The IPL Athletic Supporter's Note - XI

I watched both of today’s matches in a mood of mild protest, over Kamran Khan’s action being described as suspect. He is a slinger, and for heaven’s sake, you cannot straighten out an arm in the middle of a slinging motion. I have been watching replays, and the lad does seem to be double-jointed – the same condition that ensures three of today’s top international bowlers don’t get reported!

Wasn’t the first match supposed to be one-sided? Warne and his men certainly did not think so as the RR pulled off the unimaginable.

When the DC batted, the absence of Kamran Khan, out with an ankle injury did not show. Pathan’s good overs at the top were in stark contrast to those of Munaf Patel, before Jadeja and Harwood started pushing down the middle pedal.

For the DC, Rohit Sharma and Tirumal Suman played good knocks to push their team up to 141. But Azhar Bilakhia at three surprised me. He can bat, but I personally thought that Sharma in his place would have allowed the latter to build an innings better.

Anyway, the start of the RR innings started off like a pie-throwing sequence in a comedy film. Rhyme, reason and anything resembling grey cells seemed to have been left behind as Warne’s team quickly reduced itself to 3 for 3. But a truly lovely knock from Lee Carseldine put them back on rails.

Carseldine showed beautiful touch as he in the company of Jadeja first and then Warne took them closer and closer to the target. Abhishek Raut came in, settled in and kept one end ticking over busily, as Pathan , dropped down the order, came in and launched a few here and there to get the RR to within kissing distance.

This sudden turnaround by the RR is rather reminiscent of their performance last year, when they came out of nowhere.

The second match of the evening was a cruel one – between two of the teams I support.
I thought the CSK got off pretty well. Murali Vijay was a bit slow, but I thought he got off to a fair start before attempting the ‘sabko mitadoonga’ swipe. Hayden pummeled briefly, but all too quickly, the CSK were 2 for 46.

Raina and Badrinath got together and tried to get things going again. Raina is in the middle of a truly brilliant phase. He never seems to slog, and doesn’t really have a big wind up. He just seems to be there when the ball arrives. Rare talent.

Badrinath at the other end was his typical self, running the singles hard and looking for scoring opportunities. He broke the 11th over jinx with an amazing series of hits that gave the CSK team momentum, which quickly disappeared when Raina got out. DD played Rajat Bhatia, a cricketer who is vastly under-rated. He thinks his way through, whether batting or bowling and that makes him a good man to have in a team. Bhatia bowled a few good overs, getting rid of Badrinath.

After that, all the big-built men with the big reputations flopped and the CSK innings listed and floundered its way to 163.

Not a tough target, given DD’s batting quality and depth. Warner, in for Sehwag, and Gambhir looked quite comfortable till Raina pulled off a blinder to send back Gambhir who was looking good finally. But it was the next ball from Tyagi that seemed to torpedo the DD innings. It cleaned up de Villiers off his pads, first ball.

Dilshan left shortly afterwards, totally undone by Jakati, who bowled two good arm balls to him before turning the third past Dilshan’s bat.

Warner, beginning to reel off some crisp shots set about re-building the chase with Karthik, but fell victim to Jakati after a well-made fifty. Manhas played a terrible shot and got out and was quickly followed by Karthik, who I thought should have stuck around.

Once Karthik left, it all suddenly became academic and what could have been a thrilling finish ended in a one-sided way.