Friday, April 26, 2013

Gaylestorm blows minds away at T20 Festival

Here are the highlights from an exciting third week at the T20 Festival in India, from 18th-25th April

Match of the week

Delhi vs Mumbai

Having lost key players in the build up to the tournament and 6 matches in the tournament itself Delhi badly needed the win. Rohit Sharma’s blast gave them a tough challenge but Virender Sehwag’s delightful 95* (57) meant they chased down 161/4 quite easily to open their account this season.

Start of the week, Batting Performance of the week

Chris Gayle 175* (66b 17x6 13x4)

Chris Gayle’s stunning record breaking innings 175 was so violent that 102 runs came in sixes alone. Instead of biding his time, Gayle teed off in anticipation of rain. The rain never came but the Gaylestorm left Pune devastated as Bangalore posted a record T20 total of 263/5, the inning involving a 167 run opening stand between the rampaging Gayle and not so rampaging Tillakaratne Dilshan (33 36b 5x4).

Cling On catch of the week

Murali Kartik vs Jaipur, Bangalore

This may be among the weaker ones but try telling that to Murali Kartik who wonderfully timed his movement and jump to grab a powerfully hit shot by the red hot Shane Watson at mid off.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Chennai, Pune provide thrills in week 2

We bring you highlights from the T20 Festival for the past week from 11th-17th April.

Match of the week

Chennai vs Bangalore

Put these two against each other and you’ll have chewed off your nails at the end of the match. Virat didn’t bowl this time and Chennai were in a tight corner, needing 2 to win off the last ball of the game. But Ravindra Jadeja had edged a four towards third man off the last ball last year in the same encounter when Chennai had needed 3 off the last ball. This time he was caught off RP Singh at third man by Ravi Rampaul but still ran for the single. Bangalore’s celebrations stopped when they saw the umpire signaling a no-ball, giving Chennai an incredible 4 wicket win.

Start of the week

Chennai 139/0, Michael Hussey 86*(54b 11x4 2x6) and Murali Vijay 50* (50b 3x4 1x6)

Good starts give you wins in T20s, great ones can give you 10 wicket routs of opponents.

Chennai make their second appearance on Hot Topics this week thanks to this giant opening partnership. Michael Hussey bossed Punjab’s bowling while Vijay hung in there to add an unbeaten 139 for the first wicket for Chennai, giving them their first ever 10 wicket win in the tournament after their bowlers had shot out Punjab for 138 in 19.5 overs earlier.

Cling On catch of the week

Rahul Dravid vs Pune, Sahara Stadium

Pune had made a threatening start with Robin Uthappa finding his rhythm when Dravid produced a stunner at short midwicket, pouching a thundering shot from his statemate in microseconds, showing razor sharp reflexes and immense commitment for a senior player.

Bowling performance of the week

Amit Mishra 4/19 vs Pune, Pune

Pune make a second appearance, this time on the receiving end of a hattrick. They were 101/4 in the 17th over chasing Hyderabad’s 119/8 but were soon 107/6 in 18.1 overs. Amit Mishra sealed the game in that over, getting rid of Angelo Mathews with 18.2 before ending the over with a hattrick, Pune collapsing to a dramatic 108 all out in 19 overs. Mishra snared Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rahul Sharma and Ashok Dinda in his hattrick, his third in the history of the tournament.