When a team makes sure they appear in all the climax sequences for 4 years on the trot, display exuberance of playing tough when the situation arises, where focus is on less glamour and more on game, less celebrity backing and more on inspirational captaincy, less dependency on individual brilliance and more on team effort, less on controversy and more on spirit (winning the Fairplay award thrice including this year is a testimony of that) - it feels proud to be a fanboy of Chennai SuperKings.
On a simple Tuesday night, the Men in Yellow steered their way into their 2nd consecutive final beating the table toppers Royal Challengers Bangalore. A match worthy of a Qualifier brought the best amongst both the teams. Down and out, after losing early wickets and unable to up the scoring rate, Chennai found themselves in a spot of bother. The innings was revamped with occasional high scoring overs that kept CSK in hunt and the fire finish meant it would be the happy side on the flight to Chennai where it gets a shot at the title defense and RCB another go to reach the final.
Some highlights from the match:
- Gayle Gale Resource Management – The entire boardroom sessions of CSK were used in brainstorming ideas of how to get Gayle out. It turned out to be productive, Bollinger cramped him for space and Ashwin struck him in front. And Gayle started his somber walk to the pavilion making peace with the scorers with a single digit score.
- “Dei this match is boring, let’s make it interesting else we won’t have anything to chase” – seemed like the talk that went around the Chennai Superkings bowling battery. Aided with some poor bowling and coupled with some quality hitting by Kohli and Pomersbasch, RCB set up a tough target of 175.
- How to silence critics gesture – Murali Vijay, sure does know how to silence critics. When AB de Villiers lofted one to the straight boundary, Vijay who was exactly placed at the spot took a simple catch according to normal cricket fielding standards. But Mr.Vijay, who dropped a sitter in the previous match, wanted to know that he has silenced critics thus gesturing with a finger on his mouth, hurling towards the sky that would have made tribes in Africa proud.
- “Naa ippa enga irukaen”– Bearing the brunt of being placed very low in the list of Value for Money players, Saurabh Tiwary brought all his agony to the fore in the last ball of Ashwin’s spell. A fierce hit straight back; it took Ashwin by surprise and hit him hard on the forehead. The ball still went near the boundary and Ashwin was down totally unaware of what happened to him. Consistent replays would have made household ladies go in a dizzy. But Ashwin was fine soon and was in the dugout with an Ashok Dinda styled bandage.
- Leg before and after effect – Even before the ride could begin, the RCB bowlers ensured that the brakes were in place. Two back to back leg before wickets, one spot on and another dubious stalled Chennai’s chase. The after effects being low scoring overs, untimed hits and dodgy batsmanship – CSK managed just 25 off the powerplay 6 over phase.
- Occasional, Over the top – With soaring asking rates, Chennai’s foothold on the chase was losing steam. However occasional high scoring overs kept it in the hunt throughout. A 16 run over bowled by Kohli injected urgency into the chase. When Badri got out making a useful 32, Dhoni came in. Along with Raina’s powered clearing prospects, they plundered 23 runs off a Mithun Manhas’ over. With Zaheer already having delivered 3 economical overs, his final over held the key link for RCB. But by clearing him for 3 sixes, Chennai sure was on course.
- Miserly Mister – When carrying the bat, he is extravagant, the epitome of the prodigal son but with the ball in hand, Chris Gayle proved to be the miser of the bowling masses. With good Yorker length bowling, he curtailed Chennai’s big hitting at the other end with low scoring overs giving away just 19 off his quota of 4 overs keeping the asking rate high and ensuring that RCB has a chance in the final two overs.
- Superkings Supreme – the final two overs marked Chennai’s stamp of authority. With both Morkel and Raina’s ability to clear the infield, a shower of sixes, a four and good running ensured that Chennai’s berth in the final was confirmed and Bengaluru’s in Waiting list. Raina proved to be the match winner of the big games and Morkel proving why he was worthy to be retained in the squad. Superkings reign supreme and are just a hurdle away from the title.
