Cricket Briefs

Yuvraj,Harbhajan announce Rs 1 lakh aid each to Arunima

Chandigarh: Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh announced a Rs one lakh monetary help each to national level football and volleyball player Arunima Sinha who lost her leg after being thrown out by robbers from a running train near Bareilly. Yuvraj described Arunima a brave sportsperson and wish her a speedy recovery. It is really unfortunate and tragic with what has happened to Arunima. She must be brave sportsperson who camec forward to fight against robbery, he said. Harbhajan said that Arunima should not lose heart. Her life is ahead of her and as a sportsperson it is our responsibility to help her. Arunima should not lose heart,because champions like her will overcome all obstacles. Id like to offer this small token of help and wish her all the very best in life, said Harbhajan.

Fielding cost us game against CSK,says Vettori

Chennai: Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori admitted that the fielding had been the difference between the two teams in his teams loss to Chennai Super Kings. I think fielding is what cost us the game,its a huge component,we dropped Hussey early on,and probably two other catches,I can think of 10 runs in the field that went through, Vettori said. Asked how he was going to turn around the fielding performance of the team,Vettori said,I think its an attitude thing. Its all about energy. A couple of things went wrong,big crowd,lot of noise amp; pressure,its still about attitude.

On dads advice,Hopes to stay back for entire IPL

Mumbai: Australian all-rounder James Hopes,whose father has been diagnosed with bowel cancer,put to rest all doubts surrounding his availability for Delhi Daredevils in the IPL,saying he will not leave the team midway and play the full season of the Twenty20 league. The former Kings XI Punjab player,who was bought for USD 350,000 in January auctions this year by the Delhi outfit,said his father has asked him to stay on and do well for his new team. My Dad has asked me to stay on and play the full IPL and be with my team through and through, said Hopes.

Rivals will now take us seriously: Jayawardene

Mumbai: Elated after the stunning eight-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians,IPL debutants Kochi Tuskers Kerala skipper Mahela Jayawardene is hoping that rivals will take his team more seriously from now on. The character that the guys have shown is brilliant. We have to keep fighting till the last. I think the rival teams will take us a little more seriously now following this victory. It gives us confidence as well, he said.

It was a good win. We were pretty close in the last two games. It is good to finish the game off and it is a big win against Mumbai Indians, the Sri Lankan said.

Story continues below this ad

Asked about his dismissal by Malinga,Jayawardene said,I knew what was coming. I knew how to play it but I missed it. It was a crucial moment of the match.