD.

A clinical Chennai Super Kings handed a lacklustre Delhi Daredevils a 93-run defeat in the eighth match of the Pepsi Indian Premier League season seven at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Chasing a 178-run target, DD's batting never really took off as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were restricted to 84 for nine in 15.3 overs with the last batsman, Nathan Coulter-Nile, absent hurt after suffering a hamstring injury earlier in the match. CSK bowlers, who had failed to defend a 205-run total against Kings XI Punjab in their first game, learned from their mistakes and skipper MS Dhoni's decision to ring in three changes from their last game also worked wonderfully.

Ishwar Pandey, who replaced Ashish Nehra in the team returned with figures of two for 23 and was helped by some sharp catching. Suresh Raina and Faf du Plessis were livewires in the field, sharing five excellent catches between them. CSK's fielding ensured that DD had no respite. As many as seven catches were taken by CSK fielders. Dinesh Karthik and Jimmy Neesham were the only two DD batsmen who managed to go beyond 20 runs.

Earlier, asked to bowl, DD's bowlers made good use of their resources to restrict CSK for 34 for one by the end of the first Powerplay. Karthik used four bowlers in the first six overs as JP Duminy began the proceedings. The move yielded good results as Brendon McCullum, who had smashed 67 in CSK's first game, was back in the hut in the fourth over after adding only nine runs to the team's total. Jaydev Unadkat got the prized scalp.

Dwayne Smith did go about his usual business at the other end after McCullum's fall and was well supported by IPL veteran Raina. The second-wicket partnership between Smith (29) and Raina yielded 54 runs until Shahbaz Nadeem's arm ball got through Smith's defences and hit the stumps.

Smith's dismissal brought in du Plessis at the crease. At that point of time one would have expected DD captain to bring on his main bowlers but it wasn't the case as Murali Vijay was introduced into the attack. Maybe, Karthik wanted to sneak in some quick overs considering Coulter-Nile's injury. Realising the opportunity, Raina carted Vijay for three fours in the twelfth over as CSK moved along swiftly.

Credit must go to the DD bowlers who managed to put a check on CSK's run rate despite Raina going strong at one end. Duminy and Neesham maintained a steady line and never allowed the big hitting duo at the crease to blaze away. Neesham managed to send back a dangerous looking Raina after the batsman had helped himself to a 41-ball 56. The onus was on CSK captain Dhoni to give his team the late push and he didn't disappoint his fans. With two sixes and two fours, Dhoni notched up 32 runs in his 15-ball stay helping his team put up a challenging 177 for seven.

Unadkat was the pick of the DD's bowlers returning with three for 32 in his four overs including the prized scalps of Dhoni and McCullum. Raina was adjudged Man of the Match for his spectacular performance.

Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 177/7 (Suresh Raina 56, MS Dhoni 32, Jaydev Unadkat 3/32) beat Delhi Daredevils 84 (Jimmy Neesham 22, Dinesh Karthik 21, R Ashwin 2/3) by 93 runs

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IPL will be beneficial to my growth as a cricketer: Rasool

Parvez Rasool will be rubbing shoulders with national and international stars in the Sunrisers squad that is led by Shikhar Dhawan. (TOI Photo)

NEW DELHI: After becoming the first Jammu and Kashmir player to be selected in an IPL team in 2013, Parvez Rasool is now ready for his second stint in the T20 league and reckons that the presence of star players in his team will help him grow as a cricketer. 

The off-spinning all-rounder, who has been bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 95 lakh, firmly believes that the T20 event is a big stage to make your presence felt in the national and international market. 

"I feel one should grab every opportunity that comes your way and IPL is sure a perfect platform to showcase one's talent. With so much of television viewership, the world is watching and the selector's also have an eye on the event. It's a great chance for any upcoming cricketer to prove his worth in this T20 extravaganza," Rasool said. 

The 25-year-old will be rubbing shoulders with national and international stars in the Sunrisers squad that is led by Shikhar Dhawan. The Jammu and Kashmir skipper feels great to be a part of the same dressing room that will have players like Dale Steyn, Darren Sammy and Ishant Sharma. 

"The presence of international and national stars in the Sunrisers squad will certainly be beneficial to my growth as a cricketer. I will try my best to spend time with them, on and off the field. And at the end of it performance is key. So I hope that if and when I get a chance to play, I come up trumps," said the wily off-spinner. 

Rasool though got just two IPL games in the last season with Pune Warriors and his outing with the Virat Kohli-led Team India to Zimbabwe was also restricted to the dug-out but he takes all this in his stride. 

"You have to take the rough with the smooth. I personally have taken a lot of positives from all this. I am lucky to have got an IPL break and a chance to travel with the Indian team. How many players get such opportunities?," said a hopeful Rasool. 

On the point of Jammu and Kashmir players getting a raw deal, Rasool argues that performance can wipe away any negativity and believes that it's far more sunny for J&K players now. 

"Our performance has been good in the last couple pf years. Our boys are getting picked in Zonal cricket and also being considered for IPL. I personally graduated from Under-19 to the national team and in IPL for Pune Warriors, so I believe the Kashmiri lads are making their presence felt," said the upbeat all-rounder. 

Rasool did get a few tips from off-spinning great Harbhajan Singh during the Irani Trophy game in February. Rasool was in the Rest of India reserves with Harbhajan as skipper and the J&K player enjoyed the lessons from 'the Turbanator'. 

"It's my fortune to get advice from a player of the stature of Harbhajan Singh. I am constantly in touch with him. His advice is invaluable and has certainly helped my game. I certainly practice what I am taught to master the art," he said. 

Rasool though was critical of the fans' behaviour towards Yuvraj Singh after the T20 final. Rasool harbours lot of respect for Yuvi, who was instrumental in winning two World Cups for India, and feels cricket lovers should not turn fanatics towards their heroes. 

"Anybody can be at the receiving end of the madness of cricket in this country but fans should realise that a player gives his blood and sweat to the country and is human if he errs. I have great respect for Yuvi paaji and feel that he deserves respect and nothing else," concluded Rasool
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Honour to play under Kevin Pietersen: Manoj Tiwary

"Kevin Pietersen has been my idol and it will be a great honour for me to play under his captaincy. I am sure, I will learn a lot from him," said Tiwary. (TOI Photo)

KOLKATA: Injuries have always come at the wrong time for Bengal batsman Manoj Tiwary, who has repeatedly missed out on the action after being in the mix for a India berth. The former Bengal skipper missed the entire 2013-14 domestic season due to a knee injury. Tiwary, who was picked up by the Delhi Daredevils at the IPL players' auctions in February, will be turning out for the franchise for the second time, having played for them in the first two editions of the T20 event before switching allegiance to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2010 in a swap deal. The stylish right-hander spoke to TOI about his injury-related heart-breaks and the upcoming IPL-7. Excerpts:


Importance of IPL-7 for you...

It will be very important. I have been out of action for about seven months. I need to make a fresh start and the IPL provides me with a big platform to get noticed again.


How did you cope with the injury?

It was quite frustrating as there is little you can do when you are injured. I have always been one of the fittest guys in the team, but I had been badly hit by injuries. So you have to accept that and keep faith and hope that you will again get a chance. I have listened to motivational speeches on the net and read about amazing comeback stories of players to keep my spirit up during this period.


It must be difficult to get over a knee injury for a batsman?

A batsman has to shift his body weight from one leg to the other while playing shots. Knees play a very important role. I am okay now and got some runs in the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 meets. But the IPL will be hectic. There will be back-to-back matches and a lot of traveling. I am confident of getting through the grind.


Your take on the Daredevils...

I am really excited to be playing for the Delhi Daredevils again. I am eager to work with their magnificent support staff. I was not with the Indian team when Gary Kirsten was the coach but my fellow-players spoke highly about him. I am sure he (Gary) will help me get over my shortcomings. Then we have Eric Simons and TA Sekhar sir. They are all very good professionals and I am eager to work with them.


And what about the players?

Kevin Pietersen has been my idol and it will be a great honour for me to play under his captaincy. I am sure, I will learn a lot from him. I feel we have a strong team and we hope to do well.


What do you reckon would be your ideal number to bat?

It's for the team management to decide. However, in a T20 match, it's always good to bat up the order as you get the play maximum balls that way. I would prefer that but I am ready to bat at any position the team management wants me to
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Yuvraj did not deserve this unwarranted criticism: Pietersen

Pietersen loves to be a "realist" and that's the reason he is not feeling stressed ahead of IPL. (TOI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Once labelled a 'pie-chucker' by Kevin Pietersen, beleaguered Yuvraj Singh has found support from the maverick batsman, who says the India left-hander is at the receiving end of "unwarranted criticism" following his scratchy knock in the World T20 final.

Yuvraj's 21-ball 11 sucked the momentum out of India's innings on Sunday and some unruly fans pelted stones at the all-rounder's residence in Chandigarh. India lost the title clash to Sri Lanka by six wickets.

Standing behind Yuvraj, who is now a friend, Pietersen said: "I haven't read the newspapers here but what I have seen on twitter is that he has got a bit of stick. I think that it was unwarranted and he did not deserve this."

Former India players such as Kris Srikkanth and Ravi Shastri had critical of Yuvraj's batting, prompting Pietersen to say that it's "very easy to say things" when one is not an active international cricketer.

"You can't always be good. It's very easy to say things when you stop playing. I see a lot of players talking who don't even play international cricket and wished they were playing, have a lot of things to say. Because criticising is the easiest thing to do," he said.

Set to lead Delhi Daredevils in the upcoming seventh edition of Indian Premier league, Pietersen is happy that he will have to face a selection dilemma when it comes to having his pick between 'Million Dollar Man' Dinesh Karthik and the new South African sensation Quinton de Kock when they kickstart their campaign.

While De Kock has made grand entry into international cricket, Karthik's Rs 12.5 crore bidding makes him slightly favourite to get the nod.

"Of course, it is good to have selection dilemmas as it is quite a good thing to have. I kind of enjoy having selection dilemmas. You have got to hate the fact that you can only choose from only 11 players.

"You should be wanting that your squad of 16 is ready to have a go. Yes, it will be a difficult pick for the first match but we would certainly settle down with time," he said.

Life without international cricket is not something that Pietersen would have ideally imagined but then he has been a non-conformist in many ways.

Pietersen loves to be a "realist" and that's the reason he is not feeling stressed ahead of IPL.

"I don't see any pressure. In fact, I enjoy pressure. As an individual, all you can do is to give your best. In the next six weeks, I will give my everything to Delhi Daredevils. I am a firm believer in 'what will be will be'. So people can't demand things. People can be happy if things happen and be disappointed when things don't happen. I am a realist in every sense," Pietersen said matter-of-factly.

The batsman is upbeat about his team's chances as he believed that the team has got good depth.

"We do have a lot of expectations as we have picked up a player that can do real good things. The strength is good as we have quality Indian players and experienced overseas players. In Gary Kirsten, we have a great coach. I think we have the ability to go all the way. Having said that, I can tell you that there are no guarantees as such," he said.

Talking about DD coach Gary Kirsten, K P said that both are on the same page regarding team's common goal.

"I think my interactions with Gary has been very, very good. We kind of sing from similar hymn sheet. Gary is a very relaxed man and a great man manager. I just can't wait to start working with him."

When Pietersen speaks, the reassuring tone makes even worrying factors look like non issues.

Delhi's spin bowling is an issue but Pietersen brushed it aside.

"We have leg-spinner Rahul Sharma apart from Shahbaz Nadeem. He's played for India and he will be good.'' He also feels that there is no big deal about adaptability as some of the younger Indian players will be playing in UAE for the first time.

"If you talk about me, I have done that for 10 years of international cricket playing in different countries in different conditions. As far as the younger players are concerned, it will be a good experience for them.
"

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Dhoni named captain of World T20 Team of Tournament

Statistics were used but were not the sole basis for selections of the team led by Dhoni. (Getty Images)

DUBAI: His side may have lost in the final but Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Monday named captain of the 2014 ICC World Team of the Tournament that figures four Indians, including star batsman Virat Kohli. 

Opener Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin are the other two Indian players who feature in the team that was announced by the ICC. 

Kohli was adjudged Player of the Tournament for amassing 319 runs with the help of four half centuries, including knocks of 72 and 77 in the semifinal and final of the showpiece event. 

Besides Indians, the team has two players from both South Africa and West Indies, and one representative each from Australia, the Netherlands and champions Sri Lanka. 

Chosen by a select group of experts, the team was aimed at being suited for Bangladesh conditions, on the basis of performances in the tournament only. Statistics were used but were not the sole basis for selections. 

Selection Panel Chairman and member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, David Boon, said of the selection: "It was a very difficult task for the panel to pick a team of 11 from the exciting players who featured in this tournament. 

"As the selection criteria for the Team of the Tournament are the performances of players in the conditions during the ICC World Twenty20 2014, some of the best players in world cricket had to be left out of the team. 

"Bowlers in particular performed strongly throughout this tournament, and the side we have selected includes three of the most impressive bowlers in Dale Steyn, Samuel Badree and Lasith Malinga. The team also contains six specialist batsmen, including Stephan Myburgh from the Netherlands as an opening batsman, as well as three all-rounders, including MS Dhoni as a wicket-keeper batsman." 

The panel faced a difficult choice for a number of positions, and players who were considered but who did not ultimately make the team included India's Amit Mishra, Pakistan's Ahmed Shehzad, the South Africa duo of A B de Villiers and Imran Tahir, Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews and Rangana Herath, and West Indies' Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine. 

Men's Team of the Tournament (in batting order): 

Rohit Sharma (India) - 200 runs 

Stephan Myburgh (Netherlands) - 224 runs 

Virat Kohli (India) - 319 runs 

JP Duminy (South Africa) - 187 runs 

Glenn Maxwell (Australia) - 147 runs 

MS Dhoni (India - captain, wicketkeeper) - 50 runs, six dismissals 

Darren Sammy (West Indies) - 101 runs 

Ravichandran Ashwin (India) - 11 wickets 

Dale Steyn (South Africa) - nine wickets 

Samuel Badree (West Indies) - 11 wickets 

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) - five wickets 

12th Player: Krishmar Santokie (West Indies) - eight wickets
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Dhoni named captain of World T20 Team of Tournament

Statistics were used but were not the sole basis for selections of the team led by Dhoni. (Getty Images)

DUBAI: His side may have lost in the final but Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Monday named captain of the 2014 ICC World Team of the Tournament that figures four Indians, including star batsman Virat Kohli. 

Opener Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin are the other two Indian players who feature in the team that was announced by the ICC. 

Kohli was adjudged Player of the Tournament for amassing 319 runs with the help of four half centuries, including knocks of 72 and 77 in the semifinal and final of the showpiece event. 

Besides Indians, the team has two players from both South Africa and West Indies, and one representative each from Australia, the Netherlands and champions Sri Lanka. 

Chosen by a select group of experts, the team was aimed at being suited for Bangladesh conditions, on the basis of performances in the tournament only. Statistics were used but were not the sole basis for selections. 

Selection Panel Chairman and member of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, David Boon, said of the selection: "It was a very difficult task for the panel to pick a team of 11 from the exciting players who featured in this tournament. 

"As the selection criteria for the Team of the Tournament are the performances of players in the conditions during the ICC World Twenty20 2014, some of the best players in world cricket had to be left out of the team. 

"Bowlers in particular performed strongly throughout this tournament, and the side we have selected includes three of the most impressive bowlers in Dale Steyn, Samuel Badree and Lasith Malinga. The team also contains six specialist batsmen, including Stephan Myburgh from the Netherlands as an opening batsman, as well as three all-rounders, including MS Dhoni as a wicket-keeper batsman." 

The panel faced a difficult choice for a number of positions, and players who were considered but who did not ultimately make the team included India's Amit Mishra, Pakistan's Ahmed Shehzad, the South Africa duo of A B de Villiers and Imran Tahir, Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews and Rangana Herath, and West Indies' Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine. 

Men's Team of the Tournament (in batting order): 

Rohit Sharma (India) - 200 runs 

Stephan Myburgh (Netherlands) - 224 runs 

Virat Kohli (India) - 319 runs 

JP Duminy (South Africa) - 187 runs 

Glenn Maxwell (Australia) - 147 runs 

MS Dhoni (India - captain, wicketkeeper) - 50 runs, six dismissals 

Darren Sammy (West Indies) - 101 runs 

Ravichandran Ashwin (India) - 11 wickets 

Dale Steyn (South Africa) - nine wickets 

Samuel Badree (West Indies) - 11 wickets 

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) - five wickets 

12th Player: Krishmar Santokie (West Indies) - eight wickets
.

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Yuvraj can be criticized, but he should not be crucified: Sachin

"Last evening, Yuvi had a tough day and he can be criticized. But he should not be crucified nor should he be written off," said Sachin. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar today stood firmly behind a beleaguered Yuvraj Singh, saying that the talented left-hander "is down but far from being out" and backed him to make it to the 2015 World Cup squad. 

Tendulkar, who has always been a mentor to Yuvraj had soothing took to social networking site Facebook to motivate the player who has been castigated from all quarters for his 21--ball-11 that led to India scoring only 130 for three in 20 overs. 

"Yuvi, one off day cannot undermine your tremendous contribution in many sweet memories over the years. You may be down today but you are far from being out," Tendulkar wrote on his Facebook page. 

"I want you to know that there are many like me in India and across the world, who keenly look forward to you being a part of the campaign to defend the ODI World Cup title in 2015," Tendulkar came out openly in support of the player. 

While Tendulkar agreed that Yuvraj can be criticized for his slow batting but people should stop short of writing his epitaph or predict the end of his international career. 

"Last evening, Yuvi had a tough day and he can be criticized. But he should not be crucified nor should he be written off." 

The iconic batsman is confident that Yuvraj will make a great comeback proving his detractors wrong once again. 

"I have been an admirer of Yuvi's indomitable spirit which has overcome many challenges, both on and off the field. Knowing Yuvi's determination and ability to fight adversities, he will emerge stronger, proving his critics wrong, yet again." 

Tendulkar along with former skipper Sourav Ganguly has backed Yuvraj since his nascent days in international cricket. 

When Yuvraj was detected with rare germ-cell cancer, Tendulkar had travelled all the way to UK to visit him
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IND vs SA: India thrash South Africa by six wickets to reach final

Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane (L) congratulates teammate Rohit Sharma after a boundary during the ICC World Twenty20 cricket tournament second semi-final match against South Africa. (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Riding on a brilliant knock by Virat Kohli and a fiery cameo from Suresh Raina in crunch situation, India stormed into World T20 final as they beat South Africa by six wickets in the second semifinal in Mirpur on Friday.

Scorecard

Kohli made an unbeaten 72 in 44 balls while Raina scored 10-ball-21 as India chased down a competitive 173 with five balls to spare.

Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma too chipped in with 32, 24 respectively.

India got off to a flying start in their chase as they scored over ten runs in first three over.

Rohit Sharma scored 24 and shared a solid 39-run opening stand with Rahane before falling to Beuran Hendricks in the fourth over.

Sharma 24 came off just 13 balls and were studded with four boundaries and a six.

Wayne Parnell gave India second blow by getting rid of Ajinkya Rahane after his 32-run knock to give South Africa hope.

Rahane, who a looking in a fine touch, played badly against the bounce to give an easy catch to AB de Villers at the score of 77 in the 10th over.

Earlier, skipper Faf du Plessis came back from his one-match suspension with an attractive half-century as South Africa posted a challenging 172/4.

Riding on Du Plessis' 58 off 41 balls and senior campaigner Jean-Paul Duminy's 40-ball-45, the Proteas scored their highest total against India in the tournament so far. David Miller's 12-ball-23 also helped to prop up the total, which went past 170.

Barring Ravichandran Ashwin, who had brilliant figures of three for 22 from his four overs, other Indian bowlers had a disappointing day in office.

Amit Mishra gave his worst performance (0/36 in three overs) in the tournament, even as Dhoni was unable to complete the quota of his three specialist bowlers.

Most impressive part about South Africa's batting was that their batsmen did not try to fight the conditions. Du Plessis showed the virtue of spending some time before going on the ascendancy, while the seasoned Duminy also played an important hand in the team's total.

Duminy-Du Plessis pair added 71 runs in 8.4 overs for the third wicket, which laid the foundation for a fighting score. Both these batsmen decided to play out Ashwin and attack the other bowlers which yielded desired results.

Quinton de Kock (6) got a debatable caught behind decision off Bhuvneshwar Kumar's bowling. The left-handed opener flashed at a wide delivery from the seamer but it deviated taking an under-edge that was caught by Dhoni behind the stumps. Umpire Ian Gould gave the decision after some contemplation but the batsman looked unhappy.

Hashim Amla (22) continued with his fine batting and drove Mohit Sharma on the rise to get a streaky boundary. Du Plessis followed the suit charging out to the young seamer and hitting him over mid-wicket for a four.

However, Amla's free-hitting did not last long even though he got a couple of more boundaries in Bhuvneshwar's next over. Ashwin coming from round the wicket bamboozled Amla with a carom ball that spun like a classical leg-break. He played for the turn and saw the off-stump being pegged back
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Gambhir, Sehwag star again to power Delhi to 4th straight win

Gautam Gambhir's unbeaten 75 came off 53 balls during which he struck seven boundaries and three sixes. (TOI Photo)

Gambhir, Sehwag star again to power Delhi to 4th straight win (PTI) 

CHANDIGARH: Gautam Gambhir led from the front with a breezy unbeaten 75 as Delhi cruised to a nine-wicket win over Haryana to record their fourth straight victory in a North Zone leg match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy on Friday. 

Set a target of 141 runs by Haryana, star pair of Gambhir and Virender Sehwag (49) once again sizzled with the bat for Delhi, putting on a 96-ball 121-run stand for the opening wicket to set the platform for the win. 

While Sehwag's was an unusually sedate knock, Gambhir was at his attacking best. 

Gambhir's runs came off 53 balls during which he struck seven boundaries and three sixes. Sehwag, on the other hand, played second fiddle and hit just three fours and one six during his 50-ball knock. 

Sehwag was the lone Delhi wicket to fall, bowled by right-arm pacer Harshal Patel in the 16th over. 

After Sehwag's dismissal, Gambhir and Unmukt Chand (7 not out) ensured the win for Delhi with 15 balls to spare without any further damage. 

Earlier, Haryana rode on half centuries from opener Avi Barot (51 off 42) and Guntashveer Singh (64 off 49) to post 140 for seven after opting to bat. 

Apart from Barot and Guntashveer, no other Haryana batsmen could manage double digit scores. The duo scored 103 runs for the second wicket to propel Haryana to the modest score.

The lanky Ishant Sharma was the pick of the bowlers for Delhi with figures of four for nine from his quota of four overs. 

Meanwhile, in another North Zone leg match Himachal Pradesh defeated Jammu and Kashmir by 17 runs at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali to register their second win in the tournament. 

Sent in to bat, Himachal could only muster 127 for eight before coming out with am impressive bowling display to bundle out J&K for 110 in 19.3 overs. 

Rishi Dhawan top-scored for Himachal with 44 off 40 balls. For J&K, left-arm spinner Waseem Raza (3/21) scalped three wickets while skipper Parveez Rasool (2/10) picked up two. 

Chasing the paltry target, J&K batsmen crumbled in front of the pace trio of Akshay Chauhan (4/16), Rishi Dhawan (2/24) and Vikramjeet Malik (2/28) to slump to their fourth consecutive defeat in the event. 

Abid Nabi (39) and Pranav Gupta (28) provided some sort of resistance for J&K but it was not enought to sail them home. 

Brief Scores: 

Delhi vs Haryana in Chandigarh: Haryana: 140 for seven in 20 overs (Guntashveer Singh 64, Avi Barot 51; Ishant Sharma 4/9). 

Delhi: 142 for one in 17.3 overs (Gautam Gambhir 75 not out, Virender Sehwag 49; Harshal Patel 1/32). 

Himachal Pradesh vs Jammu and Kashmir in Mohali: Himachal Pradesh: 127 for eight in 20 overs (Rishi Dhawan 44; Waseem Raza 3/21). 

J&K: 110 all out in 19.3 overs (Abid Nabi 39, Pranav Gupta 28; Akshay Chauhan 4/16)
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World Twenty20: MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh rediscover the magic

All of Yuvraj's glory moments in T20 cricket have come while batting with Dhoni. (AFP Photo)

DHAKA: While they haven't spoken much during training, India skipper MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh had frequent mid-pitch consultations during their match-turning 84-run stand in 42 balls against Australia on Sunday. Often, the conversation was initiated by the former.

In the 18th over, bowled by Watson, Yuvraj chased a wide one outside off in a failed attempt at a slash. Dhoni walked down to the striker and asked the left-hander to consider standing on off and middle. Yuvraj did as told and found himself in great position to deposit a full toss on middle and leg over square-leg.

It was constructive feedback from Dhoni, a result of knowing the other person's strengths. With Dhoni, Yuvraj has starred in 164 ODI wins for India and his average, while scoring 5622 runs in those wins, is 49.68. They have batted together 64 times in ODIs and have added 2797 runs with nine 100-plus stands (all resulting in wins) and 13 fifty-plus stands. In Indian wins, they have scored 2080 runs.

They are a rocking pair in T20 Internationals too. They have batted 18 times and aggregated 657 runs with one 100-stand and four 50-plus stands. Yuvraj has played 38 T20Is and has been on the winning side in 22 of them, all with Dhoni. While his career average is 32.37, his average in winning games played with the Indian skipper is 49.78.

All of Yuvraj's glory moments in T20 cricket have come while batting with his captain. Remember who was there at the non-striker's end in Durban in 2007, when Yuvi hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over? Check out who his partner was when Yuvi carved Pakistan all over Motera during his 72 in 36 balls in December 2012 or at Rajkot last October, when he belted 77 in 35 balls as India chased down 202 against the Aussies.



Yuvraj's form and confidence looked shaky after two poor outings and India were in trouble at 66-4 in 11.3 overs as Dhoni walked in to bat. It was Yuvraj, though, who helped him out.

"When I went in, I was the new batsman, so obviously he gave me the feedback on what was happening," revealed Dhoni. "We knew that our partnership was very important. I always prefer that your main batsmen should bat deep," Dhoni analysed.

Deconstructing Yuvraj's knock, Dhoni said, "Yuvraj was brilliant because of the way he paced his innings. An innings like this was needed for him, where he can be expressive and be himself. We all know the kind of batsman he is. He can clear any ground in the world. It doesn't matter if it's a fast bowler or a spinner. He may struggle for the first five-seven deliveries. If you get him out, your good luck. Else, he'll take you out of the game."

If you search for some of the most endearing images or videos of Yuvraj's career, you will find him jumping over Dhoni in Karachi in February 2006 after he had scored 107 not out and added an unbroken 146 with the keeper to help India chase down 287 in 46.5 overs.

In another video, you will find him sprinting from fine-leg and jumping over his skipper in Brisbane in March 2008, after India beat Australia to win their maiden tri-series title. And then, there is the image of the two hugging each other at the Wankhede on April 2, 2011 after India won the World Cup.

Over time, their relationship seemed to have become somewhat cold. In Dhaka, on Sunday, they broke the ice
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