#IPL8
The IPL is hotting up. Some teams have hit the groove well right from the start while some of them are just settling in. Players have hit their straps upfront while others have struggled outright. The IPL has been a roller coaster already..
While #CSK and #RR have been the best winning teams till date (RR is unbeaten while CSK has only been beaten by RR), #MI, #RCB and #KXIP have had a hard time getting off the blocks.
MI, after losing 4 straight games before pulling one back against RCB, may just have got the impetus to make a dash at the top teams. KXIP and RCB have struggled to close games (RCB "almost" pulled it against MI only to stumble at the end while KXIP were blown away by #KKR's Russell-Yusuf partnership after dominating the game for most part). SRH have been shaky while KKR has been steady through their good batting and bowling, #CSK has always been a strong horse with wonderful balance led by the charismatic #MSDhoni and #RR have topped everyone with their batting heroes - Rahane, Steve Smith, Watson, Hooda, etc)
So, who do you think will take the first four spots in that league table at half way stage (7 games each)? RR and CSK seem to be certainly there but the other two? maybe KKR and SRH? or will RCB, MI or KXIP pull up some surprises?
Its all happening at #IPL2015 ... stay tuned!
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With all dues respect to all legends and great players on that Mumbai Indians team, they have "behaved" erratically at times over the last 7 years of the #IPL.
They have had some really rough moments on the field over the years and consistently been at bottom of the "Fair Play Award" table.
There have been so many episodes including:
1. The infamous Sreesanth slapping incident by Harbhajan
2. The umpire crowding incident where they circled the umpire like vultures after a bad decision
3. The Pollard - Starc incident (although both were guilty probably)
and many more...
Ironical when you consider Sachin Tendulkar has been at their helm for a number of years and considered Mr. Conduct of Cricket!
Hope they come good on that front..
They are a fantastic team of very good players and can win matches on their talent alone.
Rohit, Pollard, Finch, Anderson, Rayudu on the batting front while Malinga, Harbhajan, Hazlewood, Vinay Kumar the bowlers.
They have lost both their IPL8 games so far and havent seen any untoward incident so far in their games. Hope they keep winning but without those "ouch" moments. Perhaps they could take lead from #CSK? who are always high on both the match point and fair play point tables? Look up to Dhoni for some inspiration!
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The first weekend double header seems to be intriguing and exciting both.
Both games pit superstars from the same country teams against each other which makes it a really mouthwatering proposition.
#CSK vs #Sunrisers
Trent Boult will be in action against his NZ captain Brendon McCullum in this one.
Shikhar Dhawan will face off with Ravi Ashwin and Mohit Sharma while Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma would try to trouble MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina..
All in all a fascinating duel between team mates!
CSK definitely looking the stronger side
Who will come out on top
McCullum/Dwayne Smith or Dhawan/Warner
Boult/Sharma or Mohit/Ashwin
Or will it be the fielders that decide the game?
CSK have a plethora of athletes - Raina, Faf, McCullum, Jadeja could turn the match on their fielding prowess alone!
The second game of the day is interesting too
#KKR vs #RCB
All eyes, no doubt, will be on #ViratKohli especially after his outburst against media and everyone who condemned #AnushkaSharma for his poor form and exit from the #CWC15. The aggressively expressive cricketer will be out there to prove a point. Will Anushka be there too? Remains to be seen...
Both captains are over the top players, losing their cool at the drop of a hat and thats where other senior players and umpires need to keep watch and control over proceedings in this game. Remember their famous on field spat a couple of seasons ago? Hope it doesn't repeat here
RCB are batting heavy with Virat-ABD-Gayle trio. They can decimate any attack on their day single handedly. Bowling seems to be their biggest concerns especially with not a lot of superstar power in those ranks except the exceptional Mtichell Starc and lively Adam Milne.
KKR seem more balanced on the bowling side with good combination of speed, swing and spin.
Morne Morkel and Umesh Yadav will lead the speed guns while Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan and KC Cariappa (suprise pick for 2.4 crores!) will handle the spin dept. Batting is steady but not destructive - Gambhir will look to control innings at the top while Utthappa, Surya Yadav and Yusuf Pathan will tee off as needed.
All in all, very intriguing and exciting games these....
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#CSK vs #DD
#IPL8
9th Apr 2015
An #AlbieMorkel stunner couldn't put DD over the line against CSK in a sensational thriller at Chennai. Chasing 151 to win, DD made a hash of it losing wickets upfront to Ashish Nehra and then again in the middle innings to make it real tough but Morkel was the last man standing. He came in at 3 and was there until the end but just couldnt hit the last ball of the match a couple of yards further to earn the sixer needed to win! It was that close... CSK and Dhoni will have heaved a big sigh of relief as they got out of jail here...
Needing 20 to win in the last over by Dwayne Bravo, Morkel edged one behind to thirdman for a boundary, much needed start. Two singles of the next two balls meant DD needed 14 in 3 balls with Morkel on strike. He smote the next delivery over long on for a massive six to bring the equation to 8 in 2 and within striking range.
The next delivery was cut fiercely towards deep point, where Suresh Raina dived full length to stop a certain boundary and restrict Morkel to two.
6 needed from 1 ball.
A long discussion between Dhoni and co to set fields, and Bravo served a wide half volley that Morkel smashed between long off and deep extra cover. The ball sailed for a long time and everyone felt it would go the distance but it just fell short by a couple of metres inside the rope. Boundary! Oh no... DD fall 1 run short of a tie and CSK win...
Earlier in the day, put into bat, CSK didnt look comfortable upfront against Coulter-Nile and struggled to keep the momentum going but Faf Du Plessis and Dwayne Smith steadied the ship before a typical Dhoni end-over show took them to a respectable 150 for 7 in 20 overs.
A superb game DD should have won though ... Albie you beauty!
Superb!
Brief Scores:
CSK: 150 for 7 (20 overs)
DD: 149 for 9 (20 overs)
Man of the Match: Ashish Nehra for his three wickets to dent DD's start in their run-chase.
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#MI vs #KKR
#EdenGardens
8th Apr 2015
After a glittering opening ceremony of #IPL8 yesterday, the business began with a big game between defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and 2013 champs Mumbai Indians.
Both teams packed with heavy weights, some of them super heroes from the recently included #CWC15, made it an even contest. MI boasted of Rohit Sharma, Corey Anderson, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Aaron Finch while KKR were powered by Gautam Gambhir, Morne Morkel, Sunil Narine and surprise pick KC Cariappa from the domestic league (for a whopping 2.5 crore!)
Put into bat, Mumbai Indians were put under enormous pressure by Morne Morkel with his bounce and perfect line and length bowling. Rohit and Co. were unable to get a fluent start and runs weren't flowing enough. That pressure resulted in three quick wickets for KKR to be right on top in this match. Morkel accounted for Finch and Rayudu while Shakib sent Tare back to reduce MI to 37 for 3 in 6 overs.
Corey Anderson joined Rohit and started steadying the ship. Slowly and steadily they built the innings to an ideal launch pad scenario and took off around the 14th over. Some breath taking display of batting from both batsmen, especially Rohit, ensured they reached a healthy 169 for 3 in 20 overs. Rohit with a handsome 98 and Anderson with a beefy 55 remained unbeaten.
KKR's chase started in a wobbly manner.
Gautam was dropped behind by Tare off Vinay Kumat very early
Robin Uthappa was dropped by Anderson off his own bowling in the very next over and eventually edged one to slip where Harbhajan took a straight chance!
Manish Pandey, the new man in brought urgency and fluency to the KKR innings. That seemed to have rubbed on Gambhir and he opened up too. Soon both were dealing in boundaries and keeping abreast with the run rate. Pandey fell to Harbahajan for a solid 40. 98 for 2 in 12 overs.
That brought in young Suryakumar Yadav who was timing the ball beautifully from ball one.
Gautam continued well and completed his 50 before holing one into the deep off Bumrah to make it interesting at 121 for 3.
New man Yusuf struggled for a while but Suryakumar at the other end smashed Malinga all over the park to complete a facile win for KKR. Their unbeaten streak of wins continuing from previous IPL.
Brief Scores:
MI: 168 for 3 (20 overs)
KKR: 170 for 3 (18.3 overs)
Man of the Match: Morne Morkel, for that miserly spell upfront to put brakes on MI innings.
All in all, great start to the IPL and looking forward to some cool action over the next two months!
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