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Pre Match Analysis

Last roll of the dice

DURBAN, MAY 19: After a month and 13 games, it all comes down to this. The final two days of the league stages of the IPL can make or break it for five teams. With the Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians out of the running and Delhi Daredevils through to the semi-final, the fight is on for the remaining three places for the weekend knockout.

Fighting for two of these places are Kings XI Punjab and the Chennai Super Kings. After their shocking defeat to KKR on Monday, CSK will be a disappointed lot. They would have been looking to cement their semi-final spot with a game in hand. As it stands, now, they need to win to ensure a semi-final berth. As does KXIP. And history is against KXIP.

Having played CSK four times so far (including the semi-final in 2008), KXIP is yet to beat MS Dhoni’s men. Wednesday would be as good a time as any other to do this! While history is against KXIP, form is certainly on their side. With two hard-fought wins in their last two matches, they are a team high on confidence and keen to win.

Durban has been a mixed bag for KXIP so far. They have lost three and won two matches here, but none of that should have any bearing on what’s coming up. The biggest challenge for both teams will be their bowling. KXIP has the dubious distinction of having given away over 200 runs on this ground two weeks ago. Then again, CSK failed to defend a huge 188 just two days ago!

While the bowling worries will give skippers Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni sleepless nights, the batting is something both teams would feel confident about. CSK – despite the absence of Matthew Hayden – blasted 188 against KKR. KXIP did well to get up to 134 against Deccan Chargers in their last outing. Some would argue the bowlers won that game for KXIP, but it was the batting of Kumar Sangakkara that saw them through.

Team composition will be another critical issue to deal with. KXIP would be loathe to change a winning combination, and will hope that Sunny Sohal get them off to a good start irrespective of whether they are chasing or setting a target. The chunk of the load will be on the middle order to come good. Mahela Jayawardene’s fitness is still under a cloud and KXIP will be hoping against hope that he is fit to play.

For CSK, Matthew Hayden is certain to play. Although George Bailey gave a good account of himself, there just won’t be another place for a foreign player in CSK’s line-up on Wednesday and they would have to persist with Parthiv Patel and hope he comes good. CSK’s batting strength goes deep with Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni following Hayden and with Albie Morkel and Jacob Oram soon after.

Weather shouldn’t play truant and we should get a full 40-over match in Durban. The winner will be assured a semi-final berth while the loser will have to hope other results go in their favour. This is not one for the faint of heart!

Post Match Analysis

Kings XI Punjab stumble at the final step

DURBAN, MAY 20: So near, yet so far. It was heartbreak all around as KXIP missed out on making the semi-final at the second edition of the DLF IPL. Needing to win their final match against the Chennai Super Kings, KXIP lost by 24 runs. They still have a mathematical chance to go through, but it depends on the outcome of the Deccan Chargers vs Royal Challengers Bangalore match on Thursday.

Played under great conditions and on a slowish pitch, MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. CSK got off to a brisk start thanks to Parthiv Patel (32 off 23 balls) and George Bailey (15) who went on the offensive from the start. But a brilliant piece of fielding saw Yuvraj Singh break the partnership when he had Bailey run out with a direct hit from mid off. Suresh Raina was the next man in and although he threatened to break free, KXIP had pushed their way back with the initial breakthrough.

After the opening partnership of 40 runs, Raina and Patel put on 14 before Patel fell to the guile of Ramesh Powar. The brakes had been applied by now as CSK managed only 20 runs in 4.2 overs after reaching their 50 in 5.4 overs. Badrinath (4) was the next to go, surprised by a short, rising one by S Sreesanth and that brought skipper M S Dhoni to the crease. His sojourn lasted just two balls when Sreesanth dealt what seemed like the killer blow yorking him and shattering the off-stump. The celebration was well deserved as KXIP gained control of the game and turned the screws on CSK. Suresh Raina’s 20 was the second-highest score and when he fell in the 14th over, CSK was in trouble at 87/5. In the next 39 balls, they lost a further 4 wickets and scored only 29 runs – 17 of these by Jacob Oram.

With a target of just 117 to get, KXIP started the chase as favourites. Sunny Sohal’s wicket for 3 in the second over did not seem to have affected them as Luke Pommersbach (26) took charge and joined Simon Katich (8) in setting things right. At 32/1 after almost 7 overs, KXIP was still in the running. But then the brakes came on as MS Dhoni’s ploy to play 3 spinners started to pay dividends. CSK conceded only 17 runs in 6 overs and claimed 3 wickets including that of skipper Yuvraj Singh (6) to leave KXIP gasping at 49/4 after 12.4 overs. With 68 runs still needed off just 44 balls, the larder was getting barer and panic set in to the ranks.

Kumar Sangakkara (7), Wilkin Mota (5) and Brett Lee (6) fell in the space of 8 runs that took 4.1 overs to come! Irfan Pathan waged a lone battle for a while before he fell to the need of the hour for 14. Eventually, KXIP managed only 92/8 in their 20 overs.

Speaking after the game, captain Yuvraj Singh was disappointed. “We didn’t bat well and there’s no excuse for it. This wasn’t a 120 pitch…,” he said as KXIP’s chances of making the semi-final were all but lost.

Mathematically, KXIP needs to hope that either DC or RCB have a huge win on Thursday. Net Run Rate is the only way KXIP can make the semi-final.