Vinay writes in, "I haven't watched Ashwin getting hit on head. I hope it's not bad. It scares the hell out of me thinking of Raman Lamba." Yeah it was a nasty hit. Don't want to be looking at too many replays of that. Hit him smack in the head
And apologies MD, I shouldn't have given you the French Open score. It's a lousy feeling to be told the scores when you are recording the match for later. Apologies again Meanwhile Ashwin has gone to the hospital for a scan. Out come the Chennai openers, Hussey and Vijay. Zaheer to bowl. One slip n place |
0.1 |
Khan to Hussey, 1 wide,
swing away from Hussey, starts just outside off, moves away, called wide. A touch harsh as this swung after passing the batsman
|
0.1 |
Khan to Hussey, 1 bye,
this one jags back in and Hussey has shouldered arms! de Villiers has to dive to save four byes
|
0.2 |
Khan to Vijay,
no run,
angled across Vijay, left alone
|
0.3
|
Khan to Vijay,
1 run,
fuller, straighter, pushed wide of mid-on
|
0.4 |
Khan to Hussey,
no run,
back of a length, around off, pushed to point |
0.5 |
Khan to Hussey,
no run,
opens the face on this, still can't beat point |
0.6 |
Khan to Hussey,
OUT,
Zak strikes! This seams in, big movement, pitches back of a length, outside off, catches Hussey on the crease, plumb in front. Rauf has no second thoughts about this. RCB are pumped
|
|
MEK Hussey lbw b Khan 0 (4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00 |
End of over 1 (3 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 3/1 (173 runs required from 19 overs, RR: 3.00, RRR: 9.10)
| | Z Khan | | 1-0-2-1 |
| M Vijay | | 1* (2b) | | |
|
Out come Raina, but Vijay will be on strike to face Aravind. One slip in place |
1.1 |
Aravind to Vijay,
FOUR,
golf swing. Vijay just plonks he front foot and lofts this length ball over mid-on. Confident shot |
1.2 |
Aravind to Vijay,
no run,
angled a cross, driven to extra cover, doesn't find the gap
|
Ashwin is back in the dugout. Good good news! He has the bandage on, but he is sitting by himself, and it can't be bad news at all |
1.3 |
Aravind to Vijay,
OUT,
This, though, is bad news for CSK. Both openers gone. Aravind gets close to the stumps, and full, and Vijay plays across the line, misses it, and is hit in front of the stumps. Easy call for Taufel. Even though the ball didn't swing, Aravind did himself a huge favour by getting close to the stumps, eliminating the angle. Oh oh. Hang on. The replays surprise me again. The ball pitched just outside leg. He was unfortunate in that the ball pitched outside leg, but he wanted the leg-bye to slip, and Gayle had run him out anyway |
|
M Vijay lbw b Aravind 5 (5b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100.00 |
Interesting. Badri sent in to fire-fight again |
1.4 |
Aravind to Badrinath,
no run,
back of a length, defended to cover |
1.5 |
Aravind to Badrinath,
FOUR,
late-cut, Badri off and running, past point |
1.6 |
Aravind to Badrinath,
1 run,
slightly fuller, opens the face towards point, and Raina has to make a desperate dive to complete the single |
And now Kolhi goes off the field. Getting some treatment on the calf. Doesn't look serious |
End of over 2 (9 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 12/2 (164 runs required from 18 overs, RR: 6.00, RRR: 9.11)
| S Badrinath | | 5* (3b 1x4) | | S Aravind | | 1-0-9-1 |
| SK Raina | | 0* (0b) | | Z Khan | | 1-0-2-1 |
|
2.1 |
Khan to Badrinath,
1 wide,
wide down the leg side |
2.1 |
Khan to Badrinath,
no run,
length ball, close to off, pushed to cover |
2.2 |
Khan to Badrinath,
no run,
no room as Badri looks to run this down to third man |
2.3 |
Khan to Badrinath,
no run,
heavy ball, Badri late into the drive, the inside edge hits him on the pad |
2.4 |
Khan to Badrinath,
no run,
Desperation. Badri backs away to play this shortish delivery. makes no contact, but it was very close to taking the edge |
2.5 |
Khan to Badrinath,
no run,
good pace again, hits him hard in the thigh pad
|
More news in, Ashwin will bat if needed |
2.6 |
Khan to Badrinath,
no run,
pushed to mid-off, and Raina turns down the single. So just the one wide from this over
|
End of over 3 (1 run)
Chennai Super Kings 13/2 (163 runs required from 17 overs, RR: 4.33, RRR: 9.58)
| S Badrinath | | 5* (9b 1x4) | | Z Khan | | 2-0-3-1 |
| SK Raina | | 0* (0b) | | S Aravind | | 1-0-9-1 |
|
Raina to face for the first time |
3.1 |
Aravind to Raina,
1 leg bye,
shuffles dangerously across, but gets the bat down in time for a single |
Whoa. What work from Gayle. Just go back to the Vijay decision. He was unfortunate in that the ball pitched outside leg, but he wanted the leg-bye to slip, and Gayle had run him out anyway |
3.2 |
Aravind to Badrinath,
no run,
pushed to cover |
3.3 |
Aravind to Badrinath,
2 runs,
pulled wide of deep midwicket for a couple |
3.4 |
Aravind to Badrinath,
no run,
angled a cross him, pushed to cover |
3.5 |
Aravind to Badrinath,
no run,
looks for the drive outside off, gets an inside edge onto the pad |
3.6 |
Aravind to Badrinath,
no run,
cramped for room again as Badri looks to late-cut it
|
End of over 4 (3 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 16/2 (160 runs required from 16 overs, RR: 4.00, RRR: 10.00)
| S Badrinath | | 7* (14b 1x4) | | S Aravind | | 2-0-11-1 |
| SK Raina | | 0* (1b) | | Z Khan | | 2-0-3-1 |
|
Zaheer to bowl his third over. Vettori wants another wicket |
4.1 |
Khan to Raina,
no run,
length ball, shaping in, defended to midwicket |
4.2 |
Khan to Raina,
no run,
punched away nicely, but can't beat extra cover |
4.3 |
Khan to Raina,
no run,
Agarwal has saved four runs here! This was driven beautifully wide of extra cover, but Agarwal goes flying across and doesn't let it through |
4.4 |
Khan to Raina,
no run,
Raina can't get rid of Agarwal! Hit straight to him this time. Last three shots have been hit towards extra, but not past him |
Slip comes out to short cover |
4.5 |
Khan to Raina,
FOUR,
and Raina has had enough of trying to pierce the field. Clears the front leg, and lofts this full delivery over mid-off |
4.6 |
Khan to Raina,
FOUR,
Zaheer pulls the length back, but Raina slogs anyway, and off the inside half of the bat it goes for four to midwicket. It's not all rummy for Raina, though, as he seems to have cramped up badly |
End of over 5 (8 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 24/2 (152 runs required from 15 overs, RR: 4.80, RRR: 10.13)
| SK Raina | | 8* (7b 2x4) | | Z Khan | | 3-0-11-1 |
| S Badrinath | | 7* (14b 1x4) | | S Aravind | | 2-0-11-1 |
|
Mithun gets ready to bowl as Raina gets back up to his feet. Raina is a strong, young, enthusiastic man, but the Mumbai humidity seems to have caught up with him |
5.1 |
Mithun to Badrinath,
1 run,
steered to third man for one |
5.2 |
Mithun to Raina,
no run,
back of a length, Raina stays back, defends
|
For a change I agree with Ravi Shastri and Robin Jackman. They don't want to tweet or do this social-media thing. As Shastri says, "Got better things to go." The Twitter Box comment from Mark Waugh was priceless |
5.3 |
Mithun to Raina,
no run,
stays accurate and short of a length, defended again
|
5.4 |
Mithun to Raina,
no run,
shuffles across to get inside the line of this, but nearly flicks it straight to square leg. Bounces just in front |
5.5 |
Mithun to Raina,
no run,
more desperation here, Raina goes for the good old-fashioned agricultural slog. Can't beat midwicket |
5.6 |
Mithun to Raina,
no run,
Looking London, hitting Tokyo here. Another of the wild slogs, the head falls towards fine leg, the ball limps back to the bowler
|
End of over 6 (1 run)
Chennai Super Kings 25/2 (151 runs required from 14 overs, RR: 4.16, RRR: 10.78)
| SK Raina | | 8* (12b 2x4) | | A Mithun | | 1-0-1-0 |
| S Badrinath | | 8* (15b 1x4) | | Z Khan | | 3-0-11-1 |
|
Interesting bowling change. Kohli to bowl now |
6.1 |
Kohli to Badrinath,
no run,
full outside off, Badri tries the paddle, hit on the pad |
6.2 |
Kohli to Badrinath,
no run,
driven, but straight to extra cover |
6.3 |
Kohli to Badrinath,
1 run,
makes room and drives square, for a single to deep point |
Karn: "I love the way how Zak is constantly talking to the bowlers at least once or twice an over. I believe, he places a great deal of emphasis on 'finishing strong.' Yes, Aravind has been the best bowler for RCB this season, but Zak has been a huge help for him, as he admitted too."
True, Zak has been India's bowling captain, coach, everything |
6.4 |
Kohli to Raina,
1 run,
driven down to long-on for one |
6.5 |
Kohli to Badrinath,
no run,
not a good day for the bowlers, this is hit back at Kohli, and he is late into attempting the catch. Hits his hands and pops out. No injury or damage done |
6.6 |
Kohli to Badrinath,
1 run,
driven down to long-off for a single. Good over |
End of over 7 (3 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 28/2 (148 runs required from 13 overs, RR: 4.00, RRR: 11.38)
| S Badrinath | | 10* (20b 1x4) | | V Kohli | | 1-0-3-0 |
| SK Raina | | 9* (13b 2x4) | | A Mithun | | 1-0-1-0 |
|
Vettori brings himself on |
7.1 |
Vettori to Badrinath,
FOUR,
and is welcomed by a lovely inside-out chip over extra cover. Precise feet movement to make just enough room |
7.2 |
Vettori to Badrinath,
1 run,
Vettori comes back with an arm ball, hit down to long-on for one
|
7.3 |
Vettori to Raina,
no run,
flat, angled across the left-hander, hit straight to extra cover |
7.4 |
Vettori to Raina,
no run,
flat again, no room, hit straight to extra cover again |
7.5 |
Vettori to Raina,
1 run,
flighted this time, fuller too, worked away into the on side
|
7.6 |
Vettori to Badrinath,
2 runs,
makes room, drives this square, past pint, comes back for two |
End of over 8 (8 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 36/2 (140 runs required from 12 overs, RR: 4.50, RRR: 11.66)
| S Badrinath | | 17* (23b 2x4) | | DL Vettori | | 1-0-8-0 |
| SK Raina | | 10* (16b 2x4) | | V Kohli | | 1-0-3-0 |
|
Kohli continues |
8.1 |
Kohli to Raina,
FOUR,
loose ball, angled down the leg side with the fine leg up, helped past the lone fielder by Raina
|
8.2 |
Kohli to Raina,
1 no ball,
full toss, taken at short fine leg, but it is too high a full toss. Taufel has no second thoughts about this. Just above waist height. Warned for the beamer |
8.2 |
Kohli to Raina,
1 run,
length ball, hit to deep midwicket for one |
8.3 |
Kohli to Badrinath,
1 run,
another full toss, Badri makes room, gets an inside edge, hitting de Villiers on the gloves. To call it a drop will be unfair |
8.4 |
Kohli to Raina,
1 run,
back of a length, slogged to deep midwicket for one |
8.5 |
Kohli to Badrinath,
FOUR,
oh another full toss, and Kohli is undoing the good work he did in the last over. Nicely clipped away by Badri for four past square leg |
8.6 |
Kohli to Badrinath,
FOUR,
one more full toss, and Badri accepts it with glee driving it inside-out for four. Badri reaches the run-a-ball strike-rate now. Collides with Kohli, apologises immediately. Good spirit between these youngsters who at times compete for the same slot in the Indian team |
End of over 9 (16 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 52/2 (124 runs required from 11 overs, RR: 5.77, RRR: 11.27)
| S Badrinath | | 26* (26b 4x4) | | V Kohli | | 2-0-19-0 |
| SK Raina | | 16* (20b 3x4) | | DL Vettori | | 1-0-8-0 |
|
Didn't see any towels come out during the over full of full tosses. So don't think there is much dew there
|
9.1 |
Vettori to Raina,
1 run,
clipped away off the pads to long leg |
9.2 |
Vettori to Badrinath,
1 run,
slower through the air, Badri comes down the track and drives it to long-on |
9.3 |
Vettori to Raina,
no run,
full, and hit back powerfully at Vettori, who fumbles but doesn't allow the single
|
9.4 |
Vettori to Raina,
1 run,
flat, short of driving length, pushed to long-off |
9.5 |
Vettori to Badrinath,
1 run,
makes room and drives this to long-off, along the ground |
9.6 |
Vettori to Raina,
SIX,
slog-sweep, this was coming as Raina has been tied down and has been itching to hit. This was quick but in his swinging arc, and he gave it his all, clearing wide long-on with ease
|
End of over 10 (10 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 62/2 (114 runs required from 60 balls, RR: 6.20, RRR: 11.40)
| SK Raina | | 24* (24b 3x4 1x6) | | DL Vettori | | 2-0-18-0 |
| S Badrinath | | 28* (28b 4x4) | | V Kohli | | 2-0-19-0 |
|
Mithun comes back |
10.1 |
Mithun to Badrinath,
1 run,
heaved away towards deep midwicket for one |
That six finally took Chennai's rate past six an over |
10.2 |
Mithun to Raina,
1 run,
back of a length, chipped to sweeper-cover for one |
10.3 |
Mithun to Badrinath,
1 run,
another heave, but Mithun is staying short enough to not allow that shot. Mis-hit for one |
10.4 |
Mithun to Raina,
1 run,
a failed attempt at a slog, gets a single off the inside half of the bat |
10.5 |
Mithun to Badrinath,
FOUR,
Badri manufactures the desperately needed boundary. Comes down the track, and swats this between mid-on and midwicket |
Mithun goes round the stumps |
10.6 |
Mithun to Badrinath,
OUT,
... and strikes immediately. Badri tries to go inside-out, with the angle, and ends up slicing it to sweeper-cover. Aravind takes a good catch running in |
|
S Badrinath c Aravind b Mithun 34 (32b 5x4 0x6) SR: 106.25 |
End of over 11 (8 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 70/3 (106 runs required from 54 balls, RR: 6.36, RRR: 11.77)
| | A Mithun | | 2-0-9-1 |
| SK Raina | | 26* (26b 3x4 1x6) | | DL Vettori | | 2-0-18-0 |
|
In walks MSD. Without helmet. Somehow I feel today is not the day for not wearing the helmet. Ab de Villiers, the keeper, is wearing one. Gayle to bowl |
11.1 |
Gayle to Dhoni,
no run,
floater outside off, no turn, and Dhoni pushes inside the line
|
11.2 |
Gayle to Dhoni,
no run,
extra bounce this time as Dhoni looks to cut. beaten. Asking rate higher than two a ball now |
11.3 |
Gayle to Dhoni,
no run,
another floater outside off, and Dhoni is reaching again as there is no turn on this |
11.4 |
Gayle to Dhoni,
1 run,
closer to the stumps, pulled down the ground for one
|
Round the wicket |
11.5 |
Gayle to Raina,
no run,
and bowls a yorker Malinga would be proud of. Raina can't do anything with this
|
11.6 |
Gayle to Raina,
no run,
low full toss, hit straight to extra cover. Top over, just the one run from it |
End of over 12 (1 run)
Chennai Super Kings 71/3 (105 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 5.91, RRR: 13.12)
| SK Raina | | 26* (28b 3x4 1x6) | | CH Gayle | | 1-0-1-0 |
| MS Dhoni | | 1* (4b) | | A Mithun | | 2-0-9-1 |
|
Mithun to continue from round the stumps |
12.1 |
Mithun to Dhoni,
1 run,
angled across Dhoni, hit down to long-off for one |
12.2 |
Mithun to Raina,
SIX,
Aha! Raina clears the front leg, and heaves a length ball over long-off. Not the prettiest of shots but effective nonetheless |
12.3 |
Mithun to Raina,
1 wide,
Mithun goes short, but down the leg side |
12.3 |
Mithun to Raina,
2 runs,
short again, but nicely played by Raina. On the hop, with an open face, past point
|
12.4 |
Mithun to Raina,
SIX,
That's a Raina special! Length ball, width too, but Raina has played a special shot. Down on a knee, he goes inside-out over extra cover |
They have lost the ball in the crowd |
12.5 |
Mithun to Raina,
(no ball) 1 run,
back of a length, tucked away square on the on side, but Mithun has overstepped! That's a big no-ball |
Free hit time |
12.5 |
Mithun to Dhoni,
FOUR,
full ball, helicoptered away wide of long-on for four. Didn't go too wide of long-on, but he had absolutely no chance of fielding this
|
12.6 |
Mithun to Dhoni,
1 run,
back of a length, worked away to deep midwicket for one |
Twenty-three from the over. Gives Chennai a look-in
|
End of over 13 (23 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 94/3 (82 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 7.23, RRR: 11.71)
| MS Dhoni | | 7* (7b 1x4) | | A Mithun | | 3-0-32-1 |
| SK Raina | | 41* (32b 3x4 3x6) | | CH Gayle | | 1-0-1-0 |
|
Gayle, who went for one in his last over, to continue |
13.1 |
Gayle to Dhoni,
2 runs,
shortish outside off, hit wide of sweeper-cover, and they rush back for two |
13.2 |
Gayle to Dhoni,
1 run,
cut away nut straight to sweeper-cover this time |
Round the wicket to Raina |
13.3 |
Gayle to Raina,
no run,
length ball, driven straight back to Gayle. Back to more than two a ball now |
13.4 |
Gayle to Raina,
1 run,
full and fast, driven to long-off for one |
13.5 |
Gayle to Dhoni,
1 run,
floater outside off, cut away for another single |
13.6 |
Gayle to Raina,
no run,
Malinga-style yorker again. Right on the crease. Another dot, and Gayle has pulled Chennai back again
|
Time for the time-out, 77 off 36 required now. Zaheer has one over left, Vettori has two, and Gayle two |
End of over 14 (5 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 99/3 (77 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 7.07, RRR: 12.83)
| SK Raina | | 42* (35b 3x4 3x6) | | CH Gayle | | 2-0-6-0 |
| MS Dhoni | | 11* (10b 1x4) | | A Mithun | | 3-0-32-1 |
|
14.1 |
Vettori to Dhoni,
1 run,
flighted, middle and off, pushed down the ground for one |
Round the wicket to cut out the angle for Raina |
14.2 |
Vettori to Raina,
1 run,
short and flat, pulled away, on the bounce to deep midwicket |
14.3 |
Vettori to Dhoni,
no run,
arm ball, beautifully bowled, Dhoni plays for the turn, gets the inside edge on the pad |
14.4 |
Vettori to Dhoni,
FOUR,
good comeback by Dhoni, this seems like a regulation drive to long-off for one, but this flies across the outfield, wide of long-off for four |
14.5 |
Vettori to Dhoni,
1 run,
pushed down the ground for another single |
14.6 |
Vettori to Raina,
FOUR,
Jeez this is not a good day for player safety. Pomersbach's face - as he slides at the square-leg boundary - collides smack into Kohli's knee as the two are converging to field this. Another nasty blow. And Kolhi goes high in the air too, but lands safely. Gillespie-Waugh anybody?
|
End of over 15 (11 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 110/3 (66 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 7.33, RRR: 13.20)
| SK Raina | | 47* (37b 4x4 3x6) | | DL Vettori | | 3-0-29-0 |
| MS Dhoni | | 17* (14b 2x4) | | CH Gayle | | 2-0-6-0 |
|
15.1 |
Gayle to Dhoni,
1 run,
Kohli has just come out of that collision and attacked this ball at long-on to keep these two sharp runners down to one |
Round the wicket to Raina |
15.2 |
Gayle to Raina,
no run,
low full toss, hit straight to straight extra cover. Top stuff |
15.3 |
Gayle to Raina,
1 run,
slower through the air, driven to sweeper-cover for one |
Over the wicket to Dhoni
|
15.4 |
Gayle to Dhoni,
1 run,
wide yorker, dug out to extra cover for another single. Not good enough for CSK |
15.5 |
Gayle to Raina,
1 run,
another low full toss, just the single to long-on |
15.6 |
Gayle to Dhoni,
FOUR,
the rare loose ball from Gayle, and Dhoni pulls this short one to the deep midwicket fence. Just staying alive here, are Chennai
|
End of over 16 (8 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 118/3 (58 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 7.37, RRR: 14.50)
| MS Dhoni | | 23* (17b 3x4) | | CH Gayle | | 3-0-14-0 |
| SK Raina | | 49* (40b 4x4 3x6) | | DL Vettori | | 3-0-29-0 |
|
Bowling change. Zaheer comes back to bowl out |
16.1 |
Khan to Raina,
SIX,
Not a great start for Zaheer. Length ball, and Raina plays the pick-up shot over midwicket. Another six for Raina, and another fifty. It has been hard work, but he hasn't thrown it away |
16.2 |
Khan to Raina,
1 run,
near yorker outside off, squeezed for one to point
|
16.3 |
Khan to Dhoni,
SIX,
Air time! Unfurl the helicopter wrists! Full ball from Zak, and he has murdered this flat over midwicket. This game is on |
16.4 |
Khan to Dhoni,
OUT,
He has found long-on! Bangalore pull Chennai back once again. Low full toss, Dhoni tries the helicopter shot again, slightly late into the shot, and it goes off the bottom part of the bat straight to long-on. Mithun is safe there |
|
MS Dhoni c Mithun b Khan 29 (19b 3x4 1x6) SR: 152.63 |
Albie Morkel is the new man. Instructions from Raina as he walks in. They didn't cross over last time, so Morkel on strike |
16.5 |
Khan to Morkel,
1 run,
yorker, can't do any better with it than get the single to third man |
16.6 |
Khan to Raina,
SIX,
Full toss, and Raina is turning it on here. Lofted way into the stands behind the midwicket boundary. Chennai are still alive. They refuse to go away. They are the Australia of IPL. They make you beat them to pulp. They never contribute to their defeats
|
End of over 17 (20 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 138/4 (38 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.11, RRR: 12.66)
| SK Raina | | 62* (43b 4x4 5x6) | | Z Khan | | 4-0-31-2 |
| JA Morkel | | 1* (1b) | | CH Gayle | | 3-0-14-0 |
|
Gayle has one left. Vettori has one. Aravind has two. Three to go. Thirty-eight required. Gayle to bowl out |
17.1 |
Gayle to Morkel,
1 run,
full, on off, pushed for one. Raina on strike now |
17.2 |
Gayle to Raina,
no run,
low full toss, hit back to Gayle. All Criss with Chris |
Gives Raina his own dose. Pulls out of the delivery |
17.3 |
Gayle to Raina,
1 run,
in the block hole again, just the single |
17.4 |
Gayle to Morkel,
no run,
that's a toe-chasing yorker, 102ks from two steps. Dot ball |
17.5 |
Gayle to Morkel,
1 run,
comes forward to take this on the full, but gets just the single to long-on |
17.6 |
Gayle to Raina,
1 wide,
misses his line, big wide down the leg side, de Villiers does well with the collection |
17.6 |
Gayle to Raina,
1 run,
low full toss, just the single to deep midwicket |
Just 19 off Gayle's four |
End of over 18 (5 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 143/4 (33 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.94, RRR: 16.50)
| SK Raina | | 64* (46b 4x4 5x6) | | CH Gayle | | 4-0-19-0 |
| JA Morkel | | 3* (4b) | | Z Khan | | 4-0-31-2 |
|
Thirty-three required off the last two, and Vettori has kept the last over for himself. And there are two left-hand batsmen batting, so that makes it even more interesting. Aravind, another left-arm bowler, to bowl the 19th |
18.1 |
Aravind to Raina,
1 run,
starts off with a wide yorker, just the single to sweeper-cover |
18.2 |
Aravind to Morkel,
SIX,
slower ball, pitched on a length, and Morkel picks it early, and lofts it over long-on. This is what Kohli did to Morkel in the 19th over. Will he get his own back? |
18.3 |
Aravind to Morkel,
SIX,
Morkel is paying back in kind here. Low full toss, smacked over long-off. Chennai are not going away that easily
|
Zaheer and Vettori have a conference with Aravind. proud moment for Communists. All lefties here. Tension. Bangalore are feeling it |
18.4 |
Aravind to Morkel,
1 run,
Kolhi has saved runs again. Length ball, muscled down the ground, and Kolhi makes the diving save at long-on. Doesn't even concede the second
|
Third man in, fine leg in |
18.5 |
Aravind to Raina,
SIX,
Low full toss,, crunched away over midwicket. Chennai have their noses ahead now. Rains is playing a beauty here. He has hurt every loose delivery here |
18.6 |
Aravind to Raina,
1 run,
full toss, hit down to long-on for one, sets up the last over beautifully |
End of over 19 (21 runs)
Chennai Super Kings 164/4 (12 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.63, RRR: 12.00)
| SK Raina | | 72* (49b 4x4 6x6) | | S Aravind | | 3-0-32-1 |
| JA Morkel | | 16* (7b 2x6) | | CH Gayle | | 4-0-19-0 |
|
Well, well, well. Dan the Man has taken it upon himself now. Twelve required off the last over. Left-arm spinner, bowling into the left-hand batsmen who are on rampage. Ray Jennings drinks his enrgy drink at the sidelines. Vettori, de Villiers and Gayle have a chat in the middle. Raina adjusts his gloves. Vettori will cut down the angle, and bowl round the stumps. Deep field set on the leg side |
19.1 |
Vettori to Raina,
1 run,
yorker-length, flicked away into the leg side, brings Morkel on strike
|
Dan makes more adjustments with the field |
19.2 |
Vettori to Morkel,
FOUR,
Morkel makes room, Vettori follows him, but Morkel gets it wide enough of long-on for a crucial four. Nothing wrong with the ball, missed the yorker by inches |
19.3 |
Vettori to Morkel,
2 runs,
Drama. Gets the yorker right, and they shout for two right for the word go. He loses his bat while turning, and even without the bat Morkel makes a swimming-pool dive to make the second |
Raina is cramping again. Vettori has a chat with de Villiers. They need a dot from somewhere. CSK physio is out. Raina gets back on his feet. But he says he can't run. Taufel asks him, "Are you sure you can't run?" Rauf says, "He has been running okay." Taufel says only three balls to go, run yourself. Raina agrees. Rauf says, "Brave man." |
19.4 |
Vettori to Morkel,
SIX,
Morkel has finished it off! Raina needn't run any more. Similar ploy, makes room, Vettori follows hi, but misses the length, and he has slogged it over midwicket for six. Kohli stands stunned at the fence. Raina is elated and congratulates Morkel. Ashwin comes onto the field too, with his bandaged head. Bollinger breaks into a dance
|
So Chennai are through to the final. A warning for whoever faces them: they haven't lost a match in Chennai this year. Deserving winners tonight after they refused to give up. Bangalore get another shot at making the finals. Do join us for the Eliminator tomorrow, the equivalent of a quarter-final. Okay bye Presentation
Suresh Raina is MoM. He says: "It was an important game for us, I knew I had to do well. God has been really kind to me. We executed the plans really well. I was not thinking about the ramps, just play my game, and play the big ones when the ball was in the zone. I was just looking to play till the 20th over." MS Dhoni: "It was a difficult target, but we have been in similar situations, and we have the belief that we can win these games. We kept believing that we could do it, but you can say I was not 100% confident. We know as a team we have the firepower to chase anything. This was a good scenario where the set batsmen kept on going, and the others chipped around him."
Daniel Vettori first: "You do get these guys. You loom abck and say this is a great game of cricket. That innings from Suresh took it away. You can never think the game is in the bag with this size of boundaries. But we expect to bowl a little bit better than we did. We can focus on the loss, or look at the good things. Unfortunately we didn't defend it, but a few guys bowled well too." What a lovely chase this has been for Chennai. They were down and out, chasing 12-13-14 an over for the last eight-nine overs, and they refused to go away. Raina finishes with a cramp-ridden 73 off 50, Morkel smashed 28 off 10. How quickly redemption has come for him: he went for 19 off the 19th over, and has now finished the game off with the bat. Bangalore lost their nerve in the end, but this is what Chennai always do well, they somehow play the better cricket in tougher, bigger moments. Bravo does the bhangra inside the dressing room. They are in the final, Bangalore get another shot when they play the winner of the match between Mumbai and Kolkata |
