Monday, May 6, 2013

Clinical Kings stun Challengers


Match 51 – KXIP vs RCB

Clinical Kings stun Challengers

Kings XI Punjab came back to winning ways with a statement making six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. After RCB posted a massive 190, KXIP, led by David Miller’s brutal 38-ball unbeaten 101, chased it down in 18 overs.

Chasing a mammoth 191, KXIP lost Shaun Marsh (6) caught by AB de Villiers off Ravi Rampaul.Mandeep Singh (16) was then caught behind off Vinay Kumar in the fifth over to give RCB their second wicket. Gurkeerat Singh hit Henriques for two boundaries as KXIP made 41 from the Power Play. Murali Kartik, introduced into the attack in the eighth over, struck immediately trapping Gurkeerat (20) leg before wicket. He struck a second time when David Hussey (13) holed out to Moises Henriques at long on. At the halfway stage, KXIP were 68 for four, still needing 123 runs.

Miller smashed Kartik for a six in the 12th over. Rajagopal Sathish was put down by Chris Gayleon seven off Vinay Kumar. Miller went after Vinay Kumar hitting him for a six and two boundaries before Virat Kohli put him down on 41. Miller continued his assault taking apart an RP Singh’s over – the 15th of the innings - for 26 runs with two sixes and three boundaries.

Needing 53 from 30 balls, Miller dispatched Rampaul for a six and a boundary in the 16th over. He dished out the same treatment to Vinay Kumar in the 17th over. Sathish (27*) hit Gayle for a six and two boundaries before Miller finished the proceedings with a six to bring up his century and see KXIP home. Miller’s 38-ball century – his first three-figure score in Twenty20 cricket – is the third-fastest century in the IPL.

Earlier KXIP won the toss and put RCB in. RCB openers Gayle and Cheteshwar Pujara started cautiously before Gayle hit consecutive sixes off IPL debutant, Michael Neser taking 18 runs from it. Pujara then joined in with three successive boundaries off Manpreet Gony as RCB made 58 from their Power Play. Gayle brought up his 15th IPL fifty clipping Neser off his pad for two.

Gayle (61) smashed Gony for a straight six before the bowler came back strongly to castle him. Pujara hit Parvinder Awana for consecutive boundaries in the 14th over. Gony gave KXIP their second breakthrough when he bowled Pujara (51). Awana had Kohli (14) caught by Shaun Marsh as KXIP put the brakes on the RCB’s scoring. de Villiers (38*) hit Neser for a six and a boundary in the 18th over. Henriques (16*) then launched Praveen Kumar over the mid-wicket fence before smashing a boundary. RCB plundered 21 runs off Neser’s final over to finish at 190 for 3.

Man-of-the-Match: David Miller

Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 190 for 3 (Chris Gayle 61, Manpreet Gony 2-41) lost to Kings XI Punjab 194 for 4 (David Miller 101*, Murali Kartik 2-24) by 6 wickets. 

Sunday, April 28, 2013

CSK shoot to the top of the table


Match 38 - CSK vs KKR

CSK shoot to the top of the table

Chennai Super Kings continued their domination defeating Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. Michael Hussey set up the match for CSK with a heroic 95 that saw CSK post a massive 200, a total that proved 14-runs too many for KKR.
Chasing 201, KKR got off to a flier scoring 18 runs off the first over bowled by Dirk Nannes. Gautam Gambhir (14) hit Chris Morris for two boundaries, before the bowler came back strong to castle his leg stump. Manvinder Bisla looked in ominous mood smashing Morris for four boundaries in the fifth over. Mohit Sharma had Brendon McCullum (6) play on to his stump to give CSK their second wicket.

Jacques Kallis was given a reprieve when he was put down on 6 by Suresh Raina offRavichandran Ashwin. Bisla launched Ashwin for a huge six as KKR were 85 for 2 from 10 overs, still needing 116 runs.

Dwayne Bravo sent back Kallis (19) in the 13th over when the South African attempted to paddle one to fine leg, but gave the fielder stationed there a catch. Bisla continued to keep KKR in the chase with consecutive boundaries off Ashwin. Needing 75 from 30 balls, Ashwin dropped Morgan, who then slammed Dirk Nannes for a six. Nannes' 18th over was take apart for 21 runs to keep KKR’s hopes alive. Hussey ran out Bisla (92) to leave KKR needing 19 from the final over. But Chris Morris bowled a brilliant last over – conceding only four runs.

Earlier KKR won the toss, and surprisingly chose to field – surprising because the conditions were very trying. CSK started aggressively as Hussey dismissed Lakshmipathy Balaji for three boundaries in the third over. Wriddhiman Saha joined in with two boundaries and a six off Mohammad Shami. Hussey continued the onslaught with consecutive boundaries off Sunil Narine. CSK took apart Kallis' first over for 18 runs as they raced to 67 for 0 from their power play overs. Hussey slammed Kallis over the mid-wicket fence in the 8th over as he brought up his fourth fifty of the tournament.

Rajat Bhatia broke the century opening stand having Saha (39) caught in the deep by Eoin Morgan. Raina continued from where Saha left off, hitting Narine for a six and a boundary in the 14th over. Hussey (95) bludgeoned Yusuf Pathan for a massive six before holing out, off Narine to fall five short of a century. MS Dhoni (18*) and Raina kept the run rate up with regular hits to the fence. Raina (44) was run out by Debabrata Das in the 19th over. MS Dhoni finished the innings in style as he dispatched the final delivery of the innings for a six. CSK eventually finished at 200 for 3.

Man-of-the-Match: Michael Hussey

Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 200 for 3 (Michael Hussey 95, Rajat Bhatia 1-31) defeated Kolkata Knight Riders 186 for 4 (Manvinder Bisla 92, Mohit Sharma 1-23) by 14 runs.  

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS WON BY 14 RUNS


CHENNAI SUPER KINGS WON BY 14 RUNS

2

/3

(20/20)

186/4

(20/20)

Match highlights coming soon

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Dhoni delivers; another last over win for CSK


Match 34 - CSK vs SRH

Dhoni delivers; another last over win for CSK

Chennai Super Kings continued their domination at home with a five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. MS Dhoni's heroic unbeaten 67 saw CSK home in yet another last over thriller.

Chasing a competitive 160, Murali Vijay and Michael Hussey started positively for the hosts. Hussey hit Darren Sammy for a six and a boundary in the 4th over before he stepped down the track to launch Amit Mishra for a six in the 6th over. CSK made 58 runs in the power play with both openers still at the crease. Mishra provided the breakthrough when he beat Vijay (18) in the air and had him stumped. The leg-spinner then had the dangerous Hussey (45) caught behind attempting a sweep.

Dhoni was put down by Mishra when he was yet to open his account and he made the most of the opportunity smashing Sammy for two boundaries in the 13th over. Mishra picked his third wicket – to go level with Lasith Malinga as the leading wicket-taker in the IPL - as Suresh Raina (16) holed out in the deep. Dhoni went after Ishant Sharma hitting him for consecutive boundaries. However, Karan Sharma bowled a maiden in the 16th to bring the Sunrisers back into the game.

Needing 46 from 24, Dhoni deposited Dale Steyn for consecutive sixes, including pulling a short delivery bowled at 146 kmph over the midwicket fence. Though Ishant Sharma picked up Dwayne Bravo soon after, Dhoni continued his domination of Steyn as he hit him for a boundary before launching him deep into the crowd to bring up his half-century. Steyn dismissed Ravindra Jadeja(1) to leave CSK needing 15 from the final over. Dhoni blasted a six, and a boundary off Ashish Reddy to see his team home with 2 balls remaining.

Earlier SRH won the toss and chose to bat. Mohit Sharma struck early to send back Quinton de Kock (4) caught by a sharp Vijay. Raina then ran out Hanuma Vihari (2). Shikhar Dhawan counter-attacked, by stepping out to the bowlers and hit two boundaries off Jason Holder and Sharma before Mohit Sharma had Cameron White (2) caught behind. Mishra, promoted up the order hit Holder for consecutive boundaries in the 7th over. Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Mishra (15) to leave SRH 61 for 4.

The innings suffered a bit of setback when Dhawan retired hurt after being injured by Bravo in the 14th over. Sammy sent Jadeja over the fence the next over before Bravo dismissed Thalaivan Sargunam (10). Bravo struck again to dismiss Sammy (19) bringing Dhawan (63*) back to the middle. Dhawan immediately hit consecutive boundaries to bring up his fifty. Ashish Reddy (36*) smashed Sharma for a six as SRH scored 17 runs from the 19th over. Some lusty blows by Reddy saw SRH reach 159 for 6.

Man-of-the-Match: MS Dhoni

Brief Scores:
 Sunrisers Hyderabad 159 for 6 (Shikhar Dhawan 63*, Mohit Sharma 2-30) lost to Chennai Super Kings 160 for 5 (MS Dhoni 67*, Amit Mishra 3-26) by 5 wickets. 

Tuesday, April 23, 2013