Shaun Marsh continued his batting blitzkrieg with his forth Man of the Match - award in the Indian Premier League, hitting 60 in the Kings XI Punjab’s win over Deccan Chargers.
Marsh scored his fifth half-century in a totoal of eight games with three fours and three sixes before getting caught with a half-hearted hit off Herschelle Gibbs at long-on.
Kings XI Punjab made 4-178 with three balls to spare chasing Deccan’s impressive total of 4-175 at the Punjab’s Mohali ground.
Both teams have been badly wounded in the last few matches. Both lost to Kolkata by similar margin of 23 runs. But, both have tigers in plenty. So, watch out for this clash.
Men at the Helm
Laxman is still doubtful for this game. Gilly and Viru both have been very aggressive and led on instincts. Both will want to better their records and Deccan probably have the last chance to keep their semi final chances alive.
We have the bat
If batting of Delhi depends on Sehwag and Gambhir, for Deccan its depended on Gilchrist and Rohit. Overall. Deccan batting is stronger on paper but they have failed to fire. Delhi need Sehwag or Gambhir to play well up the order while for Deccan, Gibbs will want to set records straight.
We have the ball
Delhi have a far superior bowling line up and have restricted most teams to relatively low scores. Vaas and RP need to come good for Deccan.
Patrolling Party
Delhi are a very good fielding side but they were outdone by Kolkata in their last match. Deccan have good fielders but they need to get their act together.
High on betting meter
Delhi give a return of 8 on 11 while Deccan a 1 on 1.
Rajasthan’s wagon which was on a roll, was halted in the last match by Mumbai. While the pre tournament favourites, Chargers who had been pretty disappointing registered a thumping win over Chennai in their last match.
Men at the Helm
Shane Warne’s leadership has been the story of the league thus far. Laxman’s absence due to injury in the last match might have been a jolt to Chargers’ batting but Adam Gilchrist coming in as stand in captain was certainly a blessing in disguise.
We have the bat
On paper Chargers are a far superior batting unit but big names like Gibbs, Afridi and Styris haven’t really fired till now. But when they do, not many teams would like to take on them. On the other hand, not so starry batsmen of Royals like Watson, Pathan, Asnodkar and Jadeja have been executing the roles given to them by their captain to perfection.
We have the ball
Rajasthan look a better bowling unit then Deccan with Tanvir, Munaf and Trivedi showing good control, Watson bowling quite quick and Warne turning the ball big. Chargers’ bowlers too bowled pretty good lines in their last match against Chennai Super Kings. Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh seemed to find their rhythms.
Patrolling Party
Both the teams are very good fielding units. If Deccan have Gibbs, Afridi and Styris, Royals have Kaif, Watson and Pathan.
High on betting meter
Such is the talent in the Deccan team that even with them winning just two of the seven matches and Rajasthan loosing only 2 of their seven, Deccan are high on most betting meters. Deccan are placed at 4 on 6 while Rajasthan on 11 on 10.
Who gets the tick?
Deccan have the momentum with them and the star power too while Rajasthan have shown better adaptability and flexibility. Gilly v Warne and Pathan v RP Singh would be battles worth watching for.
Andrew Symonds feels Test and one-day cricket will reap the benefits of the Indian Premier League.
The Indian Premier League gets underway on Friday and anticipation is growing for a tournament which has attracted a raft of world stars to play in the Twenty20 spectacular.
The non-stop action of Twenty20 cricket has raised cricket’s profile and Symonds, who is keen to lead Deccan Chargers to glory, feels the effects will filter down to the benefit of all forms of the game.
“I don’t think Test cricket or the one-day version will take a back-seat because of this,” Symonds said in the Hindu Times. “It will only see a change in the pace of the game in all forms of cricket.”
Symonds will be joined in India by a number of his Australia team-mates and he feels it will be a culture shock to face his trusted colleagues in the heat of battle.
“The most difficult aspect of the IPL will be when you play against your own team-mates — particularly those whom you have played with for perhaps a decade or more,” he added. “When you know them so well, it will be a huge task to face them on the field as rivals.”
Setting out his goals, he added: “I have never chased records in any form of game. But, I must admit that it would be a special feeling to win the first edition of any championship.”
A lot has been said about the impact the IPL will have on the cricket schedule and Symonds feels the ICC must strike a balance.
He added: “This is something that should never happen. I think the cricket boards and the ICC should see to it that there is a window for IPL.”
After the just concluded series against India, SA players focusing on IPL. South African stars Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Ashwell Prince will stay back to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League from the beginning of the tournament itself. The three did not make it to the Cape Cobras team for the domestic Pro 20 semifinals.
However, captain Graeme Smith figured in the Cobras team announced on Monday and he will not play in the BCCI-backed Twenty20 league for Rajasthan Royals till his domestic commitments are over.
Six South Africans in the Test squad for the just concluded series against India - Smith, J P Duminy, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Ashwell Prince and Monde Zondeki – were available for selection but Cobras team management decided to include only Smith and Duminy.
Cape Cobras play Titans in the first semifinal on April 18 at Newlands in Cape Town while Diamond Eagles play Dolphins in the second semifinal on April 20.
Dale Steyn, brothers Albie and Morne Morkel and A B de Villiers play for the Titans and are likely to miss the initial IPL action. The same will be the case for Loots Bosman of the Diamond Eagles.
The final of the domestic Pro20 tournament is slated for April 25.
Earlier, the Titans said they were offered a hefty sum to release their players so that they could play in the IPL from the beginning but turned it down.
An offer of more than USD 100,000 was reportedly made to the Cape Cobras as well.
Kallis and Boucher will play for Rahul Dravid-led Royal Challengers while Prince will don Sachin Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians’ colours.
Herschelle Gibbs will also miss the initial IPL action for Deccan Chargers as he was also named in the Cobras squad.
Cricket South Africa has instructed the players to return home after the Test series for the Pro 20 before going back for the IPL. But today’s decision leaves Kallis, Boucher and Prince free to stay on in India if CSA gives them the go ahead.
“The Cobras selectors have now made their call and our three players can now participate in the launch of the IPL with the full blessing of Western cape Cobras. Indeed, the team was selected early so that they knew where they stood and were not unnecessarily inconvenienced,” Cobra CEO Andre Odendaal said.
Symonds will be joined in India by a number of his Australia team-mates and he feels it will be a culture shock to face his trusted colleagues in the heat of battle.