Somerset beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 5 wickets

Roelef van der Merwe may not be an easily recognisable name but the right-handed batsman packs too many punches. The all-rounder stole the thunder from his more illustrious countrymate Jacques Kallis, who earlier had struck a brilliant unbeaten 74 (65b; 4x4, 4x6) to salvage the Knight Riders' innings.

Chasing 162 in their Champions League Group B match, Somerset lost Chris Jones with 15 on the board but van der Merwe stood tall as his audacious strokeplay stunned the Knight Riders. He struck nine fours and two sixes - one of which was a stunning reverse sweep off Shakib al Hasan - in his 40-ball 73.

He and Peter Trego (28; 33b, 3x4) added 105 runs for the second wicket as Somerset seemed cruising towards victory.

However, Trego's run out turned the tide and the Knight Riders prised out a couple of wickets to bring the game back to life. But the Somerset batsmen didn't crack under the pressure and calmly collected the runs to take full points from the game.

Earlier, a well-paced half-century from Kallis and a Yusuf Pathan special breathed life into the Knight Riders' innings. Consistency may not be his forte but what Yusuf can do is to change the course of the innings in the blink of an eye. The big-hitting Baroda all-rounder did just that to take Knight Riders' to a competitive 161/3.

Pathan, who seemed far from comfortable running between the wickets, smashed four sixes off a hapless Arul Suppiah in the 15th over of the innings to bring the Knight Riders back into the game. The Kolkata outfit got 78 in the last six overs to make up for the poor start that they had after electing to bat.

Pathan remained unbeaten on 39 off 21 balls with four sixes to his credit but it was Kallis who provided the framework upon which Pathan built on. After Gautam Gambhir choose to make first use of the wicket, opener Manvinder Bisla got his side off to a flying start with two boundaries off the first two balls of the innings. But it was too good to last and Bisla (17; 13b, 2x4, 1x6) fell to medium-pacer Lewis Gregory.

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi the nawab on the field and off it Is No More...

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi was marked down as potentially one of the finest cricketers in the world while at Oxford a car accident cost him his right eye. However 'Tiger'continued to generate amazement with his batting as well as captaincy.

The Nawab of Pataudi Junior, as cricket knows him, died on Thursday at the age of 70.Otherwise known as Mansur Ali Khan, he was the son of a cricketer who played for England in the 1932-33 Bodyline series, again in 1934, and then led India on the 1946 tour of England, when the boy was five years old. That boy, fondly known as ‘Tiger’ to teammates and friends, revealed a special batting talent at Winchester College and Oxford University, and played for Sussex between 1957 and 1970, captaining the county in 1966.

Young Pataudi was marked down as potentially one of the finest cricketers in the world while at Oxford, but just before the Varsity match of 1961, he was involved in a car accident in which he lost his right eye. Astoundingly, having worked in the nets until he was satisfied that he could bat again at the highest level, he made his Test debut for India against England in Delhi later that same year, and generated amazement together with widespread admiration by scoring 103 at the Corporation Stadium, Madras, in his third Test.

Ten weeks later, ‘Tiger’ Pataudi found himself captaining India in the West Indies after Nari Contractor had suffered a serious head injury from a Charlie Griffith bouncer. The young man did his valiant best, but India were swept away 0-5. Then, in 1963-64, he led India against the visiting England side captained by MJK Smith, and failed in his first seven innings. People were shaking their heads and asking how a man with one eye could expect anything better.

Pataudi then came up with one of the most famous innings in Test history: 203 not out at the Ferozeshah Kotla in Delhi, India’s first double-century in a Test against England.

Still only 23 next season, he took on Bob Simpson’s Australians, making 128 not out at Madras and 86 and 53 in the next Test, at the Brabourne Stadium. His third Test century came off New Zealand’s bowling at the Eden Gardens early in 1965, soon followed by another in Delhi. Two years on, he failed against the touring West Indies side, though he fell to spin rather than pace. Onlookers had, by now, become largely oblivious to his visual handicap.

As glorious as any of his Test innings was his 148 against England in the 1967 Headingley Test, which had people wondering how good he might have been with two eyes.He scored freely from the bowling of John Snow, Ken Higgs, Robin Hobbs and Ray Illingworth.

Later that year, Pataudi led India in Australia and New Zealand, scoring steadily all the way, and stroking an 85 at Melbourne which persuaded Lindsay Hassett to compare him with Don Bradman. Pataudi battered fast bowler Graham McKenzie as if he were a mere medium-pacer.

Pataudi junior’s 46 Test matches brought him 2,793 runs at 34.91, with six centuries. All told, including his matches for Oxford, Sussex, Delhi and Hyderabad, he scored 15,425 runs in First Class cricket at an average of 33.67, with 33 centuries, the highest being that wondrous 203 in Delhi.

He had a debonair air about him and utilised a waspish sense of humour to keep his friends and acquaintances on their toes. His business involvements included editorship of Ananda Bazar’s Sportsworld magazine, and some modelling, and he resided in property in Pataudi and in the family palace in Bhopal.

He married the actress Sharmila Tagore, who bore him a son and two daughters. ‘Tiger’ Pataudi’s passing will be mourned not only across India but in England, where he made many friends.

KKR BEAT ACES IN QUALIFIER

Yusuf Pathan took two wickets in an over to rock Auckland Aces' run chase against Kolkata Knight Riders in the second CLT20 qualifier match at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday.
Pathan scalped Jimmy Adams (18) and Rob Quiney (0) in the tenth over soon after Aces' lost Lou Vincent (40) in the previous over.

Vincent and Adams compiled a 59-run stand to lead Auckland Aces' run chase after their chase got off to a disastrous start as Martin Guptill was run out on the first ball without facing a ball.

Knight Riders run charge hit a roadblock when they lost four wickets in three overs as they were restricted to 121/6 by Auckland.

Manvinder Bisla hit a 32-ball 45 before Michael Bates had him caught by Martin Guptill in the covers.

Openers Bisla and Jacques Kallis gave Knight Riders a fine start bringing up the team's fifty in the seventh over.

Auckland Aces came back in the game after the dismissal of Bisla.

Andre Adamas first clean bowled Yusuf Pathan and in the next over Robert Quiney took a superb diving catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Kallis (33) off Kyle Mills.

Mills struck again three balls later when he clean bowled Manoj Tiwary and in the next over Jimmy Adams ran out Ryan ten Doeschate with a direct hit.

Knight Riders then lost their sixth wicket when Shakib Al Hasan was run out by Andre Adams.

This was after Knight Riders captain Kallis won the toss and chose to bat.

In the run up to the tournament the Knight Riders received a huge setback in the form of captain Gautam Gambhir, who has been ruled out of the qualifiers after suffering a concussion when he hurt his head while attempting a catch during the England-India Test series.

To add to Knight Riders' problems, Gambhir is also uncertain for the main tournament if the Kolkata outfit progresses.

But Gambhir's absence, notwithstanding, the Knight Riders still hold an edge over Auckland.

On paper, the Kolkata outfit looks far more superior and stronger than the Kiwi side as it boasts of quality international cricketers like Eoin Morgan, Jacques Kallis, who has been named captain in place of Gambhir, Brett Lee, Yusuf Pathan, Manoj Tiwary and Laxmipathy Balaji.

On the other hand, the Auckland Aces too has some international flavour in captain Gareth Hopkins, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Daryl Tuffey and Kyle Mills.

Teams:

Kolkata Knight Riders: Jacques Kallis (Capt.), Manvinder Bisla, Shreevats Goswami, Manoj Tiwary, Yusuf Pathan, Ryan ten Doeschate, Shakib Al Hasan, Rajat Bhatia, Brett Lee, Iqbal Abdulla, Jaidev Unadkat.

Auckland Aces: Gareth Hopkins (Capt.), Jimmy Adams, Martin Guptill, Lou Vincent, Robert Quiney, Colin Munro, Andre Adams, Kyle Mills, Ronnie Hira, Michael Bates, Chris Martin.

Champions League T20 2011: Complete fixture & schedule

After the qualifying round the, the group stage match will start from September 23. The first match of the Group stage will be played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Warriors.

There are total 13 club teams, including four top IPL teams, participating in the CLT20 2011.

CLT20 teams: Auckland, Cape Cobras, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Leicestershire, Mumbai Indians (MI),  New South Wales, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Ruhuna, Somerset, South Australia, Trinidad & Tobago, Warriors.

There will be total 20 matches in the group stage follwed by two semifinals and final match.

Champions League Twenty20 2011: Schedule and fixture:

Fri Sep 23        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


1st Match, Group B - Royal Challengers Bangalore v Warriors
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore    

  
Sat Sep 24        
10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
16:00 IST   


2nd Match, Group A - Cape Cobras v New South Wales
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai    

  
Sat Sep 24        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


3rd Match, Group A - Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai    

 
Sun Sep 25        
10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
16:00 IST   


4th Match, Group B - Warriors v South Australia
Eden Gardens, Kolkata    

 
Sun Sep 25        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


5th Match, Group B - TBC v TBC
Eden Gardens, Kolkata    

  
Mon Sep 26        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


6th Match, Group A - Mumbai Indians v TBC
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore    

 
Tue Sep 27        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


7th Match, Group B - TBC v South Australia
Eden Gardens, Kolkata    

  
Wed Sep 28        
10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
16:00 IST   


8th Match, Group A - New South Wales v TBC
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai    

  
Wed Sep 28        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


9th Match, Group A - Chennai Super Kings v Cape Cobras
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai    

 
Thu Sep 29        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


10th Match, Group B - TBC v Royal Challengers Bangalore
Eden Gardens, Kolkata    

  
Fri Sep 30        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


11th Match, Group A - Mumbai Indians v Cape Cobras
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore    

  
Sat Oct 1        
10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
16:00 IST   


12th Match, Group B - South Australia v TBC
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore    

  
Sat Oct 1        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


13th Match, Group B - TBC v Warriors
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore    

 
Sun Oct 2        
10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
16:00 IST   


14th Match, Group A - Mumbai Indians v New South Wales
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai    

  
Sun Oct 2        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


15th Match, Group A - Chennai Super Kings v TBC
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai    

  
Mon Oct 3        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


16th Match, Group B - Royal Challengers Bangalore v TBC
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore    

  
Tue Oct 4        
10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
16:00 IST   


17th Match, Group A - Cape Cobras v TBC
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai    

  
Tue Oct 4        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


18th Match, Group A - Chennai Super Kings v New South Wales
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai    

  
Wed Oct 5        
10:30 GMT | 16:00 local
16:00 IST   


19th Match, Group B - Warriors v TBC
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore    

 
Wed Oct 5        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


20th Match, Group B - Royal Challengers Bangalore v South Australia
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore    

  
Fri Oct 7        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


1st Semi-Final - TBC v TBC (1st Group B v 2nd Group A)
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore    

  
Sat Oct 8        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


2nd Semi-Final - TBC v TBC (1st Group A v 2nd Group B)
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai    

  
Sun Oct 9        
14:30 GMT | 20:00 local
20:00 IST   


Final - TBC v TBC
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai 

Mr. Dependable bids Good Bye to ODI cricket...