Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Raina and Morkel loft Chennai to victory !




Raina's incredible knock, 73 off 50 balls, pulled Chennai to the final and he was ably supported by Albie Morkel.

Six sixes and four boundaries flowed off the bat of the Indian No 7. An unconquered 46 run partnership with Albie brought home the bacon for Chennai.

Albie Morkel blasted 28 off 10 balls. In the last over, Chennai needed 23 runs. Raina hit two towering sixes and took a single. Albie lofted one into the stands and Chennai won the match !

Chennai chased 176 for victory and they lost M Vijay and Hussey for cheap and were with their backs to the wall.

At 7/2, the visitors were in the doldrums and were way behind in the midway of the match, but Bangalore lost the game in the last five overs. However Bangalore will have another chance, as they meet the winners of the Mumbai-Kolkotta clash.

Earlier Kohli blasted an unconquered 70 off 44 balls to steer Bangalore to a score respectable (175/4). The Bangalore skipper started sedately, but accelerated at the end and blasted three sixes and five fours. Gayle was taken by Dhoni's men cheap and this failure never daunted the Bangaloreans, who put up a formidable target for Chennai to chase.

Agarwal, the opener scored 34 in 33 balls and Luke Pomersbach made a quick fire 29 in 18 balls. Bollinger bowled magnificently, reigning in Gayle and took one for 20 and R Aswin took one for 33.

Gayle hit Ashwin for a six and then Ashwin came back strongly to trap the left hander lbw. Albie Morket was hit for 40 runs in four wicketless overs and Jakati picked up one for 37.

Bollinger bowled superbly, not permitting Gayle to drive and also rattled the West Indian with a superb bouncer. Gayle could not free his arm and it was clear that Dhoni's men had stifled him.

De Villiers holed out to Jakati and Pomersbach was sent in before Kaif. He lofted Jakati for a six and 17 runs were scored off Bravo, as he hit Bravo for two fours and a flat six and Bangalore were 122/3 with five overs to go. Kohli lofted Aswin for six Bollinger could not hold onto a catch off his own bowling and Pomersbach was lucky to survive !

Ashwin could not hold a catch off his own bowling off Kohli and lost four runs in the process. Saurabh Tiwari hit another four. Kohli went on the rampage blasting Morkel for two mighty sixes and a four. Bollinger conceded eight runs and Bangalore put on 53 runs in the last five overs, losing only Pomersbach's wicket.

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