Raina heroics catapult Chennai into final
Chennai showed just why they are the most successful team in the history of IPL. If Hussey and Dhoni don’t get you, Raina will. The south-paw kept his cool even when the asking rate jumped over twelve in a mountainous run chase of 176, as Bangalore bowlers began to feel the heat and lost their line and length as well as a chance to wrap up a summit-clash berth. With this six-wicket win, Chennai stormed into the finals and are now the hot favorites to retain their title.
Bangalore were undone by an ordinary bowling effort which saw them concede 60 runs in the last four overs. That however was different from the start of Chennai innings when the Bangalore bowlers were all over them. Zaheer Khan got his bunny Michael Hussey for a nought. The next to go Murli Vijay was dismissed through a rough LBW decision. With 2 down for just 7 runs, Chennai were in trouble. As often happens, Raina was joined by Badrinath for the rear-guard work. The duo added 63 but took more than 9 overs as the asking rate began to climb. However, Dhoni’s 29 run cameo was the turning point of the match. He combined with Raina to add 61 runs in little more than 5 overs mainly due to a 23 run over by Mithun. In between, Gayle who had earlier failed with the bat, bowled a stifling spell to make the chase even more difficult. Dhoni and Raina targeted Zaheer, three deliveries were mowed over the ropes, and another twenty run over put the defending champions on track. Once Dhoni left, Morkel joined the party to get his team across the line. Raina was the hero for Chennai with a spirited 73.
Prior to this gripping climax, Bangalore’s quality batting finally had to put some hard after Chris Gayle departed early. Their inning had an unusual start in the sense that Gayle could score only 8 out of the 30 when he fell to R Ashwin not before launching the mystery bowler over the mid-wicket boundary for a maximum. His opening partner, Mayank Agarwal played some crisp strokes to keep the score going. The youngster’s aggression allowed Virat Kohli to settle down and the Bangalore vice-captain did exactly that to score a potential match-winning innings. Meanwhile, de Villiers and Agarwal were dismissed in quick succession and Bangalore in a spot of bother at 85 for 3 in the twelfth over.
While Kohli was solid at one end, Luke Pomersbach complimented him with a few lusty blows in his 18-ball 29. He was particularly severe on the West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, couple of fours and a flat six part of an over that bled 17 runs. In the next over, Kohli signaled his intentions with a clean hit off Ashwin that sailed into the crowd. At this point, Bangalore were heading towards a 150 sort of total but Kohli targeted the weak link in the Chennai attack, Albie Morkel to power his team to a massive score of 175. First Morkel was carted over point for a boundary, the next ball disappeared over long-on followed by the shot of the innings- an elegant inside-out hit went for half-a-dozen, in the process Kohli brought up a fine half-century.
Chennai pacer Doug Bollinger bowled a superb last over to end an energetic spell. Initially, he troubled Gayle with his pace; the Australian ran in hard every time the ball was handed over to him. His figures of 4 overs for just 20 runs were incredible as everybody else went for 8 or more per over. Ashwin although dismissed Gayle, was nearly cleaned up by a Surabh Tiwary shot that hit him on the head.
Bangalore will now have to face the winner of tomorrow’s eliminator for a place in the final and Chennai head home for the title-clash.
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