Okay, one relevant league game left!! Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore play the final game.
If Deccan Chargers lose by not more than a margin of 130 runs, they will qualify inspite of losing the game.
If Royal Challengers Bangalore lose by not more than a margin of 64 runs, they will qualify inspite of losing the game!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
IPL 2009 - Fight hotter for last two qualifiers!!
Exciting four games – or, results - now left! Wednesday’s games will only just give an indication of which teams will make it, and there would be much guessing even after the games are over.
Chennai Super Kings will finish as the 2nd top team if they defeat Kings XI Punjab. In case they lose they end up 4th in the standings.
Rajasthan Royals MUST win to remain in contention. Even a win will be meaningless if Chennai Super Kings lose to Kings XI Punjab AND Bangalore Royal Challengers defeat Deccan Chargers. They will lose out on net run rate to Chennai Super Kings.
Deccan Chargers are a little better placed if Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan lose, for they will still continue to qualify even if they lose to Bangalore Royal Challengers in the last league game!
Both Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab will qualify if they win their remaining game.
Kings XI Punjab still have an outside if they lose their game to Chennai Super Kings provided Rajasthan Royals lose, and Deccan Chargers defeat Royal Challengers. In such a scenario, the better net run rate will decide between RCB and KXIP!
Here go the present scenarios! The inconsequential match ofcourse is the Delhi Daredevils/Mumbai Indians encounter.
Scenario 1
CSK defeat KXIP
KKR defeat RR
RCB defeat DC
DD (20), CSK (17), RCB (16) and DC (14) qualify.
Scenario 2
CSK lose to KXIP
KKR lose to RR
RCB defeat DC
DD (20), RCB (16), KXIP (16) and CSK (15) qualify. RR will also be on 15 points but will lose out on NRR
Scenario 3
CSK lose to KXIP
KKR lose to RR
RCB lose to DC
DD (20), DC(16), KXIP(16) and CSK(15) qualify. RR again lose on NRR to qualify
Scenario 4
CSK defeat KXIP
KKR defeat RR
RCB lose to DC
DD (20), CSK (17), DC (16) qualify and the team with the better net run rate between RCB and KXIP will qualify.
Chennai Super Kings will finish as the 2nd top team if they defeat Kings XI Punjab. In case they lose they end up 4th in the standings.
Rajasthan Royals MUST win to remain in contention. Even a win will be meaningless if Chennai Super Kings lose to Kings XI Punjab AND Bangalore Royal Challengers defeat Deccan Chargers. They will lose out on net run rate to Chennai Super Kings.
Deccan Chargers are a little better placed if Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan lose, for they will still continue to qualify even if they lose to Bangalore Royal Challengers in the last league game!
Both Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab will qualify if they win their remaining game.
Kings XI Punjab still have an outside if they lose their game to Chennai Super Kings provided Rajasthan Royals lose, and Deccan Chargers defeat Royal Challengers. In such a scenario, the better net run rate will decide between RCB and KXIP!
Here go the present scenarios! The inconsequential match ofcourse is the Delhi Daredevils/Mumbai Indians encounter.
Scenario 1
CSK defeat KXIP
KKR defeat RR
RCB defeat DC
DD (20), CSK (17), RCB (16) and DC (14) qualify.
Scenario 2
CSK lose to KXIP
KKR lose to RR
RCB defeat DC
DD (20), RCB (16), KXIP (16) and CSK (15) qualify. RR will also be on 15 points but will lose out on NRR
Scenario 3
CSK lose to KXIP
KKR lose to RR
RCB lose to DC
DD (20), DC(16), KXIP(16) and CSK(15) qualify. RR again lose on NRR to qualify
Scenario 4
CSK defeat KXIP
KKR defeat RR
RCB lose to DC
DD (20), CSK (17), DC (16) qualify and the team with the better net run rate between RCB and KXIP will qualify.
Monday, May 18, 2009
IPL 2009 - CSK safe inspite of loss to KKR.... but other two spots??? :)
With just 5 matches to go, has it become easier to say which three teams will join Delhi Daredevils to make the last 4? Not yet, though Chennai Super Kings look safe inspite of the loss to Kolkota Knight Riders.
Chennai Super Kings, by virtue of the other results in recent days, are virtually safe and join DD as a qualifier. There is a scenario where they could be on par with RR, but their superior net run rate will see them through in such an eventuality.
A resounding NO! Not at all. It just got even closer, with the new dimension being that teams like DC, RCB, KXIP in with a chance on the net run rate EVEN if they lose their last game!! (RCB infact has two games to play).
Rajasthan Royals appears to be the only side that MUST win the last game to be in the reckoning. Interestingly, they can miss the top four EVEN if they win their last game. (See Scenario Two).
Deccan Chargers are better placed if it gets down to checking the net run rate to decide the qualification.
The DD/MI result can go any which way, the result of this game just does not matter to the teams in the fray.
More scenarios!!!
Scenario 1
CSK defeat KXIP
RCB defeat DC and DD
KKR defeat RR
Final Tally:
DD - 20
CSK - 17
RCB - 16
DC and KXIP tied on 14 each.
Rajasthan Royals will be eliminated, with probably KXIP also losing out on run-rate unless they win with a huge margin – something in the 60/70 runs range.
Scenario 2
RCB lose both games
RR defeat KKR
KXIP defeat CSK
Final Tally:
DD – 22
DC – 16
KXIP – 16
CSK or RR – 15
RCB will be eliminated. Very unlikely RR will match CSK net run rate.
Scenario 3
RCB defeat DD but lose to DC.
RR defeat KKR
CSK defeat KXIP
Final Tally:
DD – 20
CSK – 17
DC – 16
RR – 15.
Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore eliminated
Scenario 4
RCB defeat DD but lose to DC.
KKR defeat RR.
CSK defeat KXIP.
Final Tally
DD – 20
CSK - 17
DC – 16
RCB/KXIP – 14 each
Rajasthan Royals eliminated
Scenario 5
RCB defeat DC but lose to DD.
RR defeat KKR
CSK defeat KXIP
Final Tally:
DD – 22
CSK - 17
RR – 15
DC/RCB/KXIP – 16
Whew!! Net Run Rate - probably DC will prevail unless they lose to RCB by a massive margin – some 60 – 70 runs difference.
Scenario 6
RCB defeat DC but lose to DD.
KKR defeat RR
CSK defeat KXIP
Final Tally:
DD – 22
CSK – 17
DC/RCB/KXIP – 14
One of the three will lose out.
Chennai Super Kings, by virtue of the other results in recent days, are virtually safe and join DD as a qualifier. There is a scenario where they could be on par with RR, but their superior net run rate will see them through in such an eventuality.
A resounding NO! Not at all. It just got even closer, with the new dimension being that teams like DC, RCB, KXIP in with a chance on the net run rate EVEN if they lose their last game!! (RCB infact has two games to play).
Rajasthan Royals appears to be the only side that MUST win the last game to be in the reckoning. Interestingly, they can miss the top four EVEN if they win their last game. (See Scenario Two).
Deccan Chargers are better placed if it gets down to checking the net run rate to decide the qualification.
The DD/MI result can go any which way, the result of this game just does not matter to the teams in the fray.
More scenarios!!!
Scenario 1
CSK defeat KXIP
RCB defeat DC and DD
KKR defeat RR
Final Tally:
DD - 20
CSK - 17
RCB - 16
DC and KXIP tied on 14 each.
Rajasthan Royals will be eliminated, with probably KXIP also losing out on run-rate unless they win with a huge margin – something in the 60/70 runs range.
Scenario 2
RCB lose both games
RR defeat KKR
KXIP defeat CSK
Final Tally:
DD – 22
DC – 16
KXIP – 16
CSK or RR – 15
RCB will be eliminated. Very unlikely RR will match CSK net run rate.
Scenario 3
RCB defeat DD but lose to DC.
RR defeat KKR
CSK defeat KXIP
Final Tally:
DD – 20
CSK – 17
DC – 16
RR – 15.
Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore eliminated
Scenario 4
RCB defeat DD but lose to DC.
KKR defeat RR.
CSK defeat KXIP.
Final Tally
DD – 20
CSK - 17
DC – 16
RCB/KXIP – 14 each
Rajasthan Royals eliminated
Scenario 5
RCB defeat DC but lose to DD.
RR defeat KKR
CSK defeat KXIP
Final Tally:
DD – 22
CSK - 17
RR – 15
DC/RCB/KXIP – 16
Whew!! Net Run Rate - probably DC will prevail unless they lose to RCB by a massive margin – some 60 – 70 runs difference.
Scenario 6
RCB defeat DC but lose to DD.
KKR defeat RR
CSK defeat KXIP
Final Tally:
DD – 22
CSK – 17
DC/RCB/KXIP – 14
One of the three will lose out.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
IPL 2009 - The Top 4 - Three spots for five teams as on 17th May 09
Want to play an expert and predict the top four in the IPL 2009 tournament? Don’t go beyond saying Delhi Daredevils will make it. Delhi Daredevils can be placed at either 1 or 2 or 4 depending on how all games pan out!!! They are the only side that can lose all remaining three games and still qualify. What a difference it would have made if Deccan Chargers had defeated them! They then would have also been running the risk of elimination before the Sunday games start!
Five teams in the fray have chances of taking the other three spots, depending on how their results go and how the other results go.
Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore will necessarily have to win their remaining two games to remain in contention.
Deccan Chargers and Rajasthan Royals will need to win atleast one game to be safe/qualify. Both run the risk of elimination either or points or net run rate with just one win. If they lose both games, depending on the other results, they can also be eliminated.
If Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers win their remaining two games, it is virtually curtains for the other two contenders Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab, who have a game each against the Chargers.
Chennai Super Kings also run the risk of elimination if they lose all games and some other games go to their disadvantage! Their loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore can come back to haunt them.
Any win by Kolkota Knight Riders can impact the chances of Deccan Chargers or Rajasthan Royals in a big way, and their game against Rajasthan Royals will be a key game.
The only inconsequential game now appears to be the Mumbai Indians Vs Delhi Daredevils.
If you are supporting any team other than DD, MI or KKR, don’t clip your finger nails!!
More scenarios!!!
Scenario 1
Kings XI Punjab wins remaining games against DC and CSK
Royal Challengers Bangalore win remaining games against DC and DD
Rajasthan Royals win remaining games against DD and KKR
Chennai Super Kings win one game against KKR
Delhi Daredevils win one game against MI
Kolkota Kinght Riders lose remaining two games
Deccan Chargers lose remaining two games
Mumbai Indians lose remaining game
Final Tally:
DD - 18
CSK - 17
RR - 17
RCB and KXIP tied on 16 each.
Deccan Chargers will be eliminated</span>
Scenario 2
Deccan Chargers wins remaining two games against KXIP and RCB
Rajasthan Royals win remaining two games against DD and KKR
Chennai SuperKings win two remaining games against KKR and KXIP.
Delhi Daredevils lose remaining games to RR, RCB and MI
Kings XI Punjab lose remaining two games against CSK and DC
Mumbai Indians win final game against DD
Royal Challengers win against DD and lose to DC
Kolkota Knight Riders lose games to CSK and RR.
Final Tally:
CSK – 19
DC – 18
RR – 17
DD – 16
RCB & KXIP will be eliminated
Scenario 3
Chennai Super Kings lose remaining games to KKR and KXIP
Delhi Daredevils lose all three remaining games to RR, RCB and MI.
Rajasthan Royals lose to KKR and win against DD
Royal Challengers Bangalore win remaining two games against DC and DD.
Mumbai Indans win against DD
Deccan Chargers lose to KXIP and RCB.
Kings XI Punjab win both games against DC and CSK.
Kolkota Knight Riders beat RR and CSK.
Final Tally:
DD – 16
RCB – 16
KXIP – 16
CSK and RR tied on 15 each.
Deccan Chargers eliminated
Scenario 4
Kings XI Punjab win remaining games against DC and CSK
Royal Challengers Bangalore win remaining games against DC and DD
Rajasthan Royals win remaining games against KR and DD
Delhi Daredevils lose all remaining games –RR, RCB and MI.
Chennai Super Kings lose all remaining games – KKR, KXIP.
Kolkota Kinght Riders lose to RR and defeat CSK.
Deccan Chargers lose remaining games against KXIP and RCB
Mumbai Indians defeat DD.
Final Tally
RR – 17
DD – 16
KXIP – 16
RCB – 16
CSK and DC eliminated
Scenario 5
Kings XI Punjab win remaining games against DC and CSK
Royal Challengers Bangalore win remaining games against DC and DD
Rajasthan Royals lose remaining games against KR and DD
Delhi Daredevils lose to RCB and MI, win against RR
Chennai Super Kings lose to KXIP and KKR
Kolkota Knight Riders win against CSK and RR
Mumbai Indians win against DD.
Deccan Chargers lose to KXIP and RCB
Final Tally:
DD – 18
RCB – 16
KXIP – 16
CSK – 15
Deccan Chargers and Rajasthan Royals eliminated.
Scenario 6
Deccan Chargers win against KXIP and lose against RCB
Kings XI Punjab win against CSK and lose against DC.
Royal Challengers Bangalore win against DC and lose to DD.
Rajasthan Royals win against KKR and lose to DD
Delhi Daredevils win against RR, RCB and lose to MI
Mumbai Indians win against DD
Chennai Super Kings lose to KXIP and KKR.
KKR win against CSK and lose to RR
Final Tally:
DD – 20
DC – 16
CSK – 15
RR – 15
RCB and KXIP will be eliminated
Scenario 7
Deccan Chargers win against RCB and lose against KXIP
Kings XI Punjab win against DC and lose against CSK
Royal Challengers Bangalore win against DD and lose to DC.
Rajasthan Royals win against DD and lose to KKR
Delhi Daredevils lose against RR, RCB and win against MI
Mumbai Indians lose against DD
Chennai Super Kings defeat KXIP and lose KKR.
KKR win against CSK and RR
Final Tally:
DD – 18
CSK – 17
DC – 16
RR – 15
RCB and KXIP will be eliminated
Five teams in the fray have chances of taking the other three spots, depending on how their results go and how the other results go.
Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore will necessarily have to win their remaining two games to remain in contention.
Deccan Chargers and Rajasthan Royals will need to win atleast one game to be safe/qualify. Both run the risk of elimination either or points or net run rate with just one win. If they lose both games, depending on the other results, they can also be eliminated.
If Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers win their remaining two games, it is virtually curtains for the other two contenders Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab, who have a game each against the Chargers.
Chennai Super Kings also run the risk of elimination if they lose all games and some other games go to their disadvantage! Their loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore can come back to haunt them.
Any win by Kolkota Knight Riders can impact the chances of Deccan Chargers or Rajasthan Royals in a big way, and their game against Rajasthan Royals will be a key game.
The only inconsequential game now appears to be the Mumbai Indians Vs Delhi Daredevils.
If you are supporting any team other than DD, MI or KKR, don’t clip your finger nails!!
More scenarios!!!
Scenario 1
Kings XI Punjab wins remaining games against DC and CSK
Royal Challengers Bangalore win remaining games against DC and DD
Rajasthan Royals win remaining games against DD and KKR
Chennai Super Kings win one game against KKR
Delhi Daredevils win one game against MI
Kolkota Kinght Riders lose remaining two games
Deccan Chargers lose remaining two games
Mumbai Indians lose remaining game
Final Tally:
DD - 18
CSK - 17
RR - 17
RCB and KXIP tied on 16 each.
Deccan Chargers will be eliminated</span>
Scenario 2
Deccan Chargers wins remaining two games against KXIP and RCB
Rajasthan Royals win remaining two games against DD and KKR
Chennai SuperKings win two remaining games against KKR and KXIP.
Delhi Daredevils lose remaining games to RR, RCB and MI
Kings XI Punjab lose remaining two games against CSK and DC
Mumbai Indians win final game against DD
Royal Challengers win against DD and lose to DC
Kolkota Knight Riders lose games to CSK and RR.
Final Tally:
CSK – 19
DC – 18
RR – 17
DD – 16
RCB & KXIP will be eliminated
Scenario 3
Chennai Super Kings lose remaining games to KKR and KXIP
Delhi Daredevils lose all three remaining games to RR, RCB and MI.
Rajasthan Royals lose to KKR and win against DD
Royal Challengers Bangalore win remaining two games against DC and DD.
Mumbai Indans win against DD
Deccan Chargers lose to KXIP and RCB.
Kings XI Punjab win both games against DC and CSK.
Kolkota Knight Riders beat RR and CSK.
Final Tally:
DD – 16
RCB – 16
KXIP – 16
CSK and RR tied on 15 each.
Deccan Chargers eliminated
Scenario 4
Kings XI Punjab win remaining games against DC and CSK
Royal Challengers Bangalore win remaining games against DC and DD
Rajasthan Royals win remaining games against KR and DD
Delhi Daredevils lose all remaining games –RR, RCB and MI.
Chennai Super Kings lose all remaining games – KKR, KXIP.
Kolkota Kinght Riders lose to RR and defeat CSK.
Deccan Chargers lose remaining games against KXIP and RCB
Mumbai Indians defeat DD.
Final Tally
RR – 17
DD – 16
KXIP – 16
RCB – 16
CSK and DC eliminated
Scenario 5
Kings XI Punjab win remaining games against DC and CSK
Royal Challengers Bangalore win remaining games against DC and DD
Rajasthan Royals lose remaining games against KR and DD
Delhi Daredevils lose to RCB and MI, win against RR
Chennai Super Kings lose to KXIP and KKR
Kolkota Knight Riders win against CSK and RR
Mumbai Indians win against DD.
Deccan Chargers lose to KXIP and RCB
Final Tally:
DD – 18
RCB – 16
KXIP – 16
CSK – 15
Deccan Chargers and Rajasthan Royals eliminated.
Scenario 6
Deccan Chargers win against KXIP and lose against RCB
Kings XI Punjab win against CSK and lose against DC.
Royal Challengers Bangalore win against DC and lose to DD.
Rajasthan Royals win against KKR and lose to DD
Delhi Daredevils win against RR, RCB and lose to MI
Mumbai Indians win against DD
Chennai Super Kings lose to KXIP and KKR.
KKR win against CSK and lose to RR
Final Tally:
DD – 20
DC – 16
CSK – 15
RR – 15
RCB and KXIP will be eliminated
Scenario 7
Deccan Chargers win against RCB and lose against KXIP
Kings XI Punjab win against DC and lose against CSK
Royal Challengers Bangalore win against DD and lose to DC.
Rajasthan Royals win against DD and lose to KKR
Delhi Daredevils lose against RR, RCB and win against MI
Mumbai Indians lose against DD
Chennai Super Kings defeat KXIP and lose KKR.
KKR win against CSK and RR
Final Tally:
DD – 18
CSK – 17
DC – 16
RR – 15
RCB and KXIP will be eliminated
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
IPL 2009 - The Top 4 - Who?????
How wide open is the IPL 2009? Totally, with all teams other than Kolkota Kinght Riders in the fray. Depending on how the remaining games go, even the leaders Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils can miss out the last four!! Royal Challengers and Kings XI Punjab could go as high as the 2nd and 3rd team!
Here are some scenarios. Pick your choice!! :-)
E&OE!!!!! :=) just in case some error has crept in, though this had been compiled diligently!!
Scenario 1
1. Mumbai Indians win all remaining games against DD, CSK and RR.
2. Rajasthan Royals lose to MI and win two games against DD and KKR.
3. Kings XI Punjab win three defeating CSK, DD and DC.
4. Royal Challengers Bangalore win three defeating CSK, DD and DC.
5. Kolkota Knight Riders win against CSK and DC and lose to RR.
6. Delhi Daredevils lose games to RR, RCB, KXIP, MI and defeat DC..
7. Chennai Super Kings lose all four remaining games to RCB, KXP, MI and KKR.
8. Deccan Chargers lose to KKR, KXIP, DC and RCB
Final four will be:
Mumbai Indians – 17 points
Royal Challengers Bangalore – 16 points
Kings XI Punjab – 16 points
Delhi Daredevils – 16 points
Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers and Rajasthan Royals eliminated.
Scenario – 2
1. Delhi Daredevils win all remaining games, defeating DC, RR, RCB, KXIP, and MI.
2. Chennai Super Kings win all remaining games, defeating RCB, KXIP, MI, KKR.
3. Deccan Charges win three games against RCB, KXIP, KKR and lose one to DD.
4. Mumbai Indians win against RR and lose to DD and CSK.
5. Rajasthan Royals win against KKR and lose to DD and MI.
6. Royal Challengers Bangalore lose three games to DD, CSK and DC.
7. Kings XI Punjab lose three games to DD, CSK and DC.
8. Kolkota Knight Riders lose three games to CSK, RR and DC.
Final four will be:
Delhi Daredevils - 24 points
Chennai Super Kings - 21 points
Deccan Chargers - 18 points
Mumbai Indians - 13 points with a better net run rate against Rajasthan Royals also with 13 points.
On current form, this could be the more probable scenario.
Scenario – 3
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore win remaining three games against DD, CSK and DC.
2. Kings XI Punjab win three remaining games against DD, CSK and DC.
3. Rajasthan Royals win three remaining games against DD, MI and KKR
4. Deccan Charges win two games against DD and KKR and lose to RCB and KXIP.
5. Delhi Daredevils lose four games against RR, DC, RCB and KXIP and win against MI and KKR.
6. Kolkota Knight Riders lose all three remaining games against CSK, RR and DC.
7. Chennai Super Kings lose two games to RCB and KXIP and win against MI and KKR.
8. Mumbai Indians lose all three games to DD, CSK, RR.
Final four will be:
Chennai Super Kings 17 points
Rajasthan Royals 17 points
Net Run Rate deciding between Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab – all with 16 each!
Mumbai Indians eliminated.
Scenario – 4
1. Mumbai Indians win all remaining games against DD, CSK and RR.
2. Rajasthan Royals lose to MI and win two games against DD and KKR.
3. Kings XI Punjab win three defeating CSK, DD and DC.
4. Royal Challengers Bangalore win three defeating CSK, DD and DC.
5. Kolkota Knight Riders win against CSK and DC and lose to RR.
6. Delhi Daredevils lose games to RR, RCB, KXIP, MI and DC.
7. Chennai Super Kings lose all four remaining games to RCB, KXP, MI and KKR.
8. Deccan Chargers lose to KKR, KXIP and RCB, and win against DD.
Final four will be:
Mumbai Indians – 17 points
Royal Challengers Bangalore – 16 points
Kings XI Punjab – 16 points
Deccan Chargers – 15 points
On current form the least probable scenario, as Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils miss out!
But it is cricket and there are mega money Corporates involved. Who knows how the results will pan out!!!
Here are some scenarios. Pick your choice!! :-)
E&OE!!!!! :=) just in case some error has crept in, though this had been compiled diligently!!
Scenario 1
1. Mumbai Indians win all remaining games against DD, CSK and RR.
2. Rajasthan Royals lose to MI and win two games against DD and KKR.
3. Kings XI Punjab win three defeating CSK, DD and DC.
4. Royal Challengers Bangalore win three defeating CSK, DD and DC.
5. Kolkota Knight Riders win against CSK and DC and lose to RR.
6. Delhi Daredevils lose games to RR, RCB, KXIP, MI and defeat DC..
7. Chennai Super Kings lose all four remaining games to RCB, KXP, MI and KKR.
8. Deccan Chargers lose to KKR, KXIP, DC and RCB
Final four will be:
Mumbai Indians – 17 points
Royal Challengers Bangalore – 16 points
Kings XI Punjab – 16 points
Delhi Daredevils – 16 points
Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers and Rajasthan Royals eliminated.
Scenario – 2
1. Delhi Daredevils win all remaining games, defeating DC, RR, RCB, KXIP, and MI.
2. Chennai Super Kings win all remaining games, defeating RCB, KXIP, MI, KKR.
3. Deccan Charges win three games against RCB, KXIP, KKR and lose one to DD.
4. Mumbai Indians win against RR and lose to DD and CSK.
5. Rajasthan Royals win against KKR and lose to DD and MI.
6. Royal Challengers Bangalore lose three games to DD, CSK and DC.
7. Kings XI Punjab lose three games to DD, CSK and DC.
8. Kolkota Knight Riders lose three games to CSK, RR and DC.
Final four will be:
Delhi Daredevils - 24 points
Chennai Super Kings - 21 points
Deccan Chargers - 18 points
Mumbai Indians - 13 points with a better net run rate against Rajasthan Royals also with 13 points.
On current form, this could be the more probable scenario.
Scenario – 3
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore win remaining three games against DD, CSK and DC.
2. Kings XI Punjab win three remaining games against DD, CSK and DC.
3. Rajasthan Royals win three remaining games against DD, MI and KKR
4. Deccan Charges win two games against DD and KKR and lose to RCB and KXIP.
5. Delhi Daredevils lose four games against RR, DC, RCB and KXIP and win against MI and KKR.
6. Kolkota Knight Riders lose all three remaining games against CSK, RR and DC.
7. Chennai Super Kings lose two games to RCB and KXIP and win against MI and KKR.
8. Mumbai Indians lose all three games to DD, CSK, RR.
Final four will be:
Chennai Super Kings 17 points
Rajasthan Royals 17 points
Net Run Rate deciding between Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab – all with 16 each!
Mumbai Indians eliminated.
Scenario – 4
1. Mumbai Indians win all remaining games against DD, CSK and RR.
2. Rajasthan Royals lose to MI and win two games against DD and KKR.
3. Kings XI Punjab win three defeating CSK, DD and DC.
4. Royal Challengers Bangalore win three defeating CSK, DD and DC.
5. Kolkota Knight Riders win against CSK and DC and lose to RR.
6. Delhi Daredevils lose games to RR, RCB, KXIP, MI and DC.
7. Chennai Super Kings lose all four remaining games to RCB, KXP, MI and KKR.
8. Deccan Chargers lose to KKR, KXIP and RCB, and win against DD.
Final four will be:
Mumbai Indians – 17 points
Royal Challengers Bangalore – 16 points
Kings XI Punjab – 16 points
Deccan Chargers – 15 points
On current form the least probable scenario, as Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils miss out!
But it is cricket and there are mega money Corporates involved. Who knows how the results will pan out!!!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Raja's Gems - Deccan Chargers Vs Rajasthan Royals at Kimberly (11th May 2009)
“Paper se kya hota hai? Kuch nahi hota hai!!” That was the first gem Ramiz Raja threw up, insinuating the Deccan Chargers to be a bunch of paper tigers, as he announced he was also a BBBBBIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGG fan of Shane Warne. He wasn’t quite done as he went on to slam the Deccan Chargers batsmen bang in the face, in hindi – something to the effect of, “They don’t play with their head” Chang looked on highly impressed, as his hair dresser was seriously looking at alternate job options, losing out in the bargain, potential high profile clients like Ramiz, who must have saved a few thousands by growing his hair and head.
Chargers’s start was messed up by New Zealander Baxter, Gilly declared out lbw to a Pathan delivery pitched outside the leg side. “What a master stroke, Yusuf gets Gilchrist with a great delivery” gushed Ramiz. The TV replays confirmed that the ball had pitched outside the leg stump when Gilchrist attempted the sweep. Ramiz rebuilt the damage with, “it was just a little outside”, which sounded more like a girl proclaiming that she was only a little pregnant!
Someone seriously needs to have a talk with both Baxter and Asnani from India and tell them that if a ball pitches outside the leg stump, a batsman CANNOT BE GIVEN OUT!! Asnani also needs to be told that when a bat hits the ball before it hits the pad, again, it CANNOT BE GIVEN OUT LBW!! Thankfully Asnani was not accompanying Baxter for this game, but one shudders to think of the day these two come together!
The exuberant “President, Rohit Sharma & Shane Warne Fan Club” was gushing again as Yusuf Pathan was taken off after one over, and Trivedi was brought into the attack when Rohit Sharma came in at number three. ”He is such a fine player of spin bowling! Warne has read the opposition really well”. A few overs later Rohit Sharma, looking more like Munaf Patel with the bat these days, went cluelessly down the wicket to spinner Jadeja and ‘keeper Ojha had enough time to stump him after the ball popped out of his hand.
And yes, when Trivedi was brought on after Munaf Patel and Yusuf Pathan had bowled one over each, came another Ramiz special. “Warne is seriously rotating the bowling order!” Some order, indeed! The disappointment ofcourse was that he didn’t go on to say something like, “Warnie is so great, not just the batting order he can also rotate the bowling order like he spins the ball!”.
The next man to get Ramiz’s attention was Dwayne Smith, probably in Ramiz’s book a key player in the ‘does not play with the head’ group. “He is not good against spinners though he can whack the medium pacers real hard” was the judgement. In the final analysis, Smith got 37 of his 47 runs from 27 deliveries from the spinners, hitting a six each off Jadeja, Warne and Yusuf for a six each.
One expected great stuff when finally Ranjit joined Ramiz during the Royals innings, but unfortunately nothing much came out. Ramiz seemed to have lost his form and all he could muster was “there is a lot of action in this over, sponsored by our sponsors………….”.
Ranjit did make an attempt to leap ahead of Ramiz when Ravindra Jadeja was batting, ‘one of the talented youngsters threatening to showcase his talent……………..”. Ramiz however is moving fast ahead of Ranjit to claim the Yellow cRap Commentator position with his pearls.
On to more mundane things about the game.
Luckily for the Deccan Chargers they noticed they had someone called Chaminda Vaas in their squad and replaced him with Ryan “Who” Harris. The bowling line-up with Vass, RP Singh and Ojha looked far better.
With Symonds coming in and firing away, and Dwayne Smith playing with a calmingly murderous approach, Chargers look like a side that can match and compete well with any side. The disappointments would be Gilchrist himself, who has not been the Gilchrist one expected and the pedestrian Rohit Sharma who again looked clueless with the bat. But then, as Gilchrist pointed out, he seems to be in the race for the purple cap instead of the orange cap!!
Royals look regal when things work for them, and like rubble when things don't! Yusuf Pathan may have to be given the opening slot and the entire 20 overs at his disposal perhaps.
Chargers’s start was messed up by New Zealander Baxter, Gilly declared out lbw to a Pathan delivery pitched outside the leg side. “What a master stroke, Yusuf gets Gilchrist with a great delivery” gushed Ramiz. The TV replays confirmed that the ball had pitched outside the leg stump when Gilchrist attempted the sweep. Ramiz rebuilt the damage with, “it was just a little outside”, which sounded more like a girl proclaiming that she was only a little pregnant!
Someone seriously needs to have a talk with both Baxter and Asnani from India and tell them that if a ball pitches outside the leg stump, a batsman CANNOT BE GIVEN OUT!! Asnani also needs to be told that when a bat hits the ball before it hits the pad, again, it CANNOT BE GIVEN OUT LBW!! Thankfully Asnani was not accompanying Baxter for this game, but one shudders to think of the day these two come together!
The exuberant “President, Rohit Sharma & Shane Warne Fan Club” was gushing again as Yusuf Pathan was taken off after one over, and Trivedi was brought into the attack when Rohit Sharma came in at number three. ”He is such a fine player of spin bowling! Warne has read the opposition really well”. A few overs later Rohit Sharma, looking more like Munaf Patel with the bat these days, went cluelessly down the wicket to spinner Jadeja and ‘keeper Ojha had enough time to stump him after the ball popped out of his hand.
And yes, when Trivedi was brought on after Munaf Patel and Yusuf Pathan had bowled one over each, came another Ramiz special. “Warne is seriously rotating the bowling order!” Some order, indeed! The disappointment ofcourse was that he didn’t go on to say something like, “Warnie is so great, not just the batting order he can also rotate the bowling order like he spins the ball!”.
The next man to get Ramiz’s attention was Dwayne Smith, probably in Ramiz’s book a key player in the ‘does not play with the head’ group. “He is not good against spinners though he can whack the medium pacers real hard” was the judgement. In the final analysis, Smith got 37 of his 47 runs from 27 deliveries from the spinners, hitting a six each off Jadeja, Warne and Yusuf for a six each.
One expected great stuff when finally Ranjit joined Ramiz during the Royals innings, but unfortunately nothing much came out. Ramiz seemed to have lost his form and all he could muster was “there is a lot of action in this over, sponsored by our sponsors………….”.
Ranjit did make an attempt to leap ahead of Ramiz when Ravindra Jadeja was batting, ‘one of the talented youngsters threatening to showcase his talent……………..”. Ramiz however is moving fast ahead of Ranjit to claim the Yellow cRap Commentator position with his pearls.
On to more mundane things about the game.
Luckily for the Deccan Chargers they noticed they had someone called Chaminda Vaas in their squad and replaced him with Ryan “Who” Harris. The bowling line-up with Vass, RP Singh and Ojha looked far better.
With Symonds coming in and firing away, and Dwayne Smith playing with a calmingly murderous approach, Chargers look like a side that can match and compete well with any side. The disappointments would be Gilchrist himself, who has not been the Gilchrist one expected and the pedestrian Rohit Sharma who again looked clueless with the bat. But then, as Gilchrist pointed out, he seems to be in the race for the purple cap instead of the orange cap!!
Royals look regal when things work for them, and like rubble when things don't! Yusuf Pathan may have to be given the opening slot and the entire 20 overs at his disposal perhaps.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The Genius Of Raja!! Ramiz Raja!!!
The world is a tad bit worried about the swine flu, and anyone suspected of it is being quarantined. Under these circumstances, wonder of wonder, why of all the people Ramiz Raja was let loose upon unsuspecting Set Max TV viewers suddenly!!
The first Paki flavour to the IPL, with Ramiz at the mike must have worried Ranjit Fernando, the Yellow CrAP Commentator of this IPL tournament. True to expectations, Ramiz mouthed away all the mistakes the Mumbai Indians committed and explained in clear details how they could have won the game. Someone must hire him as their CEO or coach, and spare the viewers.
But Ramiz, the Rohit Sharma Fan Club President, who had earlier gone to town with a massive outburst against the ‘non-finisher’ Duminy, was not done. The rains came down when he was with Mandira Bedi. An umbrella propped up, as Ramiz broke into a song with the heavily tanned Ms Bedi!!!! Any Bollywood producer watching? We wish someone did, hopefully the Ramsay brothers, and they sign him off from the mike with an acting assignment for the lead role in the next horror venture.
And yes, there were pearls of wisdom in the KKR/Delhi Daredevils game from Ramiz. KKR lost three wickets in no time, and Ramiz was excited!! “KKR are in danger of losing the game in the first innings!!!” he screamed. And then went on to make Ganguly the captain of KKR, “It is good to see him promote himself up the order to open” and the best (till now) came when he made the “City of Joy” Kolkotta a “town”!! “The town of Kolkotta will be happy to see Ganguly.........he is a dada there! In fact all over India!!!”
Missing Ramiz Raja as he goes off the microphone after seven overs! Enter now, Ravi Shastri screaming, “That is two wickets in the first over for Amit Mishra, and it doesn’t get any better than this!!” Duhhhh!!! Not even 3 wickets or more?
The first Paki flavour to the IPL, with Ramiz at the mike must have worried Ranjit Fernando, the Yellow CrAP Commentator of this IPL tournament. True to expectations, Ramiz mouthed away all the mistakes the Mumbai Indians committed and explained in clear details how they could have won the game. Someone must hire him as their CEO or coach, and spare the viewers.
But Ramiz, the Rohit Sharma Fan Club President, who had earlier gone to town with a massive outburst against the ‘non-finisher’ Duminy, was not done. The rains came down when he was with Mandira Bedi. An umbrella propped up, as Ramiz broke into a song with the heavily tanned Ms Bedi!!!! Any Bollywood producer watching? We wish someone did, hopefully the Ramsay brothers, and they sign him off from the mike with an acting assignment for the lead role in the next horror venture.
And yes, there were pearls of wisdom in the KKR/Delhi Daredevils game from Ramiz. KKR lost three wickets in no time, and Ramiz was excited!! “KKR are in danger of losing the game in the first innings!!!” he screamed. And then went on to make Ganguly the captain of KKR, “It is good to see him promote himself up the order to open” and the best (till now) came when he made the “City of Joy” Kolkotta a “town”!! “The town of Kolkotta will be happy to see Ganguly.........he is a dada there! In fact all over India!!!”
Missing Ramiz Raja as he goes off the microphone after seven overs! Enter now, Ravi Shastri screaming, “That is two wickets in the first over for Amit Mishra, and it doesn’t get any better than this!!” Duhhhh!!! Not even 3 wickets or more?
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Mumbai Indians vs. Deccan Chargers - SuperSport Park, Centurion – 6th May 2009
After his match-winning effort against Chennai Super Kings in their first league encounter, Gibbs has scores of 8, 0 and 0. When an early wicket goes for the Deccan Chargers, it is bound to be a struggle. Gibbs went early again and Gilchrist seemed to attempt something different today, though the game plan didn’t seem clear to viewers. If it was to play through the innings, it was uncharacteristic for Gilly who has been better off blasting away at the top of the order to provide a platform. Gilly himself acknowledged the mistake he made – it was probably the shot he attempted that made him lose his wicket in the 10th over rather than his plan to play longer with more caution.
Take away Dwayne Smith from this line-up, the only big name is Rohit Sharma who can be expected to play an innings of substance, and he seems to be a disinterested performer in recent times. He pottered around to get 38 off 36 balls, and if the one six and two fours he hit are taken off, the pace at which this Indian International batted becomes apparent. At no time did he make any attempt to accelerate or force the bowlers to change their line or length. He seemed to play a content innings before holing out the first ball of the 18th over from Malinga into long on’s hands. A two paced wicket where shot making was difficult was what Rohit mentioned while speaking after his Man of the Match award, but this was the same wicket where lesser known players like Suman for Chargers and Pinal Shah for Mumbai later played aggressive little cameos with big hits to the fence.
Venugopala Rao chipped in with 28 off 17 balls, which in the ultimate analysis gave the Chargers a total they ended up winners with! Either he or RP Singh deserved the Man of the Match for they performed when the odds were loaded against them.
A bowling line-up that has just RP Singh with no Pragyan Ojha, and the likes of medium pacers Harmeet Singh and Shoaib who go at 9+ an over should not give a side with big international names much concern if they are chasing under 150. L Sivaramakrishnan didn’t waste a breath in stating the Mumbai Indians will win. And they should have.
But the Mumbai Indians were off to the worst possible start. RP Singh went wide seeing Jayasuriya coming down the wicket. Jayasuriya slashed hard only for Ryan Harris run in from third-man and hold on to a wonderful tumbling catch. The next ball was bowled brilliantly by PR Singh. It swung back into Tendulkar who was clumsily positioned at the crease trying to work the ball to mid-wicket and playing across the line. He left, with his pads helping deflect the ball to rattle the off and middle stump. 7 for 2 in the second over.
Pinal Shah occupied the number three slot for this game, and played according to the game plan (as per Tendulkar in the post game interview). His partnership with Duminy, and that of Duminy with Bravo later seemed to have Mumbai on course when the score was 97 for 3 in 14 overs.
Just 49 runs to get in 6 overs with seven wickets in hand, Duminy and Bravo well set. A Deccan Chargers attack with no Pragyan Ojha and two RP Singh overs. And then Mumbai began their self destruction. Suman bowled a tight length but Bravo chose to show his strength and failed, Ryan Harris taking another good catch on the ropes at long on.
Gilchrist sure would not have hoped for any wickets but just tighten up runs when he threw the ball to Rohit Sharma. And what happens? Here is from the cricinfo commentary
15.5 Sharma to Nayar, OUT, bowled him, and Mumbai are losing the plot! Rohit keeps it flat on middle and leg, Nayar moves across to sweep and misses it, the ball doesn't turn that much and hits leg stump.
Note: It is off spinner Sharma bowling to left hander Nayar and hitting his leg stump!
15.6 Sharma to Harbhajan Singh, OUT, another one bites the dust! Rohit tosses it just a tad short outside off, Harbhajan plays a cheeky sweep to try and beat short fine leg but bottom-edges onto the stumps.
And then
17.1 Sharma to Duminy, OUT, and he's got it! Rohit Sharma gets three in three! He fires down the leg stumps, no air whatsoever, Duminy moves back and tries to play it over square leg but gets a thin inside edge which Gilchrist, smartly anticipating, holds onto as he moves across.
Three batsmen throw away wickets. Nayar missed a straight ball going for a sweep, Harbhajan was in la-la land trying to sweep a straight one outside his off stump and dragging it onto his stumps, and then the well set Duminy, who should have just let the ball go down leg and collected a wide, paddles a catch off his bat and then pad to the alert Gilchrist!
All talk by the commentators about Deccan Chargers regrouping and bouncing back after three straight losses was pure rubbish. A moderate total was made a mountainous one by some irresponsible shot selection by the Mumbai Indians. Gilchrist himself acknowledged that there were a lot of areas to work on for the side.
Trust the commentators to find a scapegoat for the loss, and the man chosen was Duminy!! “He is not a finisher” was the accusation led by Rameez Raja, who made up for Ranjit Fernando not being on air today! Someone needs to check the score cards and statistics for it will then become apparent that if Duminy had not held and repaired the damage he walked into, Mumbai Indians would have been looking at a more dismal performance!
Mumbai seem to have a lot of confusion over who bats at the number three slot. In their first game against Chennai Super Kings it was Shikar Dhawan, against Deccan Chargers it was Duminy, Harbhajan Singh came in at three in both the Kolkata Knight Rider games and Ajinkya Rahane was sent in one down against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Today it was Pinal Shah, and Tendulkar credited him for playing according to the game plan. The Game Plan however has not been helping them win games, and the batsmen must be muddled about their role and slots.
The talented Ajinkya Rahane has got just two games, while India U-19’s dashing Saurabh Tiwary has played in four games. Tiwary however must be a very confused lad wondering what his role is when he sees the likes of Harbhajan and even Zaheer Khan bat ahead of him.
While their bowlers have done a good job, led by the consistent Malinga, the batsmen seem to be losing the plot completely. The first loss to Deccan Chargers was by 12 runs, where they were chasing 169 and placed comfortably at 80 odd for one wicket in 10 overs. They failed to get 120 in 20 overs against Kings XI Punjab, failing by 4 runs.
Assuming Chennai and Delhi are well entrenched to make it to the semis, it leaves two spots for the other sides. From the same number of games played, Mumbai Indians are short by 2 points compared to Rajasthan Royals, and on par with Royal Challengers and Kings XI Punjab.
In a tournament where the net run rate will come in play, Mumbai are placed well with a positive figure that is second only to the Chennai Super Kings. But they have a schedule that could place them at a big disadvantage. Starting Friday they play every alternate day, with their penultimate match on 16th May 09. They play the last game on 21st May, against the Delhi Daredevils. Between 16th and 21st May, six games fearuting four other aspirants to the last four, play every day. All teams will know where Mumbai Indians are placed, and are advantageously placed to work their strategies. Having to play Delhi Daredevils twice now, and no game against KKR makes things difficult for Mumbai.
Grit and determination are characteristics of Mumbai sides. Always feared and respected by the opposition. But as a good cricketing friend put it across this morning – this isn’t a Mumbai side, but a Mumbai “Indians” side!
Take away Dwayne Smith from this line-up, the only big name is Rohit Sharma who can be expected to play an innings of substance, and he seems to be a disinterested performer in recent times. He pottered around to get 38 off 36 balls, and if the one six and two fours he hit are taken off, the pace at which this Indian International batted becomes apparent. At no time did he make any attempt to accelerate or force the bowlers to change their line or length. He seemed to play a content innings before holing out the first ball of the 18th over from Malinga into long on’s hands. A two paced wicket where shot making was difficult was what Rohit mentioned while speaking after his Man of the Match award, but this was the same wicket where lesser known players like Suman for Chargers and Pinal Shah for Mumbai later played aggressive little cameos with big hits to the fence.
Venugopala Rao chipped in with 28 off 17 balls, which in the ultimate analysis gave the Chargers a total they ended up winners with! Either he or RP Singh deserved the Man of the Match for they performed when the odds were loaded against them.
A bowling line-up that has just RP Singh with no Pragyan Ojha, and the likes of medium pacers Harmeet Singh and Shoaib who go at 9+ an over should not give a side with big international names much concern if they are chasing under 150. L Sivaramakrishnan didn’t waste a breath in stating the Mumbai Indians will win. And they should have.
But the Mumbai Indians were off to the worst possible start. RP Singh went wide seeing Jayasuriya coming down the wicket. Jayasuriya slashed hard only for Ryan Harris run in from third-man and hold on to a wonderful tumbling catch. The next ball was bowled brilliantly by PR Singh. It swung back into Tendulkar who was clumsily positioned at the crease trying to work the ball to mid-wicket and playing across the line. He left, with his pads helping deflect the ball to rattle the off and middle stump. 7 for 2 in the second over.
Pinal Shah occupied the number three slot for this game, and played according to the game plan (as per Tendulkar in the post game interview). His partnership with Duminy, and that of Duminy with Bravo later seemed to have Mumbai on course when the score was 97 for 3 in 14 overs.
Just 49 runs to get in 6 overs with seven wickets in hand, Duminy and Bravo well set. A Deccan Chargers attack with no Pragyan Ojha and two RP Singh overs. And then Mumbai began their self destruction. Suman bowled a tight length but Bravo chose to show his strength and failed, Ryan Harris taking another good catch on the ropes at long on.
Gilchrist sure would not have hoped for any wickets but just tighten up runs when he threw the ball to Rohit Sharma. And what happens? Here is from the cricinfo commentary
15.5 Sharma to Nayar, OUT, bowled him, and Mumbai are losing the plot! Rohit keeps it flat on middle and leg, Nayar moves across to sweep and misses it, the ball doesn't turn that much and hits leg stump.
Note: It is off spinner Sharma bowling to left hander Nayar and hitting his leg stump!
15.6 Sharma to Harbhajan Singh, OUT, another one bites the dust! Rohit tosses it just a tad short outside off, Harbhajan plays a cheeky sweep to try and beat short fine leg but bottom-edges onto the stumps.
And then
17.1 Sharma to Duminy, OUT, and he's got it! Rohit Sharma gets three in three! He fires down the leg stumps, no air whatsoever, Duminy moves back and tries to play it over square leg but gets a thin inside edge which Gilchrist, smartly anticipating, holds onto as he moves across.
Three batsmen throw away wickets. Nayar missed a straight ball going for a sweep, Harbhajan was in la-la land trying to sweep a straight one outside his off stump and dragging it onto his stumps, and then the well set Duminy, who should have just let the ball go down leg and collected a wide, paddles a catch off his bat and then pad to the alert Gilchrist!
All talk by the commentators about Deccan Chargers regrouping and bouncing back after three straight losses was pure rubbish. A moderate total was made a mountainous one by some irresponsible shot selection by the Mumbai Indians. Gilchrist himself acknowledged that there were a lot of areas to work on for the side.
Trust the commentators to find a scapegoat for the loss, and the man chosen was Duminy!! “He is not a finisher” was the accusation led by Rameez Raja, who made up for Ranjit Fernando not being on air today! Someone needs to check the score cards and statistics for it will then become apparent that if Duminy had not held and repaired the damage he walked into, Mumbai Indians would have been looking at a more dismal performance!
Mumbai seem to have a lot of confusion over who bats at the number three slot. In their first game against Chennai Super Kings it was Shikar Dhawan, against Deccan Chargers it was Duminy, Harbhajan Singh came in at three in both the Kolkata Knight Rider games and Ajinkya Rahane was sent in one down against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Today it was Pinal Shah, and Tendulkar credited him for playing according to the game plan. The Game Plan however has not been helping them win games, and the batsmen must be muddled about their role and slots.
The talented Ajinkya Rahane has got just two games, while India U-19’s dashing Saurabh Tiwary has played in four games. Tiwary however must be a very confused lad wondering what his role is when he sees the likes of Harbhajan and even Zaheer Khan bat ahead of him.
While their bowlers have done a good job, led by the consistent Malinga, the batsmen seem to be losing the plot completely. The first loss to Deccan Chargers was by 12 runs, where they were chasing 169 and placed comfortably at 80 odd for one wicket in 10 overs. They failed to get 120 in 20 overs against Kings XI Punjab, failing by 4 runs.
Assuming Chennai and Delhi are well entrenched to make it to the semis, it leaves two spots for the other sides. From the same number of games played, Mumbai Indians are short by 2 points compared to Rajasthan Royals, and on par with Royal Challengers and Kings XI Punjab.
In a tournament where the net run rate will come in play, Mumbai are placed well with a positive figure that is second only to the Chennai Super Kings. But they have a schedule that could place them at a big disadvantage. Starting Friday they play every alternate day, with their penultimate match on 16th May 09. They play the last game on 21st May, against the Delhi Daredevils. Between 16th and 21st May, six games fearuting four other aspirants to the last four, play every day. All teams will know where Mumbai Indians are placed, and are advantageously placed to work their strategies. Having to play Delhi Daredevils twice now, and no game against KKR makes things difficult for Mumbai.
Grit and determination are characteristics of Mumbai sides. Always feared and respected by the opposition. But as a good cricketing friend put it across this morning – this isn’t a Mumbai side, but a Mumbai “Indians” side!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
“Emulate the opposition that won today” must have been the words of Darren Lehmann as he exhorted his team to do better after their loss to Rajasthan Royals in the game the previous Saturday.
And the obedient boys just did that. If Rajasthan Royals slid to 3 runs for 3 wickets in 1.6 overs, the Chargers were not very different at 1 run for 3 wickets in 2.1 overs! Dwayne Smith batted in the manner of a Yusuf Pathan. Remembering the Asnodkar and Carseldine mix-up which led to the former’s run out, Chargers gave the Super Kings atleast three run out opportunities off a single stroke!
The explosive start from Hayden and the quickfire cameo by Raina was good enough a platform for Dhoni to move from a largely run-a-ball innings to cap off with a half-century which not surprisingly got him the Man of the Match award, ahead of the more deserving Jakati.
179 was a big ask for the Deccan Chargers, a chase that could have only been on had Gibbs and Gilchrist repeated their explosive start aginst the Super Kings yet again. Both failing to open their accounts, and the wonderful cameo from Smith and the comical fielding lapses of Super Kings apart, this was one terribly one-sided and boring encounter!
And the obedient boys just did that. If Rajasthan Royals slid to 3 runs for 3 wickets in 1.6 overs, the Chargers were not very different at 1 run for 3 wickets in 2.1 overs! Dwayne Smith batted in the manner of a Yusuf Pathan. Remembering the Asnodkar and Carseldine mix-up which led to the former’s run out, Chargers gave the Super Kings atleast three run out opportunities off a single stroke!
The explosive start from Hayden and the quickfire cameo by Raina was good enough a platform for Dhoni to move from a largely run-a-ball innings to cap off with a half-century which not surprisingly got him the Man of the Match award, ahead of the more deserving Jakati.
179 was a big ask for the Deccan Chargers, a chase that could have only been on had Gibbs and Gilchrist repeated their explosive start aginst the Super Kings yet again. Both failing to open their accounts, and the wonderful cameo from Smith and the comical fielding lapses of Super Kings apart, this was one terribly one-sided and boring encounter!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Bangalore Royal Challengers Vs Mumbai Indians – New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg – 3rd May 2009
Pre Match Thoughts
Any non-Mumbaikar will love it when a Mumbai side loses. The reason is simple. Mumbai has consistently produced successful cricketers, cricketers who are tough characters and fight till the end. Not for nothing do they have an almost impossible record in the Ranji Trophy games.
Cut to IPL and Mumbai Indians. To the best of breed just add the likes of Jayasuriya, the in-form Duminy, the consistently-at-the-block-hole Malinga backed by Jonty Rhodes coaching their fielding, and you have a team every non-Mumbaikar would love to defeat.
Cut to Bangalore Royal Challengers, the Test side that has had a testing time after the first win over the Royals. Pieter-expensive-sen gone for next to no runs and Kumble at the helm after some concern that Kallis could be leading the side. A failing Robin and Jesse Ryder, injured Steyn and nothing noteworthy until the last two games againt KKR and Kings XI Punjab. Two wins on the trot, but would BRC match the dominant Mumbai Indians? Unlikely, said the head and if BRC came up with a reasonable performance the defeat will not taste as bad! 2nd time daddy Dravid is back.
News though is terrible. Kallis is playing, Jesse not there, performing Sreevats dropped and out-of-form Robin Uthappa back in the XI. New name of du Preez. On Set Max, Saba Karim says he has never heard of this name before.
Comments/thoughts as the game goes on.
The anchor and Akash Chopra and Saba Karim are for Mumbai to win this game.
Hedgehog Chang, the clueless Set Max cartoon anchor on the field asks Ravi Shastri about the IPL “tactical meeting”, and gets corrected that it was ‘technical’ meeting!! In good old days, when students erred a cane used to emerge from the teacher’s hand to whip the backside, the intent being that such methods will help. Shastri went on to state that at any point of time time, there cannot be more than four foreign players on the field, a situation probably discussed after Delhi Daredevils had five foreign players on the field when Chennai Superkings were batting.
And yes - de Villiers, Kallis, Boucher, Duminy, van Wyk, Merwe, Gibbs are now foreigners when they play at Johannesburg or Cape Town or Durban or wherever in this IPL 2009!
Good over from Praveen Kumar, a maiden to start with, and then Kallis followed it up with an over that went for 12 runs! Wonder why BRC persist with Kallis, more so to even open the bowling.
Over 3 and roving commentator Danny Morrison tells us that the crowds are fantastic, and all we see when the bowler runs in or the batsman finishes a stroke are empty seats!!!
Two classy Tendulkar boundaries in over 3 with a possibility of a run out of the last ball to a sharp single. Mumbai Indians 21 for no loss of 3 overs. Fine opening over from Praveen negated.
Fourth over from debutant du Preez, and after two dot balls he gets Tendulkar to drive and Rahul Dravid takes a smart tumbling catch at slip – fantastic start for Preez and Royal Challengers! 21-1 off 3.3 overs!
No Harbhajan Singh, but Ajinkya Rahane who probably got into the side after Sunil Gavaskar wrote about him in his column. Gone, first ball!!! Robin Uthappa makes no mistake to a low edge!!! 21-2 off 3.4 overs, du Preez on a hat-trick! Duminy in! Hat trick ball, and Duminy lets one go, which comes back to hit his back leg! Four overs gone, 21 for 2. Bangalore making a good start here!
Kallis in for the fourth over and Bangalore will need to bottle up the runs now and stay in the game. Mallya looks happy on TV as Kallis bowls three dot balls in a row. Big miss, as Jayasuriya swings wide off mid-off but Merwe lost sight of the ball. Missed opportunity. One run. Bouncer to Duminy, and an exchange of words between two South Africans!!! Duminy smiles, Boucher encourages from behind. 23 for 2 off five overs, not the start Mumbai would have wanted!
Sixth over from du Preez. Big wicket off Duminy off the second ball!! What a start for du Preez!!! 23- 3 and Bangalore on top!!! Wonder if Duminy was sledged out by Kallis and Boucher!! It is a total South Africa show here!
Over 7. Big over for Jayasuriya with a four and six; another four off Kallis in the following over. Pressure release for Mumbai Indians, as they end at 47-3 off the
9th over.
Key moment, with Vinay Kumar coming on. Spin still to come. Dot ball and then makes the mistake of banging in short and Jayasuriya gets a 4! Inexperience of Vinay Kumar! 29 runs off 24 balls, the partnership growing now. Some crucial boundaries gone off bad deliveries. Bangalore may need to target Bravo with his hook in the mid wicket region now. 53 for 3 with one ball to go for the tactical break. Anil Kumble can bowl 4 of the last 10 overs now.
Break after 10 overs. Even if Bangalore give away just 8 runs an over in the last 10 overs, Bangalore Royal Challengers will have a target of 133 to win this game. First ten overs is simply the du Preez show!
Lovely rains in Bangalore as Anil Kumble resumes the game now after the tactical break! Two runs each of the first two balls. Bring on the magic Anil!
12 overs and 67-3. Boundaries restricted so far.
77 for 3 in 13 overs after a poor over from Anil Kumble. Two boundaries to Jayasuriya. Bring it on Anil, tighten it up!!!!
Praveen back into the attack and Kumble is looking for a wicket now. Wickets now critical for Bangalore to keep the pressure. Good bowling by Praveen, not giving Jayasuriya any width. 83-3 after 14 overs.
Time for Merve?
Yes, Merve into the attack and Jayasuriya gone off the first ball!!! Good catch in the deep mid wicket region by Vinay Kumar!! Big wicket for Bangalore!!! End of over and just 86 for 4, just 3 runs off the over. Go Bangalore!!!!
Good start by Vinay into the 16th over, one run off two balls and Ravi Shastri speaks of the magazine on IPL T20!!! He is speaking of 130 or 140 now! Abhishek Nayar gets a 4. Direct hit and an appeal, but looks like Nayar is in!!! He is in.
Four overs to go and Shastri talks of Nayar taking Flintoff apart. The last delivery of over 16 gets a single. 94-4 off 16 overs.
Merwe with two good deliveries into the 17th over. He can bowl good yorkers comments and just singles off the first three balls. Danny Morrison interrupts the action with his musical views!! No boundaries, and at the end of 17 overs, 101-4.
3 overs to go.
Shastri feels the wicket is slow! Wessels non-committal. Ravi Shastri erupts as Bravo gets a boundary! 106-4. 14 runs off the over, expensive one from Vinay Kumar!!! Two overs to go, 115-4.
Kallis goes for a knee problem!!!! Will it affect his batting? Good 19th over so far from Merwe, just two’s and a single. Fourth ball - good fielding by Dravid, but Merwe not behind the stumps to effect a run out. Bad for Bangalore, full toss gone for 6!! One more six, 133-4 one over to go. Tighten it up Bangalore!!!
150 to win, and though disappointing , a score BRC would have taken at the start of the game. Good show with the ball on a batting wicket.
Does not look like Jaffer is opening the game! Yes, it is, my eyes failed me!!! Kallis on strike with a target of 150 to win this game, Zaheer on, and Sunil Gavaskar commentating with Danny Morrison.
Kallis misses a flick of 2nd ball and wide opens the score! Tendulkar and Bhajji talking animatedly. Four Bacardi’s down for me!!! Boundary off a thick edge, lucky but Kallis gets going! Super shot into the cover region from Kallis and 9 without loss of the first over. My Bacardi is just half full. Samsung ad and my friend PDSC is partially seen!
Wide from Bravo, 10 for 1 of 1 over!!! Tendulkar animatedly clapping hands and Jaffer clobbers Bravo for a 4 in the cover region. Chinese cut, after a single to Jaffer, for Kallis, and now it is 17 without loss, empty stands show up on TV!!! “Go fetch it” says Gavaskar as Kallis swings Bravo to mid on for a four. Over 2 ends, 21 without loss! I will never buy Havell fans!.
Over 3 and Jaffer facing Zaheer. TV moves to technical discussions, and end result is no dew! Jaffer playing solidly, and it is not a Test. Misfield, and Jaffer gets 2. 24 for no loss. Jaffer gone off next ball to a bad short ball!! Caught at short mid wicket. Mumbaikar playing for Bangalore gone!! :-( 24 -1. Robin in, not Dravid!
Woohooo, what a welcome for Malinga!! Kallis flicks him for 6! Will experience pay? Woohooo again!! Kallis smashing Malinga over cover for another 6!!!!! 36-1
5 overs gone.
51-1 and Kallis on fire!!! Gavaskar is subdued, as he claims to be very neutral. Drama with Robin Uthappa surviving a run out appeal to the 3rd umpire.
Post Match Thoughts
Phenomenal win! Mumbai Indians beaten comprehensively. Time to celebrate and you could still be charged for drunken driving tomorrow morning on your way to office! Kallis, who every BRC well-wisher wanted out of the side, is Man of the Match and deservingly so!
The key moment in this chase was perhaps when Kallis tore apart Malinga with those two sixes in one over. Though he did get a maiden over after that to Robin Uthappa, the tone was set. If Kallis held the game with runs off his bat first, Uthappa took charge in the latter part to race away to fine 50 and a win with 11 deliveries to spare and with 9 wickets in hand! This against what was rated as the best bowling attack in IPL 2009. Zaheer left injured with two overs in his kitty, Harbhajan bowled just two overs. Did Tendulkar get it all wrong?
Is this a turn-around for BRC or just a huge run of luck?
Any non-Mumbaikar will love it when a Mumbai side loses. The reason is simple. Mumbai has consistently produced successful cricketers, cricketers who are tough characters and fight till the end. Not for nothing do they have an almost impossible record in the Ranji Trophy games.
Cut to IPL and Mumbai Indians. To the best of breed just add the likes of Jayasuriya, the in-form Duminy, the consistently-at-the-block-hole Malinga backed by Jonty Rhodes coaching their fielding, and you have a team every non-Mumbaikar would love to defeat.
Cut to Bangalore Royal Challengers, the Test side that has had a testing time after the first win over the Royals. Pieter-expensive-sen gone for next to no runs and Kumble at the helm after some concern that Kallis could be leading the side. A failing Robin and Jesse Ryder, injured Steyn and nothing noteworthy until the last two games againt KKR and Kings XI Punjab. Two wins on the trot, but would BRC match the dominant Mumbai Indians? Unlikely, said the head and if BRC came up with a reasonable performance the defeat will not taste as bad! 2nd time daddy Dravid is back.
News though is terrible. Kallis is playing, Jesse not there, performing Sreevats dropped and out-of-form Robin Uthappa back in the XI. New name of du Preez. On Set Max, Saba Karim says he has never heard of this name before.
Comments/thoughts as the game goes on.
The anchor and Akash Chopra and Saba Karim are for Mumbai to win this game.
Hedgehog Chang, the clueless Set Max cartoon anchor on the field asks Ravi Shastri about the IPL “tactical meeting”, and gets corrected that it was ‘technical’ meeting!! In good old days, when students erred a cane used to emerge from the teacher’s hand to whip the backside, the intent being that such methods will help. Shastri went on to state that at any point of time time, there cannot be more than four foreign players on the field, a situation probably discussed after Delhi Daredevils had five foreign players on the field when Chennai Superkings were batting.
And yes - de Villiers, Kallis, Boucher, Duminy, van Wyk, Merwe, Gibbs are now foreigners when they play at Johannesburg or Cape Town or Durban or wherever in this IPL 2009!
Good over from Praveen Kumar, a maiden to start with, and then Kallis followed it up with an over that went for 12 runs! Wonder why BRC persist with Kallis, more so to even open the bowling.
Over 3 and roving commentator Danny Morrison tells us that the crowds are fantastic, and all we see when the bowler runs in or the batsman finishes a stroke are empty seats!!!
Two classy Tendulkar boundaries in over 3 with a possibility of a run out of the last ball to a sharp single. Mumbai Indians 21 for no loss of 3 overs. Fine opening over from Praveen negated.
Fourth over from debutant du Preez, and after two dot balls he gets Tendulkar to drive and Rahul Dravid takes a smart tumbling catch at slip – fantastic start for Preez and Royal Challengers! 21-1 off 3.3 overs!
No Harbhajan Singh, but Ajinkya Rahane who probably got into the side after Sunil Gavaskar wrote about him in his column. Gone, first ball!!! Robin Uthappa makes no mistake to a low edge!!! 21-2 off 3.4 overs, du Preez on a hat-trick! Duminy in! Hat trick ball, and Duminy lets one go, which comes back to hit his back leg! Four overs gone, 21 for 2. Bangalore making a good start here!
Kallis in for the fourth over and Bangalore will need to bottle up the runs now and stay in the game. Mallya looks happy on TV as Kallis bowls three dot balls in a row. Big miss, as Jayasuriya swings wide off mid-off but Merwe lost sight of the ball. Missed opportunity. One run. Bouncer to Duminy, and an exchange of words between two South Africans!!! Duminy smiles, Boucher encourages from behind. 23 for 2 off five overs, not the start Mumbai would have wanted!
Sixth over from du Preez. Big wicket off Duminy off the second ball!! What a start for du Preez!!! 23- 3 and Bangalore on top!!! Wonder if Duminy was sledged out by Kallis and Boucher!! It is a total South Africa show here!
Over 7. Big over for Jayasuriya with a four and six; another four off Kallis in the following over. Pressure release for Mumbai Indians, as they end at 47-3 off the
9th over.
Key moment, with Vinay Kumar coming on. Spin still to come. Dot ball and then makes the mistake of banging in short and Jayasuriya gets a 4! Inexperience of Vinay Kumar! 29 runs off 24 balls, the partnership growing now. Some crucial boundaries gone off bad deliveries. Bangalore may need to target Bravo with his hook in the mid wicket region now. 53 for 3 with one ball to go for the tactical break. Anil Kumble can bowl 4 of the last 10 overs now.
Break after 10 overs. Even if Bangalore give away just 8 runs an over in the last 10 overs, Bangalore Royal Challengers will have a target of 133 to win this game. First ten overs is simply the du Preez show!
Lovely rains in Bangalore as Anil Kumble resumes the game now after the tactical break! Two runs each of the first two balls. Bring on the magic Anil!
12 overs and 67-3. Boundaries restricted so far.
77 for 3 in 13 overs after a poor over from Anil Kumble. Two boundaries to Jayasuriya. Bring it on Anil, tighten it up!!!!
Praveen back into the attack and Kumble is looking for a wicket now. Wickets now critical for Bangalore to keep the pressure. Good bowling by Praveen, not giving Jayasuriya any width. 83-3 after 14 overs.
Time for Merve?
Yes, Merve into the attack and Jayasuriya gone off the first ball!!! Good catch in the deep mid wicket region by Vinay Kumar!! Big wicket for Bangalore!!! End of over and just 86 for 4, just 3 runs off the over. Go Bangalore!!!!
Good start by Vinay into the 16th over, one run off two balls and Ravi Shastri speaks of the magazine on IPL T20!!! He is speaking of 130 or 140 now! Abhishek Nayar gets a 4. Direct hit and an appeal, but looks like Nayar is in!!! He is in.
Four overs to go and Shastri talks of Nayar taking Flintoff apart. The last delivery of over 16 gets a single. 94-4 off 16 overs.
Merwe with two good deliveries into the 17th over. He can bowl good yorkers comments and just singles off the first three balls. Danny Morrison interrupts the action with his musical views!! No boundaries, and at the end of 17 overs, 101-4.
3 overs to go.
Shastri feels the wicket is slow! Wessels non-committal. Ravi Shastri erupts as Bravo gets a boundary! 106-4. 14 runs off the over, expensive one from Vinay Kumar!!! Two overs to go, 115-4.
Kallis goes for a knee problem!!!! Will it affect his batting? Good 19th over so far from Merwe, just two’s and a single. Fourth ball - good fielding by Dravid, but Merwe not behind the stumps to effect a run out. Bad for Bangalore, full toss gone for 6!! One more six, 133-4 one over to go. Tighten it up Bangalore!!!
150 to win, and though disappointing , a score BRC would have taken at the start of the game. Good show with the ball on a batting wicket.
Does not look like Jaffer is opening the game! Yes, it is, my eyes failed me!!! Kallis on strike with a target of 150 to win this game, Zaheer on, and Sunil Gavaskar commentating with Danny Morrison.
Kallis misses a flick of 2nd ball and wide opens the score! Tendulkar and Bhajji talking animatedly. Four Bacardi’s down for me!!! Boundary off a thick edge, lucky but Kallis gets going! Super shot into the cover region from Kallis and 9 without loss of the first over. My Bacardi is just half full. Samsung ad and my friend PDSC is partially seen!
Wide from Bravo, 10 for 1 of 1 over!!! Tendulkar animatedly clapping hands and Jaffer clobbers Bravo for a 4 in the cover region. Chinese cut, after a single to Jaffer, for Kallis, and now it is 17 without loss, empty stands show up on TV!!! “Go fetch it” says Gavaskar as Kallis swings Bravo to mid on for a four. Over 2 ends, 21 without loss! I will never buy Havell fans!.
Over 3 and Jaffer facing Zaheer. TV moves to technical discussions, and end result is no dew! Jaffer playing solidly, and it is not a Test. Misfield, and Jaffer gets 2. 24 for no loss. Jaffer gone off next ball to a bad short ball!! Caught at short mid wicket. Mumbaikar playing for Bangalore gone!! :-( 24 -1. Robin in, not Dravid!
Woohooo, what a welcome for Malinga!! Kallis flicks him for 6! Will experience pay? Woohooo again!! Kallis smashing Malinga over cover for another 6!!!!! 36-1
5 overs gone.
51-1 and Kallis on fire!!! Gavaskar is subdued, as he claims to be very neutral. Drama with Robin Uthappa surviving a run out appeal to the 3rd umpire.
Post Match Thoughts
Phenomenal win! Mumbai Indians beaten comprehensively. Time to celebrate and you could still be charged for drunken driving tomorrow morning on your way to office! Kallis, who every BRC well-wisher wanted out of the side, is Man of the Match and deservingly so!
The key moment in this chase was perhaps when Kallis tore apart Malinga with those two sixes in one over. Though he did get a maiden over after that to Robin Uthappa, the tone was set. If Kallis held the game with runs off his bat first, Uthappa took charge in the latter part to race away to fine 50 and a win with 11 deliveries to spare and with 9 wickets in hand! This against what was rated as the best bowling attack in IPL 2009. Zaheer left injured with two overs in his kitty, Harbhajan bowled just two overs. Did Tendulkar get it all wrong?
Is this a turn-around for BRC or just a huge run of luck?
Kings XI Punjab Vs Kolkata Knight Riders – St George’s Park, Port Elizabeth – 3rd May 2009
Another insipid batting display from KKR, the lone star being the brilliant Brad Hodge who single handedly gave them a score to fight with. Gayle and Ganguly got some runs, but never looked fluent or at ease.
Hodge’s innings apart and a few strokes from van Wyk at the end, the other highlight was Sangakarra physically shoving Ganguly aside as he went for a pull and sent the ball skywards. Wonder if Sangakkara should have gone around the batsman to take the catch. Ganguly walked off in a huff, and it was not clear whether he was angry over his own mistimed shot or at Sangakarra.
Sangakarra’s own early exit raised hopes for KKR, but the fielding was to be a big let down as four opportunities went by and the worst culprit was Chris Gayle, dropping a catch he would have caught 99,999 and a half times out of 100,000!
Trust the best of the commentating bloomers to come from Dr. Ranjit Fernando!! Ishant Sharma came in for a new spell and Yuvraj hit his first ball straight into the hands of Brad Hodge, and off went Ranjit Fernando commenting that the crucial wicket of Simon Katich, who had been a thorn in the flesh, had gone!!! The batsman at the other end was Mahela Jayawardene, and it was quite hilarious seeing him mistake Yuvraj for someone who had already gone back to the dug out!!!! As is his won't he later sheepishly corrected the names. Wonder of wonder, how these guys get commentating assignments. All Ranjit Fernando does is to keep stating the obvious, hardly does any analysis or gives insights, and repeated parrots either “it is very important to get a good start” or “it is very crucial to get early wickets” or “they NEED a partnership now!”.
Drama ensued on the field as well, with Ishant mouthing off something making Yuvraj stop on his walk back to mouth back something angrily before walking off. A couple of days back Yuvraj was dishing out some words to Robin Uthappa after he got him during the course of his hat-trick. Good to give, but terrible to get something back!!! Do these ruffians never learn something inspite of having played so much cricket with the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, Kumble, Laxman? They probably opted to ape Dada perhaps, who looked sullen and gloomy on the field for most of the time.
16th over, Punjab 121 for 4, and the first ball had Umpire Asnani standing totally motionless, rock solid as Murali Karthik beat Mahela Jayawardene comprehensively in line with the stumps, ball headed for the middle stump! What seemed to be a straightforward decision was confirmed by the replays. Asnani is becoming a predictable umpire now for his errors.
18 in the last two overs needed by the Kings XI Punjab, and inspite of pathetic fielding and poor umpiring decision against them, KKR still were in the game with a slim chance.
“We are a happy family”, commented co-owner Ness Wadia to TV cameras on the sidelines as Priety Zinta did her usual hopping up and down in the speical boxes, and Ishant bowled an expensive 19th over, conceding two boundaries in the first 5 balls.
Just seven needed of the last over. It appeared that KKR had blown a good chance to win a game with poor fielding and a critical umpiring decision going against them in the 16th over.
Final over from Agarkar, the poor bloke who everyone seems to love to hate!
• First ball, a fielding fumble giving Pathan a comfortable run.
• Second ball bolwed very well, banged in short to a charging Jayawardene, no run! 6 needed from four balls.
• The third ball edged to the third man boundary and it was Saurav Ganguly making a mess of a stop at the boundary line! Two runs could have been saved but the boundary left just 2 off the last 3 balls.
• The fourth delivery a dot ball leaving two from two balls!!! If only Ganguly had stopped the ball from going over the ropes the previous ball!
• Single of the penultimate ball to Jayawardene, levelling scores! A dot ball needed for the Super Over.
• Pathan managed to get the last ball on his pads beyond the circle of fielders.
A decent over in the circumstances from Agarkar, and the fielding not backing up the bowler.
A well fought game, but their fielding let the KKRs to another harrowing loss! If only Ganguly had stopped the ball at the third man boundary!
The Man of the Match for this game should have gone to Umpire Asnani!
Hodge’s innings apart and a few strokes from van Wyk at the end, the other highlight was Sangakarra physically shoving Ganguly aside as he went for a pull and sent the ball skywards. Wonder if Sangakkara should have gone around the batsman to take the catch. Ganguly walked off in a huff, and it was not clear whether he was angry over his own mistimed shot or at Sangakarra.
Sangakarra’s own early exit raised hopes for KKR, but the fielding was to be a big let down as four opportunities went by and the worst culprit was Chris Gayle, dropping a catch he would have caught 99,999 and a half times out of 100,000!
Trust the best of the commentating bloomers to come from Dr. Ranjit Fernando!! Ishant Sharma came in for a new spell and Yuvraj hit his first ball straight into the hands of Brad Hodge, and off went Ranjit Fernando commenting that the crucial wicket of Simon Katich, who had been a thorn in the flesh, had gone!!! The batsman at the other end was Mahela Jayawardene, and it was quite hilarious seeing him mistake Yuvraj for someone who had already gone back to the dug out!!!! As is his won't he later sheepishly corrected the names. Wonder of wonder, how these guys get commentating assignments. All Ranjit Fernando does is to keep stating the obvious, hardly does any analysis or gives insights, and repeated parrots either “it is very important to get a good start” or “it is very crucial to get early wickets” or “they NEED a partnership now!”.
Drama ensued on the field as well, with Ishant mouthing off something making Yuvraj stop on his walk back to mouth back something angrily before walking off. A couple of days back Yuvraj was dishing out some words to Robin Uthappa after he got him during the course of his hat-trick. Good to give, but terrible to get something back!!! Do these ruffians never learn something inspite of having played so much cricket with the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, Kumble, Laxman? They probably opted to ape Dada perhaps, who looked sullen and gloomy on the field for most of the time.
16th over, Punjab 121 for 4, and the first ball had Umpire Asnani standing totally motionless, rock solid as Murali Karthik beat Mahela Jayawardene comprehensively in line with the stumps, ball headed for the middle stump! What seemed to be a straightforward decision was confirmed by the replays. Asnani is becoming a predictable umpire now for his errors.
18 in the last two overs needed by the Kings XI Punjab, and inspite of pathetic fielding and poor umpiring decision against them, KKR still were in the game with a slim chance.
“We are a happy family”, commented co-owner Ness Wadia to TV cameras on the sidelines as Priety Zinta did her usual hopping up and down in the speical boxes, and Ishant bowled an expensive 19th over, conceding two boundaries in the first 5 balls.
Just seven needed of the last over. It appeared that KKR had blown a good chance to win a game with poor fielding and a critical umpiring decision going against them in the 16th over.
Final over from Agarkar, the poor bloke who everyone seems to love to hate!
• First ball, a fielding fumble giving Pathan a comfortable run.
• Second ball bolwed very well, banged in short to a charging Jayawardene, no run! 6 needed from four balls.
• The third ball edged to the third man boundary and it was Saurav Ganguly making a mess of a stop at the boundary line! Two runs could have been saved but the boundary left just 2 off the last 3 balls.
• The fourth delivery a dot ball leaving two from two balls!!! If only Ganguly had stopped the ball from going over the ropes the previous ball!
• Single of the penultimate ball to Jayawardene, levelling scores! A dot ball needed for the Super Over.
• Pathan managed to get the last ball on his pads beyond the circle of fielders.
A decent over in the circumstances from Agarkar, and the fielding not backing up the bowler.
A well fought game, but their fielding let the KKRs to another harrowing loss! If only Ganguly had stopped the ball at the third man boundary!
The Man of the Match for this game should have gone to Umpire Asnani!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Deccan Chargers Vs Rajasthan Royals – 2 May 2009 - St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
Quite a few bloomers from the IPL commentators, matching the many bungling umpires on the field in this year’s IPL, and it continues.
“It’s a biggie” screamed L Sivaramakrishnan as Ravindra Jadeja swung Venugopla Rao’s first ball of the 10th over as the ball just sailed safely into the hands of Dwayne Smith! The previous evening, he spoke twice about Wridhiman Saha behind the stumps in the KKR game against Mumbai Indians after which fellow commentator Greg Blewett couldn’t take it any more, and informed LS that it was the South African van Wyk behind the stumps. Silence from LS, in response!
And trust the other Master of Verbal Diarrhea to bring the Royal Challengers into the Deccan Chargers vs Rajasthan Royals game when he was on air in the seventh or eighth over of the Deccan innings.
Poor Carseldine couldn’t believe his eyes when he chopped a Venugopala Rao delivery onto this pads and found Umpire Asnani raise the finger to adjudge him leg before wicket!!!! Rohit Sharma moved out of the way of a ball outside the leg stump, presumably trying to get a wide called and Brian Jerling seemed to get very offended - the TV showed him animatedly saying something to the batsman!
Penutimate over, and a second run disallowed as Jerling called for the third umpire for a run out decision! Royal batsmen did what they had to do by taking a second run as the Chargers went in appeal. Pray, why make the batsmen lose a run for Jerling's stupidity to call the third umpire as the ball was still in play?
And what a finish to the Deccan Chargers/Rajasthan Royals game! Huge fielding blunders from Venugopal Rao, Rohit Sharma and Fidel Edwards!! Deserving losers!! Take out Ojha and RP Singh, and the Chargers bowling outfit looks very pathetic. Time perhaps to bring in Vaas, who could atleast be steady if not dazzling. The batting looks suspect inspite of the flying starts provided. Take away Dwayne and there will be very little to power them at the end. Weak side, which started well this year. Symonds could add some strength when he returns.
The luck runs well for Royals. They deserved to win as much as Chargers deserved to lose this game. Wonderful 100 plus strike rates from Warne, Yusuf and Raut sealed it for them. Felt they may win the game with an over to spare until Yusuf fell.
“It’s a biggie” screamed L Sivaramakrishnan as Ravindra Jadeja swung Venugopla Rao’s first ball of the 10th over as the ball just sailed safely into the hands of Dwayne Smith! The previous evening, he spoke twice about Wridhiman Saha behind the stumps in the KKR game against Mumbai Indians after which fellow commentator Greg Blewett couldn’t take it any more, and informed LS that it was the South African van Wyk behind the stumps. Silence from LS, in response!
And trust the other Master of Verbal Diarrhea to bring the Royal Challengers into the Deccan Chargers vs Rajasthan Royals game when he was on air in the seventh or eighth over of the Deccan innings.
Poor Carseldine couldn’t believe his eyes when he chopped a Venugopala Rao delivery onto this pads and found Umpire Asnani raise the finger to adjudge him leg before wicket!!!! Rohit Sharma moved out of the way of a ball outside the leg stump, presumably trying to get a wide called and Brian Jerling seemed to get very offended - the TV showed him animatedly saying something to the batsman!
Penutimate over, and a second run disallowed as Jerling called for the third umpire for a run out decision! Royal batsmen did what they had to do by taking a second run as the Chargers went in appeal. Pray, why make the batsmen lose a run for Jerling's stupidity to call the third umpire as the ball was still in play?
And what a finish to the Deccan Chargers/Rajasthan Royals game! Huge fielding blunders from Venugopal Rao, Rohit Sharma and Fidel Edwards!! Deserving losers!! Take out Ojha and RP Singh, and the Chargers bowling outfit looks very pathetic. Time perhaps to bring in Vaas, who could atleast be steady if not dazzling. The batting looks suspect inspite of the flying starts provided. Take away Dwayne and there will be very little to power them at the end. Weak side, which started well this year. Symonds could add some strength when he returns.
The luck runs well for Royals. They deserved to win as much as Chargers deserved to lose this game. Wonderful 100 plus strike rates from Warne, Yusuf and Raut sealed it for them. Felt they may win the game with an over to spare until Yusuf fell.
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