We lost momentum towards end of batting: Kumble

TAFF WRITER 21:5 HRS IST

Chennai, Mar 31 (PTI) Bangalore Royal Challengers captain Anil Kumble today attributed his side's five wicket defeat to Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League to the loss of momentum towards end of their batting, saying that it had made them 20 runs short of a challenging total.

"We had the momentum until the 13th or the 14th over, but then we lost it a little bit," Kumble said referring to Jacques Kallis' inability to force the pace of scoring at a crucial stage of the game.

"We were some 20 runs short, and that made it a little hard for us," said Kumble.

The former India captain said RCB were still well placed for a semifinal berth as seven more matches are left in the league stage.

"There still are seven matches to go. Four out of seven is not a bad start.

Karthik's 69 powers Delhi to a massive win over RR

STAFF WRITER 23:12 HRS IST

Amit Kumar Das

New Delhi, Mar 31 (PTI) Dinesh Karthik blasted a 38-ball 69 and the home side bowlers then wreaked havoc as a resurgent Delhi Daredevils steamrolled Rajasthan Royals by 67 runs in their return leg Indian Premier League match here tonight.

Karthik clobbered six fours and four sixes and added 79 runs off 50 balls with Gautam Gambhir (43) to power Delhi to 188 for six first.

The home side then returned to shoot out Rajasthan for 121 in 17.4 overs to clinch their third win on the trot which catapulted them to the second place in the points table.

For them, Amit Mishra (3 for 25) and Parvez Maharoof (2 for 13) starred with the ball, sharing five wickets between them to snap Rajasthan Royals' four-game winnings streak.

World number one Federer out of Miami tennis

Miami, Mar 31 (AFP) World number one Roger Federer was sent crashing out of the ATP and WTA Masters tournament dropping a 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (8/6) fourth round marathon match to Czech Tomas Berdych.

The reigning Australian Open champion yesterday suffered just his second loss to Berdych in 10 career meetings.

Berdych, the 16th seed, hammered six aces and won 67 percent of his first service points in the two hour, 51 minute match on the hardcourts at Crandon Park.

Six-time Grand Slam champ Rafael Nadal and American Andy Roddick were two of eight seeded players to advance to the quarter-finals yesterday.

Nadal, who is playing in just his fourth tournament of the season, outlasted fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.

"With each round it gets more difficult," Nadal said. "I had my moments today but I also had moments where I made more mistakes than usual but it was an important win.