Epic showdown of Dhoni vs Gambhir in IPL 2012 final
It will be a match of lifetime when two of the best teams of IPL 5 will face each other in the final on May 27 2012. Kolkata Knight Riders who have never been into the finally and actually struggled in all the previous IPL season has raised their bar this year and are all set to take on mighty Chennai Super Kings.
On the other hands Chennai Super Kings are in the familiar place as this is their 3rd straight final and will be played in their home turf. They have shown their real power in the previous two games where they not just marked a defeat on the opposite team but they ransacked and completely destroyed them. With their performance they are definitely eyeing for 3rd IPL trophy.
Both KKR and CSK are on the verge of creating IPL history when they take on each other at M.A Chidambaram stadium of Chennai tomorrow (May 27 2012). Former will eye to win their first IPL trophy and shut the mouth of their critiques while later is in for third IPL trophy.
Interesting will be to see a strong bowling lineup (KKR) to face a strong batting lineup (CSK).
Kolkata performed superbly throughout this season and were at the second position till play off. They defeated top placed Delhi Daredevils in the 1st Qualifier and reached into the final. Chennai on the other hand had a wavery show in this season winning some and losing some. However, they somehow reached to playoffs and had to defeat Mumbai Indians in Eliminator to go into 2nd Qualifier where they mustered 86 runs win over Delhi Daredevils and made it to their 4th IPL final.
Chennai Super Kings Team:
MS Dhoni, S Anirudha, Ravichandran Ashwin, S Badrinath, GJ Bailey, DE Bollinger, DJ Bravo, F du Plessis, BW Hilfenhaus, MEK Hussey, RA Jadeja, SB Jakati, Joginder Sharma, S Randiv, KMDN Kulasekara, VY Mahesh, JA Morkel, A Mukund, SK Raina, WP Saha, SB Styris, S Tyagi, K Vasudevadas, G Vignesh, Murali Vijay
Kolkata Knight Riders Team:
G Gambhir, S Ladda, L Balaji, R Bhatia, MS Bisla, DB Das, M de Lange, BJ Haddin, Iqbal Abdulla, CS Jani, JH Kallis, B Lee, BB McCullum, EJG Morgan, SP Narine, YK Pathan, JL Pattinson, SV Samson, PJ Sangwan, I Saxena, Shami Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, LR Shukla, RN ten Doeschate, MK Tiwary, JD Unadkat
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Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will back themselves to claim a hat-trick of Indian Premier League titles when they take on an equally confident Kolkata Knight Riders in what promises to be a thrilling showdown in Chennai on Sunday.
Chennai managed to sneak into the play-offs and then pushed Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils, the most consistent side of the league, out of the tournament.
The experience of playing big matches and the good form of all their batsmen, right from top to number eight, give Chennai an edge over Kolkata, who will be playing their first IPL final in five editions so far.
Chennai are into their third straight final and the experience of handling pressure situations would stand them in good stead.
Kolkata bowlers, especially spinner Sunil Narine, hold the key for them since the Chennai batsman are in scorching form. From Murali Vijay to skipper M S Dhoni to Dwayne Bravo, everyone has started scoring runs and that too at a quick pace. Despite making an average start, they went on to score big in the last two outings.
It will be quite a battle between Kolkata bowlers and Chennai batsman at the MA Chidambaram stadium.
Kolkata skipper Gautam Gambhir has shown a lot of faith in a few players such as Brendon McCullum and Yusuf Pathan. Despite them not contributing much, Gambhir kept playing them.
The result is that finally Pathan scored a match-winning 40-run cameo in the Qualfier I against Delhi and they found themselves in the final.
McCullum has gradually improved but is due for a big knock and the team would expect the Kiwi batsman to fire when it matters most.
Gambhir himself is in good form and Sunday will be the occasion when runs from his bat would matter the most. The responsibility of leading the side has made him a better batsman and he would be keen to see that he contributes in the big match.
South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis is another big asset for them. If Gambhir, Manoj Tiwary, McCullum and Kallis fire in unison, they will also be unstoppable.
Chennai would look to stop them with the likes of Ben Hilfenhaus, Albie Morkel and spin duo of R Ashwin and Shadab Jakati in the team. Besides these, they have Ravindra Jadeja, who has also done well with the ball, claiming 14 wickets.
Chennai batsman Murali Vijay was cautious when asked about the final but said his team was ready to fire and they are not taking KKR lightly.
“Every team can beat the other on a given day. So we need to be wary and cannot take things lightly. The only thing I can tell you is that we are geared up for the match,” Vijay, who became only the second Indian batsman to score two IPL hundred, said.
Even the Delhi Dardevils coach Eric Simmons said the Chennai is a team which does not miss out on big occasions.
“Chennai is a very balanced side and they sneaked in to the play off with a mission. They are a tough team balanced in both in the bowling and batting line up. They have eight batsmen and can rotate the strike well. They struggled through the league system but come good at the business end, which is the sign of champions and that is what they are”.
It’s going to be a huge game and I am waiting for the action to start. Don’t forget to watch it Live on http://live.cricic.com
see you
Two-time defending champion Chennai Super Kings will start as the overwhelming favourite in the Indian Premier League final against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday following two dominating performances in the playoffs that saw them seal a place in the final for the fourth time in five years.
Chennai packed off star-studded Mumbai Indians in the “Eliminator” – the equivalent of a quarterfinal – after just about scraping through to the four-team playoff. It then ran up the season’s highest total of 222-5 on Saturday to bat league topper Delhi Daredevils out of the contest in the second “Qualifier.”
Opener Murali Vijay hit 113 from 58 balls to help Chennai win by a huge margin of 86 runs under lights at the Chidambaram Stadium, where a full capacity crowd of 40,000 is expected to cheer on the home team on Sunday when it chases a hat-trick of IPL crowns.
Delhi coach Eric Simons backed Chennai to make it three titles in a row.
“They struggled through the league system but came good at the business end, which is the sign of champions, and that is what they are,” the South African said.
“Chennai is a very balanced side and they sneaked into the playoffs with a mission. They are a tough team, balanced in both batting and bowling departments. They have eight batsmen and can rotate the strike well,” he added.
Kolkata, captained by India opener Gautam Gambhir, will be figuring in its maiden IPL final following a consistent run in the league phase and a confident 18-run win over Delhi in the first “qualifier”.
“Every team can beat the other on a given day, so we need to be wary and cannot take things lightly,” Vijay said of Kolkata. “The only thing I can tell you is that we are geared up for the match.”
Off-spinner Sunil Narine has been Kolkata’s trump card and the West Indian is the second highest wicket-taker of the tournament this season with 24 victims from 14 games.
“Planning won’t work against him,” Vijay said. “You have to watch the ball and play it accordingly. I want to keep it simple. Ideally in Twenty20, every team wants to score as many as runs as possible and put the opposition under pressure. We were lucky, but (then) everything went our way,” opener Vijay said, referring to the game against Delhi.
Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi have qualified for the Champions League.
KKR seek maiden title; CSK hunt hat-trick!!!
Big Picture
They are here, again. Those resilient, stubborn Chennai Super Kings. In another IPL final, their fourth in five seasons and their third in a row, pursuing a hat trick of titles. Love them, hate them or couldn’t care less about them, you have to give it to them – the Super Kings got game. They know when and how to turn it on, too, though this season they dangled off the edge of the precipice, holding on with their pinkies, for longer than was comfortable.
Kolkata Knight Riders did not leave their chances hinging on an improbable combination of results over which they had no control. They reached the playoffs with a game to spare and made short work of Delhi Daredevils to enter their maiden IPL final. Their performances have been efficient and consistent and they should logically be favourites tomorrow. But they’re facing a resurgent side on its home turf.
Super Kings are blessed with loyal fans and the pricklier among them bristle at insinuations that fortune played a role in their team making it to Chennai on Sunday. They got enough points, didn’t they? And they didn’t design the schedule, so they had to hope three results went their way to make the playoffs. And Kings XI Punjab just weren’t good enough to beat Delhi Daredevils, and Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore weren’t good enough to beat bottom-placed Deccan Chargers. What’s luck got to do with it?
That Super Kings had to wait five days to know they would be able to defend their title was because of an out-of-sorts start to the season. At times they, the IPL’s least changed side over five seasons, looked passé compared to some of the other teams, who had strengthened squads with new personnel. Super Kings’ turnaround only began after ten league games, of which they had won four. They won four of their last six matches, so their form, when they entered familiar playoff territory, was satisfactory.
And then they were near perfect. After clambering on to level ground, Super Kings’ misfiring batting line-up, the longest in the IPL, found its guns and annihilated Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils with breath-taking confidence.
While Super Kings had abundant success in seasons past, Knight Riders had nothing. In the first three years, they were the only team without a top-four finish. So in 2011, Knight Riders abandoned failed strategies, completely overhauled their squad, and climbed to fourth in the league, but lost the eliminator. In 2012, they have gone farther, converting their second-place finish in the league into a berth in the finals by beating Daredevils in the first qualifier.
Knight Riders also had an iffy start to the season, losing three of their first five games. Since then they’ve lost only two out of 11, acquiring the rarest quality in Twenty20 cricket – consistency. There were no dramas in their progress to the playoffs. Their success has been built around two people with supporting contributions from the rest. The captain Gautam Gambhir has been a reliable run-scorer, while the spinner Sunil Narine has confounded all and sundry with his unreadable variations.
If they perform like they have this season, Knight Riders have little reason to worry. Whether they can perform in their first final, against opponents seasoned to such pressure, is the question.
Watch out for …
Sunil Narine: At present, he has the second most wickets this season, the best economy rate, and the best average for anyone who’s played more than two matches – 24 wickets, 5.20 per over and 11.95 per wicket. Gambhir’s used him in a variety of situations – early on to drag back a quick start, in the middle to exercise control over the game and at the end, when batsmen have only attack on their minds. Narine’s delivered each time. Gambhir’s utilisation of Narine in the final will be crucial. Super Kings bat until No. 9 so Gambhir will have to decide when and against whom Narine can have the greatest impact.
The middle orders: With top orders evenly matched and Knight Riders shading the bowling battle, this is where Super Kings score heavily over their opponents. The line-up comprising MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo, S Badrinath and Albie Morkel is far more reliable and powerful than the one comprising Shakib Al Hasan, Yusuf Pathan, Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Manoj Tiwary, or variations of it. Knight Riders are more dependent on their top order than Super Kings are, although Yusuf Pathan did make his first proper contribution in the qualifier against Daredevils.
Team combination
Barring last-minute fitness problems, Super Kings are certain to play the same XI that won them the two knockout games to reach the final.
A couple of Knight Riders players have hamstring concerns. Manoj Tiwary missed the knockout against Delhi because of a strain and was replaced by Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who impressed with 24 off 11 balls. Tiwary is likely to be fit, though, so either Shukla or Debabrata Das, who has also performed well, could make way. The bigger hamstring concern, however, is over L Balaji, who injured himself during the qualifier. Balaji has been the solitary Indian seamer in the Knight Riders attack so his absence could cause significant change to the team composition.
Meetings this season
At Chepauk, Knight Riders won by five wickets and two balls to spare. Super Kings were restricted to a middling total and the victory was more comfortable than the margin indicates.
At Eden Gardens, Super Kings won by five wickets off the final delivery. Chasing 159, Knight Riders had reached 97 for 0 in the 11th over when Narine derailed the innings during a spell of 4-0-14-2. With 5 to get off the last ball, Bravo launched Rajat Bhatia over the long-on boundary.
Stats and trivia
In the last five overs of the innings, Super Kings have scored at 10.64 per over on average this season, which is the second best after Royal Challengers Bangalore. Knight Riders have scored at 9.32 per over during this period. There is very little separating the sides’ run rates in the first six overs, though Knight Riders are a little faster.
Knight Riders have had the best spinners of the tournament. They’ve taken the most wickets at the best average and economy rate – 48, 16.20 and 6.09. Their attack of choice in recent games has been Narine, Iqbal Abdulla and Shakib Al Hasan, with Yusuf chipping in. Super Kings’ spinners are second best, but by a distance.
Quotes
“When you go on to the field, you do not go there to make friends but you are there to get results in your team’s favour. You have to be aggressive on the field. That is how we have won matches and now we are in the final and not to just compete.”
Gautam Gambhir, the Kolkata Knight Riders captain.
“With his action, it is difficult to catch him as to which side he is bowling, whether it is the one that comes in to a right hander or it goes out. The variation he has got and the consistency that he has got in maintaining line and length has been crucial.”
MS Dhoni on Sunil Narine.
There are so many people commenting about dropping Shakib If Balaji wasn’t fit to play and pick Lee. I know that still Lee can be dangerous in his old age but you guys can check the stats of CSK’s scoring rate against fast bowler & spinners. CSK scored more than 8(might get close to 9) per over from the quickies when spinners gave them run on a rate of around 7 & also CSK lost most wickets to spinners. Som final result suggests that CSK is weaker in spin than fast bowling and if Shakib & Iqbal(as few of you guys are also suggesting to drop Iqbal) or even either of them dropped in the final then after match, KKR would’ve been left to be satisfied only to get a chance to stand along side with the champion for repeating the same mistake of Shewag’s in 2nd qualifier. For the sake final, for both the team my suggest & wish is, go with own best strength.
Excellent article! Chennai have not got here by luck, it was their matches that finished first and plus, as stated in the article, if Deccan can beat RCB and RR, it just shows that the 2 teams cannot handle pressure or aren’t just good enough. Although I support both these teams dearly, i suppose this title will belong to KKR. Good Luck to both teams and best team may win!
CSK is looking in menacing form!!! Super Kings know how to lift their game when it matters the most!!! KKR have an awesome chance but it all depends on their temperament tomorrow!!! If they give in to the pressure or get over awed by the might of Super Kings then its very very difficult for them… KKR needs to be real aggressive against Super Kings… .Fight fire with fire!! KKR have never really been tested through out the IPL… remains to be seen if they can sustain the form into the finals…. May the best team win and I will be here in Atlanta cheering for the MEN IN YELLOW!!! #Whistlepodu #3peatu
I think KKR should go with winning combination. They should not be fool like Daredevils by dropping some inform player like SHAKIB.
At Eden Gardens, Super Kings won by five wickets off the final delivery. Chasing 159, Knight Riders had reached 97 for 0 in the 11th over when Narine derailed the innings during a spell of 4-0-14-2. With 5 to get off the last ball, Bravo launched Rajat Bhatia over the long-on boundary. Seems some correction req.
CSK Vs KKR, DLF IPL 2012 Final!!!
So here we are finally. After an almost seemingly endless tournament, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings are the two teams that have made it through to the summit clash of the league. At first glance, the sides that have made it here don’t raise any element of surprise; they always had the talent to reach the top. However, KKR have never realised their potential till this edition, and there was a stage in a tournament when it seemed CSK’s golden run will finally end this season. That is what makes the final of IPL 2012 an intriguing one. Two simple questions will determine the winner of the fifth edition. Will Kolkata come up with yet another dominating effort? And, which Chennai will turn up for the game on Sunday — the one that has struggled to live up to expectations or the one that has rejuvenated itself post the backdoor entry.
KKR SWOT analysis
Strengths: Kolkata’s biggest plus has been the consistent performance of their skipper Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order. Every time the left-hander has performed, Kolkata have done well. His aggressive tactics automatically put the opposition on the back foot. Also, they have some genuinely talented match-winners in Jacques Kallis, Brett Lee and of course Sunil Narine, who will be the man to watch out for in the final.
Weaknesses: While KKR have excelled when Gambhir has done well, they have also faced numerous batting collapses during the course of the tournament. This is one aspect of the game they would have to be wary of. It would be interesting to see how Kolkata react if Gambhir falls early.
Opportunities: This is the first time Kolkata have made it this far, which gives them an added incentive to go all the way. It won’t be easy against a buoyant Chennai. However, the fact that they have beaten them at Chennai, the venue for the final, will give them confidence.
Threats: That KKR don’t have the experience of featuring in the IPL final before could go against them, as also the fact that their opponents are winners of the previous two editions.
CSK SWOT analysis
Strengths: Chennai’s forte lies in their big-match winning ability. Qualifying for the play-offs almost by fluke, they ousted Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils, coming up with their best game. All they need now is to replicate the effort for one last time this season. They have the players with the right temperament and experience for the occasion. Murali Vijay has lifted his game at the most opportune moment while the likes of Mike Hussey and R Ashwin have grown in confidence in recent games. Dwayne Bravo and skipper M S Dhoni is a fearsome combo that can destroy any attack. Even if KKR get past them, they have to contend with AlbieMorkel.
Weaknesses: Unlike earlier seasons, CSK haven’t looked like a force to reckon with for most part. It has only been the last two games where their performance has been top-notch. There is no reason why they can’t falter again.
Opportunities: CSK have a great chance to make it three in three. Having beaten MI and DD comprehensively, they ought to be extremely confident.
Threats: There are a couple of players in the KKR camp that can derail the ‘Chennai Express’. One is Yusuf Pathan, who made the difference against Delhi, and the second is Narine, whose spin mystery has been an unending saga.
Happy birthday Michael Hussey!
Michael Edward Killeen Hussey (born 27 May 1975, Morley, Western Australia) is an Australian cricketer. Hussey is a left-handed specialist batsman. Hussey is also widely known by his nicknames of Huss, The Huss, and Mr Cricket, the latter due to his encyclopaedic knowledge of his sport, though he loathes the latter nickname.
Hussey was a relative latecomer to both the ODI and Test Australian teams, debuting at 28 and 30 years of age in the respective formats, with 15,313 first-class runs prior to test debut.However, he has had a highly successful international career, being the top-ranked ODI batsman in the world in 2006 and maintaining the all-time second-highest test batting average among cricketers who have played more than 25 tests
He also plays in the Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings, although he opted out of the 2009 season. He was retained by Chennai Super Kings in the 2011–2012 season of Indian Premier League for $425,000 at auctions held in January 2011.
Top moments in IPL 2012!!!
During the entire duration of the tournament, we witnessed a good blend of cricket with entertainment. There was drama, action, tragedy, comedy and of course, entertainment, entertainment, entertainment. Here are some of the best:
1) Steven Smith ala Superman of fielding
Steven Smith has lit up the IPL with some moments of brilliance, especially on the field. He saved runs by the truckloads for his team and almost never let his team down.
In the Pune vs Kolkata game on May 5th, Eden Gardens witnessed brilliance from Smith. Murali Kartik was the bowler and Yusuf Pathan was on strike. Yusuf launched it over long on and the ball seemed to be heading over the ropes for a maximum. However, Smith dived full length to his right and stretched out his right hand, he caught the ball mid-air but realized that the momentum was carrying him over the ropes. He had the presence of mind to fling it back inside the ropes and he saved his team four runs.
The second instance was in the match between Pune and Rajasthan on May 8th in Pune. Watson walloped a lofted shot to long on off Murali Kartik. Smith ran to his left and plucked a great overhead catch but he could not slow down as he ran back. Realizing that he was too close to the ropes, he tossed the ball up but it went over the ropes. Smith jumped over the ropes and mid-air he again tossed it inside the ropes. On the third attempt, he came back inside the boundary to complete the catch.
However, the catch was not accepted as rule 19.4 framed by the MCC stated that, “Neither the ball, nor any fielder in contact with the ball, touches or is grounded beyond, the boundary at any time during the act of making the catch or of fielding the ball.” It was unbelievable fielding but in this case, it was declared a six. The effort drew admiration from all cricketing circles and has enhanced Steven Smith’s reputation as a brilliant fielder.
2) Rahul Sharma being mauled for five sixes in one over by Chris Gayle
Rahul Sharma had made decent strides in the limited overs side for India during the home series against the West Indies in November 2011. His bowling was commendable and many felt that batsmen would struggle to hit him. Of course, no one told this to Chris Gayle. Chasing 183 for a win, Bangalore were stuttering at 76/3 in 12 overs. Gayle decided to cut loose and he belted five consecutive sixes in Rahul Sharma’s second over. People at the Chinnaswamy stadium felt that they were in the war-zone as they bore the brunt of those five scud missiles. The fifth six unfortunately hit a little girl. After the match, Gayle went to the hospital to inquire whether the girl was alright. She was one of the special guests for the ‘Game for Green’ match between Bangalore and Mumbai on 14th May.
3) Ajit Chandila takes a hat-trick
The Indian Premier League offers little-known players a chance to shine in the limelight and Ajit Chandila grabbed it with both hands. In the game against Pune, he achieved the first hat-trick in this year’s tournament. He dismissed Jesse Ryder and had Ganguly stumped. He sent Robin Uthappa packing to complete a wonderful hat-trick. This was the ninth instance overall when a bowler took a hat-trick in this tournament.
4) Chennai’s great escape: A Ripley’s believe it or not moment
For the first time, there was an unbelievable possibility. Chennai, two time defending champions and the only team to reach the knock-out stages in the previous four editions, were in danger of being eliminated for the first time in the league stages. They had played their last league match against Punjab and they lost. After playing 16 games, they could muster 17 points and were in fourth position. The problem was further compounded by the fact that Bangalore were level on points and had a game in hand.
Two other teams stood a chance of knocking Chennai out. Punjab needed a win against Delhi in their last league game while Rajasthan, with two matches in hand, needed to win both to make it through. The first jolt was received when Deccan defeated Rajasthan by five wickets. Punjab were eliminated when they lost their last match against Delhi. Bangalore had to win against Deccan to knock Chennai out. However, Deccan played like a team possessed and Bangalore choked to lose the match by 9 runs. Three teams, three chances and all of them blew it. Chennai had the greatest escape and they kept their record intact by reaching the knock-out stages for the fifth time.
HAPPY BIRTHDAT MICHAL HUSSY
KKR pull off stunning win over CSK in a pulsating IPL 5 final!
urple is the colour of the Indian Premier League and the Knights are the new Kings. There are a whole host of new heroes who made this possible: The unheralded Manvinder Singh Bisla, the legendary Jacques Kallis, Shakib Al Hasan, and Kolkata’s own Manoj Tiwary.
Each of them played like they owned the stage as Shah Rukh Khan’s Knights notched up an unbelievable win with three balls to spare.
Bisla didn’t know till Saturday evening whether he would be playing the final. KKR took a big gamble by playing him ahead of Brendon McCullum and the Haryana batsman was an absolute revelation.
A chase of 191 is thought to be out of bounds when you are playing at the Chepauk against CSK, and when skipper Gautam Gambhir got out in the first over, it seemed Chennai were well on their way to making it a hat-trick of titles.
But Bisla came out of nowhere and started hitting every single bowler on view. Dhoni just hadn’t prepared the blueprint for the guy.
With the pitch staying good for batting, Bisla simply put his foot out of the way and continued to hit through the line. The CSK bowlers were left clueless. Then there was Kallis at the other end top contend with. The South African looked rock solid and it seemed that he knew he was eager to win the game on his own.
But when he got out with KKR still needing 16 off 11 balls, CSK were in with a chance. Dhoni started playing his standard tricks, taking time between deliveries and making the pressure unbearable for every single soul on the ground!
But it was destined to be KKR’s night. Shakib survived a close call when Billy Bowden called a no-ball for a waist-high full toss off Ben HIlfenhaus. Shakib hit a boundary off the next ball and it was down to nine off the last over.
Bravo was a picture of confidence coming into bowl, but so was Tiwary. Two brilliant boundaries and the Knights was on top the world with two balls to spare.
Earlier, when Super Kings batted, it was again the brilliant batting unit that came to the fore. While M Vijay and Mike Hussey gave them the dream start, Raina played his best innings of the IPL and took his team to a position of strength.
Vijay (42 off 32 balls), who has been in divine touch since the Delhi game a couple of days back, started from where he had left off. The supreme timing of the right-hander was on display as an off-colour Lee failed to find the correct length. Hussey, too, kept rotating the strike, making it difficult for the bowlers to settle down and the opening pair put on 87 runs in 10.2 overs. Vijay looked well set for much more, but an outstanding diving catch by Shakib Al Hasan at deep square leg brought about his downfall.
KKR were looking to come back into the match with Gambhir handing his resources well. But Raina (71 off 36 balls), who has struggled through the tournament, suddenly decided to make the final stage his own. His case was made just a little easier when Gambhir brought Yusuf Pathan in for the 14th over. Raina was waiting for this opportunity to explode and took 17 runs off that one over with his characteristic slog sweeps that helped Chennai retain the momentum.
Gambhir was banking on the last three overs that mystery spinner Sunil Narine had up his sleeve. But when he came on to bowl for his second spell, CSK had lost only two wickets with Raina and Dhoni well entrenched. With no fear of losing wickets, Raina went after Narine, and the West Indies player, for the first time in the tournament, started feeling the heat.
TWISTS AND TURNS
CSK race to 190/3 as Suresh Raina comes good with 38-ball 73.
Player of the season Sunil Narine gets just one of the first 13 overs, which allows CSK batsman to get into groove. Ends with 0/37.
Gambhir, IPL 5′s second-highest run scorer with 590 runs, falls early. But Manvinder Bisla (89) and Jacques Kallis (69) post 136-run stand to swing match back for KKR.
Michael Hussey catches a Kallis slog sweep but topples over boundary as a dismissal turns into a six on the last ball of the 16th over
Kallis holes out off a Hilfenhaus full toss in the second-last ball of the 19th over as KKR seem to be choking on the brink of victory.
With KKR needing 16 runs off 7 balls, Shakib al-Hasan is caught off Hilfenhaus but it’s called a no-ball for being above waist height and the batsmen run 2. Shakib then hits a 4 as a single ball costs CSK 7 runs.
Batting at No. 7, Manoj Tiwary (9 runs off 3 balls) finishes off match in final over.
ROLL OF HONOUR
Man of the Final: Manvinder Bisla, Kolkata Knight Riders.
Rising Star of the tournament: Mandeep Singh, Kings XI Punjab.
Golden Player of the season: Sunil Narine, Kolkata Knight Riders.
Fairplay Award: Rahul Dravid, Rajasthan Royals.
Orange Cap: Chris Gayle, Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Purple Cap: Morne Morkel, Delhi Daredevils.
Power performance of the season: AB de Villiers, Royal Challengers Bangalore.
FIVE STARS WHO WON IPL 5 FOR KKR
5-19: Mystery spinner Narine produced many outstanding spells, none so better than his 5-19 against Kings XI.
4-18: Laxmipathy Balaji showed he still has a few tricks up his sleeve, as he got the RCB batsmen flummoxed.
3-17: Shakib Al Hasan got both Rahul Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane, and RR were never a problem for KKR.
93: The KKR skipper was in terrific form throughout the tournament. Against RCB, he smashed 93 off 51 balls.
40*: Yusuf Pathan remained out of form throughout this IPL, but struck gold against the Devils in the 1st qualifier.