Kings thrash Challengers

The Australian had the highest batting average in the IPL before the clash and he cemented his position as the competition's best batsman with another swashbuckling performance in Mohali.
He smashed nine fours and two sixes to lead the Kings to 144 for one in reply to Bangalore's 143, and clinched the win with a single to cover off Praveen Kumar with more than four overs to spare.He was assisted by countrymen James Hopes and Luke Pomersbach, whose 34 off 24 balls helped easily chase down a meagre target.The Kings made a slow start but Hopes was soon racking up the runs, matching the power of three sixes with the finesse of a number of clever singles.He made 27 off 19 balls before going for one slog too many off Vinay Kumar and was caught by Dale Steyn at deep extra cover.Marsh was dropped by substitute fielder Bharat Chipli at mid-on in the fifth over as the Challengers again showed lacklustre fielding, and they were made to pay as the batsman went on to produce another sublime showing.In the 10th over he powered Steyn for three fours and a six, and dished out similar treatment to Zaheer Khan, hitting the Indian paceman for three successive fours to bring his side to within three runs of their target.

ICC to share security responsibility

"The ICC security delegation will visit Pakistan in the end of current month and will visit the venues for the Champions Trophy," PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf told reporters after his arrival from Dubai where he met ICC executives.Ashraf added that Pakistan will host the Asia Cup as scheduled from June 24 to July 6."Neither ICC nor Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have any reservations over security in Pakistan and the coming season will be full of cricket," he said.The PCB chief also exuded confidence that the board's efforts to appoint former Pakistan captain Majid Khan for the ICC cricket committee chairmanship will bring fruitful results."Hopefully, Majid will win this honour. I have talked to chiefs of various boards and signs are bright for Majid," he said.

Jones seeks truth over Fowler fitness

Cardiff boss Dave Jones expects Robbie Fowler to be "honest and truthful" in assessing his fitness ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final.owler has until Thursday to prove he is fit to face Portsmouth at Wembley after recovering from a hip problem.he former Liverpool striker's last outing came back in December but Jones revealed he could still make the bench for what will be City's first FA Cup final since 1927."We have to make sure that everything about him is right. The only person that will give me that knowledge is Robbie himself," he said."Robbie has been around football long enough to be honest and truthful and say, 'look, yes I am fine' and at the moment that's what he's saying and in training he looks fine."But he has to be honest with me and say, 'look, there's no nigles, there's nothing' because I don't want to lose him for another three or four months just for the sake of one game - I know it's the biggest game, but for one game."It's important that he is right for that game as much as he will be for the rest of his playing career."ones insisted there was no reason his squad should be fazed by the occasion on Saturday and refuted suggestions his side might rely on the experience of Fowler and fellow seasoned campaigners Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Trevor Sinclair."Even someone like Joe Ledley at 21 years of age has played against Brazil, he's played in big games himself for the national team. That experience will help him," Jones said."And then Gavin Rae and Kevin McNaughton are Scottish internationals, Stephen McPhail has played in a European Cup semi-final."So even though Jimmy, Robbie and Trevor bring that experience with them, we also have some younger elements in the squad that have also had good experience in the years that they have been playing.