IPL 5 is close to conclusion –
another 3 matches – today CSK play MI at Pune and loser would be out of the
tournament, while the winner would play Delhi Daredevils who lost to Kolkatta
Knight Riders yesterday. KKR after embarrassing under-achievements, is in
the finals of IPL for the first time since inception, and Sunil Naraine had a
great part in that. KKR making 162 beat DD by 18 runs.
It was different strategies
as DD had pace orientation while KKR had spin. bowlers. Their main stay Virender Sehwag and
David Warner were back soon; Warner undone by a wrong decision, still they
managed their chase quite well making 83 in 10; but lost their way thereafter. Earlier, the gamble to play Laxmi Ratan Shukla
in place of Manoj Tiwary who perhaps was not fully fit paid off, as he made
some quick runs. Morne Morkel, Varun
Aaron, Umesh Yadav –bowled fast exceeding 140 mark consistently but went for
runs. Yadav and Morkel went for 37 each, Aaron for 48. Naman Ojha and Mahela prospered and you don’t
see often Mahela jumping out and getting stumped – this time off Abdulla.
Dhoni and CSK have come out
better in crunch situations and this time, they are there helped by other
teams. With 8 wins in league stage, they have a chance now. MI on the other hand won 10 of their 16 and
have taken more than 100 of opponent wickets. CSK
have had problems with their openers as also the middle order and late middle
order. Suresh Raina, the mainstay and
the highest run getter in IPL has managed 341 while Dhoni has made 269. crorepathi
Jadeja has made paltry 190. while people
debate on whether it would be Mike Hussey or Du Plessis – Dhoni might surprise you with
Abhinav Mukund or even Vasudevadas !! Ashwin has taken only 9 wickets though he
has an economy rate of 6.34
MI too has experimented with
its openers and Dwayne Smith after that success still might not open today but
he along with Kieron Pollard could be potentially dangerous finishers.
Sure another interesting
match is on the cards……..
With regards – S. Sampathkumar .
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