Chennai Will meet Rajasthan Royals in tomorrow’s final in Mumbai.
It was one-sided semi-final but again it’s been down to a team effort. A highly disciplined bowling attack did the job before Parthiv and Raina finished it off. Chennai have now beaten Punjab in all three matches between the two sides and will need to gear up for Rajasthan tomorrow.

No hugs for the Punjab side from Priety today. It’s been a disappointing effort but they can hold their heads high for the consistency they’ve shown through the league phases. They’ve been one of the most balanced sides in the tournament and strung together some fine wins. On the big day, though, it wasn’t to be.
Yuvraj Singh being booed again. This is really not in good taste from the Mumbai crowd. “We had to play well in the first 5 to 7 overs,” he says. “I think it was a good wicket to bat on. We didn’t bat well and didn’t do well under pressure. We’ve had a great tournament, very proud of the boys, especially Shaun Marsh. It’s been a learning experience as a captain. We’ve been the best team in the tournament except against Chennai.”

Dhoni gets the cheers. Mr Popularity. “The bowlers were upto the mark, bowled really well,” he says. “Overall the intensity was good and the batting again got the start we needed. It was a good team effort. Fielding has improved as the tournament as gone on. If I say I don’t feel pressure, I would be lying. If you walk upto a bowler and act is if you’re worried it gets to him. So I act as if I’m not. Around 150 people came from Chennai and we got some good support from the Mumbai crowd too.”

Man-of-the-Match Makhaya Ntini: “So far it’s been a great challenge. I think everyone in Chennai has appreciated that. I have always smiled and don’t show any pressure, make the ball talk. We knew that this wicket is going to be up and down so we needed to hit it as hard as we can. I cannot wait for tomorrow.”

After a cracker of a semi-final at Wankhede yesterday between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils, the action now shifts to the second semi-final between the Chennai Super kings and the Kings XI Punjab. Yuvraj’s men definitely have the upper hand after a spectacular victory in their last match against Rajasthan Royals - but Chennai are no pushovers and Dhoni and his boys will be ready to topple the mighty Punjab team.

The two teams’ fortunes in the Indian Premier League; While Punjab cruised into the semis, Chennai after a good start haven’t been too convincing enroute.

But Chennai has got the better of Punjab so far, with victories in both the league matches and captain Yuvraj Singh is well aware of the threat.
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Photo: Cricket.com
Punjabi XI Kings Cheerleaders cheering their team on match against Rajastan Royals

Shane Warne, the Rajasthan Royals’ captain, took the opportunity of this dead-rubber top-of-the-table clash to take a break, and it may be another masterstroke as it allowed him to watch from the dugout while Kings XI Punjab’s top order blasted their way to 221 for 3.

Shaun Marsh led the way for Punjab with a 69-ball 115 and James Hopes’ 51 provided him support in a century stand before Yuvraj Singh finally found his rhythm with a blistering 49. Rajasthan were insipid in Warne’s absence, and surely missed both him and Sohail Tanvir, the tournament’s best bowler, as the assault gathered steam.
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The Punjab Police have raised the amount for providing security for the IPL matches at the PCA Stadium in Mohali and the Deputy Commissioner has been asked to ensure that security is provided only if the organisers pay the amount since it is a commercial venture.

This is a fallout of the controversy regarding a spat between Ness Wadia one of the Kings XI Punjab and Senior Superintendent of Police (Mohali) RS Khatra during the last match.
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A senior Punjab police officer Sunday moved an official complaint against businessman and Mohali team co-owner Ness Wadia charging him of using derogatory language against him, police and the district administration in Mohali during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match.

Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police RS Khatra sent a complaint to the Mohali deputy commissioner with copies to the Punjab director general of police and other top officials complaining that Wadia misbehaved with him at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium in Mohali on Friday.
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The staggering average of 98.33 in the IPL qualifies him for a place in the august order of Saint Bradman I (and the only) of Oz.

There have been many scintillating performances by several Indian youngsters in the first edition of the IPL but the poster boy undoubtedly happens to be King XI Punjab’s adopted prodigal son, Shaun Marsh. The batsman burst on the IPL scene unheralded, sans any burden of his own repute. The Aussie swashbuckler has certainly lived up to his father’s name. But the initial auguries suggest that Shaun will be able to carve an identity independent of his father Geoff Marsh’s.

The 24-year Western Australian is now the lynchpin of the King XI Punjab’s batting lineup and makes it a point to see his side home with ritualistic diligence. He has accrued 295 runs in five matches at a venerable average of over 90 and with yawning ease. The staggering average of 98.33 qualifies him for a place in the august order of Saint Bradman I (and the only) of Oz.

It is his consistent and methodical belligerence, game after game, which has made him the blue-eyed boy of his team.

Photo: Cricket.com
New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Appeals Commissioner Sudhir Nanavati has submitted his report on the Harbhajan Singh-S Sreesanth slapgate issue on Tuesday to the cricket board’s Disciplinary Committee.

The Ahmedabad-based lawyer’s 14-page report was prepared after Nanavati recorded statements of Harbhajan, Sreesanth, Match Referee Farokh Engineer and the two on-field umpires - Aleem Dar of Pakistan and India’s Amiesh Saheba.
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Photo: Cricket.com
Shaun Marsh has continued carving up attacks in the Indian Premier League with an unbeaten 74 from 51 balls to lead Punjab to a nine-wicket belting of Bangalore.

The West Australian left-hander has been in devastating form, having leapt to fourth in the run-scoring charts despite playing almost half the number of games of the top three run-makers.

Marsh, 24, has scored 295 runs at the phenomenal average by Twenty20 standards of 98.33.
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Photo: Cricket.COM
Well this just shows you the immense depth in talent in Australia. Heck, Marsh and Pomersbach still can’t make the national team! It’s a real treat having them here to show off their talents and credit to Marsh especially for playing another flawless innings. Thanks to him, Punjab have notched up their sixth victory.

One suspects the knives will be out in the Bangalore camp. They really don’t look like budging from their 8th spot. Even if they win the next five, they will only end up with 14 points, which is what Rajasthan have right now.

Postmatch Presentation
Dravid: “They played great cricket, restricting us to 140 was a great effort. We kept getting the momentum and losing wickets. We needed 175-180 but we were well short of that. We have to keep raising our game.”

Yuvraj: “Big relief after the last game. Great stuff by Marsh and Pomersbach. I thought I hit the ball harder. These shots were something else. This win gives us a lot of confidence.”

Shaun Marsh is the Man of the Match: “It’s good that me and Luke finished it off. We just got out there and watch the ball. As long as the team wins, it’s all that matters. My dad (Geoff) says he has played shots like this but I reckon he didn’t!”