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IPL: Dhoni’s unbeaten 43 help CSK post 177/5 vs KKR
Kolkata, May 3 (IANS) Mahendra Singh Dhoni (43 not out in 25 balls) continued his good form with the bat to help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) post a challenging 177/5 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) clash at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday.
Skipper Dhoni — who was dropped by Shubman Gill on 29 — started the fireworks with a pullover midwicket off young pacer Shivam Mavi (0/21) for a six.
In the next over, India’s 50-over and T20 World Cup winning captain swatted out-of-sorts Mitchell Johnson (0/51) for a flat six to set the tone for another of his vintage knocks. Dhoni’s innings was laced with four sixes and one four.
Gill made matters worse for the hosts when the U-19 World Cup winning batsman let the ball burst through his fingers at the square leg fence with the ball going for a six.
Dhoni finished proceedings with a four off Piyush Chawla (2/35) in the last ball of the final over but lacked that flourish which he has shown in his previous few innings.
Along with Ravindra Jadeja (12), he stitched together a 54-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Sunil Narine was the pick of the bowlers for KKR, returning figures of 2/20 in four overs.
The atmosphere was electric inside the stadium as well as outside, with much of the fanfare around the CSK side and their iconic skipper M.S. Dhoni.
A sea of yellow engulfed parts of the Eden as every boundary was cheered vociferously, giving a feeling of it being an away match for KKR.
Faf Du Plessis (27; 15b 4×4 1×6) and Watson (36; 25b 4×4 2×6) got off to a good start, helping CSK race to 48/0 in five overs.
Johnson was taken for 19 runs in the fifth over, getting spanked for two sixes and a four.
Chawla ended the 48-run opening partnership by getting rid of Du Plessis with a googly that disturbed his stumps. In the same over, new batsman Raina hit two boundaries before Karthik dropped the southpaw when he was on 8.
At the end of six overs, CSK were 57/1.
Raina (31; 26b 4×4 0x6) and Watson joined hands for a 43-run stand for the second wicket, helping the visitors to 90/1 at the halfway stage, before the latter picked out Shivam Mavi at deep midwicket off Sunil Narine.
In the next over, Raina followed suit, trying to slog-sweep Kuldeep Yadav (1/34) only to end up dragging a catch to Johnson at wide long-on.
Narine — who went wicketless in the last two games — removed in-form Ambati Rayudu (21; 17b 3×4 0x6) with a sharp offbreak that burst through the batsman’s defence and rattled the stumps.
The West Indian mystery spinner bowled a superb third over, conceding just four runs along with the wicket.
Dhoni then pulled the team to a fighting total with Jadeja for company before the latter got out to Chawla in the 20th over.
Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 177/5 (Dhoni 43; Sunil Narine 2/20, Piyush Chawla 2/35)
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.