IPL 6: RR vs CSK - The Quick Flicks
In what could be a prelude to the grand finale of the IPL, two in-form teams, RR and CSK, went all-out in an exciting league match. Finally, RR, at their well-guarded fortress, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, landed a knock out punch to raze CSK to the ground.
Quick flicks from the game :
CSK’s batsmen deliver in fits and spurts
It wasn’t a batting performance that CSK’s think-tank would be proud of. Just when it seemed like a solid partnership would be erected for the middle-order to come into play, they invariably lost a wicket. On a track that offered help to the seamers, Vijay showed some promise by riding on top of the bounce, and essaying well-timed shots. Bravo tried to inject a bit of pace into CSK’s stuttering innings, but a score of 141 seemed 20-30 runs short of what could have been a winning score on that track.
Dravid’s coup de maitre
When Dhoni walked into the crease, RR’s think-tank knew he was the prized scalp in the opposition ranks. RR’s captain, Rahul Dravid, found himself in a catch-22 situation of whether to attack or defend. But he chose the right strategy by placing a fielder in the slip cordon. In turn, he exhorted Cooper to pitch it up, who was duly rewarded for bowling to his field with the prized wicket of Dhoni, caught at first slip by Shane Watson.
Jason Holder makes his presence felt
Built like a giant edifice, Jason Holder seems to belong more to the bygone era of tall fast bowlers who played for the all-conquering Windies side in the 80′s. On a track that offered some assistance for the seamers, he made life difficult for Rajasthan’s batsmen by extracting disconcerting bounce from a length. It would be great if he adds a yard of pace, as with the kind of bounce he extracts, he can be a real handful. One can only hope that he and another promising quick called Delorn Johnson won’t go in search of greener pastures elsewhere like Dwight Washington and Ryan Nurse did.
Watson and Binny deliver the coup de grace
Just when it seemed like CSK was in the ascendancy, Stuart Binny and Shane Watson delivered the coup de grace with eye-catching strokes. Shane Watson has been a touch inconsistent in internationals, but he is already a legend in the IPL. Yesterday, he certainly played like one. It was also good to see Binny deliver the goods. He can be a useful T20 cricketer for even India, as he has the ability to play horizontal bat shots, can swing the ball, and is a safe fielder to boot.
Dravid and his band of boys will be pleased with yesterday’s efforts, as it is never easy to checkmate CSK. There is every chance that CSK and RR may again meet in the final of this year’s IPL; and if that happens, it can turn out to be a cliffhanger between two good sides.