Rajasthan Ready For Delhi Battle

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Ist Semi-Final at the Wankhede Stadium Mumbai.

Rajasthan Royals are set to play the Delhi Daredevils in the first of two cracking IPL Semi-finals. Ironically Delhi have Rajasthan to thank for their admittance into this game as Shane Warnes team beat Mumbai in the final game to knock them out of the competition, putting Delhi through.

Both Sides possess quality in the bowling department. Rajasthan have the on form and leading wicket taker Sohail Tanvir as well as Munaf Patel, Shane Watson and of course Shane Warne, whilst Delhi have Mohammad Asif, Farveez Maharoof, Amit Mishra and legendary Glenn McGrath who’s economy rate in the IPL has been terrific so far.

Both sides also have some explosive batting in Graeme Smith, Virender Sehwag and Shane Watson. Both sides beat each other in the league games with Delhi being slightly the better of the two. This is a match not to be missed.

Watch out for …

 

 

Tanvir against Delhi’s openers, Sehwag and Gambhir.  

 

Glenn McGrath. Rajasthan were able to score only 33 runs off his eight overs in the league games.  

 

Yusuf Pathan and Shane Watson, who form the mainstay of Rajasthan’s power-hitting arsenal.

 

IPL Youngsters, Should They Be Considered?

There have been some big surprises from some unknown youngsters so far in the IPL but whether these youngsters should be considered to play for their international teams is open to debate. The question remains whether the performances from some of these youngsters in the IPL is proof they will be good enough to survive in the international arena.

Indian stalwart and Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag believes they should: “IPL performances should matter. Everyone is watching it,” he said. “I think the selectors should take IPL performances into account when they select the Indian squad.”

Some of the notable performances have been from youngsters such as Sohail Tanvir and Shane Watson who have already played for their prospective nations Pakistan and Australia so for these guys it is about proving they are good enough and should be considered in the future. So for these guys the IPL has provided a platform for them without the pressures to perform that are put upon them in international cricket. Incidentally, Tanvir tops the IPL wicket taking list with 21 wickets for leaders Rajasthan Royals.

Shaun Marsh is one who was almost unknown to those outside Australia before the IPL but his batting performances for Kings Xl Punjab must have opened not only cricket fans eyes but the Australian selectors, scoring 478 runs in just 9 IPL innings.

We are open to opinion and encourage your comments. Let us know what you think below.

 

Young Stars: Marsh & Tanvir

 

 

Weekend Of Highs And Lows

It was another ordinary weekend of games in the Indian Premier League but one of highs and lows for the teams competing. Whilst Delhi Daredevils will be celebrating their admission into the Semi-finals after victory over semi final hopefuls Mumbai Indians. Two agonising defeats to Delhi and the Rajasthan Royals leaves Mumbai’s semi-final hopes hanging by a thread as they are now relying on Chennai Superkings to slip up against woeful Deccan Chargers in their final fixture (Deccan have yet to win at home!)

Rajasthan Royals have continued their good form and kept their 100% home record. Some great performances under the leadership of Shane Warne has put them top of the IPL and comfortably through to the Semi-Finals. Favourites to win, maybe. 

 

Kolkata Fail To Make Semi’s

Kolkata Knight Riders became the third team behind Deccan Chargers and Bangalore Royal Challengers to be eliminated from the IPL Semi-finals after their must win game against Delhi Daredevils was washed out.

The washout was also bad news for Delhi, who now, must win against other Semi hopefuls Mumbai Indians at the Feroz Shah Kotla. A game which is also threatened by the weather. If that game is a washout then Mumbai will only need to win one of thier last two fixtures against Rajasthan Royals or Bangalore. Knocking out Delhi in the process. Rajasthan Royals and Punjab (Mohali) are the only teams already through.

It comes as a dissapointment for Kolkata who started so well but then suffered because of international call-ups.

Table:

Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR
Rajasthan	11	9	2	0	0	18	+0.950
Punjab	11	8	3	0	0	16	+0.436
Chennai	12	7	5	0	0	14	-0.209
Delhi	13	6	6	0	1	13	+0.350
Mumbai	11	6	5	0	0	12	+0.663
Kolkata	13	5	7	0	1	11	-0.167
Bangalore	12	3	9	0	0	6	-1.317
Deccan	11	2	9	0	0	4	-0.463

 

 

 

Rajasthan Through To Semi’s

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Rajasthan Royals became the first team to go through to the IPL Semi-finals after last nights victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Full scorecard

It was the disciplined bowling of Shane Warne’s team which set up the win, as Kolkata were limited to just 147-8 from their 20 overs. Three wickets for suprise IPL package Sohail Tanvir and tight bowling from Aussies Warne and Watson gave Rajasthan an easy target and helped set up their fourth consecutive victory.

Good new ball bowling from Pakistani Umar Gul gave Rajasthan an early fright after he removed Graeme Smith and Tanvir but Indians Mohammad Kaif and Yusuf Pathan put on a big hitting partnership to make the 148 needed for the win, look very modest. Pathan in particular making 48 from just 18 balls.

It was the shrewdness of the legendary Warne though which condemned Kolkata to defeat and incidentally, virtually ruining any chance they had of reaching the semi’s themselves. His captaincy showed its class again as his bowling changes and field placements unsettled Kolkata and even the usually reliable David Hussey and Sourav Ganguly found it hard going.

Result from Eden Gardens: Rajasthan Royals won by 6 wickets.