Absolute carnage - First Semi final

There were a lot of expectations before the semi-final between Royals and Daredevils. Everybody was looking forward to a contest between an explosive batting side versus simple the best side in IPL. In the end, Royals showed that their consistency is just no fluke. First scoring 192 against the likes of McGrath and Asif and then bundling Delhi out for 80 odd runs, proved that they thoroughly deserved this victory.
There are a couple of points I want to mention before we forget about this very forgettable match (for Delhi fans atleast). Why did Sehwag chose to ball after winning the toss? I always thought, on a good batting track, in a knock-out game, one should always bat. Asif came in after injury/rest so the bowling was always going to be tough. I know it could have gone either way and Warne admitted in the end about his bowling decision, had he won the toss but it is just that defensive frame of mind that allows you to send opposition in and make total mess of it. Batting second is never easy in a pressure situation. The other thing was the bowling changes. Mahroof was first change but could have been used as the opening bowler. He had the best chance to rattle top order of Royals. In the end, opening stand made a lot of difference. Veeru himself did not bowl a single ball in the match. What is the use of his huge experience. As far as I am concerned, its the bowling that let Delhi down and not the batting. In a semi-final like this, 160 would have been enough leave alone 190 plus. Well its all over for Delhi now. They can take rest, play international cricket and come back strong next time. Till then, good bye to them.

First Semi Final - Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Daredevils

tags: delhi, daredevils, IPL, criccket

Great match coming up tomorrow. There is always a Semi-final jinx in any sport. Rajasthan being the top team in the tournament are the favorites but should be cautious in the big game.

Delhi on the other hand has lot to prove. Almost the next best team at the start of the tournament but lost its way. I think they are a little weak on the bowling department.

No matter who wins, it sure gonna be a cracker.

Watch out for ...

• Tanvir against Delhi's openers, Sehwag and Gambhir.


• Glenn McGrath. Rajasthan were able to score only 33 runs off his eight overs in the league games.


• Yusuf Pathan and Shane Watson, who form the mainstay of Rajasthan's power-hitting arsenal.


• "It's been an interesting journey with the Daredevils. Basically, we have been in three finals already to get in to the semi-finals. If that doesn't prepare you for a semi-final, then nothing else will. To get through three must-win games steels the team. It will be a huge advantage for Viru and his guys. Dennis Lillee, Delhi's cricket advisor on the team's preparations.

Finds of IPL

Nice article at cricinfo.com about 5 sensational finds of IPL.
Shaun Marsh,Luke Pomersbach,Shane Watson, Yusuf Pathan and Piyush Chawla have been the revelations in the IPL tournament. They have simply been match winners on more than few occasions. Surely this will help countries like Australia to identify new talent. I like the way Shaun Marsh has played. With only 10 innings in his IPL stats, he is already number one batsman on the tournament, surpassing Gautam Gambhir of Delhi. Shaun Marsh has 25 6's where as Marsh has only 8. Marsh has a staggering average of 74. That says it all. Australia will surely pick him. Speaking about new finds, India and Australia have been main beneficiaries here. Other countries have had known players in IPL. They have either lived up to their reputations (Jayasuriya, Morkel, Watson,Sohail Tanvir) or have gone nowhere (Murali, Misbah,Afridi,Akhtar etc.). No matter how much money factor is involved in IPL, it has helped in finding new talent as well.

2 brilliant test matches in a week.

IPL keeps on delivering high quality matches such as the one between Rajasthan and Mumbai. It was a last ball clincher where Rajasthan Royals again proved their supremacy in IPL. While IPL marches towards the semis and finals, there are 2 very interesting test series going on. WI-AUS and ENG-NZ. Both the series produced fantastic matches over the weekend. Test match cricket was at its best. On one side, NZ was ahead for almost the entire match until Strauss scored the match turning century and on the other side, Australia proved yet again, why they are the best. Interestingly both the test matches had interesting first innings scenarios. I have always believed that team securing first innings lead of around 100 runs increase their chance of winning by a great deal. Australia won by 95 runs and their first innings lead was around 129. Things could have been different, had WI scored around 100 more runs. But ENG and NZ both worked hard to defy this logic. NZ had  a lead of 180 runs!!! still lost the match. Obviously their batting reversed roles in second innings. Its because of matches like these and this, that make me an ardent follower of Test match cricket. 

IPL talk is all around the place.

I read a Q&A on cricinfo with Jacob Oram who recently completed his short stint with Chennai team. There were interesting things for him to share. I have started getting clearer perspective of what players think about IPL. I used to wonder if players really care about all that money or it is just being the best in the business that is pulling them into IPL. Looks like players do care about financial security. After being asked if IPL has changed his life in the long term. He said - "Financially speaking, most definitely. What you can earn over there in a year is a career - or at least a good three or four years - for New Zealand, so it's certainly security for my future and my family."

So players are clear about the financial aspect of IPL. Oram however repeatedly stated that playing for NZ is the numero uno priority. He understands that injury can hamper chances to play for the country and earn livelyhood. "It(playing in IPL) might ease the pressures, especially surrounding injury and selection. Say, if playing for New Zealand is your only source of income and you are in and out of the team because of injury or form, then most definitely, if you have that security behind you from India then I can only see it easing a bit of that stress on you."

Here is an interesting perspective of a blogger with lot of Pakistani talk(whine) in it. The blogger tracks how many Pakistani players were selected viz-a-viz players from other nations. Here is the post.
There are lot of numbers there to talk about, but in this short version of the game numbers hardly matter. What matters the most is - whether your contribution was match winning or not. Lets say if Shoaib Malik had managed to restrict Punjab in that final over, I am sure he would have been a hero by now. Same with Asif too. He is completely out of steam right now. He is trying too many things. He numbers are still looking OK. But he has never been a match winner for Delhi after first couple of games. Afridi is not a bowling all rounder but a batting all rounder. If he is not doing good for Deccan with the bat, people are going to notice that. Again not a match winning innings.

He is back, with a bang

Balaji's home ground return to "limelight cricket" was sensational when he took 5 wickets against Punjab including a hat-trick. This is the 14th in T20 and a thoroughly deserving man got it. He was one of my favorite bowlers back in 2004 when he played a marvelous series against Pakistan. He almost single handedly won India the series.Cricinfo says:

Lakshmipathy Balaji has gone through an entire career in five years - burst onto the scene, won a series, hailed as the next big thing, been injured, recovered, been dropped, injured again, disappeared from public memory - but was yet to play a big match on his home ground. So it was only fitting the famous smile that won over Pakistan in 2004 could manage a grand return in his beloved Chennai.

Balaji's spell of 4 overs 24 runs and 5 wickets was the differentiator in a yet again close match. Chennai's team seems to be coming back on track. While they lost Hayden and Hussey in batting department, they have got Balaji and Morkel as their strike bowlers. This means that Joginder sharma may not get  a chance now to play in IPL.

Update: Timesofindia has this interesting stuff about Balaji. 

Delhi loses last ball nail biter.

Delhi Daredevils v Chennai Super Kings, IPL, Delhi

• Bad decision by Sehwag to ask Malik to bowl the last over. 15 runs came off that over. Sehwag is a better bowler than Malik on any given day. IMO, he should have bowled the last over. Delhi could still have lost the game but Sehwag would have been a better bet. This is the second loss for Delhi and loosing momentum. Meanwhile the match was closely contested and was won on the last ball. It was a great knock by Gambhi again.
  
  


• Gambhir and Shikhar Dhawan scored brilliant half centuries for Delhi but Chennai kept their cool till the end and saw their team hit the winning runs on the last ball


• Also read 'We missed a fifth bowler' - Sehwag