April 28, 2008 Super Kings Win Fourth Successive Game
The Bangalore Royal Challengers fans, already disillusioned with their team’s lacklusture performance in the tourney, were disappointed as their side went down to the Chennai Super Kings after looking good to win the game. Mahendra Singh Dhoni claimed the man-of-the-match award for a fiery 65 of just 30 balls.
Chasing 179 to win, Bangalore lost Bharat Chipli early. The home crowd kept up the pressure on Jaffer, booing him constantly for his ‘test match’ style stroke-play. With Ross Taylor at the crease, the runs kept flowing at a steady pace. A flurry of boundaries from him raised the morale of the team, the fans and also instilled confidence in his partner, Wasim Jaffer, who took the cue and picked up the scoring rate.
Jaffer raced ahead of Taylor, reaching his half century off 32 balls. His effort resulted in the first half century by a Royal Challenger batsman in the IPL. He was caught at mid-off off the very next ball, trying to hoick a six. Jacques Kallis kept up the momentum, but could’nt make an impact—scoring just 14.
After Taylor and Kallis fell, it sparked a middle and lower order collapse and Bangalore just saw the game slipping away from them after being in command with three wickets in hand. It was more of poor shot selection as the Royal Challengers tried to hit their way out of trouble.
The batsmen finally lost their way and succumbed thirteen runs short of the target. Earlier, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (the man-of-the-match), got his side out of a spot of bother with some power hitting. He struck nine fours and three sixes coming in at a crucial stage, with the ball not really coming onto the bat.
Aussie, Michael Hussey, kept Dhoni company with a good knock of 47. It was Dhoni who gave the Super Kings real hope after it seemed like they would reach a maximum of 140. The Indian ODI captain showed just why he is such an asset in the T20 format leading his side to good total that proved too good for the Royal Challengers.
April 28, 2008
