No need to prove to anybody: Akhtar

After ripping apart the Delhi Dardevils top-order with a tornado-like opening spell in his maiden Indian Premier League outing, Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar said he had put everything into his bowling and had 'no points to make to anybody'.

"I just wanted to win the game. I have no points to make to anybody," he said.

Facing quite a few controversies for the last few months, Shoaib said "I was stressed but put everything behind me".

The Rawalpindi Express thanked his teammates, coach John Buchanan, captain Sourav Ganguly and team owner Shah Rukh Khan.

"Sharing the dressing room with SRK and Sourav was fantastic. They backed me. And I am really happy to perform. They put faith in me. And I am happy to deliver".

On his performance, Akhtar said "For me, my team is the most important thing. Kolkata is my home team. Eden Gardens is my home ground".

Akhtar said "Whenever I play I give hundred per cent". On whether he had expected success on his first IPL match, he said "I gave my best, thankfully the wickets came".

"It has been four months since I played my last game".

"Things were going the right way. It was a team effort, even the fielding was great."

Ganguly said "He came to the country with lots (of things) happening behind him. But he showed lot of character".

Delhi captain Virender Sehwag, who became Akhtar's first victim, also paid tributes to the fast bowler.

"This is the best spell of Twenty20 bowling I have seen. He is a great bowler".

He, however, denied that the Delhi side was done in by Shoaib's pace. "We are used to pace. We are all international players. I, Gautam (Gambhir), and (Manoj) Tiwary".

Sehwag said "Actually we batted too positively against Shoaib".

Meanwhile, asked bout his youthful exuberance in the field during the day, Akhtar replied tongue-in-cheek "I hope the national selectors are watching".

New Zealand on Top in the Final and Deciding Test! Pietersen scored century!

In the third and final test between England and New Zealand, Kevin Pietersen's century helped England to put a decent total on the board. After winning the toss and with the confidence carried over from the previous victory, England decided to bat first. May be, it back-fired and sure that they wouldn't be happy as they didn't use the opportunity to put a huge total on the board.

Though Vettori was unhappy that he didn't win the toss to bat first because of the missing two key players--Oram being one of them, when England slipped to 36 for 4, he should have been much happier that he lost it. Captain Vaughan was the first man to go for 2. Strauss followed him in with a duck, followed by Cook for 2, Bell who is expected to score and save England was also dismissed for 9 leaving England trail at 36 for 4 in 23.1 overs. Two of the four wickets were taken by the debutant Southee. Kevin Pietersen batted well, swept Vettori for a six and showed his aggression rather than staying in the crease and playing safe.

Collingwood scored 30 and added 89 runs for the 5th wicket with Pietersen. Ambrose also didn't last longer and was dismissed for a cheap 11. Once again, England continued to lose wickets and struggling at 147 for 6. New Zealand was hoping to remove England within 200, but Broad's unbeaten 42 with Pietersen helped England to go beyond 200 run mark. Pietersen scored his century after a long time (he didn't even score 50 in the last 10 innings that he played). He took 163 balls and 10 fours to reach his three figure mark. The new ball gave the break-through to the New Zelanders when Southee removed Pietersen for 129. When he was out, the score was 208 for 7. Broad with 42 and Sidebottom with 3 are in the crease and will resume the day tomorrow.

Short Score:
Toss: EnglandCurrent Position: New Zealand has upper hand
Englad 240 for 7 in 92 overs (Pietersen 129, Collingwood 30, Broad 42 batting, Southee 3 for 46, Patel 2 for 37)