Battle for the semis heats up

May 16,2009 | Abbas Ali Baig

In a bewildering display bordering on recklessness and inapptitude,and tinged with an element of over confidence, the Delhi team , though still retaining their top position, contrived to give the Punjab team a lifeline which they grabbed most avidly.However, at one time they appeared to make heavy weather of it and at 88 for 4 the situation certainlylooked grim but Sangakkaras experience and Irfans timely heroics saw them through.Now, Punjab have the daunting task of winning both their remaining matches to qualify for the semis.Heartening for them is the fact that Brett Lee is now bowling at his best and the unpredictable Shreesanth at last showing some semblance of form.If they survive the next two hurdles, they may well go all the way and lift the trophy.

The match between Mumbai and Rajasthan was most absorbing.For starters, Shane Warne again demonstrated his penchant for gamesmanship, by surprisingly turning up for the toss when, all along, everyone thought he was unfit and therefore a non starter for the game. Not only must his his sight unnerved the opposition but it would have also upset their strategies for the game! You will recall, in an earlier match, Warne had ,after winning the toss and announcing his decision to bat first, remarked that his decision was based on the fact that Chennai did not relish chasing a target! The unflappable Dhoni as unmoved but it could have affected the confidence of some other individual and therefore his team.Be that as it may,but this certainly demonstrated the old foxs propensity to play mind games at the drop of a hat.

Mumbai had largely themselves to blame for their demise in an earlier match. To change   the batting order to such proportions was asking for trouble. Ideally, your best batsmen should be right up front to ensure a tidy run rate and at the same time, avoid  pressure developing as a result of  the loss of early wickets.Here was Mumbai hiding Tendulkar, Jayasuria, and Duminy right down the order.It proved suicidal.Nayar though battled valiantly but ultimately ran out of partners.Now in the crunch situation that now obtains, they will find it difficult to lift themselves to required levels.Unfortunately for them they now run into Chennai, a formidable opponent currently placed number two on the table.Tendulkar and Jayasuria have to open and lay a good foundation: else they are history.

The other match today, between Hyderabad and Kolkata is also important as it provides Hyderabad a wonderful opportunity to gain maximum points and stay in the race.On the other hand, Kolkata will be playing for pride and are fast running out of opportunities to show the world that they are indeed a worthwhile side and their performances hitherto have but been an apparition and a bad dream.