Sudden Death

or how I want the remaining matches to pan out

53rd match - Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals - KKR to win.

They have been getting their act together in the last 3-4 games and despite the losses, they have pushed the opposition hard. RR, on the other hand, look brittle with the bat in hand and their fielding effort against Dilli left a lot to be desired.

The RR loss will be deeply satisfying for me. Especially after a Mumbai girl was all ecstatic after a Mumbai loss. And because there is the possible prospect of a catfight between SRK and the Shetty babe.

54th match - Chennai Super Kings v Kings XI Punjab - KXIP to win.

The Whistle podus are in the semis even if they lose ( it will take some phenomenal batting by the other contenders and some abject batting by Dhoni's men to close the gap between the run rates). And a win against the Kinks keeps the KXIP alive for the semis. Which means more Zinta. And more Zinta hugs. And whats not to like about that?

55th match - Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians - Mumbai

For obvious reasons.

56th match - Royal Challengers Bangalore v Deccan Chargers - BRC

This is the match.The sudden death encounter between the Dhakkans and the Royally Challenged.Win here and the semis beckon. Lose and its all over.

I prefer the Royally Challenged because I like Anil Kumble. And because Adam Gilchrist bitched about Sachin not shaking his hand. Does that make me anti-Aussie?

DD, KXIP, BRC and the Whistle Podus in the semis. Whistle Podus to play DD, BRC versus KXIP.

Whistle Podus and the Royally Challenged to win.

IPL2- The Battle for the Kaveri, cant come soon enough!

PS:- Just realized - I am rooting for two southern teams. Does that make me anti-north too?

The Wordsmith

The Old Batsman - a master at work!

Manjrekar-speak

Mumbai Indians, like Kolkata Knight Riders, have also disappointed their fans for the second consecutive DLF IPL season. Whereas the Mumbai Ranji team's exploits over the years in Indian cricket, have been well documented. They have won the Ranji title a record 38 times. Their latest triumph coming this year. The Mumbai Ranji team obviously do something right and critically know how to win matches. It may not be a bad idea for the Mumbai Indians bosses to pay a visit to the MCA, who happen to be in their neighbourhood and pick up a few clues on building a champion team.

"Who writes the script for this tournament"

exults Danny Morrison. And for once, it is not hyperbole.

44th match: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Chennai Super Kings at Durban - May 14, 2009
Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 2 wickets (with 2 balls remaining)
Chennai Super Kings 129 (19.4/20 ov); Royal Challengers Bangalore 132/8 (19.4/20 ov)

Scorecard | Commentary | Bulletin | Articles (3) | Photos (12)

45th match: Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals at Durban - May 14, 2009
Rajasthan Royals won by 2 runs
Rajasthan Royals 145/7 (20/20 ov); Mumbai Indians 143 (19.5/20 ov)

Scorecard | Commentary | Bulletin | Articles (3) | Photos (11)

46th match: Delhi Daredevils v Kings XI Punjab at Bloemfontein - May 15, 2009
Kings XI Punjab won by 6 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
Delhi Daredevils 120/9 (20/20 ov); Kings XI Punjab 123/4 (19.1/20 ov)

Scorecard | Commentary | Bulletin | Articles (3) | Photos (12)

47th match: Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians at Port Elizabeth - May 16, 2009
Chennai Super Kings won by 7 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
Mumbai Indians 147/5 (20/20 ov); Chennai Super Kings 151/3 (19.1/20 ov)

Scorecard | Commentary | Bulletin | Articles (2)

48th match: Deccan Chargers v Kolkata Knight Riders at Johannesburg - May 16, 2009
Deccan Chargers won by 6 wickets (with 0 balls remaining)
Kolkata Knight Riders 160/5 (20/20 ov); Deccan Chargers 166/4 (20/20 ov)

Scorecard | Commentary | Bulletin | Articles (4) | Photos (15)

and now, this

19.6

Pathan to Harris, 2 runs, Punjab have won this. Fulltoss on off stump, Harris crashes it through the off side, Lee fields at sweeper-cover, there is a fumble that allows them the second. Jaskaran Singh wants the third, but Harris is so disappointed he is not even looking. Jaskaran would have had a fair shot at the third run that could have tied the game. This still would have been a run-out in all possibility because the throw was on target, but Harris should have run the third. Even Sanga, the keeper, can't believe it

Last ball coming up, four required, my money is on a slower ball

All this, in the last 4 days. After a damp first week, who would have thunk?

Correct Call?

13.1

Yuvraj Singh to Symonds, OUT, a lovely stumping, what recovery from Sangakkara. Lovely bowling to begin with, drawing Symonds out, turning it across Symonds, Sanga doesn't collect it cleanly, but gets it on the rebound, falling down at the same time, and whips the bails off. Replays show he had flicked one bail off while falling down, and he didn't have the ball in his hand then. The third umpire has given it, the rules say if only one bail is off, you can remove the second bail and get the stumping

A Symonds st Sangakkara b Yuvraj Singh 25 (25b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

1. Wicket put down
(a) The wicket is put down if a bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or a stump is struck out of the ground by
(i) the ball.
(ii) the striker's bat, whether he is holding it or has let go of it.
(iii) the striker's person or by any part of his clothing or equipment becoming detached from his person.
(iv) a fielder, with his hand or arm, providing that the ball is held in the hand or hands so used, or in the hand of the arm so used.
The wicket is also put down if a fielder pulls a stump out of the ground in the same manner.

(b) The disturbance of a bail, whether temporary or not, shall not constitute its complete removal from the top of the stumps, but if a bail in falling lodges between two of the stumps this shall be regarded as complete removal.

2. One bail off
If one bail is off, it shall be sufficient for the purpose of putting the wicket down to remove the remaining bail, or to strike or pull any of the three stumps out of the ground, in any of the ways stated in 1 above.

--

Problem is, the rule does not talk of the mitigating circumstances under which the bail is dislodged. I was always under the impression that if the bail(s) is(are) dislodged by the fielder, it is imperative to remove the stump completely out of the ground.

Apparently not!