McCullum gets top scorer award

Brendon McCullum was on Thursday awarded the T20 Champions Award in the highest individual scorer category.

McCullum, sent a message from Bangladesh, saying he cannot wait to see his fans in Kolkata Knight Riders.

The Kiwi batsman, who turned out for a couple of games for the IPL side, Kolkata Knight Riders, was selected on the basis of his pyrotechnical 158 in the opening game of the Indian domestic T20 championship earlier this year.

The inaugural T20 Champions Award has been instituted by BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa to recognise the best of Twenty20 performances in domestic leagues across all Champions League Twenty20 constituent countries.

McCullum, whose services were secured forr USD 700,000, smashed 10 boundaries and 13 sixes in his 73-ball knock in the first match of the IPL played against Bangalore Royal Challengers at the Chinnaswamy stadium that literally set the tone for the entire tournament.

In that knock, McCullum bettered Cameron White's record of 141 not out off 70 balls, for Somerset against Worcestershire in July 2006.

The wicketkeeper-batsman will, however, not feature in the Champions League Twenty20 because his team Kolkata Knight Riders failed to reach the title round of the IPL.

Tanvir awarded for best bowling

Sohail Tanvir was Thursday awarded at the T20 Champions Award for his superlative show for the Rajasthan Royals.

Tanvir's six for 14 -- the best figures in Twenty20 Cricket -- for eventual IPL champions Royals against runners-up Chennai Super Kings in a league encounter, earned him the award for the best bowling figures in a match.

The inaugural T20 Champions Award has been instituted by BCCI, Cricket Australia and Cricket South Africa to recognise the best of Twenty20 performances in domestic leagues across all Champions League Twenty20 constituent countries.

The red-hot spell from Tanvir decimated the Super Kings for 109 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. That reduced what was billed as a clash for the top spot in the Indian Premier League into a one-sided rout as the Royals chased down the target with eight wickets to spare.

Tanvir's and Royals' dominance in the match was emphasised by a rare sight in Twenty20 cricket - a slip cordon populated by three fielders.

The lanky pacer, who had a fantastic run in the Pakistan domestic T20 championship earlier this month, will turn out for Rajasthan in the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 in December.

Champions League T20 draw announced

Middlesex Crusaders will challenge Victoria Bushrangers in the opening match of the Champions League T-20.

The draws and fixtures were revealed on Thursday night in a glittering function in New Delhi, which also saw the presentation of the inaugural T20 Champions Awards.

The eight teams have been divided into two groups. Chennai Super Kings, Victoria Bushrangers, Pretoria Titans and Middlesex Crusaders have been slotted in Group A, while Group B comprises of Sialkot Stallions, Rajasthan Royals, Western Warriors and Natal Dolphins.

Match one in Mumbai between the English and Australian domestic T20 champions will be followed by a high-voltage contest between IPL champions Rajasthan Royals and Natal Dolphins in Bangalore.

Pakistan T20 champions Sialkot Stallions will take on Aussie T20 runners-up Western Warriors in Bangalore the next day, December 4 followed by a match between IPL runners-up Chennai Super Kings and Victoria Bushrangers in Mumbai.

On December 5, the action will, for the first time in the tournament, shift to Chennai where Middlesex Crusaders take on Pretoria Titans, while Sialkot Stallions come over to Mumbai to take on Rajasthan Royals.

Saturday, December 6 will be a triple treat for fans of the T20 format with three matches slated to be held on that day.

Western Australia will take on Natal Dolphins for the first match of the day in Bangalore while Victoria Bushrangers play Pretoria Titan and Chennai Super Kings play Middlesex Crusaders in Chennai.

Action galore continues on Sunday with the Dolphins taking on the Stallions and the Royals crossing swords with the Warriors in Bangalore. The Super Kings will get another home game in Chennai when they take on Titans for the third game of the day.

The first semi-final of the Champions League T-20 would be played on Monday, December 8 when the first placed team from Group B takes on the second placed team from Group A in Bangalore.

The first placed team from Group A will play the second placed team from Group B in Chennai on Tuesday, December 9 to decide the second finalist.

The final of the Champions League T-20, sure to be a mega-event, will be played in Chennai on Wednesday, December 10 at 20.00 hrs India time.