India vs Australia, 7th ODI: As it happened - James Faulkner's ton in vain as India win by 57 runs to clinch series 3-2

India win the match by 57 runs to win the seven-match series 3-2. Rohit Sharma of India hit 209 while James Faulkner scored 116 for Australia.

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Bangalore: India have won the series 3-2, courtesy a 57-run win against Australia in Bangalore. Catch the match as it happened here: (Scorecard | Commentary)

22:07 (IST): "We have to improve our bowling. We have to do it on a team level. Death bowling we have to improve upon," says Dhoni. So that's it from Bangalore. India win the series and maintain their number one rank in the ICC ODI rankings.

22:03 (IST): The man of the moment, however, is humble in his approach to his innings. "I never thought of the 200. My gameplan was very simple. I just wanted to stay there. Keeping wickets in hand was important," says Rohit Sharma.

22:01 (IST): "We just didn't have wickets in hand, James Faulkner was outstanding," says Aussie skipper George Bailey. He admits he is proud of the boys and felt they gave India a good fight in the series.

21:42 (IST): And that is it! It takes just 2 balls to wrap it up as Clint McKay and James Faulkner depart in quick succession. India win the game by 57 runs and take th4e series 3-2. Australia bowled out for 326.

21:28 (IST): A tight over by Jadeja yields 3 run. Danger still lurks for India while James Faulkner is at the crease. (Australia 320/8 in 43 overs; Target: 384)

21:21 (IST): Indians getting just a little desperate. The spectre of defeat seems to loom large as Dhoni urges his boys to get the last 2 wickets. A close appeal for a stumping off Jadeja but replays save Clint McKay. (Australia 308/8 in 41 overs; Target: 384)

21:10 (IST): Century for Faulkner! His maiden ton and the fastest by an Aussie laced with 11 fours and 5 sixes. (Australia 294/8 in 38.1 overs; Target: 384)

21:00 (IST): James Faulkner playing a lone hand as he stands between India and victory. While the asking rate is pretty high, expect some fireworks while he's at the crease. (Australia 271/8 in 37 overs; Target: 384)

20:44 (IST): FIFTY! James Faulkner scores his third fifty in ODIs. Australia 240/8 (33 overs)

20:32 (IST): WICKET! Another bites the dust and this time Ravindra Jadeja removes Nathan Coulter-Nile. Coulter-Nile looks to go over the top but hits it straight to long off. Australia 211/8 (30.1 overs)

20:30 (IST): DROPPED! James Faulkner is dropped on 20 by Mohammed Shami off R Ashwin. Australia 211/7 (30 overs)

20:24 (IST): WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja gets rid of Shane Watson. Watson looks to cut Jadeja to third man, gets a thick outside edge which hits MS Dhoni's thigh and flies straight to Mohammed Shami at point. Australia 205/7 (28.2 overs)

20:19 (IST): STAT! So far this match has seen 32 sixes, which is a record in ODIs.

20:00 (IST): Scoring 200 is a wonderful feeling, says Rohit Sharma. (Read more)

7th ODI Live Cricket Score: Glenn Maxwell19:55 (IST): WICKET! Glenn Maxwell departs after a fiery 22-ball 60-run knock. Maxwell looks to hit Vinay Kumar out of the park but top edges to deep mid wicket and Ravindra Jadeja makes no mistake. Australia 138/6 (22.2 overs). (In Pics: Rohit Sharma's Diwali dhamaka)

19:52 (IST): WICKET! Adam Voges departs after scoring only four runs. Australia 132/5 (22 overs)

19:45 (IST): FIFTY! Glenn Maxwell scores his fifth half-century off 18 balls. He equals an Australian record for fastest fifty. Australia 125/4 (21.2 overs)

19:30 (IST): WICKET! Another one gone. This time R Ashwin strikes and Brad Haddin (40) makes a long way back. Ashwin beats Haddin on flight. Australia 74/4 (16.5 overs)

19:25 (IST): WICKET! George Bailey is out after scoring 4 runs. Bailey plays it to deep square leg and calls for two runs. Yuvraj Singh, the fielder, picks the ball and throws it quickly to Vinay Kumar, who shows good presence of mind to throw it to keeper. And Bailey is found struggling to make his ground. Australia 70/3 (15.2 overs)

7th ODI Live Cricket Score: Mohammed Ashwin19:12 (IST): WICKET! R Ashwin picks the wicket on his first ball. Phillip Hughes flicks it but straight to Yuvraj Singh at mid wicket. Australia 64/2 (12.1 overs)

18:52 (IST): Australia have promoted Brad Haddin to number three position. Shane Watson, who scored a century in the previous match, has injured his hamstring. Indian pacers are keeping things tight and not giving anything away. Australia 37/1 (9 overs)

18:21 (IST): WICKET! Mohammed Shami is on the target straightaway. Shami traps Aaron Finch for five. Australia 7/1 (1.2 overs)

18:18 (IST): Bhuvneshwar Kumar starts proceedings for India. Aaron Finch and Phillip Hughes are the two Australian openers. Australia 6/0 (1 over

7th ODI Live Cricket Score: Rohit Sharma17:53 (IST): Rohit Sharma after his knock - Probably the best innings I have ever played. Scoring 200 is a wonderful feeling. I am not looking at the records, I am just hopeful that India wins tonight.

17:50 (IST): That's that! Rohit Sharma's 158-ball 209 powers India to 383/6 in 50 overs against Australia. He hit 12 fours and 16 sixes. He now holds the record for most sixes by a batsman in a ODI innings. Apart from the Rohit, skipper MS Dhoni scored 61 while Shikhar Dhawan smashed 60. 101 runs were scored in last five overs.

17:41 (IST): DOUBLE CENTURY! Rohit Sharma does it in style with a huge six and reaches the landmark off 156 balls.

17:17 (IST): DROPPED! Mahendra Singh Dhoni dropped by Glenn Maxwell for 29 off Clint McKay. India 288/4 (45.2 overs)

17:15 (IST): Rohit Sharma completes 1000 runs ODIs in 2013. He has scored seven fifties and two centuries this year. India 283/4 (45 overs)

7th ODI Live Cricket Score: Rohit Sharma17:04 (IST): DROPPED! Rohit Sharma dropped on 120 by Moises Henriques at deep square leg off James Faulkner. India 253/4 (42 overs)

16:47 (IST): Century! Rohit Sharma slams fourth century in the ODIs off 114 balls. His knock is laced with four 4s and six maximums. India 218/4 (37.4 overs)

16:29 (IST): WICKET! Brad Haddin takes a brilliant diving catch behind the stumps to get rid of Yuvraj Singh. Yuvraj was looking to play James Faulkner to third man and gets a thick outside edge. India 207/4 (33.5 overs)

16:09 (IST): WICKET! Xavier Doherty gets the breakthrough with Suresh Raina's (28) wicket. He also breaks the 72-run stand. India 185/3 (29.3 overs)

15:59 (IST): Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina have added 56 runs for the third wicket. Shane Watson walks off the field with a muscle pull. India 169/2 (28 overs)

7th ODI Live Cricket Score: Australian team15:40 (IST): FIFTY! Rohit Sharma scores his 20th half-century in ODIs off 71 balls. India 127/2 (23.4 overs)

15:26 (IST): WICKET! Virat Kohli is run out for a duck. Kohli plays it mid on a calls for a single, Rohit Sharma responds late with a no but that proved costly for India. Suresh Raina joins Rohit. India 113/2 (19.4 overs)

15:21 (IST): WICKET! Xavier Doherty gets the first breakthrough as he traps Shikhar Dhawan for 60. This is the first wicket for left-arm spinner Doherty in the series. India 112/1 (19 overs)

15:07 (IST): It has stopped raining and umpires are having a look at the ground. Super soppers are clearing the excess water. Play will resume at 15:15 IST.

7th ODI Live Cricket Score: Rohit Sharma14:57 (IST): STAT! Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma are involved in over hundred-run opening stand for the sixth time. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly lead the Indian tally with 21 hundred-plus partnerships followed by Sachin and Virender Sehwag - 12 times.

14:50 (IST): Match has been stopped due to rain and the players are asked to leave the field. The entire square is covered. India 107/0 (17 overs)

14:44 (IST): Aaron Finch looks to be in trouble here. He injures his leg while trying to stop a boundary from Shikhar Dhawan, who cuts Glenn Maxwell to the deep extra cover for a boundary. India 103/0 (16 overs)

14:38 (IST): FIFTY! Shikhar Dhawan slams fifth half-century in ODIs off 43 deliveries. His knock is laced with eight fours. India 97/0 (15 overs)

14:16 (IST): Indian openers have looked dominant in the first ten overs of mandatory powerplay. As many as nine fours and one six have been scored. India 64/0 (10 overs)

14:12 (IST): Rohit Sharma, who is playing a bit cautiously, hits pacer James Faulkner for a huge six over extra cover - first six of Indian innings. India 60/0 (9 overs)

7th ODI Live Cricket Score: Shikhar Dhawan13:57 (IST): Shikhar Dhawan is unstoppable at the moment as he once again scores three fours in over over, this time off Nathan Coulter-Nile. India 45/0 (6 overs)

13:49 (IST): Nathan Coulter-Nile to Shikhar Dhawan - top edge but safe. Dhawan looks to pull it but ends up top edging it which falls in no mans land at backward square leg. India 29/0 (4 overs)

13:44 (IST): Rohit Sharma hits Nathan Coulter-Nile for first boundary of Indian innings. Shikhar Dhawan joins him with three consecutive fours off Clint McKay. India 26/0 (3 overs)

13:30 (IST): India openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are out in the middle. Clint McKay opens the bowling attack for Australia.

13:20 (IST): Teams:

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vinay Kumar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami

Australia: Phillip Hughes, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, George Bailey (c), Glenn Maxwell, Adam Voges, Brad Haddin (w), James Faulkner, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty, Nathan Coulter-Nile

13:04 (IST): TOSS! Australia skipper George Bailey opts to bowl against India at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Nathan Coulter-Nile comes in for Mitchell Johnson in Australia's playing XI. India bring back Vinay Kumar in place of Amit Mishra.

12:50 (IST): Weather update: It's bright and sunny at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore with 27 degrees centigrade. Humidity is 62 per cent.

* With two matches washed out, two won by India and two by Australia, the seven-match ODI series between the two teams has been absolutely fascinating. (Recap: Results | Stats) Fans have been treated to unbelievable cricket as twice in the series, scores in excess of 700 were posted. Yet, no one team has managed to gain bragging rights and the see-saw battle between the two boils down to the final ODI at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here.

* Chinnaswamy Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for Team India. The hosts have played Australia here in five ODIs and have won three and lost just one. In fact, the Indian team registered three consecutive wins against the Aussies here between 1989 and 2001 before losing a 2003 ODI. (More about the venue here)

* While both teams have been equally matched so far, the visitors may rue sending Mitchell Johnson back. The pacer was the among fellow bowlers and with seven wickets and an economy of 5.68, ensured a tight grip on the Indian batsmen while most others were being pelted. Johnson though was earlier sent back home to gear up for the Ashes.

* Apart from Johnson, not many bowlers have had a comfortable series. Virat Kohli, for India, has ensured that runs flow like water but he agrees that new ODI rules have made life a whole lot easier for batsmen and a nightmare for the bowlers.

IPL 2013 Schedule IPL 6 Time Table

Date and Time

Match Details and Series

Date and Time     Match Details and Series
Wed Apr 3

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     1st IPL - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Thu Apr 4

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     2nd IPL - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Fri Apr 5

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     3rd IPL - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Pune Warriors
Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Sat Apr 6

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     4th IPL - Delhi Daredevils vs Rajasthan Royals
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Sat Apr 6

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     5th IPL - Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians
MA Chidambaram Stadium - Chepauk, Chennai
Sun Apr 7

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     6th IPL - Pune Warriors vs Kings XI Punjab
Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, Pune
Sun Apr 7

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     7th IPL - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Mon Apr 8

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     8th IPL - Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Tue Apr 9

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     9th IPL - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Tue Apr 9

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     10th IPL - Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Daredevils
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Wed Apr 10

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     11th IPL - Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings
Punjab C.A. Stadium, Mohali
Thu Apr 11

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     12th IPL - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Thu Apr 11

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     13th IPL - Pune Warriors vs Rajasthan Royals
Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, Pune
Fri Apr 12

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     14th IPL - Delhi Daredevils vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Sat Apr 13

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     15th IPL - Mumbai Indians vs Pune Warriors
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Sat Apr 13

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     16th IPL - Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
MA Chidambaram Stadium - Chepauk, Chennai
Sun Apr 14

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     17th IPL - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Sun Apr 14

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     18th IPL - Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Mon Apr 15

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     19th IPL - Chennai Super Kings vs Pune Warriors
MA Chidambaram Stadium - Chepauk, Chennai
Tue Apr 16

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     20th IPL - Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Punjab C.A. Stadium, Mohali
Tue Apr 16

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     21st IPL - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Daredevils
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Wed Apr 17

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     22nd IPL - Pune Warriors vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, Pune
Wed Apr 17

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     23rd IPL - Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Thu Apr 18

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     24th IPL - Delhi Daredevils vs Chennai Super Kings
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Fri Apr 19

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     25th IPL - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kings XI Punjab
Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Sat Apr 20

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     26th IPL - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Sat Apr 20

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     27th IPL - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Sun Apr 21

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     28th IPL - Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Sun Apr 21

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     29th IPL - Kings XI Punjab vs Pune Warriors
Punjab C.A. Stadium, Mohali
Mon Apr 22

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     30th IPL - Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals
MA Chidambaram Stadium - Chepauk, Chennai
Tue Apr 23
16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     31st IPL - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Pune Warriors
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Tue Apr 23

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     32nd IPL - Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI Punjab
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Wed Apr 24

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     33rd IPL - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Thu Apr 25

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     34th IPL - Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
MA Chidambaram Stadium - Chepauk, Chennai
Fri Apr 26
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     35th IPL - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Sat Apr 27

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     36th IPL - Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Sat Apr 27

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     37th IPL - Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Sun Apr 28

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     38th IPL - Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders
MA Chidambaram Stadium - Chepauk, Chennai
Sun Apr 28

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     39th IPL - Delhi Daredevils vs Pune Warriors
International Cricket Stadium, Raipur
Mon Apr 29

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     40th IPL - Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Mon Apr 29

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     41st IPL - Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Tue Apr 30

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     42nd IPL - Pune Warriors vs Chennai Super Kings
Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, Pune
Wed May 1

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     43rd IPL - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians
Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Wed May 1

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     44th IPL - Delhi Daredevils vs Kolkata Knight Riders
International Cricket Stadium, Raipur
Thu May 2

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     45th IPL - Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab
MA Chidambaram Stadium - Chepauk, Chennai
Thu May 2

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     46th IPL - Pune Warriors vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, Pune
Fri May 3

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     47th IPL - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Sat May 4

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     48th IPL - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Daredevils
Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Sun May 5

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     49th IPL - Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Sun May 5

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     50th IPL - Rajasthan Royals vs Pune Warriors
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Mon May 6

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     51st IPL - Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Punjab C.A. Stadium, Mohali
Tue May 7

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     52nd IPL - Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Daredevils
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Tue May 7

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     53rd IPL - Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Wed May 8

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     54th IPL - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings
Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Thu May 9

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     55th IPL - Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals
Punjab C.A. Stadium, Mohali
Thu May 9

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     56th IPL - Pune Warriors vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, Pune
Fri May 10
20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     57th IPL - Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Sat May 11

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     58th IPL - Pune Warriors vs Mumbai Indians
Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, Pune
Sat May 11

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     59th IPL - Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Punjab C.A. Stadium, Mohali
Sun May 12

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     60th IPL - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore
JSCA International Cricket Stadium, Ranchi
Sun May 12

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     61st IPL - Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Mon May 13

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     62nd IPL - Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Tue May 14

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     63rd IPL - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Tue May 14

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     64th IPL - Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils
MA Chidambaram Stadium - Chepauk, Chennai
Wed May 15

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     65th IPL - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Pune Warriors
JSCA International Cricket Stadium, Ranchi
Wed May 15

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     66th IPL - Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Thu May 16

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     67th IPL - Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils
HPCA Stadium, Dharmasala
Fri May 17

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     68th IPL - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals
Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Sat May 18

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     69th IPL - Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians
HPCA Stadium, Dharmasala
Sat May 18

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     70th IPL - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings
M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Sun May 19

16:00 local | 10:30 GMT     71st IPL - Pune Warriors vs Delhi Daredevils
Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, Pune
Sun May 19

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     72nd IPL - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Rajiv Gandhi Int. Stadium, Hyderabad
Tue May 21

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     Qualifier 1 IPL - TBC vs TBC (1st Placed Team vs 2nd Placed Team)
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Wed May 22

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     Eliminator IPL - TBC vs TBC (3rd Placed Team vs 4th Placed Team)
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Fri May 24

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     Qualifier 2 IPL - TBC vs TBC (Winner of Eliminator vs Loser of Qualifer 1)
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Sun May 26

20:00 local | 14:30 GMT     Final IPL - TBC vs TBC (Winner of Q1 vs Winner of Q2)
Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Record-breaking Chris Gayle leads RCB’s big win over Pune Warriors

Riding on Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 66-ball 175, Royal Challengers Bangalore registered a crushing 130-run win over Pune Warriors in their IPL match at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Chris Gayle rubbed more salt in Pune Warriors’ wounds when he picked up two wickets in the final over of the innings.

Chasing a record total of 263, Pune Warriors could only score 133 for the loss of nine wickets.

Pune Warriors India lost half of their side at the score of 100.

Pune team reached the 100-run mark in 78 balls. Seamer Ravi Rampaul picked up his second and Bangalore’s fifth when he dismissed Steven Smith, who scored a brisk 31-ball 41 with the help of six boundaries.

Murali Karthik gave Bangalore first breakthrough as he dismissed Pune’s Robin Uthappa in the very second ball of the first over.

Ravi Rampaul picked up the second wicket for Bangalore when he sent skipper Aaron Finch back in the dug out.

Seamer Jaydev Unadkat picked up two quick wickets as he scalped Luke Wright and Yuvraj Singh to dent Pune’s mammoth run chase

Earlier, Chris Gayle hit the fastest century in the history of professional cricket blasting an incredible 175 off 66 balls as Royal Challengers Bangalore posted a record 263 for five.

Gayle hit the fastest century, off just 30 balls, and the highest-ever individual score in a T20 game surpassing Kolkata Knight Riders‘ Brendon McCullum who hit 158 off 73 balls against RCB at this very Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Incidentally, RCB’s total was also the highest-ever total in any T20 game.

Put into bat, it was ‘Gayle Force’ that blew away the Pune Warriors as the big-bodied Jamaican showed his power-hitting ability as he struck 13 fours and 17 sixes en route the fastest ever T20 century off only 30 balls. 154 out of his 175 runs came in boundaries and off only 30 scoring strokes.

Typically, he brought up his century with a six off Ashoke Dinda that sailed over the stadium and in the process also damaged the roof.

The carnage started from the second over bowled by rookie paceman Ishwar Pandey. Playing his first IPL match, Pandey found out what top-level cricket was all about as Gayle hit him for five boundaries taking 21 runs of that over.

Mitchell Marsh and Aaron Finch got even worst treatments as they went for 28 and 29 runs in their respective overs as both were clobbered for four sixes each.

AB de Villiers also played his part to perfection with a cameo scoring 31 off eight balls (3×4, 3×6).

Earlier, Aaron Finch will continue as Pune captain he has won the toss and they will bowl first.

Royal Challengers are unchanged.

In Pune Mitchell Marsh is in for Ajantha Mendis and Ali Murtaza comes in for Rahul Sharma

Teams

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli (captain), AB de Villiers, Saurabh Tiwary, Arun Karthik (wk), Ravi Rampaul, Vinay Kumar, Murali Kartik, RP Singh, Jaidev Unadkat

Pune Warriors: Aaron Finch (captain), Robin Uthappa (wk), Yuvraj Singh, Steven Smith, Luke Wright, Mitchell Marsh, Mithun Manhas, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishwar Pandey, Ali Murtaza, Ashok Dinda

Brief scores
Royal Challengers Bangalore 263 for 5 (Gayle 175*, Dilshan 33, de Villiers 31*)
Pune Warriors 133 for 9 (Smith 41, Gayle 2-5)
Result Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 130 runs
Points Royal Challengers Bangalore 2, Pune Warriors 0
MOM Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

CSK eve third consecutive title as they take on KKR

 Less than 50 days ago, you would be hard-pressed to remember where you had heard the name Sunil Narine.

In fact, when Kolkata Knight Riders had bought him for the astronomical sum of $ 700,000 at the Indian Premier League auction in Bangalore in February, team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan was asked why they were breaking the bank for an unknown off-spinner from Trinidad.

Khan's answer had been simple: "We wanted him, we got him, and the price was high due to a bidding war with Mumbai Indians." Narine turned 24 on Saturday, and the difference between him then and now is the fame and recognition that has come with being the biggest game-changer in this edition of the multi-million dollar league. And yet, on the field, the man continues to be a bit shy and unassuming, letting his mysterious variations speak volumes for his talent.

He is the Knight Riders' bowling mainstay, no matter what the match situation is, and how he fares in perhaps the biggest pressure game of his life so far will probably decide whether fans will get to see a new champion when the dust has settled over the final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Sunday.

The Knight Riders' run to the final has not been due to Narine alone, for in cricket, one individual can't win you every game. Their campaign has been steered wonderfully by Gautam Gambhir, who has been by far their best batsman, and the sort of motivational captain that can take the fight to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's two-time defending champions, the Chennai Super Kings.

The rest of the team members have been pushed to the background, but have chipped in with performances here and there to help them win nine out of the 11 games after a slow start. But the key for them has been the performance of the back-up spinners, and Shakib Al Hasan and Iqbal Abdulla have supported Narine very well.

The Super Kings, on the other hand, sneaked in to the play-offs, but finally came back to their most dangerous form when faced with the prospect of losing their crown.

They knocked the stuffing out of Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator, before stomping hard on the league leaders, Delhi Daredevils in the second Qualifier. Murali Vijay's return to form with a century is just the sort of boost their top-order needed at this stage, since a good start coupled with their long batting line-up means they can put up or chase down any score. That and the experience of having played three previous finals will come in handy.

The one factor that gives Chennai a huge edge is the sea of yellow shirts that turns up for every game, and it will be up to Narine and Gambhir to silence them. 'Yatra pratibha avsara prapnotihi' (where talent gets an opportunity) reads the Sanskrit inscription on the IPL trophy, and it is up to the Knight Riders to make use of the opportunity to showcase their talent and break Chennai's stranglehold on it.

Knight Riders beat Daredevils, qualify for main

Pune, May 23:Kolkata Knight Riders continued their good run and secured their maiden final berth in the Indian Premier League(IPl) final with a convincing 18-run win over Delhi Daredevils in Qualifier-I at the Subrato Roy Sahara stadium here Tuesday.

Yusuf Pathan (40 not out) and Laxmi Ratan Shukla (24 not out) put on a stand of 56 runs off 24 balls catapulting the Knight Riders to a score of 162 for four in 20 overs. Pathan was also adjudged as Man of the Match.

Jacques Kallis and Sunil Narine took two wickets each as they helped their team restrict the Daredevils to 144 for eight.

For Daredevils, however, all is not lost as they still have a chance to qualify for the final. In the second qualifier, slated for Friday, Daredevils will face the winner of eliminator between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. The winner of the second qualifier will face Knight Riders in Sunday's grand finale in Chennai.

For Knight Riders it was their third consecutive win and second against Daredevils in the season.

Daredevils had their hopes pinned on a good start by David Warner (7) and Virender Sehwag (10) scoring freely.

However, a poor decision by umpire Billy Doctrove ended the Australian's innings prematurely. Sehwag edged one off the bowling of Lakshmipathy Balaji in the very next ball to give the Knight Riders a double breakthrough.

Naman Ojha (28) and Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene (40) brought the Daredevils back into the chase. The two put on a partnership of 59 runs off 49 balls for the third wicket as Delhi seemed well on their way to chasing down Kolkata's target.

Ojha's wicket brought the run rate down. Venugopal Rao (13)could not get the bowlers away and that piled the pressure on the Sri Lankan at the other end. Jayawardene tried to hit one out of the park but got stumped off the bowling Iqbal Abdulla. After his wicket it was all downhill for the Daredevils.

Delhi management made a blunder by not sending in Ross Taylor up the order as Pawan Negi (14) and Rao failed to close in on Kolkata's score. Taylor (11) was left with too much to do in the need and West Indian spinner Narine wrapped the match for Kolkata by taking two wickets of successive balls in the final over.

Earlier, electing to bat, skipper Gautam Gambhir yet again gave his team a flying start scoring 32 off 16 balls. Gambhir and Brend on McCullum (31) put on 48 runs for the first wicket before the former got run outin a mix up between the two.

The left-hander's wicket led to a dip in the scoring rate for the Kolkata. McCullum and Jacques Kallis (33) put on a stand of 39 runs off 41 balls for the second wicket.

The New Zealander trying to up the ante, holed out in the deep off the bowling of spinner Pawan Negi. Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan (1) who came in next did not last too long as he edged one to keeper Ojha.

With the score on 106 for four at the end of the 15th over, Kolkata seemed to be in a spot of bother however, Yusuf Pathan, who has been woefully short of form this season, strung a match winning partnership with Laxmi Ratan Shukla (24 not out).

Kolkata scored 63 off the last five overs as they got out of a sticky situation and posted a stiff target.

India vs Sri Lanka Live Score: Asia Cup – 2nd ODI

Zeenews Sports Bureau

Mirpur: The preview of the first match of the Asia cup for India revolved around the all elusive 100th 100 for Sachin Tendulkar. But in the in the 6th over when Lakmal sent the Master Blaster packing, the unsung hero Gautam Gambhir (100 runs)and the pin-up boy of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli (108 runs) took centre stage as India defeated Sri Lanka by 50 runs in their opening encounter of the Asia Cup here at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 304 set by India, Sri Lanka started off rather ominously only to lose track of the chase owing to some tight bowling lead by Irfan Pathan (8.1-1-32-4) and Ravichandran Ashwin (9-0-39-3).

For Sri Lanka, the captain stepped up again as he racked up 78 runs in just 59 balls first up and along with Kumar Sangakkara (65) kept the islanders on track chasing 304 but the rest of the batsmen failed to make any significant contributions down the order.

Delhi lads steamroll Lanka bowling

Facing the Lankans first up in the Asia Cup was in a way chance at redemption for the Indians after a dismal CB series and after being put into bat by Jayawardene, India had a disappointing start. Sachin Tendulkar was out to a Lakmal full toss for just six runs. Without Malinga in the squad, the early breakthrough would have been bonus for Lanka but Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli ensured that the Lankans would not celebrate another wicket for the next 37 overs.

In an absolute belter of a track like Mirpur where the ball stopped occasionally, both the Delhi lads got the measure of the pitch quickly and started the 205-run partnership without much hoopla. With the ball coming at knee length rather than at chest, both where at ease hitting in the conventional ‘V’ rather often and coupled with some good running between the wicket there was no stopping the duo.

Their innings was identical to say the least with Kohli amping up the tempo later in the innings with some ariel shots. The always proactive Jayawardene was clearly out of ideas to break the partnership and without his prime bowler Malinga to bank upon, he had to do with his part-time spinners. Gauti in particular enjoyed milking them, occasionally dancing down the track for quick singles and doubles.

The fielding, which generally is the highlight of the Sri Lankan outfit was sloppy. Dinesh Chandimal who was the culprit of dropping absolute dollies in Australia spilled a very crucial chance of dismissing Gambhir when he was on 37. Misfields from generally reliable Nuwan Kulasekara and even Jayawardene did not help their cause.

Though, both Kohli and Gambhir notched up a partnership of 205, the run-rate was a manageable 5.54 runs per over courtesy tight bowling by Lakmal and Mahroof in the middle overs. But without the penetrative effect of taking wickets, Lanka where under the scanner for a run feast in the death overs and that is what exactly happened.

Raina and Dhoni come to the party

When Mahroof scalped both Gambhir and Kohli in the same over, it seemed that the momentum might have been halted and India might as well experience their death over collapse. But, this being the subcontinent, Dhoni and Raina knew they were on familiar territories as they started the thrust from a well laid platform by the Delhi lads. The last 10 overs produced 95 runs and the last 5 were milked for 63. Raina’s 17-ball 30 included his trademark one-knee hoicks towards deep midwicket and Dhoni’s 26-ball 46 had his helicopters and inside out hoists.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and opted to bowl first in the second ODI of the Asia Cup 2012 on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka are handicapped with the absence of pace spearhead Lasith Malinga. He will be replaced by Suranga Lakmal. India opted for Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Yusuf Pathan.

India face a tough test in their opening fixture as they face an in-form Sri Lankan side in the Asia Cup 2012 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur today.

With a series of failures in the recent past, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and men are left to prove a point to earn back the battered reputation.

Pitch report: Even though there was some grass present on the pitch it would hardly change the nature of the pitch. Expert opinion: Should be good for batting.

"We were looking to bowl first as well. It is not a bad thing to bat first as well. We are happy with the team that we have got. We are going through a transition phase, it is not a settled side, youngsters are still looking to seal places in the side, there is a lot of competition, which is good. It is good to have the experience of Sachin in the side," Dhoni said after losing toss.

India: 

Dhoni, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, R Vinay Kumar.

Sri Lanka: 

Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Seekkuge Prasanna. 

Tendulkar might play last two ODIs of WI series

Ahmedabad: His 100th international century eagerly awaited across the nation, veteran Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar is likely to play the last two one-dayers against the West Indies.

Tendulkar, who failed to reach the milestone despite coming close at least twice during the Test series, might be selected for the last two matches of the ongoing ODI series when national selectors meet on Monday.
 
India leads the five-match rubber 2-0 with the third ODI scheduled on Monday.

Tendulkar had been rested from the squad for the first three matches but sources say the 38-year-old wants to play the remaining two matches of the series scheduled on December 8 and 11 in Indore and Chennai respectively.

The Kris Srikkanth-led selection panel will meet tomorrow to pick the squad for the remainder of the series besides injured pacer Praveen Kumar`s replacement for the upcoming four Tests against Australia.

Tendulkar`s last international century came on March 12 during a World Cup group league match against South Africa at Nagpur.

It has been more than eight months that the entire nation has been waiting with bated breath for the elusive century.

The last missed opportunity came in the third Test against Caribbeans when Tendulkar was dismissed six runs short of the milestone.