This year, the wickets have been at and good for batting: Muralitharan
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s spin-bowling coach says the Impact Player rule is more advantageous for the batter than the bowler and the at pitches and fast out elds have contributed to higher scores
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s spin-bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharan on Saturday said that the Impact Player rule has been more advantageous for the batters than the bowlers. “This (rule) gives us extra 20-30 runs. People know how to use it. So, there’s an extra man for you when you are bowling or batting.
“It’s more advantageous for the batter than the bowler because you are not afraid of putting up a score. It’s like, ‘If I get out, there is a man behind me to cover me.’ So, there’s an extra man there, and they go out and play freely.
“When you put pressure on yourself, you freeze up and don’t play; if your mind is free, then seven out of 10 times it comes o¬. That’s the game every batter is doing at the moment. They are not scared of getting out,” he said here on the eve of his team’s clash against Chennai Super Kings.
He said that ¯at pitches and fast out¥elds this year have also contributed to higher scores. “This year, the wickets have been ¯at and very good (for batting).
The substitution rule has been a boon for batters like Head.
Everywhere you go, it’s very ¯at. Even in the bigger grounds, the wicket is ¯at and the out¥elds are very fast. That has also created another 20-30 runs. Earlier, 170-180 was a good total to defend. Now, it’s become 220-230. That’s 60
runs added.”
Speaking about the spinners in the ongoing IPL, he said: “The problem in India at the moment is, most of the spinners who are playing, are not spinning the ball. They are bowling quicker and not
able to spin the ball.
“The batters, if you see in the practice sessions, they do power-hitting to throwdowns. So, they’ve now gotten used to the ball coming straight at good speeds,” said Muralitharan.
UDHAGAMANDALAM: Cape Wickham (C. Umesh up) won the Hill Stamina Cup (2,000m), the main event of the races held here on Saturday (April 27).
The winner is owned by M/s. The Rajagiri Rubber & Produce Co rep. by Mr. & Mrs. Dilip Thomas and trained by J.E. Mckeown.
1. WOODBINE HANDICAP: QUEEN ANULA (K.V. Baskar) 1, Cloud Jumper (M.S. Deora) 2, Wisaka (Farid Ansari) 3 and Royal Nobility (Ram Nandan) 4. 7-3/4, 1 and 3-3/4. 1m 21.50s.
Owner: Dr. Murali Venkataswamy. Trainer: V. Ajith Kumar.
2. NILGIRIS FOREST TROPHY: KING’S BATTALION (Ashhad Asbar) 1, Krishvi (C. Umesh) 2, Annette (C. Brisson) 3 and Charukala (Hindu Singh) 4. 4-1/2, 5-1/4 and 11/4. 1m 28.53s.
Owner: Mrs. Kokila E. Trainer: Fahad Khan.
3. EMERALD VALLEY HANDICAP: GINGERSNAP (L.A. Rozario) 1, Malacca (Surya Prakash) 2, Memory Lane (A.S. Peter) 3 and Showmanship (B. Dharshan) 4. 4, 2 and nk. 1m 42.42s.
Owner: Mr. Tatineni Preasad Rao. Trainer: Suraj Shaw.
4. HILL STAMINA CUP: CAPE WICKHAM (C.Brisson) 2, Sweet Fragrance (Koshi Kumar) 3 and Alpha Domino (Ashhad Asbar) 4. 3-1/4, 1/2 and 3. 2m 10.31s.
Owners: M/s. The Rajagiri Rubber & Produce Co rep. by Mr. & Mrs. Dilip Thomas. Trainer: J.E. Mckeown.
5. ZURBARAN HANDICAP RAFFINATO (C. Umesh) 1, Despacito (M.S. Deora) 2, Saint Emilion (L.A. Rozario) 3 and Dazzling Princess (A.M. Tograllu) 4. 3/4, shd and 1-3/4. 1m 17.04s.
Owner: Mr. Cheriyan Fahad Khan
6. ZURBARAN HANDICAP (DIV. II): LEBUA (Koshi Kumar) 1, Wild Frank (S. Imran) 2, Conscious Keeper (Surya Prakash) 3 and Wood Art (Ramandeep) 4. 3, 2-1/2 and snk. 1m 16.42s.
Owner: Mr. M.A.M.R. Muthiah rep. M/s. GMMSR Advisory Services. Trainer: R. Ramanathan.
7. MOMENT OF GLORY HANDICAP: BLUE EYED BOY (Koshi Kumar) 1, Kallipos (Ramandeep) 2, Salome (S.J. Moulin) 3 and King O Star (Kuildeep Singh) 4. 3/4, 2 and hd. 1m 28.30s.
Owners: Mr. R.M. Ramaswamy, Dr. Annamalai V, Mr. D. Nagaraj & Mr. Sridharan M. Trainer: R. Ramanathan.
(DIV. I): Senthilkumar in Batch Open squash semifinals
National champion
Velavan Senthilkumar stormed into the semi¥nals of the Batch Open squash, defeating Czech Republic’s Jakub Solnicky 11-5, 11-6, 11-2 in Paris.
He will face Hong Kong's Andes Ling in the semi¥nals.
Fourth seed Akanksha Salunkhe lost to ¥fth ranked Alina Bushma of Ukraine 7-11, 7-11, 8-11 in the quarter¥nals of the Expression St. James
Open, a $20,000 PSA Challenger Tour event in Spring¥eld, US.
Martin wins crash-filled sprint at Spanish MotoGP
Jorge Martin extended his lead in the MotoGP standings as he won the Spanish Grand Prix sprint in Jerez on Saturday after Marc Marquez crashed out while leading late in the race.
Teenaged rookie Pedro Acosta was runner up to take second in the championship race as nine riders failed to ¥nish. Former world champion Fabio Quartararo started in 23rd of 25 but so spread out was the crash-shattered ¥eld that he managed to cross the line third.
But the Frenchman was later penalised eight seconds and relegated to ¥fth for low tyre pressure which cost Yamaha its ¥rst podium place of the season.