QPlay: Dhoni’s Pune Out Of Title Race, Manohar Quits BCCI & More

A last over thriller and MS Dhoni’s Pune Supergiants are out of the race for a spot in the knockouts.

1. Pune Lose by Four Runs Against Hyderabad

Despite a superb six-wicket haul by leg-spinner Adam Zampa, Rising Pune Supergiants suffered a narrow four-run loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad in an IPL clash to end their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage.

It was the best bowling figures by an Australian in T20s as Zampa claimed six for 19 in his four overs to help Pune restrict Sunrisers for a modest 137 for 8 after skipper David Warner elected to bat.

However, the Supergiants could not script a successful run chase as Sunrisers dished out a disciplined bowling effort, led by the veteran seamer Ashish Nehra, who claimed three wickets, to restrict Pune to 133-8 in 20 overs.

Click here for full match report.

2. Manohar Quits as BCCI President, Eyes Top ICC Post

Veteran administrator Shashank Manohar, who had vowed to clean Indian cricket in the wake of the IPL spot-fixing scandal, resigned from the post barely seven months into his tenure and is all set to become the first independent ICC Chairman.

In a letter addressed to BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur, Manohar said, “I hereby tender my resignation with immediate effect from the post of President of Board of Control for Cricket in India. I also resign with immediate effect as the representative of BCCI on the International Cricket Council, as also the Asian Cricket Council on which I was nominated by the General Body of BCCI.

Click here for full report.

3. Will be Surprised if Dhoni Stays Captain Till 2019 WC: Ganguly

Former captain Sourav Ganguly has said that he would be surprised if current limited overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni leads the Indian team in 2019 World Cup and backed Virat Kohli to be given the leadership role soon. Ganguly said the national selectors should take a call on this issue so that the country can plan for the future.

(MS) Dhoni has been captain for nine years, which is a long period. He has been fantastic in the way he has gone about his job as captain but does he have the ability in next four years to see India into the World in 2019. Does he have it in him to go for another four years? He has already given up Test cricket and now plays only ODIs and T20s.

Sourav Ganguly

However, Ganguly backed Dhoni to continue playing international cricket, saying India still “needs him”.

I am not saying he needs to quit cricket, I feel he should continue to play in the shorter formats of the game. India still needs him in the limited-overs cricket.

Sourav Ganguly

4. All I Am Asking For Are Trials: Sushil

Narsingh Yadav might be staking his claim to represent India at the Olympics, having clinched a berth in men’s 74kg freestyle, but double Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar has said all he is asking for is trails to chose the best wrestler for the Rio Games.

Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is yet to take a call on whether to hold the trials in men’s 74kg freestyle category between veteran Sushil and Narsingh.

“All I am asking for is trails. I am not saying that you send me to Rio because of my glorious past. I am only saying that whoever between me and Narsingh is better, should represent the country at Olympics. Since a quota belongs to the country and not to a particular individual, thus, when there are two good contenders, there must be a fair trial. There is a procedure that should be followed,” Sushil told PTI.

5. Stephen Curry is First Unanimous NBA MVP

Stephen Curry on Tuesday scaled heights never reached by NBA greats such as Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James when he became the first unanimous winner of the league’s Most Valuable Player award.

A day after returning from injury to playoff action with an explosive performance for the Golden State Warriors, Curry swept all 131 first-place votes to earn the game’s highest individual honour for a second straight season. He joined Johnson, Jordan and Steve Nash as the only guards to win the honour in consecutive campaigns, having dazzled NBA fans during the regular season with one astonishing display of shot-making after another.

6. West Ham Sink Man Utd in Upton Park Farewell Thriller

West Ham bade farewell to the Boleyn Ground after 112 years with a pulsating 3-2 victory over Manchester United to leave the visitors’ top-four hopes in tatters on Tuesday.

On an emotionally-charged night in east London, it looked as though Anthony Martial’s double had ruined the Hammers’ party but late headed goals from Michail Antonio and Winston Reid secured the win that almost took the roof off the old stadium.

After a 45-minute delay caused by United’s team bus being attacked outside the stadium, WestHam went ahead in the 10th minute when Diafra Sakho swept the ball home.

Martial turned the game on its head with two cool finishes in the 51st and 72nd minutes and United were heading for the top-four but Antonio headed in Dimitri Payet’s cross before Reid beat keeper David de Gea from close range.