In a must win game Chennai Superkings defeated Deccan Chargers to become fourth and the last team to qualify for semi-finals with 16 points. The league has not been a smooth ride for the Superkings, the initial four consecutive wins was followed by a roller coaster patch. Things became so bad that they were even stunned by one of the worst performing teams - Bangalore Royal Challengers in a low scoring contest. This is win for Chennai means end of IPL dream for Mumbai Indians, who currently at 12 points and one to play, have no chance of qualifying. Last week, it was looking like the team Mumbai were on the course of scripting one of unbelievable fairytale in cricket after six consecutive victories. Then all of a sudden they lost three very close games on the trot. Yesterday’s game against Rajasthan was a real blunder. They gave away 32 runs in last two overs by playing schoolboy-cricket in spite of having so many experienced player in the side.
Two runs for the win, one for the tie. Who would your money have been on? What unfolded was almost beyond belief. The experienced bowler, after a couple of nervous false starts, summoned up a delivery that couldn’t quite be slogged, but when the ball streaked back towards him, he dived over it. Another international scampered in from long-off, gathered, and let fly with a throw that was a few feet wide of the stumps. International number three couldn’t collect the ball. In between all this mayhem, with the stadium noise amplified to ear-splitting levels, the two lesser lights ran two. Game over.
A disappointing end for costliest team of the league. The turnaround under the leadership of Pollock after slap-gate controversy was amazing but not good enough to qualify the team for semis.
So the semi-final contests are Rajasthan Royals v/s Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab v/s Chennai Superkings
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