Sehwag of KXIP dethrones CSK’s men in yellow

Coming good at just the most crucial stage seems to be the in thing of Pepsi IPL 7. IPL 2014 has been a treasure trove for the Indian cricket players, as many batsmen have found lost form while the bowlers have emerged to be a force to reckon with from among each of the IPL teams in the tournament. The Qualifier 2 played out between KXIP and CSK, bound to be a thrilling encounter at Wankhede was won by KXIP by 24 runs. As man of the match Sehwag clicked to score a dominating 122 runs off just 58 balls KXIP posted a mammoth 226 in their quota of 20 overs which was too much even for Dhoni’s men in yellow. Though CSK was known to be the most professional outfit in the IPL matches who have posted clinical wins against all over the years KXIP seemed to have just found the key to breaking them. CSK yet again lost to KXIP as they did in both their matches at the league stage. KXIP has found luck in their second chance to claim their berth in the Pepsi IPL 7 finals against KKR to be played out at Bengaluru on June 1, 2014, Sunday. At his marauding best the stylish Indian batsmen Virender Sehwag of KXIP found his nick to play an unbelievable and stormy knock of 122 off 58 balls in the crucial Qualifier 2 against a helpless CSK. It was the breath taking pace of Sehwag’s batting that left the CSK bowlers clueless as to what to offer him. Virender Sehwag’s second century in IPL 7 sprang the biggest surprise of IPL-7 at the Wankhede Stadium setting the tone of a KXIP victory as they batted first at the Qualifier 2 on May 30 to take his team to a spectacular victory over CSK and to the title match against KKR at Bangalore on Sunday, June 1, 2014. When CSK came out to play in response for winning the match it was Suresh Raina’s blinder that left all stunned. Raina had come instead of Fau du Plessis who was out cheaply after having opened the CSK innings along with Dwayne Smith. It was Raina’s innings that was the only threat that could have turned the match in favor of CSK who were otherwise quite inconsistent and in awe of the enormous total of 226 that they had to chase down. Unfortunately for CSK a direct-hit run out effected by KXIP captain George Bailey halted CSK in their...

IPL ‘s Qualifier 2 underway at the Wankhede

CSK has won the toss and elected to field against KXIP at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai for the Qualifier 2 that is currently being played out. With Virender Sehwag(68) and Manan Vohra(34) at the crease, Kings XI Punjab are currently at 109/0 after 10 overs. 11 runs were scored off the 10th over. A boundary was struck by Virender Sehwag off the second ball that goes towards long-on. 9.1 overs a four. Virender Sehwag slashes hard and gets a top-edge towards third man for a boundary. Virender Sehwag(59) and Manan Vohra(33) at the crease, Kings XI Punjab are currently at 98/0 after nine overs. 7.3 overs: Virender Sehwag gets a big stride forward and sends the ball deep into the stands over long-off for the maximum. Ravindra Jadeja comes into the attack for Chennai Super Kings. 6.5 overs: Virender Sehwag works it past backward point and steals a single. 21 ball half-century for Viru. 6.1 overs: Virender Sehwag bends down and slogs it for the maximum. Ravichandran Ashwin comes into the attack for Chennai. It’s raining boundaries for KXIP. 5.2 overs: Virender Sehwag hits the upper-cut and sends it sailing over third man fence for the maximum. 4.3 overs: Virender Sehwag waits for the ball to guide it towards third man for the third consecutive boundary in the over. 4.2 overs: Virender Sehwag leans into the drive and it steams through extra cover for a boundary. 4.1 overs: Virender Sehwag smashes it past mid-off for a boundary. 3.6 overs: Manan Vohra smashes it over long-on for another maximum. 3.4 overs: Virender Sehwag manages a leading edge over backward point for another boundary. 3.3 overs: Virender Sehwag sends it racing towards third man for a boundary. 3.1 overs: Manan Vohra pulls over mid wicket for the maximum. 2.6 overs: Virender Sehwag slices it over backward point for a boundary. Mohit Sharma comes into the attack for Chennai Super Kings. Ishwar Pandey bowls for Chennai Super Kings. 0.6 overs: Virender Sehwag reaches sends it through covers for a boundary. 0.2 overs: Manan Vohra waits flicks towards fine leg for the first boundary in the over. Virender Sehwag and Manan Vohra are out in the middle for KXIP while Ashish Nehra will bowl for...

Proficient CSK’s men in yellow eliminate MI

A subdued yet clinical performance in all departments of cricket saw CSK’s men in yellow tower over defending champions MI by seven wickets in the Eliminator at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai on May 28th 2014. Consequently CSK will now face KXIP in Qualifier 2 scheduled for 2000 hrs IST on May 30, 2014 at the Wankhede Stadium. Unfortunately after having made the playoffs by sneaking past RR, the MI team who were the defending champions of Pepsi IPL 7, have seen a see-saw change in fortunes all along the different legs of the this tournament. Their loss in the Eliminator brought the curtains down upon their show in Pepsi IPL 2014. CSK have exhibited their prowess once again as the men in yellow proved beyond any doubt that they are the most consistent team in IPL as they made it to Qualifier 2. The MI innings was opened by Lendl Simmons and Michael Hussey after MS Dhoni asked MI to bat having won the toss. At the Brabourne Stadium though the duo were slow off the blocks they gave a solid start to the MI innings. Only 23 runs came from the initial four overs. Having settled down they then plundered 15 and 19 runs off the fifth and sixth overs respectively. Simmons shone through even as Michael Hussey was dismissed for 39 by Jadeja. After 10 overs MI were 82 for one. Dhoni had reaped the benefits of having brought in the spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja from the seventh over by cutting off the free flow of runs. Corey Anderson hitting hard could manage only 20 with two maximums before being dismissed in the 13th over off the bowling of Ashwin to leave MI tottering on 99 for two. Simmons took MI past their 100 run mark with a tremendous six off the very next delivery in company of Rohit Sharma. At the end of the 15th over as Simmon’s blade flashed MI reached 127 for two. With Simmons and Rohit Sharma at the crease the possibility of MI setting a massive target for CSK was looming overhead. However after the duo scored 13 runs in the 16th over Jadeja got the prize wicket of Simmons on 67 as he was caught at the long-on fence. The MI scorecard read 143 for three when Kieron Pollard came in to bat with his skipper. Rohit was dismissed cheaply by Mohit Sharma putting an end to the chances of a grand total to exert pressure upon CSK....

KKR steam rolls KXIP to reach IPL 7 finals

An incredibly charged up KKR, after having displaced CSK from their second spot in the points table having won their last league encounter, played and won the Qualifier 1 in front of the home crowd at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on the reserved day today on May 28th. With this superb win KKR are now into the finals of the Pepsi IPL 7 with aplomb much to the chagrin of the table toppers KXIP who have been in stupendous form throughout the tournament. Playing in front of the crazy KKR home crowd with a poll showing 54% for a KKR win it was like a dream come true for them as they stormed into the finals to be played at Bengaluru on June 1. KXIP who have been the best batting line-up of the season have a truly deserving second chance as they have had an exceptional IPL defying all predictions. KXIP will play Qualifier 2 with the winner of the Eliminator to be played later on today, May 28th at the Braborne stadium between CSK and MI. Though the KXIP team has chased down many big targets it seemed they had a bad day as they could reach a target of 164 set for them by KKR. It seems that the crowd had an effect upon them and their nerves failed to hold out on a big occasion. KKR beat KXIP in the Pepsi IPL 7 qualifier 1 to reach their second final in 3 years when KXIP chasing 164 fell short by 28 runs. KXIP made only 135 for eight in their stipulated 20 overs as their middle order collapsed. KKR pacer Umesh Yadav picked up three wickets for 13 runs to grab the man of the match award. The fall of wickets for KXIP was Sehwag at 5/1 after 1.1 overs, Vohra at 45/2 after 5.5 overs, Maxwell at 55/3 after 7.5 overs, Saha at 80/4 after 12 overs, Miller at 82/5 after 12.2 overs, Patel at 87/6 after 13.3 overs, Dhawan at 117/7 after 17.3 overs and Bailey at 134/8 after 19.1 overs. KXIP’s middle order fell in pieces against a tight KKR bowling line-up. Morkel grabbed 2/23. KKR successfully defended 164 on a slow surface that remained under cover for three days. Piyush Chawla also bowled smartly to restrict the KXIP claiming Miller’s valuable wicket while KKR accomplished a record eighth victory on the trot. Orange Cap holder Uthappa once again laid the foundation with the help of four boundaries and two sixes in...

Qualifier 1 of IPL 7 in Kolkata postponed following rain

The first qualifier match of the Pepsi IPL 7 between KXIP and KKR to be played out the Eden Gardens on May 27th, 2014 has been postponed due to constant rain in Kolkata to its reserved day today, Wednesday, 28th May at 1600 hrs IST. The Eden Gardens in Kolkata is under ankle deep water following torrential rain over the last two days due to a cyclonic depression. The organizers were forced to put off yesterday’s fixture to be rescheduled on the reserved day. The umpires had an early inspection of the ground at the Eden Gardens around 1715 hrs and decided after consultation with the curator that there was no possibility of the ground being fit for playing a match. As a result the Pepsi IPL 7 Qualifier 1 playoff match between KXIP and KKR was postponed to 28 May. Eden curator Prabir Mukherjee was confident that the ground would be ready for Wednesday’s match provided it doesn’t rain any more. The wicket at Eden was in perfect condition while the ground looked okay with a few damp patches here and there. Since there were three spells of rain till noon the grounds men could not remove the covers and carry out the damage control measures, especially around the damp zones. However the fact that the whole field is under ankle deep water despite it being fully covered is something to be worried about. The Qualifier 1 scheduled for 1600 IST will have the complete quota of 20 overs if it commenced within 1800 IST. However a cut off to a five-over match per side will be on the agenda if play commences around 2020 IST. Failing even this a super over format will be played out at 2120 IST. If due to rain there is a possibility of a wash out then KXIP will advance to the finals without a ball being bowled as they are on top of the points table. The Eliminator match between MI and CSK is scheduled to be played out at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai today at 2000 hrs...