Indian Premier League Match Preview – Semi final 2
Kings XI Punjab Vs Chennai Super Kings
Semi final 2 is to be played between the teams which stood at the second and third positions in the league.
The Armies – Kings XI Punjab v Chennai Super Kings
Kings XI Punjab with 20 points stood at the top of the league winning 10 of their 14 matches.Delhi Daredevils qualified by grabbing the third. They were victorious in 8 of their 14 matches. They ended on 16 points.
The Battleground – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Wankhede always has purchase for spinners and there was enough encouragement for spinners in the first semi final.
Indian Premier League has taken everybody by storm. The amount of fresh talent that’s been exposed would lead people to believe that there may be many new faces in team India. But the fact of the matter is that, only 15 or 16 players can be selected in the team and the players who were already there and there about have performed really well. There might be just a few inclusions in the batting and in the spin bowling departments.
Looking at the eight teams and the Indian players who have been the best in each its interesting to find that they are already in the national team.
Knight Riders made a mark before ending their DLF IPL stint for this year. Ganguly and Gul’s combined firepower managed to stop the winning streak of Kings XI Punjab at Eden Gardens , Kolkata.
An exceptional thrilling game with both sides playing for different objectives. Kings XI Punjab with already their berth secured for the semi-finals played the game with an aim to dislodge Rajasthan Royals from the top slot and also to reinforce the overwhelming confidence. While the Knight Riders played the game to make a statement and regain their professional pride much of which was lost during the tournament with losses and a dismal batting performance.
Ganguly scored a superb knock of 86 out of 53 balls with six boundaries and equal no of over boundaries.While Umar Gul scored 24 out of 11 balls with one four and three sixes to make a record total in this field. Umar Gul also bagged the Man of the Match award for taking 4 wickets for 23 runs.
Earlier Yuvraj won the toss and decided to bat and summed up a total of 174 for 9 - which was good enough given the slow pitch. However Gul restricted the last over with two wickets and kept a check on the total also.
Kolkata seemed to be out of the game with almost 15 runs per over required in the last 5 overs. That was before Ganguly and Gul got together, putting on 49 runs in 18 balls. With 15 required off the last over, Ganguly was equal to the task, wrapping up the match with 2 balls to spare, reminiscent of how Warne did it for his team against the Deccan Chargers. Overall a great match where the game turned with every over during the end.
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.
Last time these two teams met the match went to on till the last over. Sehwag and Gambhir had failed then. If any of these fires this time and add to that the exploits of Marsh and Pomersbach, we could have a run feast on menu.
Men at the Helm
Viru and Yuvi both are aggressive and pro active. Both like to catch competition by the throat and have an unabandoned approach. It has all the makings of a fiercely aggressive and competitive battle.
We have the bat
If Delhi depend heavily on Sehwag, Gambhir and Dhawan, Punjab do on Marsh, Yuvraj and Mahela. Both the teams need other men to come to party running into closing stages of the league round.
We have the ball
Both the teams have very good bowling line ups. Delhi have a slight edge having Mc Grath, Asif and Maharoof because, although Punjab bowlers are in pretty good form but Sreesanth and Piyush can be vulnerable.
Patrolling Party
Both are superb fielding sides. Probably the two best on show in the league. Watch out for some scintillating stuff as Marsh, Yuvi, Hopes, De Villiers, Dilshan and Dhawan take the field.
High on betting meter
Both teams stand at same levels on most betting meters with returns of 90 percent and shade under.
Who gets the tick?
Both teams have good bowling line ups and thus the result is likely to be decided by the batting. It will need an extraordinary innings from a batsman to turn the tide in his team’s favour.
