The second oldest to score an ODI century

None other than Sanath Jayasuriya. It's hard not to be in awe of a player who has 18 years of international cricket under his belt, has a career strike rate in excess of 90, has hit three of the 10 fastest ODI centuries, has hit the fastest ODI fifty, has hit the highest number of sixes in ODIs, has hit the second highest number of boundaries in ODIs, and has hit the greatest number of sixes in an ODI innings. And did I mention he has more than 300 ODI wickets.

I'm sure that "second oldest" is going to change to "oldest" pretty soon, and is not going to be surpassed any time soon.

Telemarketing

Telemarketer: Is this Aniket sir?
Me: Yes.
Telemarketer: Aniket sir, I'm calling from CFHD bank. You have an account with us, don't you?
Me: Yes, I do.
Telemarketer: Aniket sir, based on your account, CFHD bank is offering you a lifetime free Gold Credit Card. It has many benefits like 1 point per Rs 100...

[Me thinking, they're offering me a credit card based on my account??]

Me : I already have a CFHD lifetime free Gold Credit Card. [Making myself absolutely clear in anticipation of "which bank" and "which card"]
Telemarketer: Why sir?
Me: Why what?
[pause...]
Telemarketer: Why don't you want the lifetime free Gold Credit Card? It has many benefits...
Me: I said I already have one.
[Hangs up...]

Cricket quotes

Not only is he stocky in stature, he's got a big heart.

Aamer Sohail describing the portly Ramesh Pawar.

The Matara Mauler

He's back, and with a bang that left the Chennai Super Kings shellshocked. Defending 157, the game was shut out from them after just six overs when the score read 78/0. When Sanath hits sixes over point, you know what's coming! When 140 kph deliveries are flicked over midwicket, you just stand and admire. That's what Dhoni should have done yesterday - he looked like a man who'd just seen a ghost. He was never a part of the Indian team in the late 90s, that was regularly walloped by Sanath. This was probably the first time he'd encountered a feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. Sachin, on the other hand, must have been a mighty relieved man. Better to be on Sanath's side when he's in that mood.

I haven't been watching the IPL matches too closely. Cricket matches, I feel, are getting bogged down due to too many interruptions. Time is wasted in conferences after each ball, each shot to the boundary, each third umpire referral. Only the explosive batting of three people are worth wasting all that time - Gilchrist, Yuvraj and of course, Sanath. And I got full value yesterday.

As per script in the EPL - mostly

Man U clinched the title, winning 2-0 as expected against Wigan. There were a few nervous moments for Man U at the JJB - they were lucky a penalty wasn't awarded against them, and luckier when Scholes wasn't sent off for a second bookable offence. Cristiano Ronaldo signed off a phenomenal season with yet another goal, taking his tally to more than 40! And he's a winger, for crissakes.

About the only thing that didn't go according to script was Chelsea drawing 1-1 with Bolton. Would have thought they would win comfortably, but they were surprisingly tentative. John Terry had to be stretchered off after 10 minutes with a suspected broken shoulder, and Chelsea didn't look themselves after that.

In fact, I felt that all teams were playing somewhat tentatively in yesterday's matches. The restraint was palpabale, you could almost feel that they wanted to get over with the match, and heave a sigh of relief that the season was over.

Here's looking forward to a great match in the Champions League finale.

Cricinfo humor

... is mostly quite good, but not this.

Talking about UP bowler Sudeep Tyagi...

He has learnt a lot under the guidance of the UP bowling coach Ashish Winston Zaidi, the Amar Akbar Anthony of Indian cricket.

Hmm.

It's going down to the wire

Come the last 5 overs of a run chase in any ODI, and this is the most often heard phrase from the commentators, notably Messieurs Tony Greig and Bill Lawry. This year is the first time since I've been following football that the Premier League title race is literally "going down to the wire". Man U and Chelsea are level on points with one game to go, but Man U have the better goal difference. Man U have an away game against Wigan, which they are unlikely to lose. Chelsea play Bolton at the Bridge, and are favorites to win. So in all probability Man U will take the Premier League.

The two teams meet in the Champions League final 2 weeks from now, and who can bet for either team here? Man U have the history behind them, but this season Chelsea seem to have all the luck.

It really is going down to the damn wire.