Bangalore Join Deccan In Sunday's Final

Anil Kumble’s Bangalore beat Dhoni’s Chennai in the second semi final meaning the two bottom teams in the inaugural season will be contesting the final of the second season.

This is an amazing turnaround for the Bangalore Challengers after a horrendous start to the season under Pietersen captaincy but where Kumble hunger to win has rubbed off on to the rest of the team and coming into the semi finals with 4 consecutive wins but no one really expected them to beat the stars of the Chennai Super Kings.

Chennai started of at an excellent rate with Hayden and Partiv Patel but Kumble and Bangalore stuck to there game plan and removed the openers before the strategic break which was the turning point in the semi finals. Chennai were never allowed to increase the tempo of there innings and there batting card showed with four batsmen stuck in the 20’s and Partiv Patel scoring 36. It only required one batsman to bat the full innings which would have allowed them to reach a score of 170+ which would have a competitive score. Credit has to be given to Kumble and his team who fielding was outstanding bowled exceptionally after the strategic break.

Bangalore started there chase at an excellent rate which was lead by new kid on the block Manish Pandey who had an excellent partnership with Rahul Dravid who came in with Bangalore struggling at 22 for 2 in the third over. Both players batted beautifully and scored at an excellent rate with both batsmen complementing each other in a partnership of 72 which took them on verge of a win. Pandey or Dravid should have stayed the full course and taken there team to victory, first Pandey gave his wicket away and Dravid was fuming and then he lost his wicket to Murali with leaving his teammates requiring only 37 more runs to win with 5 overs left.

If Chennai thought they had a way back into the game it was taken away by Ross Taylor and Kholi who ended up scoring vital boundaries of Raina and Oram., there were 7 balls left and it showed how sloppy Chennai were which cost them a chance at second IPL final.

This season’s IPL has been the most unpredictable seasons and seeing a Deccan V Bangalore final should not be surprise to anyone. Kumble v Gilchrist, two legends who have retired from international cricket have taken there teams from an embarrassing season in 2008 and they status of legends could be even more if they won the second season of the IPL.