62 SPORT FRIDAY APRIL 27 2018 Mercurial Van Der Meulen hopes Dhoni on fire in IPL AP

CAPTAIN MS Dhoni bludg- to fire for Palmerston eoned an unbeaten 70 off 34 balls to lead Chennai Super Kings to the top of the IPL JOSH SPASARO unbeaten on 121 from 144 balls. tle daughter Evelyn will give “We’ll just keep going about points table with a five- “I have no animosity towards me extra motivation. our business.” victory over Royal Challengers PALMERSTON w i c k e t - PINT – they gave me a really “I’ve been doing “I’ve been doing a lot of fit- Shelton starred with 91 not- Bangalore. keeper-batsman Robbie Van good opportunity last year and ness work and I felt really good out against the Tigers. Dhoni smashed seven sixes Der Meulen admits his I learnt a lot from the coaching a lot of fitness behind the stumps.” “Jacob Dickman’s 43 was and a four and featured in a was “below par” last year. role I had there,” Van Der work and I felt Meanwhile, Darwin pretty handy as well. We’ve put match-winning century stand At PINT, he only managed Meulen said. Luke Shelton said all the talk a lot of pressure on me and him with Ambati Rayudu (82) as one fifty (79 v Tracy Village), “I’ve got a lot of respect for really good behind that his team would break their to score some runs at the start Chennai reached 5-207 with two posting 321 total runs at an av- that club but I live in Palmer- the stumps” premiership-winning streak – of the year with some guys un- balls to spare. Rayudu opened erage of 26.75. ston, so coming back here was which currently stands at three available, so it was good for the innings with the in-form But he believes he has a new easier for me and my family. R O B B I E VA N on the trot – would only suit both of us to get some runs,” , who scored a 57- lease of life back at his junior “And there’s such a great DER MEULEN the Eagles well. Shelton said. ball century against Rajesthan club this year. structure here at Palmerston – “Everyone’s talking about “I’ve been a bit frustrated Royals, but the Australian was That was evident when he we have a great committee and he said. “So it was nice to get who we’ve lost and how we’re getting myself out playing stu- dismissed for seven after facing helped Palmerston to a con- playing group.” the monkey off my back so not going to be as strong,” pid shots (at New Town play- only four deliveries. vincing seven-wicket win over Van Der Meulen’s life away early this season. Shelton said after Darwin’s ing first grade in Hobart over Earlier, AB de Villiers (68) Tracy Village in Round 2 of from the cricket field is a har- “This year I promised my- convincing 101-run win over the summer he averaged and Quinton de Kock (53) had Darwin Premier Grade action monious one, and that showed self I’d go all in and give it my Nightcliff last Saturday. 23.85), so I put it on myself to lifted Bangalore to a daunting last Saturday, playing a star- in his batting last Saturday. all for my family. “But behind closed doors try and knuckle down a bit total of 8-205 with their 103-run ring role with captain Alex “Last year, I got some 30s “They are so supportive of we’re still pretty confident more and show some more re- second wicket stand after Dhoni Bleakley (91no) and finishing but didn’t quite go on with it,” me and playing well for my lit- we’ll be right up there this year. sponsibility.” won the toss and opted to field. “You will win some, you’ll lose some but the job of the fin- isher is to finish the job and help others,” Dhoni said. Rayudu and Dhoni put Chennai back in the hunt with some brilliant display of power hitting after Chennai struggled at 4-74 in nine overs. Legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2-26) and seamer Umesh Yadav (1-23) bowled economical spells before Rayudu, who hit eight sixes and three fours, and Dhoni took charge. Ashes ball tampering questions

BEN HORNE

CRICKET Australia’s cultural review into the men’s team will not investigate suspicions of ball-tampering during the Ashes, aired by Alastair Cook. The England star and for- mer captain launched a gren- ade earlier this week when he declared his side had suspected Australia of tampering with the ball during the deciding third Ashes Test in Perth. Cook said he had no evi- dence to back up his claims, but his “curiosity” at how he felt Australia had reversed the ball in wet conditions reflects the dark stain the events in Cape Town has now left on the baggy green. It has also lit the fuse for an Spinner Fawad Ahmed was a surprise axing from ’s list of contracted players for next season Picture: MICHAEL DODGE/GETTY absorbing encounter between the old enemies when – with no love lost – they clash in a se- ries of one-dayers in the UK in Shock as Ahmed axed from Victoria’s list June. Cricket Australia are preparing to draw up the scope and terms of the independent BEN HORNE than five years ago, Ahmed has roster changes if he’s to earn a the respectable average of 31 gible for Ashes selection, and cultural review they’ve now been shunted towards the lifeline in first-class cricket. runs conceded for every scalp although he missed out, he did launched into the failings FAWAD Ahmed’s inspiring exits despite finishing the sum- Despite Ahmed’s contri- taken. play one-dayers and Twen- which led to one of the most cricket career is in limbo after mer as the second-best per- bution to Victoria’s era of dom- Australian selectors were ty20s for his adopted country damaging scandals in the Victoria axed the Pakistani- formed spinner in the Sheffield inance, the Bushrangers have convinced Ahmed, who fled later in the tour. game’s history. born asylum seeker once fast- Shield. decided it’s time to back in war-torn Pakistan, could help In 2015 Ahmed was selected But they have confirmed tracked into the Australian Ahmed, 36, hasn’t given up youth and have instead signed fill the leg-spinning void left by for the Ashes touring squad the examination won’t include team. on his dream of playing Test 19-year-old off-spinner Sam the great Shane Warne and in- after a hot Shield season, but a retrospective inquiry into Rushed through the front cricket and feels he has plenty Grimwade to partner Jon Hol- vested heavily in him. appeared to struggle for confi- whether or not specific acts of door of the Immigration De- still to offer, but like the ban- land in the spin department. Ahmed was fast-tracked to dence in the nets and in prac- tampering have gone on in re- partment by Cricket Australia ished Nic Maddinson, has now Ahmed has taken 196 wick- Australian citizenship in tice matches and never got a cent matches, including during to five international caps less been left at the mercy of late ets in 60 first-class matches at mid-2013 so he could be eli- look-in for a Test. the Ashes triumph.

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