Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Kevin Pietersen on Wednesday said it was a great feeling to sign off with a victory.

The England batsman, who played his last game of this IPL in his team’s victory over Kolkata Knight Riders hoped his side can carry forward the momentum in the remainder of the tournament.Under Pietersen, Royal Challengers started their IPL campaign on a fairytale note, beating defending champions Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural match of the high-profile event.

Bangalore pull off thriller against Kolkata

Thereafter, the Bangalore outfit lost four successive games only to return to winning ways today defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets.

“Yeah I’m very happy. Came and won the first game, didn’t go quite as planned in the middle but to go back now winning the last game feels great. Hopefully, the boys will carry forward from here and use the momentum for the rest of the tournament,” said Pietersen, who will return home to join the national team for the Test series against the West Indies starting next week at Lord’s.

“But in this form of the game, still there is lot of work to do. We just need to play as well as we can,” he added.

Asked whether his decision to start with spinners up front was a deliberate tactic, Pietersen said, “Definitely. Gayle and McCullum likes to go hard at the fast bowlers but it’s lucky for me to get a wicket on the first ball. The boys worked hard today, The young guys were brilliant, the energy was fantastic. Young Goswami played a fantastic knock.” He was also of the view that the IPL gives perfect platform to youngsters to hone their skills playing alongside the big names of international cricket.

KP loves IPL

“I absolutely love this tournament. It’s the best academy in the world, it’s unbelievable. For youngsters it’s a great opportunity to play with all the international players. No coach can teach any of the young guys anything compared to what they learn playing around all these stars. It’s a fantastic experience for me. You cannot ask for anything better,” he said.

Meanwhile, Knight Riders skipper Brendon McCullum admitted the team didn’t play well.

“We didn’t play well enough. We had opportunity but we messed up and it’s pretty disappointing again,” he said.

“I thought we had enough”

Asked whether they had enough runs on the board to defend after opting to bat, he said, “No, I don’t think so but with both teams at the bottom of the table, I thought 140 was more than enough on a pretty slow wicket. We played as good as we can for a long period of time.”

The Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsman said his side still has the firepower to bounce back in the tournament, provided the players believe in their abilities.

“We just need to keep believing, try as hard as we can. Keep trying to come up with ways and means. We ourselves have to get out of it. We still believe we have a chance in the tournament but we got to bounce back pretty quickly and win majority of our remaining games.”

Andy Murray may have lost at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome but he is confident his clay-court game is improving.

After receiving a first-round bye, Murray fell to qualifier Juan Monaco of Argentina in the second round of the singles, 48 hours after he had lost in the doubles.

Murray raced into a one-set lead, but Monaco then raised his game to triumph 1-6 6-3 7-5.

“It came down to a few points here and there,” a philosophical Murray said. “I didn’t think I hit the ball as clean as I did in Monte Carlo.”

Yesterday’s defeat was Murray’s earliest exit at an event since the Beijing Olympics, but the Scot was keen to focus on the positives.

“I’ve had a great eight months,” Murray said. “I haven’t lost early for a long time. I knew it was going to happen some time and it has.”

Murray’s advisor Alex Corretja, a former clay-court specialist himself, had predicted the Brit would be in for a tough contest.

And although the Spaniard was proved right, Murray feels his clay-court game is progressing.

“I am playing much better on clay with respect to last year,” Murray said. “(I need to) work hard to get ready for Madrid.”

Murray won the Masters Series event in Madrid last year.

The 21-year-old had faced Monaco once before, in Miami earlier this year, but that match was played on a hard court.

And Monaco felt he was always going to have the advantage on the clay.

“In Miami we played a great game and it was very intense. Andy played very well and he served really well that day,” Monaco said.

“But I knew my play was going to be better than in Miami. I knew I had an advantage because I really like playing on clay.”

Lewis Hamilton’s bid for back-to-back F1 world titles is very much alive after McLaren had “their wrist slapped”.

Following an extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris, McLaren were handed a suspended three-race ban.

Many will perhaps view it as lenient as the team were charged with five counts of breaching the International Sporting Code relating to fraudulent conduct and acts prejudicial to the sport.

However, it comes as no surprise following the sweeping changes which have taken place within the team since Hamilton and Dave Ryan were caught lying to stewards at the Australian Grand Prix.

Along with mentioning the word ’sorry’ on a number of occasions, fundamentally that is what has spared McLaren from suffering the punishment meted out 18 months ago after the ’spy-gate’ saga.

In that instance, they were fined a sporting record £50million and thrown out of the constructors’ championship, but that was never on the cards today.

It leaves Hamilton, currently 22 points behind championship leader Jenson Button, again free to focus on his title bid throughout the remaining 13 races of the season.

Speaking after the hearing, FIA president Max Mosley insisted the WMSC’s decision was “entirely fair.”

He added: “They (McLaren) have demonstrated there is a complete culture change, that it’s all different to what it was.

“In those circumstances it looks better to put the whole thing behind us, so unless there is something similar in the future, that is the end of the matter.”

Asked whether Hamilton could again dream of retaining his crown, despite the team’s troubled start to the season on and off the track, Mosley added: “Yes, and it may not be a dream.

“Don’t underestimate the speed with which McLaren will get themselves sorted out. They are a very powerful organisation.”

The WMSC confirmed the suspension will be applied “if further facts emerge regarding the case, or if, in the next 12 months, there is a further breach by the team of article 151c of the International Sporting Code.”

Denying McLaren had got off lightly, Mosley added: “I don’t think so because in the end there were decisions taken by people who are no longer involved, and that being the case it would have been unfair to have gone on with the matter.

“They did suffer because they lost all their points from Australia, so I think we’re done and it’s fair.”

Hamilton was initially promoted from fourth to third after the race stewards in Melbourne handed Jarno Trulli a 25-second penalty for passing the Briton behind the safety car.

Hamilton and Ryan, since sacked as McLaren sporting director, insisted at the time no order was relayed from the team demanding he allow Trulli to pass.

However, evidence in the form of pit-to-car transmissions and an interview Hamilton gave immediately after the race contradicted their story, and resulted in the case being reopened.

Deciding they had been “deliberately misled”, the stewards at the Malaysian Grand Prix disqualified Hamilton and McLaren from the classification in Melbourne.

Ryan was soon suspended, whilst Hamilton apologised for his actions in an unprecedented manner as he was allowed to use the FIA press conference room in Sepang - where he also notably blamed Ryan.

But the most signficant step was taken by Ron Dennis who announced with immediate effect his decision to stand down as CEO of McLaren Racing, and who is to stand down as chairman of the McLaren Group from June 1.

In taking up the running of the automotive side of the company, Dennis insisted his motive had nothing to do with F1.

Many observers, though, felt his action was designed to appease the FIA - with whom he has often had a fractious relationship - and to save McLaren, a team he had built up since taking over in 1981.

Since then, Whitmarsh has acted to build bridges and foster a far more harmonious relationship with the FIA than has previously been the case.

“Martin Whitmarsh made a very good impression. He is absolutely straightforward and wants to work with us,” confirmed Mosley.

“We’re all trying to do the same thing, which is to make the championship successful and hope the best team wins.

“I think Martin fully understands that, and the World Council reacted accordingly.”

As Mosley added, if only such action, and that ’sorry’ word been used more often a couple of years ago then “it would have saved everybody, including McLaren, a lot of time, trouble and money.”

“They made things very difficult for themselves back then. This time I think they got the message, and they’ve done a very good job.”

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone described the proceedings as “good, fair, honest and straight.”

A typically direct Ecclestone then added: “I thought Martin was happy with that. He shouldn’t have done something wrong should he? So he got a slap.

“But it was good for everybody that decision. They had their wrist slapped. That was all they needed. They’ve had enough punishment.”

On his 51st birthday, Whitmarsh said: “We are aware we made serious mistakes in Australia and Malaysia, and I was therefore very glad to be able to apologise for those mistakes once again.

“I was also pleased to be able to assure the FIA World Motor Sport Council members that we had taken appropriate action with a view to ensuring that such mistakes do not occur again.”

Guus Hiddink has hailed captain John Terry as the inspiration behind Chelsea’s superb defensive display in Barcelona.

The Blues held firm in the face of sustained pressure to secure a 0-0 draw at the Nou Camp in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against the Catalan giants.

Barcelona had scored in every home games this season - having last been held at home by Manchester United at the same stage of last year’s competition.

Frank Rijkaard was still Barca coach then and they have been a different prospect since he was replaced by Pep Guardiola in the summer.

However, they were kept at bay by a Chelsea backline marshalled superbly by the “inspirational” Terry.

“He was inspiring, an example for the rest of the team,” Chelsea coach Hiddink said after the match.

“You have to play courageously and play with a lot of intelligence against Barcelona, you cannot just play a tough game.

“This team has a lot of courage and a lot of blood, mentally it was great performance,” he added.

Hiddink also praised the contribution of goalkeeper Petr Cech, who began shakily but made great saves to deny Thierry Henry, Dani Alves and Samuel Eto’o.

“He did a good job defensively, he intervened in one or two situations and he saved the game for us,” he said.

The Dutch coach predicted on Monday Jose Bosingwa would thwart Lionel Messi and the Dutchman was pleased with the Portuguese full-back’s contribution on the night.

“Bosingwa did a good job and got good help from Malouda on the left. Also, when Messi moved inside, he got help from Terry,” he said.

Hiddink was even happier with the collective defensive performance of his side and, despite failing to score an away goal, declared himself happy with the result.

“We are pleased with the result,” he continued.

“If you look at the recent history of Barca, you will see it is a long time since they last failed to score in a home game.

“That’s quite an achievement against a beautiful team who play beautiful football.

“We were disciplined tactically and technically, I think we didn’t keep possession well in the first half, gave too many balls away, but in the second half we did a lot better.

“The result is a compliment to the team, achieved in a very difficult circumstances.”

Hiddink believes the tie is now very much in the balance ahead of the return match at Stamford Bridge on May 6.

“In the next game there is big advantage for either side, nothing is decided, we got a good result against a good team,” he added.

Messi was expected to shine for the Catalans but was kept quiet following a lively start and Hiddink was pleased with how his team coped with the Argentinian’s threat from the right.

“He was neutralised tactically tonight, we coped well,” he said.

McLaren face the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Wednesday over the ‘lie-gate’ scandal that has rocked their season.

World champion Lewis Hamilton and Dave Ryan, since sacked as the team’s sporting director, were caught lying to Australian Grand Prix stewards as they attempted to con their way into third place.That has now brought us to Wednesday’s hearing, with McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh to face the Council to answer five charges of deception.

Here, we take you through how events have unfolded since March 29.

March 29: Jarno Trulli is handed a 25-second penalty by stewards for passing Hamilton behind the safety car. Hamilton is promoted from fourth to third after he and Ryan insist no order was given to allow the Italian to overtake.

April 1: Rumours surface suggesting the incident is to again be reviewed on the basis of new evidence.

April 2: Stewards in Malaysia present Hamilton and Ryan with pit -to-car radio evidence confirming Hamilton is told to let Trulli past. Hamilton is also played an interview he gave immediately after the race were he states the team told him to let Trulli by.

The stewards disqualify Hamilton and McLaren from the Australian Grand Prix on the basis they were deliberately mis-led.

April 3: McLaren suspend Ryan from his role as sporting director. Hamilton makes an emotional apology, but insists he is not a liar, that he was “mis-led” by the team.

April 7: The FIA confirm McLaren face an extraordinary hearing of the World Motor Sport Council to answer five charges of being in breach of the International Sporting Code. McLaren confirm they have sacked Ryan.

April 9: Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone warns McLaren could be banned from races.

April 13: It emerges the FIA has written to the BBC requesting copies of interviews Whitmarsh gave them immediatey after the Australian Grand Prix as they seek to determine how much he knew about the cover-up.

April 16: Ron Dennis stands down as CEO of McLaren Racing, and confirms he will relinquish role of McLaren Group chairman on June 1. Speculation suggests Dennis has fallen on his sword to save the team, but he insists decisions have nothing to do with F1.

Whitmarsh confirms he offered his resignation over the ‘lie-gate’ scandal, only for it to be rejected.

April 23: Details emerge of a letter written by Whitmarsh to the FIA in which he admits the team’s guilt and offers an unreserved apology.

April 24: Hamilton dismisses suggestions he will leave McLaren, insisting he will not “abandon” them, and that he hopes to be around for “a long, long time.”

April 26: Richard Lapthorne, due to take up McLaren Group chairman role on June 1, along with Whitmarsh, are openly seen speaking with Alan Donnelly, FIA president Max Mosley’s right-hand man. Whitmarsh confirms McLaren are looking to foster a closer relationship with the FIA.

Playing in the IPL should not be blamed for Andrew Flintoff’s injury breakdown, feels his England teammate Paul Collingwood.

Flintoff, who was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for a whopping USD 1.55 million, returned home Friday from South Africa for surgery on a tear on his right knee and is unlikely to come back for the T20 event.

“The critics have been saying he should never have come to the IPL in the first place, but that is just playing devil’s advocate. The fact is that the injury could have happened at any time, and this has been a valuable learning experience for all the England players,” Collingwood wrote in his column in ‘The Telegraph’.

However, Collingwood, the front-runner to lead England in the Twenty20 cricket World Cup in June, admitted that Flintoff’s injury is a big blow to the side.

“Friday brought less happy news about Andrew Flintoff. His injury is a devastating blow, both for himself and for the England team, as we’ll have to do without him in the Tests against the West Indies,” he wrote.

Guus Hiddink has put the nation on goal alert after predicting Chelsea and Barcelona could serve up a feast of football.

The teams meet in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Nou Camp tonight.

Chelsea and Liverpool produced one of the most exhilarating matches seen in the Champions League when they drew 4-4 in the quarter-final, second leg at Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago.

Chelsea secured their semi-final spot 7-5 on aggregate after fighting back from two goals down at the interval and Hiddink hinted there could be more exciting times ahead against Barca.

“I think both teams have a style to attack when they can,” declared Hiddink. “Barcelona like to attack and Chelsea are not a team who have the strategy to sit back and wait until it happens.

“The team have shown a lot of initiatives and that’s why I think it is more or less an open clash, with two teams who like to go forward.”

After their 4-4 draw with Liverpool, Hiddink knows his side cannot afford to start in a sluggish fashion against Barcelona.

He continued: “It is the whole squad’s responsibility to make sure we have a concentrated start tonight.

“I have seen Barcelona play many times in the last weeks and also before.

“For a long time I have been a Barcelona admirer and an admirer of their philosophy.

“The players not only play for themselves but also a great club and they know it, in a side which is very attacking and attractive - it makes it typical of the Barca style.”

Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry have scored 90 goals between them in all competitions this season.

However, Argentina international Messi is perceived as the biggest threat with 21 goals to his name so far this season.

The subject of how to stop the winger has dominated the pre-match build-up following the suspension of England left-back Ashley Cole.

It has left Chelsea without a recognised replacement following the sale of Wayne Bridge to Manchester City in January and an untimely knee ligament injury to Paulo Ferreira.

The answer for the Dutchman is to place his faith in Portugal international Jose Bosingwa, and Hiddink remains confident the full-back’s vast European and international experience will be the key to success.

Normally a right-back, Bosingwa switched to the other flank in the Barclays Premier League win over West Ham on Saturday but Messi is certain to provide him with more problems than Luis Boa Morte did at Upton Park.

Hiddink added: “Messi had big promise and, within a short period, he has made it happen completely.

“I like very much the way he plays, he does like the stardom of playing and it’s very effective. It looks very simple but it is very difficult.

“But I have full confidence that Bosingwa can do the job tonight.”

West Indies coach John Dyson hopes the tourists have learned a lesson following their poor batting display in the rain-wrecked draw against Essex.

Only Shivnarine Chanderpaul applied himself against the moving ball and his team-mates’ susceptibility is something England Lions will want to prey upon in the four-day match at Derby, which begins on Thursday.

“I thought we batted poorly except for Shiv,” said Dyson, after the West Indians were shot out for only 146. “He just bats and bats.”

He added: “The other batsmen are very inexperienced in these sorts of conditions and they wasted their opportunity here to get some good time in the middle. They have hopefully learned a good lesson here about how to handle these conditions.”

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor was due to meet up with the squad today after recovering from a hip injury - he underwent a fitness test in the Caribbean before departing - and will aim for match practice against England’s second string ahead of next week’s first Test at Lord’s.

“We expect him to be fully fit,” confirmed Dyson. “The reports from the West Indies say that and we expect him to play at Derby.”

Taylor, England’s destroyer in the Jamaica Test in February, is a definite for the Test XI along with Fidel Edwards, who arrives on Sunday after his stint in the Indian Premier League, which means one fast-bowling berth remains unfilled.

Lionel Baker, who filled in for Taylor in Trinidad last month, was the pick of the attack against Essex, claiming four of the 13 wickets to fall.

“Lionel Baker bowled some good spells in this match,” said Dyson. “He bowled at other times not so well.

“He still has a bit of work to do but he knows that. He is still in pole position as he is the man in possession and one of the others would have to do something brilliant to knock him out.”

Mikael Silvestre feels he has rediscovered his youth since his surprise move from Manchester United to Arsenal.

The former France defender quit United after nine successful years at Old Trafford to join the Gunners for an undisclosed fee last August.

Although both clubs adopt a similar attacking philosophy on the pitch, Silvestre claims the pair are worlds apart in other respects.

And the 31-year-old admits hanging around with Arsene Wenger’s youngsters is starting to rub off on him.

“In playing terms, they are replicas of each other as they put the onus on going forward but after that, they have two different principles,” said Silvestre, who could start against his former employers in tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final at Old Trafford.

“At United, the squad is built in little stages but always around their pillars, (Paul) Scholes, (Ryan) Giggs and (Gary) Neville. They are the club’s identity, their points of reference on the pitch and in the changing room.

“At Arsenal, it functions more by generations. There has been that of (Patrick) Vieira, (Robert) Pires, (Thierry) Henry. Now it is that of (Cesc) Fabregas, (Theo) Walcott, (Alex) Song, (Aaron) Ramsey.

“We give responsibility to these youngsters very early and we let them grow together. At Arsenal, youth isn’t just an excuse.

“In the changing room, it is simple - to my left is (Jack) Wilshere, who is 16, and to my right is Ramsey, who is 18. We talk about things like the latest video games. It’s good - I feel young again.”

Silvestre is likely to recover from a minor back complaint picked up during Sunday’s 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Barclays League to start tomorrow, although he is in competition with Johan Djourou for a spot alongside Kolo Toure at centre-back.

He admits his return to Old Trafford will be emotional.

“It is going to be weird going into the visitors’ changing room, to see the supporters and all the people who work at the club again,” Silvestre told L’Equipe.

“It is going to be moving. Nine years at one club, it’s a long time, it is a part of my life. And it isn’t any old club, it is a legendary club.

“I could have stayed for my 10th year and had my testimonial. It surprised everyone (that he moved) but I wanted a new challenge.”

Silvestre remains the only player in history to move directly from United to Arsenal.

“Ferguson did me a favour, he had never done it before,” added the Frenchman.