Chennai Super Kings

Super Kings emerge winners, Kings XI busted big time

The second semi-final took place today between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai. After yesterday’s dismal performance by Delhi, everyone expected today’s match to be competitive and full of thrills but this was not to happen. The Kings XI seemed as helpless as Delhi felt yesterday and the Chennai team definitely emerged superior among the Kings.

The Kings XI were put to bat with their star opening batsmen Shaun Marsh and James Hopes. But before they could reach double figures, James Hopes lost his cool to give wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel an easy catch of Ntini’s first over. Sangakkara departed the same way, the only difference being that the umpire gave him a not-out but he walked away in the good spirit of the game as he knew that he had edged the ball. The other big hitters of the Punjab camp like Yuvrag Singh, Jayawardene and Pathan all departed for single figure scores. While the batsmen at the other end made a mess of things, Shaun Marsh also gave away his wicket to Ntini at a score of 23. The only decent batting that came was towards the end by W Mota and Powar who scored 25 and 28 respectively. The final score for the Kings XI read 112/8. Ntini, Morkel and Goni took 2 wickets each while Murali managed to get 1. Punjab’s unforgivable performance was also clearly visible in their promoter Preity Zinta’s face who has been with her team through thick and thin.

The IPL has clearly shown that in Twenty20, if the bowling side does not have a decent total to defend in the second innings, they hardly stand a chance. Same was the case today when the Super Kings came to bat. Although they lost Vidyut in the 3rd over, they never gave a chance to the bowlers to be proud of. Parthiv Patel scored 51 of 48 balls which included 8 fours which Raina scored a fast 55 of just 34 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes. All the bowlers seemed expensive except Pathan who gave away just 24 runs in his 4 overs and claimed a wicket. The Chennai Super Kings reached their target in under 15 overs and lost just one wicket.

The Chennai Super Kings won the match comfortably by 9 wickets and 5 overs to spare. Ntini was declared Man of the match for his superb opening spell which got the wickets of both the Punjab openers Marsh and hopes.

The Super Kings will now play the Rajasthan Royals tomorrow (1st June) and let’s all hope that both these teams make a match out it. Both semi-finals have surely been a let-down in terms of excitement.

Tags: Chennai Super Kings, goni, IPL, irfan pathan, james hopes, Jayawardene, Kings XI Punjab, morket, ntini, parthiv patel, preity zinta, sangakkaram, semi-final, shaun marsh, suresh raina, Twenty/20, yuvraj singh