There we are - one finalist decided, one to go! And Qualifier 1 was the mother of all thrillers. Looking back, I don't know why I didn't just turn off the television and go to sleep when Chennai Super Kings were 7-2. Was it a will to watch it till the end and thus tune my body clock so I could watch Q2 and the Final without too much of a headache? Or was it - unlikely as it may be - hope?
Whatever it was, I'm glad I stayed up anyway! Raina's innings made Virat Kohli's look small, while Morkel's effortless sixes made Wankhede look small! The Bangalore innings started fast, with the only blemish being the dismissal of the terrifying Gayle. He fell cheaply again, two times out of three, perhaps diminishing his aura. However, even without the West Indian's help, RCB made 175, riding on Virat Kohli's 70. Stiff target on all tracks. Even stiffer if your openers are gone for just 7.
Ah, but CSK have got a star No.3! Never take Raina lightly. He delivers when it matters. He made a partnership with the steady Badrinath, then the cool-cucumber skipper Dhoni, then a path-breaking one with big-hitting Morkel that won them the game. Raina's 71 not out saved the Chennai Super Kings embarrassment against their rivals. The 18th and 19th overs went for 40 runs, bringing them withing 12 runs of the target. The last over was bowled by the other skipper Vettori. He's the most economical bowler so far in the IPL. So what? Bring 'im on! A winning six (sounds familiar?) by Morkel and even the normally expressionless South African all-rounder jumped for joy as CSK became the first team to make two consecutive finals.
Mumbai Indians beat Kolkata Knight Riders in the Eliminator to set up a Qualifier 2 with RCB. In doing this, they knocked out Gambhir's side again, (Shahrukh Khan knows this feeling, doesn't he?) and seemed to have regained their form for good. Now whether they can survive RCB is the question. The winner will play CSK in the Final in Chennai. CSK, unbeaten at home, remain the favourites. Can they win two consecutive titles as well?
Whatever it was, I'm glad I stayed up anyway! Raina's innings made Virat Kohli's look small, while Morkel's effortless sixes made Wankhede look small! The Bangalore innings started fast, with the only blemish being the dismissal of the terrifying Gayle. He fell cheaply again, two times out of three, perhaps diminishing his aura. However, even without the West Indian's help, RCB made 175, riding on Virat Kohli's 70. Stiff target on all tracks. Even stiffer if your openers are gone for just 7.
Ah, but CSK have got a star No.3! Never take Raina lightly. He delivers when it matters. He made a partnership with the steady Badrinath, then the cool-cucumber skipper Dhoni, then a path-breaking one with big-hitting Morkel that won them the game. Raina's 71 not out saved the Chennai Super Kings embarrassment against their rivals. The 18th and 19th overs went for 40 runs, bringing them withing 12 runs of the target. The last over was bowled by the other skipper Vettori. He's the most economical bowler so far in the IPL. So what? Bring 'im on! A winning six (sounds familiar?) by Morkel and even the normally expressionless South African all-rounder jumped for joy as CSK became the first team to make two consecutive finals.
Mumbai Indians beat Kolkata Knight Riders in the Eliminator to set up a Qualifier 2 with RCB. In doing this, they knocked out Gambhir's side again, (Shahrukh Khan knows this feeling, doesn't he?) and seemed to have regained their form for good. Now whether they can survive RCB is the question. The winner will play CSK in the Final in Chennai. CSK, unbeaten at home, remain the favourites. Can they win two consecutive titles as well?
No comments:
Post a Comment