1. CSK Thrash RCB to Reach IPL 2015 Final
A clinical performance by Chennai Super Kings helped defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore by three wickets in the second qualifier to sail into the final of the IPL 2015, in Ranchi, making it a record sixth appearance in eight editions of the event.
CSK rode on veteran Mike Hussey’s 56 off 46 balls to chase down the modest 140-run target with just one ball to spare.
2. Pak Thumps Zimbabwe in T20 Thriller on Home Soil
Man of the match Mukhtar Ahmed’s smashing knock helped Pakistan beat Zimbabwe in the first T20 international played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Playing an international game on their home soil after six years, Pakistan finally achieved the target of 173, despite suffering a few hiccups towards the end. Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura won the toss and elected to bat first on a belter of a pitch. The openers Vusi Sibanda and Hamilton Masakadza gave a very good start before both fell with 58 runs on the board.
3. New Zealand Top Order Cruise to 303-2
New Zealand’s top order rode an easy pitch and some luck to knock off 303-2 and trail England by 86 runs on the second day of the first test at Lord’s on Friday.
A century opening stand by Martin Guptill and Tom Latham, followed by another century partnership between No. 3 Kane Williamson and No. 4 Ross Taylor, three of whom scored half-centuries, ensured New Zealand rubbed out the intimidation factor of England’s total of 389.
At stumps, Williamson was 92 not out, closing in on his 10th test century, and Taylor on 47.
4. Devendro Singh Advances to Final of Doha World Boxing Championships
Commonwealth Games silver-medallist L Devendro Singh (49kg) advanced to the final, while six others entered the semis as Indian boxers shone bright in the Doha International Tournament, a test event for the World Championships scheduled later this year.
Devendro, who got a bye in the opening round, entered the final after his Qatar rival Al Rafeek Yahea was declared medically unfit on Friday. Meanwhile, former Asian gold-medallist Shiva Thapa (56kg), Gaurav Bhiduri (52kg), Mandeep Jangra (69kg), Manish Kumar (60kg), Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Vikas Krishan (75kg) made the semifinals.
5. Djokovic Poised to Join Elite Club at Paris
Only injury or suffocating pressure can seemingly stop Novak Djokovic from completing a fabled career Grand Slam with long-awaited French Open glory.
The New Zealand Herald reports that the world No 1 enters the clay-court major on Monday an odds-on prospect after raising a fourth Masters 1000 trophy of the season in Rome and looking untouchable as he rides a 22-match winning streak.
Djokovic has barely lost a match since becoming a father in October and swept past world No 2 Roger Federer in straight sets in his last outing to add an exclamation mark to his clear title favouritism.
The Serb has arrived in Paris with high hopes before and left disappointed, notably in 2011 when Federer ended his stunning 43-match unbeaten run in the semifinals.
6. I am Not Messiah, Can’t Change Indian football Overnight: Constantine
Amid hopes of the country’s football standards reaching new heights with the advent of the Indian Super League, national team head coach Stephen Constantine on Friday expressed his conviction that things could change soon, but said he was not a messiah to bring about a new era overnight.
I am not a messiah to change the country’s football infrastructure overnight. We have been below average a long time. But I believe it is going to change soon. We have done some very wrong things but some little right things too. Personally, I would want to break into the top 100 soon.
– Stephen Constantine
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