So the prophecy indeed turned out to be true, although it was not a nice way to make it happen. CSK won the toss and elected to chase. Narine came on as opener, scored 2 sixes in 4 balls, then went out to Harbhajan Singh. Uthhapa, Karthik, Rana all who were in feature in the previous game, none could get up to the thirty run mark. Harbhajan bowled 2 overs in the first six, and Dhoni decided it was over for him for that day, although he had just conceded 11 runs in those two overs and a wicket as well. Bravo was also bowling unusually poor, but still KKR were not threatening CSK with rapid attacks, until Russel came on. Even at the end of the 14th over the score was just 108/5. Then Russel started like a mad man scoring six here and there off Shardul Thakur, and mainly Bravo. Explosives in Tahir's over was still far-fetched. But at the end of the innings, Russel and KKR finished with 88* and 202/6 respectively. So this turned out to be a high scoring game, since CSK were chasing, and KKR have a pretty good batting side. Watson and Rayudu started CSK innings in a good tone. As the match continued, Watson and Rayudu had cemented CSK's position by scoring boundaries in every odd ball. The game had shown me that no Indian batsman would win this game for CSK, since Sam Billings was batting at no. 5, after Dhoni, I had a feeling that today also was not dhoni's day. After a 28-ball twenty-five, with strike rate of below 100, Dhoni got out making way for Billings to explore and explode. Although he got out before the last over, Billing's 56 off 23 helped CSK to track down that huge total. And guess who bowled the last over, none other that Mr. Vinay Kumar, who had just bowled one over and conceded 16. 17 was required from the last over, pretty tough task right? At this point, I had begun questioning the results I had proposed. But I had also forgotten that there is a thing called no-ball in cricket, which can change any bloody game. The first ball of the last over went for a six, and also was a no-ball so a consequent free-hit as well. Do you see the magic? Now ones and twos till the last ball when a sixer was required. Jadeja had scored 5 runs in 6 balls prior to this ball, and was seeming to be struggling in all those six balls. But suddenly out of nowhere, he slapped the ball sweetly straight down the ground for a huge six. Cheers CSK!
The next game was a bit confusing than the previous one, because both RR and DD have not cemented their final places in my mind. I'm pretty sure that DD will finish in the top half, but the same may not be true for RR (or may be true, if they win all their latter games to comeback in the table, like MI had done on previous seasons). So for DD to get up in the table, they'll have to lose this match (and win latter matches consecutively). Since RR had lost an easy game last time, the betters would have a hard time selecting one team. DD won the toss and elected to field first, which increased the chance of DD winning, because till this point, all the chasers have won the game. Also D Short fell on the first over as well (to increase DD bid), which further supported the hypothesis. Rahane stayed till he was required and expected. Stokes scored a six and four, but nothing more. Now was the time to increase the final score. Samson and Buttler were scoring very freely. But Nadeem, today's new home-boy (so the dark horse) came and took the wicket of Samson; Buttler aslo got out little later, making way for Rahul Tripathi and Gowtham to flourish in their day. But this was not to be, because just then rainfall started, and the match was delayed to the point that the target was reduced to 71 from 6 overs by D/L method. Although Maxwell (new foreigner) opened the innings with a good note, couldn't hold on tho the start. Although Morris tried to provide the final spark, he couldn't pull DD through, hence they finished at 60/4, and lost the game to RR.
So for today's game, Gayle should play, in my opinion. I also think that this also might just be the final match pair as well. If this is to happen, it's most likely for KXIP to win this time. So for RCB to win then, they'll have to lose today. If Gayle plays, and KXIP bat in the first innings, they are almost sure to win according to me. And this should be the only loss for RCB for this week, although its a huge thing to predict.
