So it’s decided now, Kolkata Knight Riders will face defending champions Chennai Super Kings in the final of the ongoing Indian Premier League. This season has been the most open one, almost all the matches in the league stage went down to the wire and there were some amazing turnarounds.
Going by what happened in the league stage a lot would have been expected from the playoffs. But all the three matches have been one-sided and the crowd will be hoping for a close finish in the biggest match of them all.

In the second qualifier, Delhi won the toss and opted to ball first. They dropped their leading wicket taker and that gave Chennai the chance to score some quick runs. They did exactly that and the hit the bowlers to every corner of the ground. Chennai set a massive total of 222 runs. Delhi started their chase with their captain dropping himself in the batting order, but the move didn’t work and they kept losing wickets and fell short by 86 runs in the end.

Let’s have a look at some of the hits and flops from both teams.

Chennai Super Kings:

Murali Vijay: He was short of runs and he couldn’t have found a better time to get back his hitting form. He thrashed the bowlers right from the word go and looked threatening. Vijay has played some crucial innings for CSK in the past and he often saves his best for the last. He has a brilliant record in Chennai and the way he attacked the bowlers was simply a treat to watch. He scored 113 runs of 58 balls and his innings included 15 fours and five sixes.

Dwayne Bravo: He is proving out to be a brilliant finisher for CSK. It was his last ball six that took Chennai in the playoffs and every time he has come in to bat he has played a blinder. He scored 33 runs of just 12 balls at a strike rate of 275 and hit three fours and two sixes.

Flops:

Chennai won by a massive margin 86 runs and that proves that they did not have any weak performances. There were some bowlers who were a bit expensive but overall it was a commanding performance by the team from Chennai.

Delhi Daredevils:

Hits:

Umesh Yadav: Morkel was surprisingly dropped and that put extra pressure on Yadav, but he responded well to it and was the only bowler who did not go for plenty. He bowled at a good line and length and was a bit unlucky not to pick more wickets. He ended with one wicket and with an economy rate of 6.75.

Mahela Jayawardene: He was promoted at the top of the order and looked the best batsmen for Delhi. He looked comfortable at the pitch and played some very good shots. He kept losing partners at the other end but he did not let that effect his innings. He scored 55 runs before getting out trying to play a reverse sweep.

Flops:

Virender Sehwag: He failed not as a batsman but also as the captain. It is hard to believe that he did not play the holder of the purple cap. His captaincy looked ragged in the field and when it was their time to bat, he dropped himself to number three. He wanted to avoid Hilfenhaus but that sends a wrong signal. He started the tournament brilliantly, but has been ordinary against some good fast bowling. He scored only one run before mistiming a pull shot.

Varun Aaron: He bowled one of the most expensive spells of IPL season 5. He missed his line and length on numerous occasions and was punished. With his inconsistent bowling he made it very difficult for his captain to set a field for him. In his four overs he gave away 63 runs.



By Gaurav Jha

Indian Sports News