MATCH: Chennai Super Kings v New South Wales Blues
DATE: Tuesday, October 4, 2011
TIME: 2000 hours IST (1430 hours GMT)
VENUE: M Chidambaram in Chennai
Defending champions Chennai Super Kings look for inspiration in their final push towards qualification for the semi-finals against the New South Wales Blues.
Past Record:
Chennai Super Kings began with a loss against Mumbai Indians, in a game they should have won. Then, a win against the Cobras followed, before a failure to chase down 124 against Trinidad and Tobago in the third game.
The New South Wales Blues started off with a loss to the Cobras, but have done well to beat Trinidad and Tobago and Mumbai Indians in the next two games. It must be said that the Blues had won the first edition of the Champions League T20 in India on tracks which were not too dissimilar from these – very slow, ragged and difficult-scoring.
Side-effect:
Much like the first game of the day between the Cobras and Trinidad and Tobago, this is a must-win game for both sides. However, the Blues may still have an outside chance if they lose to the Super Kings, but a lot will depend on the other results as well.
If Chennai (4/6 at
BetFred) lose, they are out of the tournament, while, if they win, it will be down to the net run-rates and the other result. If New South Wales Blues (6/5 at
BetFred) win, they will be through to semi-finals.
Team News:
It is a surprise that Chennai Super Kings continue to persist with Wriddhiman Saha in the side despite him not donning the gloves. One reason for it could be the lack of replacements that the side has – only Srikkanth Aniruddha and expecting him to come good at such a late stage in the tournament on tracks that are difficult to bat on will be too much of a task.
Chennai’s problem is that none of Murali Vijay (4/1 at
bet365), Suresh Raina and Saha are getting the runs and the batting is thus coming under a lot of pressure.
The Blues have turned their fortunes around rather well, and while both the games that they have won have been close ones, they look like a side which believes. In the first game they won, it was Moises Henriques (12/1 at
BetFred) who turned things around from a near lost cause. Then against the Mumbai Indians, they were struggling yet again before Steven Smith and Ben Rohrer produced a partnership out of nowhere.
The sense that one gets from their side is that they relish these conditions, where most of their low-key players can come good against the more fancied sides.
Who is hot?
Dave Warner will hope to get a quick-fire 30 or 40 at the top to ease the pressure down the order, while Dwayne Bravo, Chennai’s man in form will be the one to watch out for the home team.
Prediction:
A funny feeling that the Blues will beat the men in yellow.
