Match Review

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Indians spoil Daredevils’ party

Mumbai Indians registered a comprehensive victory over the Delhi Daredevils to move to the top of the league standings.

Daredevils won the toss and elected to bowl first on an absolute belter. The decision turned out to be the wrong one as the Indians got off to a flier, adding 67 runs in the Quick start overs despite losing the dangerous Sanath Jayasuriya cheaply. Sachin Tendulkar looked in sublime touch and helped them past the 110 run mark at the halfway stage in the innings. Saurabh Tiwary continued to dominate the bowling after Tendulkar’s dismissal, adding 71 runs off just 41 balls with Ambati Rayudu for the fourth wicket. Tiwary finished with 61 runs off 37 balls and Mumbai went into the break well on top (refer to Castrol Index worm above) with 218 on the board.

Delhi missed Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order after he picked up a hamstring injury in the field. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Virender Sehwag got them off to a flying start but things started to fall apart after Dilshan’s dismissal in the fourth over. They were 56 for one at the end of the Power Play but they suffered a huge setback with Sehwag and AB de Villiers getting out in the same over. The hosts could never recover from that point as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals in an effort to keep up with the high required rate.  The Indians restricted them to 120 for nine in just 16.3 overs to complete a more than convincing victory.

Sachin Tendulkar was adjudged Man of the Match for his 63 runs off just 32 balls which he achieved with a Batting Momentum of 124.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Super Kings halt Knight Riders’ winning run

Chennai Super Kings completed a comprehensive victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders to register their first win of the competition.

Super Kings won the toss and elected to bat first. They started on the backfoot as the hosts bowled in the right areas at the start, giving away very little. Super Kings managed just 31 runs in the Quick Start period after having losing Mathew Hayden. Murali Vijay and Suresh Raina put on a 37-run partnership for the second wicket but Chennai needed to get a move on. After the two of them got out in quick succession, MS Dhoni and Subramaniam Badrinath were at the crease. The two of them did well to get their eye in and ensured that the visitors did not lose any more wickets. They turned the advantage in their favour with 61 runs in the Extreme Performance overs, pushing their total to 164. This put them well above Kolkata on the Castrol Index.

The visitors carried momentum into the second innings. They pegged the Knight Riders back with Brad Hodge’s wicket in the very first over. Another couple of wickets came their way as Kolkata were reduced to just 45 for three at the end of the Quick start overs. None of the middle order batsmen played themselves in on the two paced pitch and paid the price by losing their wickets and getting into a position from where no recovery was possible. The hosts kept sliding further back in the contest before being bowled out for a paltry 109, well short of their target. Justin Kemp was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for just 12 runs off his three overs.

MS Dhoni was adjudged Man of the Match for his unbeaten 66 off just 33 balls in the first innings. He achieved it with a Batting Momentum of 132.