469 runs scored in 40 overs for the loss of just 10 wickets and it was raining sixes as 30 sixes were hit. Chepauk became graveyard for the bowlers. CSK won the toss and elected to bat in blazing heat of Chennai. Soon Murali Vijay and Hayden took charge and gave flying start to the CSK by scoring at 11 runs per over in powerplay. Hayden got the start but couldn’t capitalise on that and got out on 34. Raina joined Vijay but he too didn’t last long. CSK changed their strategy a bit and sent Albie Morkel at No.4 which in the end proved master stroke from CSK as Morkel and Vijay put on second highest partnership of IPL and took CSK past 200 run mark. CSK finally ended on 246. M.Vijay scored brilliant century and Albie Morkel supported him perfectly by scoring quick fire half-century. It was necessary for RR as they start well and they did the same as Naman Ozha and Lumb gave them identical start to CSK as they also scored at more than 10 runs an over in power play. Lumb got out after playing good hand. Yusuf Pathan came at No.3 but he was unfortunate to get out on boundary because Bollinger took stunning catch of Pathan. Shane Watson came in and soon he and Naman Ozha built good partnership and it looked like RR will chase down the score but Shane Watson got out at wrong time to Bollinger and with this wicket RRs hopes also faded away and they lost the match. RR fought well to reach score of 223 and Naman Ozha remained not out on 94. All in all superb match. I must appreciate Bollinger the way he bowled on this belter of the pitch. He picked up 2 wickets and gave just 4 runs an over in his allotted 4 overs. T20 is really cruel game for bowlers and it proved at Chepauk today. Here on tournament is wide open and with new inclusions in CSK and RR, both now looks like strong contenders for semis.
Well as I said in my earlier posts when God is captaining and playing in a team then very seldom that team lose. Once again MI victory proved that as they thrashed DC and registered very convincing victory and now they will go through the semis. MI won the toss and elected to bat and once again Sachin and Shikhar gave them flying start but before their innings kick off after flyer DC came back into the match as their spinners picked 3 wickets in quick succession including Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket. It looked like MI will crumble but their youngsters Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu once again took the charge of situation and built good partnership which eventually helped MI to get pass 175 run mark and they ended on 178 runs. Pollard played little cameo of 21 of 10 balls and took MI to a winning total after good work from Saurabh Tiwary. DC started poorly as they lost Gibbs very early and then MI never looked back as they kept picking up wickets of DC at regular intervals and never allowed them to get any kind of momentum in scoring runs. Even players like Symonds struggled badly along with Rohit Sharma who are backbone of DC. Injury to Adam Gilchrist also hampered DCs chase badly.In the end it was easy victory for MI and big loss for DC as they lost 4th match consecutively and they now have to work hard to get to the semis.
Tomorrow will be crucial encounter will be played between KXIP and KKR. KXIP needs to win this encounter badly if they lose tomorrow they will lose all the hopes. Yuvraj have to come good tomorrow and have to play big innings as his 30s and 40s won’t help the team. Shaun Marsh at the top and Sangakkara’s retrun to the form as seen in last match will boost the confidence of KXIP. They also have to make some good changes by trying out few youngsters this will help them. If experienced players are not in form then you have take such risk and in such situation nothing to lose for KXIP. For KKR if they win tomorrow then that will give them good chance of qualifying for semis. Ganguly’s return to form and McCullum’s inclusion will make them formidable side. Only thing they require is good quick start and have to take full advantage of powerplay.
Another match will be between DD and RCB. Both teams have won their last matches respectively and high on confidence but I must say RCB looks more formidable then DD slightly, simply because of depth in their batting and bowling as they bat deep and they have very good bowling strength. DD is mainly relying on their top order as they don’t have deep batting. If DDs top order crumble then they can lose easily so they have some weakness. So all in all good contest in prospect tomorrow and whoever win will become strong contender for semis.
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