Umran Malik, Bhuvneshwar help SRH bundle out Punjab for 151
Navi Mumbai, Apr 17: Young pace sensation Umran Malik produced a stunning 20th over as Sunrisers Hyderabad bundled out Punjab Kings for 151 in the Indian Premier League here on Sunday.
The 22-year-old uncapped pacer was on fire in the last over when he picked three wickets while the fourth came via run out. The over ended up being a rare wicket maiden.
Malik's sensational spell came after Liam Livingstone's counter-attacking counter-attacking 60 off 30 balls (5x4, 4x6).
The English all-rounder, who was the most expensive overseas player in this season's IPL auction with a price tag of Rs 11.50-crore, resurrected the PBKS innings after an early collapse.
Reduced to 61/4 inside eight overs after being put in, Livingstone found a perfect ally in No 6 batter Shahrukh Khan (26 off 28 balls; 1x4, 2x6) as the duo stitched together 71 from 49 balls to revive them in the middle overs.
On a slow pitch where scoring was difficult early on, the Englishman did not have any trouble as he had shots all over the pitch.
But the momentum shifted heavily in favour of SRH after Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided the key breakthrough of Livingstone with Kane Williamson taking a superb low catch in the final delivery of the penultimate over.
Malik then spoiled the PBKS show as he first had Odean Smith with a slower one before castling Rahul Chahar and Vaibhav Arora in successive deliveries.
Earlier, Punjab without their skipper and opener Mayank Agarwal (injured toe) had an anxious start and lost two wickets inside five overs including that of stand-in captain Shikhar Dhawan (8).
The experienced left-hander looked aggressive up front against Bhuvneshwar but he was grimacing in pain after being struck close to the box off an inside edge.
Dhawan was finally dismissed by Bhuvneshwar in his next over.
Punjab kept losing wickets and were soon reduced to 33/2 inside five overs when Livingstone came in to take charge of the proceedings.
There were more to follow as Jonny Bairstow (12) and Jitesh Sharma (11) departed in successive overs but Livingstone and Shahrukh held on to turn it around in the middle overs.
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UP electricity department contract worker dismissed for waving Palestine flag
Saharanpur, Apr 6 (PTI): An electricity department contract worker has been dismissed from service in this Uttar Pradesh district for allegedly waving a Palestine flag on Eid, officials said on Sunday.
The termination notice was issued after photographs of him waving the Palestine flag became circulated on social media.
Saqib Khan, who worked in the Kailashpur power house, waved the flag after Eid 'namaaz' on March 31, the officials said.
Electricity department executive engineer Sanjeev Kumar said the department deemed his action "anti-national" and promptly took steps.
"Saqib Khan, a contract worker in the Kailashpur power house, waved a flag of Palestine after offering 'namaaz' on Eid and posted of it a picture on social media," Kumar said.
"When the matter came to the department's notice, it was considered an anti-national activity and action was taken immediately. A letter was written to the contract company concerned and it was directed to remove Khan from service," he added.
The department has instructed the contract company to immediately terminate Khan's employment and confirm the action.
The incident follows action against eight individuals in the district who were also seen in a video waving Palestine flags and raising slogans.
The authorities are identifying other individuals involved based on widely-circulated footage and plan to initiate legal proceedings against them.
Superintendent of Police (City) Vyom Bindal had said on March 31, "A video has come to our notice through social media in which some youngsters are seen waving the flag of another country. The matter is being investigated, following which further action will be taken."
Vyom had said that, after offering 'namaaz' at the Ambala Road eidgah, some youngsters raised slogans while waving flags of another country that were promptly removed by police.
