This sure is going to be an exciting and right to the dust contest. With the KKR spirited up and high with the demolition of RC in the inaugural episode, and Deccan Chargers to boot up, we have a treat to the eyes due today.
Saurav Ganguly, Ricky Ponting, Ishant Sharma to take on VVS Laxman, Adam Gilly, Herschelle Gibbs, Symonds. Mmm! Chargers seem to be really charged on the batting front, and did someone say, T20 is all about batting.
The Pitch report at the Edens also says, its a batting friendly pitch and would assist the spinners, which should mean very good news for the Chargers.
Waiting for 16:00: Match to begin
So it starts.. am able to catch it at 21-1. The fingers of Laxman just licked the ball, and ouch'!"!
Venugopal could not match Sharma, and he snatched away the wicket. Its the 5th over, we are in, and RR is just about 4. The pitch seems to be a concern for everyone, as it seems to be favoring the bowlers now. Lot of dust on the pitch, means no grass. This is reverse of the Eden pitch. Looks like the curator looked at the chargers team before doing it , and here goes the second wicket of Laxman. He just gave away the wicket. Dinda took this one..
Gilly and Symonds, they surely should make a difference. Two Aussies on the pitch. I also feel, that having two Aussies on the batting track can make a difference. I think, the partnership, timing, language , on-pitch discussions, everything matters. It might be so difficult to achieve it in a multi-lingual multi-country team. Not sure, how these teams have got over that hump.
Rivalry at its best. Symonds to bat, and Dinda to bowl. Beats him. There we see SRK sitting in the stands cheering his team up. Good show.
We also have Rohit Sharma, Scott Styris to come up for bat. I think they have a formidable lineup for sure and there goes a six. Agarkar sent for a ride, by Gilchrist. They say it went 68 metres man! Beats him in the very next ball. Out of Dinda, Agarkar and Sharma, its Agarkar who will have to bear a lot of pressure, as his pace might not be able to use the pitch. As I said this, the second six by Gilchrist again off Agarkar. This one was taken off the bottom edge and into the crowd. Next ball is running onto the ropes making the score reach to 39-2, and nobody could react even. A fantastic square cut by Gilly.
Spinners could have a tough time now. We will have to see, how Ganguly would use Karthik here.
Oh! probably because Symonds is seemingly not a good spin player. Score reaches 40-2.
Symonds sends out a four just crossing Ponting (their captain :) in the slip. Spin did work in this over. DC can't lose any more wickets at this score. They need about 200 to be in the game.
Hafeez and Karthik arming both the ends now, trying to tempt the batsmen to play drives and longshots. Both the batsmen need to hold the bat, get the ball on to the middle and play it hard. I am sure they know more than me, but controlling on this pitch is quite difficult. The ball is dancing around. Just 2 runs off an over from Hafeez.
We have the Royal Challengers living up to reputation up against Sachin's men in the form of Mumbai Indians up at 8. There goes another wicket, and Gilchrist goes walking back. Somehow the ball is'nt coming on to the bat. How did the pitch change so much for this match??
Rohit Sharma with Symonds to take on the assault. Wicket number 4 in the same over, and Rohit Sharma goes home. It's a contradictory collapse. 47 for 4, and Scotty Styris on the pitch. Look at it.. look at it the ball dancing around the wicket.
This is the last 'standard' partnership which can turn things around for the Chargers. Their battery seems to be discharging in front of the spin. If they are able to score about six an over, that could be enough for turbo-ing the game in the last few overs.
With a basic head on the shoulders game, the Chargers can pump it up after 12-13 overs, if they don't lose another wicket. I hope the contest is interesting, else it woudl be a cakewalk for the KKR's. Symonds beaten time and again. Since the pitch is not a batting one, about 150 can be very challenging and competitive for the KKR's even.
A good outside edge runs to four, and they reach 57. Clean bowled Styris !!!! Hafeez strikes. IT IS A SPIN TRACK!! and that too a powerful one. The ball of Hafeez is turning like a crazy ball, unlike a cricket ball. SRK dancing a very different tune in the stands.
We have Arjun Yadav with Symonds ? Who is he. A very obvious question which would crawling the minds of everyone. Did you guys also know, David Hussey is the bro of Mike Hussey
Arjun Rampal is also seen along with SRK in the stands. Man! Has he invested - USD 76Million.
That's quite a handful. With about 6 overs remaining, and the score not even reached 100, where is DC heading to?
Take some risks Symonds, nobody else will, if you don't. That's lofted, and the first risk is taken. A huge six off Hussey and he became Hazy. Yadav pulled a good one. Another risk, and it goes into the hands of Shukla, and Yadav is on the return trip. SIX wickets down. DC in real shit.
A combo of tailenders and Symonds won't go too far. Sanjay Bangar with Symonds. The word tailenders might not be apt for S.Bangar, as he has a lot of experience in first class cricket. Another four, and the score crosses 70. Score another 30, and lets see how KKR beats it. Its good to support the underdogs, as you always have something to push. Vaas to come next, and he is also known to pull quite a few, in the times of need.
Ishant Sharma , the new find for India is throwing it hard. No bounce off the pitch, and it becomes difficult to judge where the ball would go. KKR will sure benefit from the two greatest captains ever, Saurav and Ponting. Both seem to give tips to all the members, and if it doe'snt conflict (which i think it never would), KKR will be in very high spirits.
McCullum fielding really well, and seems the most spirited and charged one. Throwing the ball right into the gloves of the wicketkeeper. A Huge Six by Symonds off Hussey, and the balls vanished. Did SRK catch it? There goes another one into the stands, and now I am sure SRK must be running to catch it, and there goes another six off Hussey. Around 30 runs in this over, and they cross 100.
We see Mr. Agarkar coming on. Is it a wrong decision, as Symonds is in form, and you need a good bowler to control his aggression. I was so right, and Symonds hits it real hard till the ropes.
120 can be fantastic, as it looks now, and a few more overs left. I think they can make it. Oops!! Symonds goes off Agarkar, and the ball is picked by Hussey. Vaas and Bangar on the crease.
2 more overs left. one of Ishant, and one off Karthik. Vass sings the tune of KKR and also out. They seem to be in problem man! real problem today. The golden colors of KKR are shining, and Korbo, Lorbo and Jeetbo seem to be coming to life. RPS and Bangar now, 105 for 8.
A very good shot and it runs to 4. The score touches 110. We also have Ojha to come up now, and there goes another wicket of Bangar. 1 more over to go, and there is a ball which hits the wicket straight. Third umpire needed now, and looks like he didnt make it.
Chargers wrapped up at 110. A very less score seemingly, but with respect to this pitch it can be a competitive one. All ten wickets down in 20 overs, which is a ready reckoner for the pitch again.
------------------------- !st innings over------------------Lets see KKR with bat now --
Let me sip a cup of tea meanwhile..
um! KKR might think that the new ball, they can risk with, but if they do that, not sure whether the ball would hold on or not. It might still be very deceptive, and the KKR can have a tough time. It might be a good strategy to play it down, let it lie low, and take it ball by ball. Its really not a huge total on the board, and singles and twos can also ferry the KKRs over the Hoogli.
and there you go. We see a four down the ground off Vaas from KKR and the chase begins. In 2 balls, the score reaches 5. Brendon, the star of the first episode on the crease with gilly on the wicket. Quick singles can hold the key to a win, and lok at Symonds flying down to hit the wicket. Vaas!! has'nt he become too healthy for cricket. Good bowling by Vaas.
Saha with Brendon. The local lad. Such a confidence booster playing in August company for the talent in India. Lots of it, as we could see. RPSingh would take from the other end, and there he beats Brendon. He has a good smile, natural on his face all the time,a nd there goes the first wicket of Brendon to RPS. Look at the dust on the pitch. The pitch is devilish.
Now woe have Ricky coming in, and Saurav to follow. A good inspirational captain on one end, with Saha can help it settle down. Chargers also up in spirit after dismissing Brendon. A drifting ball, nicked on either side can be expensive for the chargers. Two fours in two balls. KKR keeping up the momentum. The more they can score, the lesser the tailenders have to slog.
There goes Ricky Ponting. Not happy with the decision, gives a dreadful look to the umpire. Saurav, its your game now, buddy!!
A LegBye given to KKR. Ganguly looks a bit concerned. Saha and Ganguly in the fray. The ball is dangerous, and has to be judged very carefully. KKR on the backfoot. Charges are fully charged.
100 looks so difficult now, or I would say 50 even. 19 for 2. Lot of power needed to make the ball bounce for a seamer, and I am sure the grip would also matter. In fact the Chargers were at the loss of 1 wicket, whereas KKR lost two for the same score.
Amazing.. and the third wicket down for KKR. Saha just gave it to Styris, and a fantastic catch by Scotty. Vaas is swinging it nicely to the tunes of the desert they are playing in. No focus on SRK now by the cameramen. Vaas beats Hussey in the very next ball. 21-3 is a killing score for KKR. The riders might get lost today. With Ganguly still there (a die-hard fighter) the hopes are still alive, and I am sure the entire team will be looking up to him. 3 players injured till now, and Ganguly also hit badly. SRK, Usha Uthup watching in awe, and almost looked, as if SRK would jump in to help Ganguly. This pitch should get the best Villian award. Its not a pitch to play on at all, with the ball hitting both the captains.
Styris comes down to spin the bowl. 88 runs needed to win with less than 6 per over. With 7 wickets remaining, it looks an achievable score. A fantastic couple taken by Ganguly with a long shot. If Laxman can prevent the boundaries, KKR will have to deal with a lot more than they think. Scotty smiling with the 45 degrees his ball is angling. 24 for 3, the RR is mounting up, and crosses 6 now.
35 for 3. I left the match for over than 10 minutes, and thats only they could score. I see, them getting two quick runs now. Still the RR looms above 6. That's a wide. Styris argues with the umpire, and it was not a wide, actually. We all know, there is a Fairplay award as well, and people are looking forward to it. The ball is doing a 'ball'.
Hussey hits a six, and brings repreive to the KKRs. Symonds coming up to bowl now. Lax planning to fix the KKRs today, but alas!! it goes to a four. 53 for 3, and they need 58 to win. The umpire not going well with either of the spinners. Shit!! another 4, and the KKRs are dancing. The score ticks to 60. Ganguly nicks it, and goes for 1. DC needs to keep his head on the shoulders, and bowl a few good ones, and there goes another no ball. Symonds is definitely under pressure. Ojha on attack on Ganguly.
Don't say its a wide, but they say it. DC losing momentum, which they should'nt. Still a competitive RR for the KKR's to win this match. I see a lot of attempts by Ganguly and Hussey both, but to stay on to the wicket. Its quite crucial for them to keep their wickets. Exact 6 is the needed RR now. Two dot overs can turn the table in favor of DC.
Clean bowled Ganguly - Ojha. The ball finally did the trick. 68 for 4.
The balls slipping away on the off and on, can straight run to the boundary. I see no slips there.
Hafeez struggling to play Symonds. DC got, what they wanted; breaking of the partnership.
This match is sure going to the wire, and the RR mounting. Hafeez hits a six off Symonds. With a single run even, the RR goes changes.
Vaas, RP, Styris still to come with 1 over each. Dot overs will take KKR down. An overthrow, but didnt give more than what it had to. 30 runs out of 31 balls needed. RPS in a deciding over, which can make a difference.
1. A good dot ball
2. 1 Run to the third man. Hafeez trying its best.
3. 1 Run again. Good going , RPS
4. Fantastic dot ball again. Right into the palms of Gilly
5. Another dot ball. No run, and if he takes a wicket, thats it.
6. A reverse sweep and a Four. He totals 6 for the over. KKR in the game.
Ojha into another deciding over.
1. Dot ball
2. Hafeez indicating to go for the big one. 1 Run.
3. CAUGHT !!! - A very important wicket. Hafeez goes. Ojha nails it. This is the big second for him.
4. 1 Run.
5. LR Shukla facing Ojha now. This match is going to be decisive. Oops!! What happened. The lights went off. The loadshading has struck here. ha ha ha ha ha!!
The electricians must be into action trying to figure out all the redundancies which went off the mark. The players walked off the ground as of now. Good Music for all, playing in the stadium. Expressing a goodnitelife for all the cricket lovers there. There you see, Deshmukh, Karan Johar, along with SRK in a pensive mood. The lights are coming back on with a few ones still left.
Truly speaking, if there is a tie, it will be interesting to see a bowl out between both the teams, which will be really entertaining. So here is the verdict from Aleem Dar no reduction in overs, and a normal match in the offing.
Cool, so they are runing back to the field, and we left LR Shukla to face Ojha in the 5th ball of this over.
5. 1 Run.
6. Dot Ball, and 3 more overs to go with 19 runs needed.
Ojha has been bowling really well. He is the one who got the two most important wickets today.
Styris now, and its good an over is left of him. Gives 1 run of the first ball
2nd Ball: Another 1 Run
3rd Ball: Another 1 Run
4th Ball: Dot Ball, very close to the wicket.
5th Ball: A Huge Six and I guess it will change the tunes now.
6th Ball: And a Four. This nails the chargers now.
Two overs left, and 8 runs needed.
Ojha now to LR. 1 more run, and 7 runs needed. With 5 wickets in the bag, KKR looks to be winning this match. Another run, and 6 left to win. A good dot ball, and 1 run now. 5 runs needed to win in 8 balls, and that's a dot ball. 5 runs in 7 balls, and thats a huge six, and KKR win this match with 5 wickets. Fantastic performance by LR Shukla and Hussey.
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