Stand-in skipper Adam Gilchrist led by example as bottom-placed Deccan Chargers humbled Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets with two overs to spare for their second win in the Indian Premier League here tonight.

Leading the side in absence of injured regular skipper VVS Laxman, Gilchrist won the toss, marshalled his bowlers well and then top-scored for the side with a 36-ball 54 to guide the team to a morale-boosting win.

Chasing 145, Deccan Chargers cantered to 148 for three in 18 overs with Scott Styris (36 not out), Rohit Sharma (23) and Shahid Afridi (20 not out) making impressions with the bat.
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Match No: 26
Teams: Chennai Super Kings vs Deccan Chargers
Venue MA Chidambaram Stadium-Chepauk, Chennai
Toss Deccan Chargers
Result: Deccan Chargers won by 7 wickets
Man of the match: Adam Gilchrist
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A lot of hype has surrounded the batsmen when it comes to twenty 20 cricket. One can easily say that cricket has always been a batsman’s game. When twenty20 first arrived, it was mentioned that it would sound the death knell of good spinners or generally good bowlers. Fortunately though bowlers, spinners as well as fast bowlers hold the key in this version of the game too. The IPL is a good example. Most of Delhi Daredevils success has got to do with their deadly opening duo of Glenn Mcgrath and Mohd Asif. And don’t forget the brilliant job that Daniel Vettori did for them before he left in the middle overs. In between they make life miserable for 8 overs , which essentially means half the match is over before the opposition comes to term with them. This is where in fact a team like Deccan Chargers have struggled. Although they boast of some big names in the batting department, their bowler coffers look empty. Chennai Superkings have had their moments with bowlers such as Muralidharan and the new find Gony. Rajasthan Royals have ofcourse got the legendary Shane Warne turning around matches. Sadly for Bangalore Royal Challengers, excepting for Dale Steyn in certain spells, almost every other bowler has looked off color, resulting in their demoralizing losses. The same holds true to a large extent in the case of Mumbai Indians too. The results therefore are clear, whatever may be the version of the game, the bowlers still hold the key.

England all-rounder Ravi Bopara has turned down a lucrative six-figure deal to play in the Indian Premier League in a bid to cement his place in the national side.

Essex star Bopara, who is not centrally contracted to the ECB, said: “When figures like these are put in front of you, it is tempting - but my goal is to play regularly for England.

“I am confident that if I continue to score runs and take wickets for Essex, then I will hopefully play for England this summer and for many years to come.”
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Match No: 26
Teams: Chennai Super Kings vs Deccan Chargers
Date: 6th May ‘08, 8PM IST
Venue: Chennai
Preview:
The bottom ranked Deccan Chargers take on Chennai Superkings today at Chennai. Chennai got off to a great start, winning their first four games but the departure of their star players has left a void which the other players have been unable to fill. Hyderabad on the other hand, have their own set of problems to deal with. With only one victory so far and they are on the verge of elimination. They might have some of the biggest names in International Cricket but nobody except Rohit Sharma has performed.
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Asserting that the cash rich Indian Premier League (IPL) would be harmful for Australian cricket, Former Test player Greg Matthews said only Indian or some top players are earning well and the much publicised league has does nothing at the grassroot level.

Talking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Matthews said, ”The serious bad news is that the only cats getting to earn out of it are a group of Indians or a couple of individuals. The franchises, Cricket Australia gets nothing, grassroots gets nothing - 0.0000001 per cent of my community are getting a feed out of this and that is not groovy.” Matthews, however, was happy that currently the cricket is running by the Asian countries.
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The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to scrap the USD five million cap on the players’ salaries from next season onwards, a move that could see top cricketers earn as much as a whopping USD 15 million (Rs 61 crore approx).
The IPL had put a cap of USD five million (just over Rs 20 crore) for the franchises this year to prevent the very rich team owners from splurging too much.

But with the inaugural edition turning out to be a major success, the players are set to reap the rewards in the next season.
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